A round up of all my helpful habits on homeschool planning at Hodgepodge! Homeschool Planning at Hodgepodge First off, I do plan our homeschool year in rough form. I explain that time in detail in my Annual Planning and Goal Setting habit. But I honestly do not plan our year weekly. I: look at our […]
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American Flag Chalk Pastel Art Tutorial
Any time is a great time for a patriotic art project. Flag Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day and Veteran’s Day. You can create a beautiful American flag any time of the year with this American Flag Chalk Pastel Art Tutorial! American Flag Chalk Pastel Art Tutorial Supplies needed: For this American flag chalk pastel […]
High School Homeschool Curriculum Choices
I have shared the span from preschool to middle school – our curriculum choices for each age and stage. Now we reach high school. We have now graduated three high schoolers and have two more to go! I am so very thankful my husband and I have the privilege of this time with our young […]
Favorite Books for an Eight-Year-Old Girl
Today, I introduce you to our Littlest Girl of the Hodgepodge. She will be sharing many different types of things here in the future. She is a lover of books, nature and all things sharks! Today she shares her very favorite books with all eight-year-old girls out there. Favorite books for an eight-year-old girl. Then […]
Teaching Textbooks Homeschool Math Curriculum
The children and I have shared before how Teaching Textbooks homeschool math curriculum is our perfect match. We have a hodgepodge of learning styles in our homeschool. Our eldest, one of our visual learners, is off at college and thriving. Another auditory learner graduated last year and is on an entrepreneurial and online studies path. […]
How to Draw a Donut with Chalk Pastels
This is making me sooo hungry! Don’t you want to take a bite? Here is a really fun challenge for all you who love donuts! You may also want to celebrate National Donut Day on June 1st! Here is how to draw a donut with chalk pastels. How To Draw a Donut with Chalk Pastels […]
A Royal Wedding Breakfast Tea
I realized a few weeks ago that the royal wedding is a perfect opportunity to celebrate. To fix a big breakfast and all gather ’round and watch the festivities. But I also realized what a learning opportunity it is. It’s a mini homeschool unit! We shall have a royal wedding breakfast tea. Oh all the […]
Chalk Pastel Techniques
Part of being an artist (and you are an artist!) is continuing to practice and learn. Today we share some chalk pastel techniques that we think are creative fun at its best! One of Nana’s latest chalk pastel paintings from her time in chalk pastel lessons. Remember that you are an artist and pick one […]
I Am An Artist Chalk Pastel Art Tutorial
A wonderful way to introduce and encourage children in a love of art is to do a project around a beloved book. We have long loved I Am An Artist by Pat L. Collins from our Before Five in a Row studies. Nana adores the book too and she especially likes the very last page. […]
Madeline Chalk Pastel Fun
You may have noticed that we have been choosing art projects to go along with the younger children’s Five in a Row studies. Well, today we share Madeline Chalk Pastel Fun. In an old house in Paris that was covered with vines… Madeline Chalk Pastel Fun We studied the cover of the Madeline book. We […]
Pan Pastels: How to Draw a Sky and Beach
We have recently discovered all that pan pastels can do. Specifically, how to draw a sky and a beach scene. Nana shares a video tutorial using pan pastels, below. Pan pastels are little ‘cups’ or pans of pure pigment. Just use a little sponge or your finger and spread the chalk color around. It is […]
How To Blog in 15 Minutes
Keeping my priorities in order is a priority. So, finding time for actually writing posts can be a big problem in a homeschool, blogging mama world. There is just no such thing as long, peaceful stretches of time to write. (If you’ve found the answer, please share). So, I will offer my solution. How to […]
Geranium Chalk Art Tutorial
I cannot think of a better way to welcome spring than a pot of good old fashioned red geraniums. So today we will enjoy a geranium chalk art tutorial! My father was quite a gardener and grew his own geraniums in his huge greenhouse that he spent as much time in during the winter months […]