Playful Garden

07/29/2020

If you are considering homeschooling in the fall but are feeling overwhelmed with all the decisions on exactly what you’ll do to make sure your kids are “learning” you’re not alone!

First take a deep breath and relax. It’s going to be okay. You’re kids are learning all the time through their daily connections with you, through playing, reading and exploring. If you’d like some playful tips on how to encourage mathematical concepts in your every day life, Wild Math is an excellent resource.

Explore the curriculum with this link!
https://wildmath.ositracker.com/162275/12262

Also, if you’re interested in following my homeschool journey, Check out my Instagram account HomegrownNajems.

Want to know a homeschooling secret? You don't need fancy workbooks and materials! One of my favorite materials is just a notebook. When we are traveling that is what I usually bring for the kids. I can quickly write a few math problems down, have them do some writing, write down nature study observations, etc. Also, I use one notebook for everything. It is so much easier to keep track of things!
This activity took me a few seconds to set up. Great practice with place value, tallies, and subitizing (looking at a set of something in this case tallies or place value stick and knowing the quantity without counting each one.

Don't forget the annual Wild Math Fall sale is right now! Use code "mathoutside" for 15% off!

04/05/2020

If you need something to inspire you, listen in. Perfect for anyone right now, homeschooling or not- the world is your classroom !

How has your experience been transitioning your learning to home? “Homeschooling is very different when you’re allowed to socialize and be involved in programs and activities, libraries and museums- but now is a great time to explore what life post-covid could be. ❤️

Listen to this episode from Brave Writer on Spotify. Julie is getting ready to go down to Texas to present at the Wild + Free conference, so today we talk with someone who’s been getting Wild + Free since the inception of this beautiful gem of a community.Greta Eskridge is a go-getter creative ent...

03/23/2020

“De-schooling” is the period of time where your child goes through an adjustment from formal schooling where learning is structured and organized for a large group of students, to a more individualized education where learning is self-motivated and self-paced. This process in between can take days, weeks or years! .
Remember, you don’t need to have this all figured out. Reframe this time to recalibrate your connections to your children, YOURSELF. .
Many times over the past year I’ve had to completely drop my plans and tune into what the children’s behaviors were telling me. I had to let go of my agenda and follow their lead. I needed to remind myself every single minute of the day that learning doesn’t happen in one “block” of the day. We are learning all day long through experiences and conversations. Through reading together and often. By watching and listening. Just letting go a little bit to tune in. .
Deepen your connections and listen. Be flexible and patient- you’ve got this.

03/21/2020

It’s spring ! Yippee! Even though the signs may still be subtle, new life is all around us.
Go out today and investigate and discover the signs of spring. Turn over some logs, peak at some buds, and listen for nesting birds.
Use this opportunity to teach empathy. Use the “be kind, be safe, be gentle” rule. Whatever we move must be brought back to it’s home. If you uncover a worm, cover him back up ❤️. Today we identified a maple seed sprouting and found 3 worms.
Turn it into a math lesson and tally your findings to graph later. Check back in a week or two to see how many more signs you discover.
Art lesson? Pull out a sketch book and draw a sketch of your discoveries. Why not write a few things too?
Science/math /writing/ art ✅

03/01/2020

Cultivating a sense of understanding for the value of our food and natural resources deepens our connection to our home, our region, our roots, our PLACE. This is the experience that drives us to be the advocates of the earth. Asking children to save the planet is misguided . TEACHING them to love the earth and all it’s treasures and beauty is the lesson I aim to model. We got them into this mess, it’s going to be their job to clean it up and that is the reality unfortunately. Here is how I am raising my children to be true stewards of the earth so when the time comes they know what to do.

02/20/2020

🍁 trees are tapped. Syrup season is underway. We had fun comparing and contrasting the bark on all our maple trees, identifying the characteristics and taking time to reflect and journal on our findings. The best and most exciting part is seeing who can lift the buckets at the end of each day.

01/17/2020

Like-minded educators tracking in the dark.

01/05/2020

According to , Nature is an essential nutrient to the health of each human. Creating connection to the natural world begins with conscious quiet moments of awareness. .

08/26/2019

A huge thank you for being part of the Playful Garden community.

This past year was filled with playful learning, explorations, story times and more. So much gratitude goes out for all of you who came to the farm to experience it all.

With the summer coming to a close, Free Rangers and Wildflower classes are coming to an end while we shift into new fall routines and rhythms.

🦋New opportunities for the community to get involved will be offered seasonally, regularly scheduled classes will not resume until Spring 2020. To stay informed, follow along here to get the latest classes, workshops and event listings.

In the meantime- Playful Garden will continue to inspire you to get outside year round- so don’t go too far!

Xo
Angela

08/22/2019

Last chance to catch us at 3:30pm at the Exeter Farmers Market for some loose parts nature play 🌿This week: Complimentary Outdoor Barre Class for Mamas with ! 🤗

08/21/2019

A fun Free Rangers filled with lots of child led explorations!
🌿📚💧🐸🔬🌸🔨