Lori-Anne Poirier's Blog, page 4
June 24, 2015
Father’s Day fixer upper – wainscoting DIY
This past Father’s Day weekend, Mrs. Pear Tree and the kidlets were out-of-town, attending a friend’s graduation. So I had the whole place to myself for two days – and while the cats were away, the mouse could play! I took this opportunity to finish a large project that began … Continue reading
May 28, 2015
lavender blue
Yesterday morning we had the luxury of whiling away several hours at the Okanagan Lavender Herb Farm on Takla Road in South Kelowna. I wrote, previously, about the local, outdoor attraction, here. I can’t believe that was coming up to five years ago! At the time, the garden was about to … Continue reading
May 22, 2015
kindness balls
We’ve been having some pretty fractious days, lately. Too much together time, I think. Too much sitting at a table completing the last few pages of maths when the green grass outside is calling. The result is a lot more poking, taunting, teasing and general irritability over being in each other’s … Continue reading
May 19, 2015
how does my garden grow?
Well, our portfolios are complete and handed in and it’s time to turn our focus to other, more relaxing occupations while we wait for our final grades to be released. We’ve been adding to our micro-garden. After years of talk, Mr. Pear Tree has taken the plunge and purchased our … Continue reading
May 14, 2015
it’s all fun and games until the grades are due
This is my dining room table right now. Dinner is supposed to be in just over an hour, but I’m still cranking through papers, photographing the best work of my two busy students. Evidence, to our Heritage Christian Online School support teacher that we haven’t been having too much fun. … Continue reading
May 12, 2015
en plein air
We are big fans of turn of the 20th C educator Charlotte Mason, at the Pear Tree Skool. She was a slightly older contemporary of Maria Montessori, who believed that a child’s education should be experiential, immersive and alive. While I wouldn’t say we’re hard-core Charlotte Mason, I do like to borrow from her … Continue reading
May 8, 2015
climb a tree
We were in England on holiday one year ago, and I stumbled upon a free booklet at National Trust sites, called 50 Things to Do Before You’re 11 3/4. Apparently, it’s an initiative to get kids out and moving and exploring their surroundings. It’s like a little journal or scrapbook … Continue reading
May 7, 2015
mother’s day cards
Mother’s Day. The time of year when children in schools are gently coached by teachers to craft a heart-felt gift for Dear Ole’ Mum. It’s a somewhat awkward occasion when you’re homeschooling. “Now, Sweetie Darlings, it’s time to make presents. For me. Knock yourselves out!” I’m also not the kind … Continue reading
May 1, 2015
how does your garden grow?
We don’t have much in the way of a yard. I call it our postage stamp. But there’s enough room for a few pots, and the opportunity to feel like we’re exercising our green thumbs and nurturing a little (very little) corner of our planet. Mr. Pear Tree … Continue reading
April 30, 2015
household maths
Here at The Pear Tree Skool we use RightStart Mathematics for our maths curriculum. It’s based on the Asian style of learning about numbers and it’s done wonders for my own understanding of this terrifying fascinating subject. But there are other outcomes involved that we like to approach in a more practical … Continue reading
