Storytime with Mrs. Holder ~ The Rag Coat ~ Written by Lauren Mills

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Social Studies Topics:


School of the Past ~ Both the text and the illustrations of this story provide insight into the makings of a one-room schoolhouse. Take time to discuss Minna's school experience i.e. her excitement about attending school, as well as the reasons why she had never attended school even though she was eight years old.  Ask your child how Minna traveled to school and how that differs for many students nowadays.

The text gives some descriptive clues about a one-room schoolhouse such as "one room filled with fourteen children" and "I was put in the front row with the youngest ones". The illustrations provide even more detail including a wood stove with a bucket beside it, wooden desks wide enough to fit two students, chalkboard slates, a wooden building, a single teacher, and one reader on each desk.

Work with your child to make a list about some of the information learned about a one-room schoolhouse, or  use a Venn diagram to compare and contrast a one-room schoolhouse learning environment with a present-day brick and mortar school, or with your own homeschooling learning environment.

A couple of videos to broaden your child's learning:
A One-Room Schoolhouse Video ~ A little amateur, but still well done.

One Room Schoolhouse Song ~ An original by a Canadian artist.

*** Other themes that are presented through this story include coal mining, funerals, taunting, forgiveness, quilting, and contentment.  Reading and simply discussing these themes can help stretch your child's thinking in wonderful ways.

Be a Blessing!
During this story the quilting moms gather scraps of material from their own rag shelves to piece together a  gift coat for Minna.  The making of the coat was only possible through the helping and intentional giving of several women coming together with a common purpose.  Each gave a little to achieve a grand result. Perhaps you and your child could set up a Donation Station in your home where unused, gently used, or even brand new items could be collected.  Once the Donation Station is filled, take a trip to your favourite charity drop-off center and be a blessing.  Keep your ears and eyes open for other opportunities to share what you have with others in a practical way.

Aaah sweet moms, it's that time of year again when thoughts of curriculum choices begin to flood our minds.  As homeschooling conventions approach, can I share some words with you, to help us to breathe deep, to remind us of the grander goal?  ~ Blessings.


Choosing a Homeschool Curriculum @ The Happy Housewife

Choosing Homeschool Curriculum @ The Homeschool Classroom

A free e-book with excellent insights into the goals of education:
Education is An Atmosphere, A Discipline, A Life @ Simply Charlotte Mason

An interesting website set up for families to figure out which curriculum may fit them best:
Design Your Homeschooling Approach to Suit Your Family @ Design Your Homeshool

Teaching Tip Tuesday ~ Helping Our Children to Write Well

The last few weeks have consisted of scattered learning.  With birthday parties and road trips combined with Spring Break and Easter, the girls have started wondering, "Is today a school day?".  When questioned, I tend to rattle off a list of learning that is planned for the day. It was after this rattling one day when the oldest one informed me of what "school" really meant.

Reading about Venus and making a lava model is not "school".  Neither is listening to the audio book of the Secret Garden or any other reading for that matter.  Writing journal messages for Mama is just plain fun and so is penning letters to cousins and friends. Math lessons are okay too and if a game is involved, then it's just play.

But don't bring out the work folders. Because if the work folders come out, then that is when "school" happens. I smile at this eight year old's perception and wonder what other learning I could sneak in without it being perceived as "school" . . .

*** I bring home the older girls a journal and a pen each.  I jot some words on the first page and then slip them near their pillows.  In a quiet moment, they take some time to shape out their own words. Then excitedly, they carry their messages to mama's own pillow.  We share words this way, back and forth, writing about nothing really, but in many ways writing about everything.  I correct their spelling and punctuation, so that they practice seeing words written well, and then I pen some heart words back to them.

*** Another time, I place three words at the table: "husky", "cave", "terrifying".  I ask my dog-loving girl to write a story including these three words.  She sits down with pencil in hand, asking for help with spelling.  Without the hindrance of figuring out perfect spelling, she is able to pour her story onto the paper in front of her.  I sit alongside her and we check for capitalization and punctuation, and reread and make certain that her message is clear.  She moves to the computer and taps out her words with one finger.  I help her find "Print" and she illustrates full with colour.

*** At my beloved library I find this wordless book twice and bring both copies home.  The storyteller chose no words, but my girls will choose many.  A piece of paper with lines drawn for 25 spaces is laid out. The task, to simply write one sentence for each illustration.  Ask for spelling , if necessary, {for this is not a spelling quiz, yet correct spelling should be practiced}, and when completed, check for punctuation, capitalization, and clarity. {Wow, you're using quotation marks and onomatopoeias!}

*** There are times when I ask the girls to switch roles for awhile.  How about you teach me something?  My animal-loving daughters,  teach me how to care for a boarder collie if ever I should have one.  Or perhaps teach me how to make a corn-husk doll since you made several dozen of them near Christmas.  Or tell me how you would make the yummiest peanut butter and strawberry jam sandwich.  Write it out and I'll see if I can learn!

It is by sitting down to write every morning that one becomes a writer. ~ Gerald Brenan

The Accomplishments of Term Two

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