My First Ever Article Roundup: Social Distancing, Education, Finding Home

I’ve never posted a roundup of articles from around the internet, but I recently read so many that have to do with topics I wrote about or have been thinking about that I thought I’d share. I’ll link to my writing (if applicable) and the article I found online so you can read them together if you find that helpful!

Sorry for the Rest of You for Whom This Is Nothing but Difficult, Maybe This Is Here Just for Me?: This article is from Stephen Kneale, a pastor over in England. I found his website through Challies.com and usually like what he writes about. I liked this article in particular because his experience of social distancing and coronavirus shut-downs was similar to mine–we both needed the break from our normal, everyday routine. I enjoyed reading an article by someone with a similar experience to mine! Here’s a link to my article for reference: An Odd Social Distancing Phenomenon.

Restoring balanced home life with children amid COVID: I found this article through a friend on Facebook. This wonderful mom puts into words how I feel about education. Living books, nature studies, and a variety of new experiences–these ideas reflect what I love about schooling at home and what I think would be helpful for new homeschooling families to consider. Here’s a link to the third article I wrote in a three-part series about education: Charlotte Mason vs. Neo-Classical vs. Classical (Part Three). You can find links to part one and two at the end of the post. I’m also working on an article detailing more about my philosophies of education. I’m almost finished and hope to post the article soon!

Survey Reveals Children Coped Well With School Closures: I also found this article through a friend on Facebook. What caught my attention was one of the survey’s statements: “I [the child] have been more calm than when I was in regular school on a scale from 1 (No, this doesn’t describe me at all) to 5 (Yes, this describes me very much).” In the past few months since our regular homeschooling and church activities ended, Samuel’s level of calm has increased almost exponentially. I find this fascinating to think about and I still wonder about how and why this change in him happened. I’m so thankful to see him thinking more clearly and playing more intentionally! He and Ruthie have enjoyed some fun days together in the last few months, and I hope that continues even as we resume some of our new-normal activities this fall.

An Underrated Key for a Fruitful Christian Life: A Rooted Life in a Place: Brian recently sent me a link to this older article from The Gospel Coalition. I agree with the author–the place we call home matters (see the section “Practices for a Rooted Life: 2. Put Down Roots”). Andrew Peterson discusses the same idea in Adorning the Dark. He says, “I was stirred by a longing to care for the land under my feet, to work in partnership with the earth in stead of in opposition to it, to learn the names of the birds and the flora and fauna as well as the names of my neighbors, and to shepherd some corner of the planet for the sake of the Kingdom. As far as it was in my limited power to do so, I wanted to mend the world–even if it was just a few acres of it” (pg. 50). All of these ideas about home and place influenced our big news decision.