How did we get started with Gentle Shepherd? (and more about our internet and geographic home base)
Hello, my name is Diane Hurst. I love learning, and teaching, and making all kinds of things -- art, crafts, writing, cooking, gardening, music, and other creative endeavors.
I'm a longtime homeschool mom; I have taught my own nine children over the past quarter of a century, and have always enjoyed making some of the materials we used-- many of these being creative-oriented, because I am a visual artist, and have loved providing creative opportunities in learning for my children.
Before ebooks had begun in the book market, we were using them in our own homeschool-- making computer files for work pages and other materials that could easily be printed out for repeated use. And just a warning: there is still LOTS more on our computer . . . so be prepared for an avalanche someday when I get some extra time . . .
Besides curriculum, we also offer ideas here on this website-- on the Age Groups page, there are links that connect to learning activity idea pages for each age group: preschool, kindergarten, primary grades, upper elementary, middle school. These are practical suggestions, and don't require materials from a particular curriculum publisher.
Looking for reading material about education and homeschooling? There are PDF Articles that can be printed out or saved to your computer (please feel free to share!)-- some are for things young children can do in in the family homeschool, the "rocking chair" method of teaching, and beginning math activities . . .
We live in the wild and woolly Pacific Northwest, in Washington state. I've been enjoying the last years of home teaching, and doing cooking, a little bit of urban gardening, and songwriting. I also have a music blog -- it is a "music adventure" blog, with info and links about a variety of different kinds of music (both past and present). http://notesandnotions.weebly.com
One of my favorite hobbies (besides learning things and playing music) is hand-sewing with felt. You can see some handmade felt animals and people and . . . who knows what's next? . . . at All the Time Learning, my online shop at Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/allthetimelearning
For random thoughts and photos related to Gentle Shepherd materials and/or our own homeschooling endeavors, please stop by the Weavings blog at www.gentleshepherdweavings.blogspot.com.
