ABOUT
Hi! I’m Chantel, wife, mother, jill-of-all-trades and founder of this site. I’m a teacher turned homeschooling mother. I started researching all things homeschooling about four years before we even started homeschooling and this site was born out of my desire to give back some of what I’ve learned and share the journey along the way.
I live with my little family way out on the Canadian prairies where we explore nature and soak up the sun all summer and go into semi-hibernation all winter (a great time for a good cup of cocoa and lots of read alouds).
Intentional Homeschooling is all about doing everything with a purpose.
I’m a rebel and a questioner so we don’t do things “because that’s how they’ve always been done” but we make sure that what we are learning and doing has a purpose; we are intentional with our life and that includes our homeschool.
My kids are currently nine (in fourth grade) and twelve (in seventh grade).
Our homeschooling method has always been an eclectic mix of a few different methods we are heavily Charlotte Mason influenced though we tend to be a little more loose and interest-led all while being very literature focused.
I have always enjoyed reading and have passed down the love of books and reading to my children. We have large library hauls each week and own quite a few books. Here on the site you will find quite a few book lists of our favorite books. I believe that so much learning can come through reading good books so they are the foundation for our learning.
Don’t know where to go from here? Check out some of the most popular and my favorite posts on the site so far:
+ The Best Nature Study Resources
+ Homeschool Memes to Brighten Your Day
+ How the Library Saved Us $23,000 in One Year
+ 40 Best Classic Read Alouds for Kids
Other places you can find me:
Hi!
I stumbled upon your page after I purchased the Elementary Homeschool Bundle and I am reading through as many posts as I can when I get a few minutes. Books are also my area where I just can’t minimize and they really do get help get us through the long prairie winters! I am also from the Canadian Prairies and can’t wait to read more about your homeschooling journey!
Thanks for stopping by, Natasha! I love reading that fellow Canadians are reading, especially ones that also live on the prairies!
I would like to add Where the Red Fern Grows to your list of read aloud. After numerous times I still cannot finish this story without breaking into tears.
Stone Fox is another title that moves every listener.
Thanks for those recommendations! We haven’t read those ones yet but I’ll add them to our list to read soon!
Love your blog! Just saw you started a second one too! I love that you are a fellow Canadian prairies homeschooler. Almost every homeschool blog is in the states. This is also the first Canadian blog I’ve found information on fostering, so thank you for all the information! I do have one question or wondering if you could post about it…as an unschooler what are the requirements in Canada to get into college etc? Thank you!
Hi,
I stumbled upon one of your YouTube videos and then followed you here. I feel like I have found a kindred spirit in you (like Anne of Green Gables!). I was looking for guided homeschooling but a Google search of that brought up nothing relevant, but just as with everything God somehow led me to you. I am former middle school science teacher who homeschooled 1st grade for 1 year but send my son back to school because there was hardly any socializing in the long winter months. Now with COVID fears hubby wants me to homeschool him again and he will be going into 3rd grade. I, however, have a deep dislike for traditional schools (which has grown since listening to Sir Ken Robinson’s Ted talk). When I read some of your blog posts I was thrilled to find someone else who has a similar mindset about education. I was more thrilled to find out that you love to read and also read aloud to your children. I am reading Pax and Prince Caspian to him these days (he is too young to handle the Narnia series by himself). I should stop yapping now. I was just so excited to find you! Also, I think you have a very generous heart, making all these things available for free. May God bless you and your family!
I’m so glad you made it here! It’s always nice to come across a kindred spirit. Pax and Prince Caspian are great books, I hope you both enjoy those!
My Name is Harry Binnendyk and I live in Midhurst, Ontario. I found your web site on Pinterest and it caught my attention. I’ am a first time children’s author with the publishing of “Steve’s Stinky Socks.” It is a picture book aimed at 4 to 8 y/o’s currently on free on YouTube, as well as available for purchase on Amazon and at FreisenPress.
It’s a book about a young boy with huge feet that is teased by the other kids in the village, but it is Steve is the only one with a unique quality that is able to save the fruit harvest for the villagers, where he is finally celebrated.
I’ve my second book “Frank’s Frantic Festival” in the publication process; it’s a story of a young boy who steals a wizards wand and inadvertently turns his best friend into a pig the day before the village BBQ. There are adventures spawned and lessons to be learned by Frank. It should be out by the fall of 2021.
I’d be delighted to have you check out “Steve’s Stinky Socks” and if you want an advanced look at Frank, I can send along the PDF I have used to work with the publisher with.
Yours Truly
Harry Binnendyk
Just checking are your prices in CAD or USD? Just checking because the conversion to British pounds makes a big difference (and I don’t want to accidentally spend a small fortune assuming its canadian and it turns out to be USD!)
They are in USD.
Hi there! We are going to be starting our homeschool journey this year and I am loving all of the great book ideas!
I came across a newer Christian fantasy series that you and your daughter might enjoy. It’s kind of a cross between Narnia and the nutcracker. It’s called The Winter Souls series by Jennifer Kropf.