Yesterday I experienced the power of the arts. As a proud parent, I attended a performance by the Wolvercote Creative Writing Workshop, part of the Oxbright International Arts Festival. Five young teens shared short stories they'd turned into paper motion movies (think stop-motion animations, built frame by (slow and painful!) frame from paper and pen). I'm not sure what I was expecting. Something cute, maybe. Something amateurish and nice..? I was so wrong. Within the first

Latin is more than just an ancient language. It is a key to understanding history, literature, and the roots of many modern languages. When I first explored online Latin language tutoring, I discovered how accessible and engaging this classical language can be. With the right guidance, Thinkers can unlock a world of knowledge and sharpen their critical thinking skills. Let me share why online Latin tutoring is a fantastic choice for those eager to expand their horizons. Why C

These two weeks I have spent much of my time reading through just over 600,000 words of student writing. Every June, exam marking time, I do this. I have seen very little AI in these essays… except for one 'unfortunate' student, whose AI use was revealed by the fact that they quoted my own writing back at me but attributed it to a fictitious source the AI had hallucinated! There has been a lot said about students using AI, but today I wanted to write about MY use of AI as a l

When I was 11 I stopped speaking. I did not know it at the time, but what happened to me is known as selective mutism. Because it only happened at school, my darling immigrant parents probably didn't even know it was happening. People would just say I was "shy." There is no shyness in the inability to make a sound. We had immigrated to the USA when I was 11. That upheaval, a new country, a new language, a new everything, is what caused the mutism. A wise school counsellor, a

Curiosity saves lives. It has certainly saved mine. Let me explain. I recently spoke at the Oxford International Schools Conference on one of my favourite topics: CURIOSITY! And as a home educator myself, curiosity is a way of life! I try hard to make it a daily habit: reading all sorts of books (or listening to podcasts) on random topics, exploring new places, letting my teen choose new 'music' for me to enjoy (if migraines were a sound...)… or following mine and my kids' ra

Today I ALMOST topped a level 5 green route, but fear glued my hand to the last hold. Sweat started to make me slip. Just one move from...