Teaching Reading in French: Our Homeschooling Plan

April 24, 2014 by Michele Cherie in Education, French Language Learning, French Resources, Learning Resources, Teaching French

My daughter is a witty five year old who adores books, so I think she's on the cusp of learning to read. But beyond our daily habit of reading together and occasionally reviewing alphabet sounds (in French and English), I haven't pushed her to learn to read (and my two-year-old son has several years before he reaches this milestone). Yet unless our family moves closer to one of the French immersion schools in Oregon, we'll most likely be homeschooling this fall. Read on for more about how we'll approach learning to read in French and the resources we'll use.

French Immersion Schools in Oregon (& Our Probable Choice)

April 02, 2014 by Michele Cherie in Education, French Resources, Learning Resources

I've been reading books on homeschooling since my firstborn was nine months old. I attended private schools myself, and I've always taught in public schools, but homeschooling holds such diverse educational possibilities that it was always my first choice for my children. Nonetheless, I recently re-examined that choice when I realized how much fluency my daughter could gain by spending time in an environment where French is required (rather than continuing to reply to me in English). Living outside Portland, Oregon, we're amazingly blessed to have several Francophone school options:

First Aid for Parents & Children: Favorite Natural & Holistic Treatments

March 19, 2014 by Michele Cherie in Learning Resources

In five years of parenting, my children have had blessedly few injuries requiring first aid: a bloody nose or two, two minor burns, and a drinking straw puncture to the palate. When my son punctured his palate it bled enough to make me lightheaded, but thankfully it wasn't deep, and as a nursing toddler he was able to breastfeed until he could eat solid food again. In the emotion of such moments, it can be difficult to remember the best treatments to follow. Here are some basic, natural first aid treatments to make your child's next first aid incident less traumatic:

Finding Your Tribe in the Early Years of Parenting

March 15, 2014 by Michele Cherie in Learning Resources, Reflections on Parenting

A reader recently wrote to ask me for information about local social groups and support groups for parents. It's a great question, because in our culture, the early years of parenting can be so isolating that finding a way to connect with others becomes crucial to maintaining a joyful perspective. To figure out what will truly re-energize you, here are a few questions to ask yourself first:

10 Things I Learned from Tsh Oxenreider's New Book

February 04, 2014 by Michele Cherie in Cultural Reflections, Contentment, Learning Resources

One of my favorite non-fiction writers, Tsh Oxenreider, released a new book today: Notes From A Blue Bike: The Art of Living Intentionally in a Chaotic World. A few weeks ago I received an advance copy to review, and the book was a fascinating read. (I responded by sharing my path to an intentional life here.) Here are ten points I gleaned from Tsh in her latest book:

Living Intentionally in an Indulgent Culture: Notes From A Blue Bike

January 30, 2014 by Michele Cherie in Contentment, Cultural Reflections, Home Management, Learning Resources, Reflections on Parenting

Have you ever returned from a trip with a desire to live differently? International travel in particular is a catalyst for life change. It provides a view of life rearranged, of priorities and resources altogether different from those at home.

I was blessed to be able to study and travel abroad frequently in my twenties. In Sri Lanka, I observed women sewing shirts priced higher than their annual salary. In Jordan, a family prepared me a meal so savory and generous that my stomach will never be so full again. In France, I grew accustomed to a life in balance, where Sundays for most families consisted of a noontime meal, a nap, leisure time outdoors, and a quality movie on national television.

Reading List for 2014: Classics & New Reads for Intentional Living

January 27, 2014 by Michele Cherie in Learning Resources

I'm a voracious reader, though as a mama of little ones, my reading moments occur in brief snippets at late hours. Because of these time limits, here are the books that I want to prioritize this year:

5 Most Read Posts of 2013

January 01, 2014 by Michele Cherie in Learning Resources

Bonne année 2014! Happy New Year!

Quelle joie--Don't we all love to start afresh? But 2013 was a fulfilling and joyful year for me as I launched this blog. As 2014 unfolds, I look forward to making Intentional Mama a blog that is easier for you to search and comment. I also plan a series of posts on French parenting books and more topics relevant to mamas (like marriage, self-maintenance and mojo). (Don't you want to find your groove this year? I definitely do!) I'll also add more about my children's bilingual journey as it continues to unfold.

in the meantime, here are the top 5 most read posts at Intentional Mama since September 2013, when I launched this blog (excluding holiday-related content, which is less relevant right now):

1. How to Make Brown Sugar (1 minute video featuring my four-year-old)

2. DIY Dry Erase Family Calendar (for home or classroom use)

3. My Language Love Story: From France with Amour

4. International Lullabies: French, English, and Spanish Bedtime Songs for Children

5. Motherhood: The Beauty of Becoming

If another post stands out in your memory, let me know! (You can comment at the end of this post or on the Intentional Mama Facebook page, or email me at michele@intentionalmama.com.) It's a delight to know what topics are inspiring, memorable, or encouraging for you. Merci for joining me here in 2014!

A bientôt,

Michele Cherie