All the French Things

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As a lifelong scholar of French culture, I’m delighted to curate this selection for my HomeschoolWays.com readers. Surrounding oneself with French symbols isn’t just about aesthetics. It’s an invitation to immerse in la vie française, fostering creativity. Add history lessons and a touch of joie de vivre to your daily life. From the revolutionary spirit of the Enlightenment to the poetic landscapes of Provence, let’s explore.

Below, I’ve selected 10 accessible objects from Amazon, each tied to a quintessential French emblem. These are practical for home display, play, or study, with brief notes on their cultural resonance. I’ve focused on items that are durable, family-friendly, and evocative for homeschooling themes like art, cuisine, and heritage. Continue reading »


In Search of Lost Time

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Marcel Proust, French novelist, one of the most influential novelists of the 20th century, passed away 100 years ago today: November 18, 1922. As I reflected on Proust’s reach across cultures and his influence over the human experience in the last 100 years, I felt inspired to make Madeleines.

Madeleine cookies

Madeleine cookies

Alas, I forgot all about the linden tea which he dipped the Madeleines into. In case you do not know, Proust’s magnum opus is “In Search of Lost Time,” a seven-volume novel, which showcases over 2,000 characters. Continue reading »


Petra Lingua Revisited

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Petra Lingua is our curriculum of choice for learning French. We read books in French and I talk to them in French in the afternoon, but we build vocabulary in a systematic way with Petra Lingua.

I have written before about this website: here and here. You can learn many languages, like German, Chinese, Spanish, Italian and even Swedish.

In the fall, when it became clear that my local homeschool community did not really have an interest in our French Play Group, I put Petra Lingua to the side and focused on reading to the kids in French. I also tried using French on a more consistent basis with them, in the afternoon.

Then life happened: the holidays in November and December; my father’s passing in January; the flu in February. While they lingered on the bed with no energy, I read to them a lot, but then I also put a laptop in front of them to see if they had any interest and energy for Petra Lingua French. They did!

Children studying with Petra Lingua

My children study French with Petra Lingua while having the flu

So much so, they fought over who to do the exercises. Continue reading »