Hey, folks! My name is Elyse. When I asked my family to describe me, they said I am an “introverted gypsy made of music.” My online moniker is Oiralinde, which is an elven word meaning “eternal song.” My life is full of music: love, laughter, and memories.
During the day, I am at home teaching our four children. I also teach violin and viola, perform in various ensembles in the area, and dabble in hobbies like photography, cake decorating, cross stitch, and more. I am a busy woman, but that is what makes me a gypsy. I love to be on the go and on the move even though in reality, I am an introvert.
My passion for life pushes me to explore all the experiences life has to offer. My core values provide a framework to explore the possibilities that present themselves to me. My guiding light is God and my family, with the hopes that I can inspire those around me to live an honest life filled with peace and joy.
What is your favorite book?
Do I have to pick just one? I have made a majority of my life decisions on The Lord of the Rings series; for instance, my online name Oiralinde is based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s elven language of Quenya. While in high school, Jane Eyre made me believe love was more complicated than it turned out to be for me. Harry Potter taught me that I could be a “cool kid” even if most other people didn’t think so. Since as far back as I can remember, each time I opened a closet, I would close my eyes and reach for Narnia but would instead get disappointed in finding only the back of the closet. I am also constantly on the look out for the Magic Shop that Jeremy Thatcher found so that I could also get a dragon egg.
If you could homeschool anywhere in the world, where would it be? Why?
Do I have to pick just one? (Do you see a theme here…) Because I don’t want to pick one, I would pick an RV. We would travel the world, or at least North America, in our RV and be able to visit and revisit all the beautiful places in this world. When we study about the Oregon Trail we could take a long drive across the states. When we study geology we can look at the rock formations of the Grand Canyon. When we study presidents, we can go to Washington D.C. and Mount Rushmore. The gypsy in me wants to be on the road all the time, and a homeschool RV would be a dream.
What is your homeschool style?
I am eclectic because I can’t choose just one. Seriously. I can’t make decisions. I love the idea of Classical and Charlotte Mason, especially with the young children. I am always thinking about trying to hit many different learning styles when I present things to my children so they have a chance to experience learning in many ways. I have dabbled in unschooling or “stealth schooling” and if Minecraft could be a curriculum I would be all over it.
Why did you choose to homeschool?
This is an easy answer. God told us to! I had been teaching in the public school before we had children, and I wasn’t happy with what I had seen. My husband and I had started praying about it when our oldest would start preschool, and after asking for a sign and having received a few we still weren’t sure. We asked for one more sign. Well, that week we were driving and there was a literal sign on the road that said “Homeschooling is God’s choice for your children.” God smacked us in the head, and we have been listening to Him ever since.
I am also a part of the Schoolhouse Review Crew. Check them out too!
During the day, I am at home teaching our four children. I also teach violin and viola, perform in various ensembles in the area, and dabble in hobbies like photography, cake decorating, cross stitch, and more. I am a busy woman, but that is what makes me a gypsy. I love to be on the go and on the move even though in reality, I am an introvert.
My passion for life pushes me to explore all the experiences life has to offer. My core values provide a framework to explore the possibilities that present themselves to me. My guiding light is God and my family, with the hopes that I can inspire those around me to live an honest life filled with peace and joy.
Do I have to pick just one? I have made a majority of my life decisions on The Lord of the Rings series; for instance, my online name Oiralinde is based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s elven language of Quenya. While in high school, Jane Eyre made me believe love was more complicated than it turned out to be for me. Harry Potter taught me that I could be a “cool kid” even if most other people didn’t think so. Since as far back as I can remember, each time I opened a closet, I would close my eyes and reach for Narnia but would instead get disappointed in finding only the back of the closet. I am also constantly on the look out for the Magic Shop that Jeremy Thatcher found so that I could also get a dragon egg.
If you could homeschool anywhere in the world, where would it be? Why?
Do I have to pick just one? (Do you see a theme here…) Because I don’t want to pick one, I would pick an RV. We would travel the world, or at least North America, in our RV and be able to visit and revisit all the beautiful places in this world. When we study about the Oregon Trail we could take a long drive across the states. When we study geology we can look at the rock formations of the Grand Canyon. When we study presidents, we can go to Washington D.C. and Mount Rushmore. The gypsy in me wants to be on the road all the time, and a homeschool RV would be a dream.
What is your homeschool style?
I am eclectic because I can’t choose just one. Seriously. I can’t make decisions. I love the idea of Classical and Charlotte Mason, especially with the young children. I am always thinking about trying to hit many different learning styles when I present things to my children so they have a chance to experience learning in many ways. I have dabbled in unschooling or “stealth schooling” and if Minecraft could be a curriculum I would be all over it.
Why did you choose to homeschool?
This is an easy answer. God told us to! I had been teaching in the public school before we had children, and I wasn’t happy with what I had seen. My husband and I had started praying about it when our oldest would start preschool, and after asking for a sign and having received a few we still weren’t sure. We asked for one more sign. Well, that week we were driving and there was a literal sign on the road that said “Homeschooling is God’s choice for your children.” God smacked us in the head, and we have been listening to Him ever since.
I am also a part of the Schoolhouse Review Crew. Check them out too!
