Remember the first time you received a heart-melting note from your chubby preschooler full of capitalized consonants strung together in a charming way that put your detective skills to the test? Throw in a few of the most beautiful crayon stick figures you’ve ever seen and it’s enough to make any beaming parent open anContinueContinue reading “Thoughts on Teaching Writing”
Category Archives: Homeschool
Reflections on our year with CMI’s Alveary (2017)
Some of you will remember that last year, about this time I went to the UK for a conference given by a group I knew little about: The Charlotte Mason Institute. It was held in Ambleside, England which is where CM had her training college and school and I could not resist the urge toContinueContinue reading “Reflections on our year with CMI’s Alveary (2017)”
Much Ado about Something (or Shakespeare Pt 2.)
After writing the last post on how our family enjoys Shakespeare, I realized there were a few more things I really thought might be helpful to those of you who are getting your feet wet. Let it be clear from the start, I am not a Shakespearean authority by any stretch of the imagination. IContinueContinue reading “Much Ado about Something (or Shakespeare Pt 2.)”
Sundaes with Shakespeare
Shakespeare often conjures up images of elaborate costumes, English that doesn’t sound much like English and unengaged students falling asleep in their chairs after ten minutes time. Try as they might, many homeschool mamas are not quite sure how to sell their students on Shakespeare. Heck, they’re not even sure if they are sold themselves!ContinueContinue reading “Sundaes with Shakespeare”
“Trust the Method?”
I wish I had a dime for every time a well-meaning Charlotte Mason Veteran offered this pithy encouragement when things weren’t turning out as the six volume set assured me they would. Truth be told, the “trust the method” mindset almost caused my to abandon CM altogether, because “the method’ simply wasn’t working for myContinueContinue reading ““Trust the Method?””
Creatures of Habit
99 out 100 things we think or do, we do from force of habit. Wow. That’s a bold statistic from our beloved CM. Actually I think it’s more of a generalization, than a raw number. I seriously doubt she sat there counting thoughts and actions! Her point is that the greatest effort of life isContinueContinue reading “Creatures of Habit”
Willows and Woollens pt. 2
My final thoughts on first part of Home Education deal with the issue of nutrition, clothing and fresh air. I am a self-avowed health nut. We mostly drink water, eat our fruits and veggies and get outside for some daily exercise. But I have to say I had never considered how digestion affects a child’sContinueContinue reading “Willows and Woollens pt. 2”
Before we begin…
Beware of experts, bloggers and podcasts! Yes, I did just say that, even though I am somewhat of a blogger myself. We can rely on these things far too much. They are good. Well some of them are good. Some of them are very good. Some maybe not so much. But none of them replaceContinueContinue reading “Before we begin…”
All Education is Self-education
I was introduced to the education philosophy of Charlotte Mason ten years ago when my youngest was a baby and my kids went to an Ambleside School. I had heard the term living books but never really understood what it meant nor did I pursue it very diligently. But after five years of being veryContinueContinue reading “All Education is Self-education”
Charlotte Who?
Charlotte Mason was a British educator who was born about twenty years before the U.S.Civil War and died in 1923. She formed an organization called the Parents’ National Education Union and influenced national education in Britain immensely. There are still a few PNEU schools in existence today! Her methods have also been revived and importedContinueContinue reading “Charlotte Who?”
Decidedly Different 