This year we decided to try something new in homeschooling, called the "Charlotte Mason Method". I could give you a bunch of background information on the woman, but you can find that all over the internet and I'd rather not waste my time repeating all that. Instead, I'd like to talk about my experience so far using her "method".
Basically, it's about spending time with each child, one-on-one, encouraging them to learn and share what they've learned with enthusiasm. Isn't that what parenting is about anyway??? Sad as it may sound, it wasn't for me...
In the past, our homeschool days were so difficult. I never could figure out how to get it all done! Here I am, supposed to be this supermom, homeschooling one child while tending to two little ones, keeping the house clean, cooking and baking, being involved in friend, family and church activities, going here and there...it felt impossible.
This year I decided we needed to prioritize and keep some sort of schedule or routine. I am a perfectionist who sincerely appreciates organization but can never seem to figure out where to start! I make lists and keep calendars, type up color coordinated schedules and chore sheets, all to no avail. Then someone told me that I had to start with one thing that I wanted to change. I had to pick ONE thing and work from there...Seemed easy enough. But what? Hmm...
Well, I really want to get my life in order and live in a way that is simple and pleasing to God and hopefully teach my children how to do this before they're my age...and I was reminded of these great quotes from Hudson Taylor that I'd read recently:
"I have found that there are three stages in every great work of God; first, it is impossible, then it is difficult, then it is done." Hudson Taylor"
God's word done in God's way will never lack God's supplies." Hudson Taylor
So, the first thing we changed was starting the day with devotions. Duh. :o) That was the key! Rain or shine, we get up, make up our beds, eat our breakfast and then 8 a.m. we sit down for devotions and it makes all the difference in the world! Now our homeschooling days go so much smoother.
It's nothing fancy. I just give the kids an opportunity to present prayer requests and then share some of mine. We write them in our prayer journal, so we can be sure to offer thanks as we see the Lord at work in the situations. We pray, do a short devotional together and pray again, asking the Lord to help us apply it to our lives. It takes about 20 minutes altogether!
After that, we discuss and review our weekly memory verse from Proverbs. This weeks verse is, "The man of integrity walks securely, but the man who takes crooked paths will be found out." Proverbs 10:9 Jacob usually memorizes them by recitation. However, Joe writes it down each day as copywork and we play games to help him memorize it.
After that, we sing our hymn for the month, which is "Blessed Assurance" by Fanny Crosby. I found several links on youtube that we could sing with, until the kids got the hang of it. I also printed out the chords so Jake could learn to play it on his guitar. Now he plays and we sing!
This quarter we are learning about Raphael, the artist (as opposed to Raphael, the Ninja Turtle :o), focusing on several of his most popular pieces. We analyze and discuss what we see and have learned about the history of each painting. Then, I'll have the kids draw their own rendition of what they saw. They LOVE this! All the while, the music from one of this term's composers, Elgar or Vaughan Williams, is playing in the background. This, of course, is very inspirational music, and with all their inspiration they love to share all their observations about the instruments they hear and what the song is about.
Then our day goes on to reading (in many subjects), narration and math, for Joe as well as vocabulary and grammar for Jake.
Both of the boys have really enjoyed the classical literature that corresponds with Ambleside Online's curriculum program. Starting out, I was a little afraid that the vernacular might be a bit over our heads...but I'm happy to say, I underestimated us!
Jake is reading, The Sciences, Plutarch's Lives, Trial and Triumph, School of the Woods, Hamlet, The Hobbit and several others and has yet to complain that he's bored!
Joe and I read and enjoy Aesop's Fables, Trial and Triumph, 50 Famous Stories and several others as well. I do break things down for him a little and read with a lot of animation but he really loves it.
As for narration, I couldn't stop either of them from telling me what they've read and learned if I TRIED! lol They are so full of enthusiasm they tell everyone about it! It's incredible.
I really believe that this is the way children were created to learn and this is the way mothers were created to teach. It's wonderful.
If you would like to know more, just ask. I'd be happy to share our schedules and lesson plans with you too, if it will help you get a better idea of how to plan your own! We are using the curriculum, as suggested on Ambleside Online, for years 1 and 6. We've spent about $85 so far this year for school supplies. Most of the texts are available to read online! I'd be happy to share those links as well.
As for becoming supermom, I'm still working on it. :o) Surprisingly, however, even after spending all morning (from about 8-noon) working with my children in school, I still seem to have plenty of time to get everything else done too. My house has never been cleaner or more peaceful and my family has never been so happy!
Anyway, just wanted to share my encouragement with others. I am so blessed, happy and thankful that God has allowed me the privilege to homeschool. I'm really enjoying it, now more than ever before.
Basically, it's about spending time with each child, one-on-one, encouraging them to learn and share what they've learned with enthusiasm. Isn't that what parenting is about anyway??? Sad as it may sound, it wasn't for me...
In the past, our homeschool days were so difficult. I never could figure out how to get it all done! Here I am, supposed to be this supermom, homeschooling one child while tending to two little ones, keeping the house clean, cooking and baking, being involved in friend, family and church activities, going here and there...it felt impossible.
This year I decided we needed to prioritize and keep some sort of schedule or routine. I am a perfectionist who sincerely appreciates organization but can never seem to figure out where to start! I make lists and keep calendars, type up color coordinated schedules and chore sheets, all to no avail. Then someone told me that I had to start with one thing that I wanted to change. I had to pick ONE thing and work from there...Seemed easy enough. But what? Hmm...
Well, I really want to get my life in order and live in a way that is simple and pleasing to God and hopefully teach my children how to do this before they're my age...and I was reminded of these great quotes from Hudson Taylor that I'd read recently:
"I have found that there are three stages in every great work of God; first, it is impossible, then it is difficult, then it is done." Hudson Taylor"
God's word done in God's way will never lack God's supplies." Hudson Taylor
So, the first thing we changed was starting the day with devotions. Duh. :o) That was the key! Rain or shine, we get up, make up our beds, eat our breakfast and then 8 a.m. we sit down for devotions and it makes all the difference in the world! Now our homeschooling days go so much smoother.
It's nothing fancy. I just give the kids an opportunity to present prayer requests and then share some of mine. We write them in our prayer journal, so we can be sure to offer thanks as we see the Lord at work in the situations. We pray, do a short devotional together and pray again, asking the Lord to help us apply it to our lives. It takes about 20 minutes altogether!
After that, we discuss and review our weekly memory verse from Proverbs. This weeks verse is, "The man of integrity walks securely, but the man who takes crooked paths will be found out." Proverbs 10:9 Jacob usually memorizes them by recitation. However, Joe writes it down each day as copywork and we play games to help him memorize it.
After that, we sing our hymn for the month, which is "Blessed Assurance" by Fanny Crosby. I found several links on youtube that we could sing with, until the kids got the hang of it. I also printed out the chords so Jake could learn to play it on his guitar. Now he plays and we sing!
This quarter we are learning about Raphael, the artist (as opposed to Raphael, the Ninja Turtle :o), focusing on several of his most popular pieces. We analyze and discuss what we see and have learned about the history of each painting. Then, I'll have the kids draw their own rendition of what they saw. They LOVE this! All the while, the music from one of this term's composers, Elgar or Vaughan Williams, is playing in the background. This, of course, is very inspirational music, and with all their inspiration they love to share all their observations about the instruments they hear and what the song is about.
Then our day goes on to reading (in many subjects), narration and math, for Joe as well as vocabulary and grammar for Jake.
Both of the boys have really enjoyed the classical literature that corresponds with Ambleside Online's curriculum program. Starting out, I was a little afraid that the vernacular might be a bit over our heads...but I'm happy to say, I underestimated us!
Jake is reading, The Sciences, Plutarch's Lives, Trial and Triumph, School of the Woods, Hamlet, The Hobbit and several others and has yet to complain that he's bored!
Joe and I read and enjoy Aesop's Fables, Trial and Triumph, 50 Famous Stories and several others as well. I do break things down for him a little and read with a lot of animation but he really loves it.
As for narration, I couldn't stop either of them from telling me what they've read and learned if I TRIED! lol They are so full of enthusiasm they tell everyone about it! It's incredible.
I really believe that this is the way children were created to learn and this is the way mothers were created to teach. It's wonderful.
If you would like to know more, just ask. I'd be happy to share our schedules and lesson plans with you too, if it will help you get a better idea of how to plan your own! We are using the curriculum, as suggested on Ambleside Online, for years 1 and 6. We've spent about $85 so far this year for school supplies. Most of the texts are available to read online! I'd be happy to share those links as well.
As for becoming supermom, I'm still working on it. :o) Surprisingly, however, even after spending all morning (from about 8-noon) working with my children in school, I still seem to have plenty of time to get everything else done too. My house has never been cleaner or more peaceful and my family has never been so happy!
Anyway, just wanted to share my encouragement with others. I am so blessed, happy and thankful that God has allowed me the privilege to homeschool. I'm really enjoying it, now more than ever before.
