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Showing posts from 2018

December Term

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As we prepared for December by finishing our Term 1 exams, I decided that we would join many others in a "December Term" for our homeschool!  I've compiled resources that we've enjoyed so far if you also want to plan out a similar schedule for the coming weeks!!! Literature Stories I went to the library and borrowed 3 beautiful old anthologies so we have something in print, but there are some great free resources online!  There is a treasure in these old stories and the language used brings warmth and comfort during our modern age of commercialism! -Little Folks Christmas Stories and Plays -The Children's Book of Christmas  -Christmas Stories  -The Little Big Book of Christmas  Artist Study This is a little different because it's not a specific artist, but art prints that were painted by CHILDREN!!!  Edmund Dulac wrote an introduction to the volume that you can read here.   I think the prints are just gorgeous! Composer Study We are pausin

Christmas Advice from 1902

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I have been enjoying some Christmas reading to create a "December term" in our school curriculum this month! We are continuing our math, copywork, and larger literary works (Little House series, Water Babies, Heidi, Dr. Doolittle) but we are putting history, natural history, and geography on pause while we read some amazing literature from the past! As I was reading "Christmas-tide" by Elizabeth Harrison I just had to copy this chapter into a blog post so you all could read the advice given to parents in 1902! -RaeAnna The Christmas season is the season in which the joy of giving should be so much greater than that of receiving, that the child, through his own experiences, is prepared somewhat to comprehend that great truth, "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son. ' ' For weeks beforehand the mother can lay her plans by means of which each child in the family  may be led to make something, or may do without something, or

Thanksgiving Vacation

View this post on Instagram Happy Thanksgiving from all us turkeys! A post shared by RaeAnna Goss (@sewingmamaraeanna) on Nov 22, 2018 at 2:56pm PST I delight in writing reviews and recaps of the family vacations we're able to take during our school breaks!  I also love the fact that even though it is a "school break" we are able to get some really fun learning in during the activities and places we visit!  This vacation during Thanksgiving was no exception! We decided to stay at Pickwick Landing State Park in Counce, TN after visiting the park in March.  I think this is my favorite state park so far! View this post on Instagram Such a pretty morning view at @pickwick_landing_state_park! Glad I brought binoculars to watch the loons fish for their breakfast! We’ve seen geese, seagulls, mallards, loons, and even a bald eagle!!! 😲 🦅 A post shared by

The tired mum.

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I stumbled across a paper several months ago while researching the "Mother's Education Course" that had been established by Charlotte Mason.  In the MEC (later called the P.N.E.U. Reading Course), Charlotte Mason established a list of articles, books, and other reading assignments to mothers to further their own education.  There has been some great research into this course and I found Nancy Kelly's blog to be most helpful!  Read this for more information on the MEC! What I wanted to point out, is that there is nothing new under the sun.  So many of us homeschool moms are tired, worn out, and burn the candle at both ends!  I can totally relate to this participant of the MEC in her beautifully penned letter to CM. Dear Madam, I regret the unavoidable delay in replying to your letter.  The M.E.C. has been of great value to me, although I have been prevented from working steadily for the examinations by having exceedingly delicate babies and other duties to perfor

Some thoughts on motivation

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I love it when I hear something and my thoughts are immediately brought back to something I read from Charlotte Mason's volumes!  Motivation is something that has been pursued in education circles for decades.  Even in homeschool forums you will come across the question "How can I get my child to WANT to do his schoolwork?" I'll reference a few CM quotes at the end of this post, but one of the key principles in a Charlotte Mason education is - These principles are limited by the respect due to the personality of children, which must not be encroached upon whether by the direct use of fear or love, suggestion or influence, or by undue play upon any one natural desire. That means, sticker charts, prizes, etc. are not a successful way to motivate a student. Although this TED talk addresses the business world, I feel there are so many applications to education.  Not just in homeschooling, but in public and private schools as well!  I keep saying there will be a

How do I "do" composer studies and folk songs?

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A question I see often in Charlotte Mason groups is "how do I do it?" when it comes to the approach of composer study and other branches of music.  I found this text from a book used in the PNEU schools to be very helpful ! I thought as a music educator I would walk you through each step with a specific musical example! 1.  This is all about the concept "FORM."  In modern education, we refer to form as AB or ABA instead of the Roman numerals listed above.  I am so glad that Scholes (the author) emphasized this important musical concept.  In our Charlotte Mason co-op we regularly spend time training our ears to listen for the main theme (or A section) of a piece of music.  In classical instrumental music or in singing folk songs, it is important to understand the form of the song. Folk song: AB ( Jim Along Josie ) or Irish Washerwoman Folk song: ABA ( This Train ) or Trepak from Nutcracker 2. There are many Charlotte Mason curriculae that help guide

Some Thanksgiving Thoughts

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I love holidays and with my kids being 1st and 3rd grade there is so much learning that can happen with living books as we approach holidays and festivals! Thanksgiving is tricky sometimes because of our traditions of whitewashing and watering down facts that led up to the "first Thanksgiving dinner." I read a great blog post here that gives a review on many popular children's Thanksgiving books.  I encourage you to give it a read! I also wanted to share some pictures of our history book (Countries and Their Children) that we are using for Form 1.  This was our reading yesterday and both my kids did an incredible job narrating!  I love the author's point of view in many of these chapters.    Overall I feel like this book did a balanced job of giving an accurate snapshot of history for kids. My 3rd grader is also reading "The Landing of the Pilgrims" ( A Landmark Book ) and we're enjoying the "historical fiction" of this n

Volume 1 Study - Pages 316-352

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We made it!!!  I hope you have learned as much as I have while digging into this amazing resource for homeschooling.  I fall more and more in love with the method of Charlotte Mason as I continually educate myself in the 20 principles and beliefs that lay a foundation for the formation of mine and my children's character!  One of my favorite quotes from the Volumes is: “As has been well said, ‘Sow an act, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny.’ And a great function of the educator is to secure that acts shall be so regularly, purposefully, and methodically sown that the child shall reap the habits of the good life, in thinking and doing, with the minimum of conscious effort.”  (Charlotte M. Mason Vol. II, p. 124)  I pray that as you mold your homeschool atmosphere your children will reap the reward of a good life! If you are interested in a modern book for your Mother Culture, check this book by Gretchen Rubin that speaks of h