Goss Homeschool Academy

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

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

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

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

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

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

History Pages 279-295 have so much to say about history and how important our book choices and activities are to help foster a relationship between our students and the subject of history.  A Delectable Education has always been my first choice in a resource that helps me plan for the books and timelines we use in our own homeschool.  Because we are an American family, I have followed the advice in this section to begin with our own nation's history with my Form 1B kids!  To learn more about book lists and advice from ADE visit this page. Why teach history?   What books should we stay away from?   Why is the early history of a nation better to start with than the later, modern times? Discuss the importance of Plutarch's Lives and give two examples that should regulate the teaching of history. What kinds of books lead well to narration?   Can you give any positive personal experiences from your book choices? Grammar Pages 295-300 take on the subject of grammar an

I am participating in a Charlotte Mason study group with Brandy Vencel at Afterthoughts Blog and the question came up after reading in Volume 6 - "What does music appreciation look like?" I could write my own blog post on why I think music appreciation is important and what it looks like, but instead I would like to point you in the direction of an AMAZING book I just found! The Title is "Music Talks With Children" and can be read here or listened to through Librivox here . I would like to give my own narration on some of the sections of this book and then post the quote.  First, when we read the chapter "What the Face Tells" you can see a common idea that is in many of the CM volumes that not only should we understand what the PRACTICE is for our teaching, but what PRINCIPLE is being upheld through that practice.  I love that the idea of this first section - to be a student that diligently studies allows that student to be a light to others.