I read an article this morning on Homeschool Methods titled "Planting Your Garden" by the Parker Family. It basically dicusses 2 methods, the Classical and Charlotte Mason, and how they can ultimately be harmonized. It was very encouraging for me as I think through these 2 styles of education. I am in love with Charlotte but still cling to the Classical. I feel a kindred spirit with Charlotte Mason and a noble companionship with Classical Education.
Harmonized... "Both Charlotte Mason and Classical methods of instruction have the capacity to be the flame that ignites a love of learning and kindles the essence of a true liberal education;we believe that if we keep their common goal in view,we can more surely hit the mark with techniques drawn from both camps." Parker Family
As of right now I am describing our Homeschool like this: We are Growing Minds of Wisdom down the flourishing path of Classical Education walking closely in communion with Charlotte Mason as we are daily guided by the Light.
Just thought you might want to know :0).
Nat Turner Rebellion
11 years ago
8 comments:
"As of right now I am describing our Homeschool like this: We are Growing Minds of Wisdom down the flourishing path of Classical Education walking closely in communion with Charlotte Mason as we are daily guided by the Light. "
Beautifully put! We too combine aspects of both these excellent templates for education. I tend to call myself an eclectic homeschooler, but I draw mostly from Classical and CM.
Thanks for a wonderful link and some encouraging thoughts for those of us who, like you, enjoy blending CM and Classical.
Hi, This is Megan here. I've commented before on your other blog. Yours is the only blog I let myself read - (wanting to be a good steward of my time!) So, I just wanted to say thanks! I feel like you are giving...your thoughts, encouragement...and I am just taking/being encouraged...so, please accept my thanks! Anyways, can you tell me how your daily schedule pans out? I have a 2 boys, ages 6 and 4-1/2, and an 18-month-old baby girl. I would describe myself as an eclectic homeschooler who aspires towards Charlotte's Mason's ways of thinking. How do you balance "delight-driven" learning with actually having the kids sit down and DO their math, handwriting, grammar? Can being scheduled to a point (getting core subjects done before lunch) coexist with "delightful" learning? I guess I just am not sure how my boys can delight in the knowledge of math drills! :) So, I would love any input you could give me about how you schedule your day. By the way, I live in freezing cold and snowy Michigan and am SOOOO jealous of your 80 degree days in Texas! How I wish the boys could be outside exploring every day. Today they came inside after being out for an hour and they were soaking wet frozen popsicles!!! Anyways, thanks again for your inspiring blog! May God richly bless you today my sister in Christ! Megan
Very beautifully said. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Blessings,
Melissa
www.homeschoolblogger.com/melissal89
Your date has passed for our new arrival, so come back and guess again! :)
Megan! I am so humbled by your sweet comment! Our littles sound very close to the same age and I bet they would enjoy eachother's company very much.
How does our daily schedule pan out? Well it is different each day for the most part :-) as I am sure you know. I have been really trying to get my boys up by 7:00 or so and then begin our daily prep but as for school our starting time is 9:00 and what I have been doing lately is only allowing 15-20 minutes for each subject. I have also been changing up the subjects to keep things fresh for Superman and I can not say enough about how marvelous this is working for us. As for math drills... we quit doing them for now because they were not at all delightful and I found them sucking much joy from our learning. I plan on ordering some more delightful ways of learning these math facts and enjoying them over the summer. I have been experiencing the amazing joy of watching my child delight in learning as well as follow a schedule. We are not strict with our schedule, it does not rule us but simply directs us. I think a combination of several things have really made a huge difference in our learning experience, that of shorter lessons, free time outside, and changing things up each day. Now, I realize that outside is not an option for your boys but what about trying to bring nature inside a little? But just the fact of being finished with "school" by an early hour leaving the rest of the day for exploration or other creative/playful time. We usually finish by lunch. After lunch we have a rest time, Superman and me, enjoying a good hour of reading our bibles together, our other current book and then discussing them together. It is always a "delgihtful time of learning" in our good books, we both enjoy and look forward to this time. I let him enjoy whatever books he wants during this time and have a basket of nature books by the couch that he usually picks from and enjoys learning about God's creation through the pictures mostly but also through the description when his curiousity gets the better of him. :0)
This is all I can give you right now but i really hope to post a few thoughts more on our schedule soon as it has changed more towards the CM method. Well I really hope that you found something of use from all of my words today. Have a great day Megan, I would love it if you would email me so that I have a way to contact you!
JOYfully in Him,
Kelli
Hi Kelli, Thanks so much for taking the time to respond to my comment! I am quite frustrated right now because I tried to email you through your profile and I just got an error code. I would love to "talk" via email. I always smile when you post pics of your boys. I see my own in them. Our second born is kind of a wild monkey who makes us laugh - like your T-Rex! Anyways, if you can magically figure out how to get your email to me that would be so great! I hope you enjoyed a feast of worship, fellowship and God's Word at church today! In Him, Megan (mom3arrows)
Megan that is weird, it worked for me! My email is:
keli_kalani@hotmail.com
Hope to hear from you soon!
JOYfully in Him,
Kelli
Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving a comment about my echolocation post and the boy who sees with his ears. And, thanks for sharing this link. I have been learning a lot about CM this year and implimenting more & more of her philosophy. But, all this week I've been running into Classical ideas and I'm still trying to decide if God is telling me something. I really didn't want to leave CM behind. Maybe God will show me a way to mix the 2 together into something that works for our family.
Thanks again,
Dana
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