Simply Charlotte Mason Conference

A couple of weeks ago I was blessed to be able to attend a SCM conference by Sonya Shafer. What a sweet, precious woman who is such a wonderful resource in learning about the CM style of education. She has many different seminars, however I attended the Books &Things Seminar (which is the one I would have chosen, given the chance)!

She started out with a quote from Miss Mason herself.

"Education is the Science of Relations; that is, that a child has natural relations with a vast number of things and thoughts: so we must train him upon physical exercises, nature, handicrafts, science and art, and upon many living books; for we know that our business is, not to teach him all about anything, but to help him to make valid, as many as may be of 'Those first-born affinities, that fit our new existence to existing things' " (Preface to the Home Education series).

I love the part of the quote that stated "our business is not to teach him all about anything...". Doesn't that relieve a lot of the pressure that we, as homeschooling mothers, put on ourselves? Our role is to show them a little about a lot, in my opinion. We are to teach them how to teach themselves to become lifelong learners. Let's tickle their fancy about a lot of subjects and see what comes of it. I really liked that quote.

Sonya placed the three types of relations that we, as humans, have onto a chart:

Relation to God
Relation to Man
Relation to Universe

Then under each of those three she placed the school subjects that we study:

God: Bible
Man (past and present men): History, Literature, Morals and Economics, Citizenship,
Composition, Languages, Art
Universe (God's creation): Science, Geography, Math, Physical Development/Handicrafts

I love seeing these laid out in this way. Each subject is taught as a relation to one of the three things. I've just never thought of that in this way. This was the conclusion of her introduction (haha!). I'll post Session 1 in another post. Hope you're enjoying it!

Jill

Fall Wonders- CM style!

"It would be well if all we persons in authority, parents and all who act for parents, could make up our minds that there is no sort of knowledge to be got in these early years so valuable to children as that which they get for themselves of the world they live in. Let them once get touch with Nature, and a habit is formed which will be a source of delight through life. We were all meant to be naturalists, each in his degree, and it is inexcusable to live in a world so full of the marvels of pant and animal life and to care for none of these things" (Vol. 1, p. 61).

As we were waving goodbye to Daddy this morning Man-Man looked up at me with an excited grin on his face, eyes wide with anticipation. "Mommy, when can we go into the back-back and study our nature study?" The "back-back" as the kids have so named it, is the large free space that exists behind our back gate. Daddy put a gate into the fence so that we could go into the wonderful wooded area behind our house and explore all that God has for us. There is even a little creek back there.

I told Man-Man to go get his shoes on and tell his sisters we're going to do our nature study. The sleepy house was suddenly alive and jumping! In no time we were out of the doors, with Gidgi (my mom) and Lucy (our dog) in tow.

"Wow, Mom! The leaves are all gone! And our favorite hiding tree has no leaves on it either!" Man-Man was the first to notice the drastic change in our trees from two weeks ago. No longer are the beautiful yellow, red, orange, and brown leaves hanging from the trees. Instead they are piled up in a mound under the trees from which they fell. The kids love one tree in particular. It has large limbs which bend under the weight of the leaves to form a canopy of sorts. It's a club house, or secret hiding place for them. But now, it's bare and empty. We found a wonderful treasure on their tree though. Large, green, oval shaped things hung from the branches. Some of these green things were split open to reveal a pecan hanging inside. What a fun discovery! They ran around the tree finding other green capsules to open up and even began gathering the pecans they found on the ground.

I asked if they could tell which leaves used to be on the tree. There were many many different types of leaves on the ground under this tree. The wind had been working it's magic and all of the leaves were mixed up. Tink found one little lone stalk still hanging onto the special tree though. She ran and picked it, proudly proclaiming that THIS must be the leaf since it came from the tree itself. We matched it with some of the leaves on the ground.

"The child has truly a great deal to do before he is in a condition to 'believe his own eyes'; but Nature teaches so gently, so gradually, so persistently, that he is never overdone, but goes on gathering little stores of knowledge about whatever comes before him" (Vol. 1, p. 66).

Man-Man made another discovery. Over in the distance was a tree that still had many green leaves on it. As a matter of fact, though some leaves had fallen, most were still as green as ever. I picked up a leaf from our Pecan tree off of the ground and took it over to the new mystery tree. I picked a "leaf" from this tree and held the two together. We discussed the fact that this new tree was actually a pine tree and noted the differences in the leaves' shape and color. We also found other evergreen trees in our back-back and compared those leaves. Now, the children made these connections on their own. All I did was guide their discovery. How proud I was that they noticed and wanted to know more about these spiky pine needles I held in my hand.

"That the child should be taken daily, if possible, to scenes-moor or meadow, park, common, or shore-where he may find new things to examine, and so add to his store of real knowledge. That the child's observation should be directed to flower or boulder, bird or tree; that, in fact, he should be employed in gathering the common information which is the basis of scientific knowledge" (Vol. 1, p. 177).

After spending over an hour in the beautiful Fall weather we returned to the indoors to put together all that we'd discovered. Tink drew a picture of the new evergreen needles she and Man-man had discovered. She also wrote a wonderful "essay" detailing many of our facts and adventures outside. This has been one of the most surprising benefits of our Nature studies. Tink really loves to write about what she's seen or done. She writes it once and we go through it together correcting spelling and punctuation. She then recopies it onto a clean sheet to put into her nature journal. There we go...science, spelling, grammar, copywork all rolled into one!

"Of the teaching of Natural Philosophy, I will only remind the reader of what was said in an earlier chapter- that there is no part of a child's education more important than that he should lay, by his own observation, a wide basis of facts torwards scientific knowledge in the future. he must live hours in the open air, and as far as possible, in the country; must look and touch and listen; must be quick to note, consciously, ever peculiarity of habit or structure, in beast, bird, or insect; the manner of growth and fructification of every plant" (Vol. 1, p. 264).

"And this is the process the child shoudl continue for the first few years of his life. Now is the storing time which sould be spent in laying up images of things familiar" (Vol. 1, p. 66).

Jill

Nature Study 2nd week/ Charlotte Mason lessons

I'm having a lot of fun with this nature study we've started doing. My previous post about the "jewels in our backyard" reminded me that we have even more to explore in our backyard (our very own backyard). We have a large "free space" of land behind our fence that has woods and deer in it. We built a gate into our fence some time ago so that we could access this space however, we rarely do. Yesterday we opened up the gate and the children had so much fun exploring and discovering our very own backyard.

Charlotte Mason says in Part II of her Home Education book that "every hour spent in the open is a clear gain, tending to the increase of brain power and bodily rigour, and to the lengthening of life itself. (pg. 42)" She goes on to say that we should "never be within doors when you can rightly be without". (pg. 42) I love this quote! I need to use that one on my children.

Miss Mason has some excellent examples of simple nature studies that she shares with her readers. Her philosophy of nature study stems from this quote of hers: "They must be let alone, left to themselves a great deal, to take in what they can of the beauty of earth and heavens; for of the evils of modern education few are worse than this- that the perpetual cackle of his elders leaves the poor child not a moment of time, nor an inch of space, wherein to wonder- and grow. At the same time, here is the mother's opportunity to train the seeing eye, the hearing ear, and to drop seeds of truth into the open soul of the child, which shall germinate, blossom, and bear fruit, without further help or knowledge of hers." (pg. 44)

This is powerful and we all need to take note! Miss Mason is basically taking most of the responsibility for leading the lesson away from us. We don't have to know everything to guide our children in their studies. We just have to present them with time and opportunity to be children. Their exploring and curious minds will take it from there. So often we are scared that we can't teach a particular subject or we're upset that we don't know all of the answers. Our precious children don't expect us too. But we must allow them to explore and discover, and be willing to learn along with them.

The next page talks about the parents who feel that they have to constantly have something planned for their children to do. She says "no". Don't always have stories to read to them, tell jokes, recite tales, etc. Just simply enjoy and don't always try to entertain them. This is a very important lesson for the OCD moms and the "overplanners". I tend to fall into one of those categories myself. I feel guilty that I don't have planned activities to fill their days with. Miss Mason says that that's just allowing the children time to be children. It's wonderful the ideas and creations our children come up with when their imaginations are allowed to take flight!

I'll end with this final though from Miss Mason for today. "In this time of extraordinary pressure, educational and social, perhaps a mother's first duty to her children is to secure for them a quiet growing time, a full six years of passive receptive life, the waking part of it spent for the most part out in the fresh air. And this, not for the gain in bodily health alone- body and soul, heart and mind, are nourished with food convenient for them when the children are let alone, let to live without friction and without stimulus amongst happy influences which incline them to be good." (pg 43)

Isn't it amazing that this woman lived over 100 years ago and it seems as if she's telling us exactly what is needed for mothers today. Remember to let your school be pleasurable, calm, and have much room for exploring the world around us. "All the time, too, the children are storing up memories of a happy childhood". (pg 43) Isn't that what it's all about?

Jill

Charlotte Mason Pearls of Wisdom

Code of Education in the Gospels- "It may surprise parents who have not given much attention to the subject to discover also a code of education in the gospels, expressly laid down by Christ. It is summed up in three commandments, and all three have a negative character, as if the chief thing required of grown-up people is that they should do no sort of injury to the children: Take heed that ye offend not-despise not- hinder not- one of these little ones." (Charlotte Mason vol 1 page 12)

Miss Mason begins, here, to explain the code of education as presented by the Bible. The Lord teaches us how to teach. How wonderful is that! Of course, we shouldn't be surprised. He has every bit of advice and wisdom we'll ever need wrapped up in that precious Holy book. She mentions that these three educational laws of the New Testament "cover all the help we can give the children and all the harm we can save them from" (pg 12). She goes on to help us to understand that by the Bible telling us what we may NOT do it helps us to understand better what we MAY do or MUST do.

1) Offences- "The first and second of the Divine edicts appear to include our sins of commission and of ommission against the children: we offend them, when we do by them that which we ought not to have done; we despise them, when we leave undone those things which, for their sakes, we ought to have done." (CM vol 1 page 13)

Miss Mason writes here about the opinion that children are born to be law-abiding. They want to do the right thing. However they also get their cues from the adults that they are around. Children are watching our every move. If we bend the rules, they learn to bend the rules. If we laugh at the cuteness of a child taking a toy from his/her older sister the child then learns that it's o.k. or even good to take from others. Bit by bit, slowly the child's character is being formed. We must take special care that we are molding our children by God's standards. Most importantly we must make sure that we are acting ourselves in accordance with the Lord's commands. We can't tell them the stand-by "do as I say and not as I do". They learn by watching. They learn from us.

2) Despising the children- how could we ever despise our children? It seems like such a harsh word. Miss Mason defines it as "to have a low opinion of, to undervalue". Oh, that makes a difference. Do we ever find that we despise our children, our husband, ourselves even? We must take care to always cherish our children. To value them as the Lord values them. They "should have the best of their mother, her freshest, brightest hours..." (CM pg 18).

I love our mornings at home. I love that each morning we wake up when we need too (not too early, not too late) eat breakfast together as a family (unrushed) and then proceed to spend quality time together in school and play. We are all at our best in the morning, refreshed and awaiting a wonderful day. I love this! These are my best hours. These are also my children's best hours. I'm so blessed that I don't have to wake them up before the sun, rush them through getting dressed and breakfast, and get them to school so that they can spend their best hours with complete strangers day after day. Oh, thank you Lord that I get to have them during these blessed times. This, my friend, is what life is all about. Don't neglect to give your children your best each day.

3) Hindering the Children- "The most fatal way of despising the child falls under the third educational law of the Gospels; it is to overlook and make light of his natural relationship with Almighty God. 'Suffer the little children to come unto Me,' says the Savior, as if that were the natural thing for the children to do, the thing they do when they are not hindered by their elders.

And perhaps it is not too beautiful a thing to believe in this redeemed world, that, as the babe turns to his mother though he has no power to say her name, as the flowers turn to the sun, so the hearts of the children turn to their Savior and God with unconscious delight and trust. (CM page 20)

I love love the last paragraph (which is not a seperate paragraph from the one above in the actual book. I seperated it to set it apart.). The Lord says that until we "humble ourselves like a child we will never inherit the Kingdom of God". They are born with a desire and longing for our Lord. WE ALL are born with that same desire. Do we all still have that desire, that longing? If not, where did it go? How did we loose it? Who hindered us? Let us make sure that we are leading our children TO Christ and not away from Him. The Lord will hold us all accountable and His judgement will be sure, true, and thourough!

Dear friend I hope you are reading Miss Mason right along with me. I could never put into this blog all that I'm learning from her writings. I feel unable to even explain my thoughts clearly in the little that I do write. But I do hope that you get something from this. And I hope that it entices you to dig for yourselves, learn, and grow through these writings.

Jill

CM- A Method of Education

For those of you new to the blog I've decided to add my thoughts, ideas, and favorite passages as I read through the Charlotte Mason Original Homeschooling Series. There is a wealth of information in this series and I feel overwhelmed at the daunting task of trying to get it all into this blog. I will be simply placing the passages and ideas that I feel most drawn too. Now, you may read the series (which I do hope you will) and find something totally different. But isn't that what is great about books and literature? It's all in the eye of the beholder.

So, we pick up on page 6 of Volume 1. Miss Mason is speaking on the "traditional methods of education".

The traditions of the elders have been tried and found wanting; it will be long before the axioms of the new school pass into common currency; and, in the meantime, parents are thrown upon their own resources, and absolutely must weigh principles, and adopt a method, of education for themselves. CM vol. 1 page 6

I've read many times that Miss Mason was a woman 100 years before her time. This point that she makes here proves that is true. Here we are in the year 2009 and the "traditions of the elders" are still found wanting. No school is perfect, including our homeschools, but I think Miss Mason agrees that there is a need for a change from the typical example of schools in todays world (or the 19th century world even).

She goes on to talk about the methods and systems which are used in schools. She defines method as "natural; easy, yielding, unobtrusive, simple as the ways of Nature herself; yet, watchful, careful, all-pervading, all-compelling." (page 8)

She defines a system at the "observing of rules until the habit of doing certain things, of behaving in certain ways, is confirmed..." (page 9) She goes on to say that "though system is highly useful as an instrument of education, a 'system of education' is mischievous, as producing only mechanical action instead of the vital growth and movement of a living being"(page 10).

Miss Mason's approach to education is not a system made up of rules and a daily to-do list. She uses the following chapters to try to let the parents know some of the fundamental principles of education so they won't be tempted by the "system" of some people's views on education.

The Child in the Midst- And first, let us consider where and what the little being is who is entrusted to the care of human parents. A tablet to be written upon? A twig to be bent? Wax to be moulded? Very likely; but he is much more- a being belonging to an altoghether higher estate than ours; as it were, a prince committed to the fostering care of peasants. (CM page 11)

As you can probably tell, I love love this passage! I named my blog after this passage and the quote is at the top right of the blog. There is so much meat here. What is this "little being" that we are entrusted to care for? How shall we view him/her? And not only that, but we must realize that they don't even belong to us. They are entrusted to us for a time. It is our responsibility to "raise them in the nurture and admoniton of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4). We will give an account to almighty God and I want to make sure that the education I'm giving them is the best I possibly can. I feel it's one of my main goals in life. God called me to homeschool. I never thought I'd do this. But He called me and I accepted that call. I am responsible to Him and Him alone.

More CM pearls of wisdom

Page 3 of Miss Mason's book talks about the fact that the "training of children is dreadfully defective". As I usually say, the system is broken! There are many reason's that I homeschool and this is one of them. I could write a book but I'll let Miss Mason speak on this:

What is to be expected when one of the most intricate of problems is undertaken by those who have given scarcely a thought to the principle on which its solution depends? (CM vol 1 page 3)

I was an elementary education major in college and when I graduated I looked around at those with me, or those coming up behind me. Seeing what I saw scared the daylights out of me. There are some excellent, amazing teachers out there. But there are also some to be very scared of. I have said many times that I would not want my worst enemy taught by 80% of the people I graduated with...for more reasons than one.

She goes on to talk about parents and "how parents usually proceed". She mentions that in the beginning there is much "ooing and ahhing" over everything that the child does. But:

The notion of doing all for the child with which the parents began gradually recedes. So soon as he shows that he has a way of his own he is encouraged to take it. Father and mother have no greater delight than to watch the individuality of their child unfold as a flower unfolds. The more the child shapes his own course, the less do the parents find to do, beyond feeding him with food convenient, whether of love, or thought, or of bodily meat and drink. (CM page 4)

Isn't it true that the older the children get the less we have to do for them. Sometimes this is wonderful. I love watching their personalities and abilities emerge. They discover that they can do it themselves and it excites them! It's great that my 7 year old can get her own snack and clean her own room. I love watching her read now and the fact that she'll soon be learning multiplication tables. My ds5 is learning his letters and sounds. It's joy to my heart that he walks around saying "F...fffffff" Yet we must be aware that they are still young and so impressionable. They are still "unwritten tablets" that have much to be written upon. Let us be sure that we don't take the easy road all the time and let's train them and work with them even if they can do it themselves.

Reading aloud comes to mind here. Miss Mason and the CM method of education weighs heavily upon reading aloud to children, no matter the age. Yes, my daughter can read. But there is nothing better than curling up on the couch with her in my arms and reading a book aloud to her no matter if she can read it herself or not.

It is in the infinitely little we must study the infinitely great; and the vast possibilities, and the right direction of education, are indicated in the open book of the little child's thoughts. (CM page 5)

I love love this quote. "...the open book of the little child's thoughts". How wonderful is that. They will lead us in the way we should educate them. What's good for one may not be good for the other. Don't force the children to conform to some method, some program, some curriculum if it's not working out for them. We must study our children, work with them, listen to them. They will guide us in what they need.

Well, nap time is almost over for the day so I shall sign off until another day. Have a blessed afternoon and rest of the day!

Charlotte Mason Pearls of Wisdom

I'm reading through the Charlotte Mason Original Homeschooling Series right now and I am simply loving it! It's not an easy read, it's very meaty. There is so much to gleam from this woman and I don't want to miss anything. I'll try to post regularly about my readings and what she's taught me. It is a slow read though, as I find myself underlining and putting a star next to almost each paragraph!

Miss Mason begins her series speaking of children as being a part of the public trust.

"Now that work which is of most improtance to society is the bringing-up and instruction of the children-in the school, certainly, but far more in the home, because it is more than anything else the home influences brought to bear upon the child that determine the character and career of the future man or woman. It is a great thing to be a parent: there is no promotion, no dignity, to compare with it."

I love this passage! It is so true that the future of society is on our shoulders. We should not take this responsibility lightly. Miss Mason continues in this...

"It is upon the mothers of the present that the future of the world depends, in even a greater degree than upon the fathers, because it is the mothers who have the sole direction of the children's early, most impressible years."

I feel that so many times we take this responsibility so lightly. We can't wait until our children can read, write, learn on their own. But we end up wishing away the formitable years of their lives. I pray I can enjoy each and ever minute with my precious angels and see each day as a day that I can help to draw them closer to our Lord and closer to His will for their lives.

"Mothers owe 'a thinking love' to their children. The mother is qualified by the Creator Himself, to become the principal agent in the development of her child; and what is demanded of her is- a thinking love."

This passage is awesome to me. Note that is mentioned in my blog name as well. A thinking love. A purpose driven love. A love that knows no bounds yet a love that is thoughtout and planned. A mother's love can never be topped. This is one of the reasons I chose to homeschool. No one loves my children more than I do (other than our Lord, of course). No one has more interest in seeing my children succeed more than I do. Why would I entrust my children's future to someone else, no matter how great a teacher, that doesn't love my children and desire them to succeed more than I do.

I end here. There is much more to post on what I've read of Miss Mason so far. But I will save that future posts. I will continue to write on Miss Mason and what I'm learning. It's sort of like a journal for me. A way to compile my thoughts. I pray anyone reading this may gleam some sort of benefit from them and maybe even read of Miss Mason themselves!

Jill