living it

"Children are born with all the curiosity they will ever need. 

It will last a lifetime if they are fed upon a daily diet of ideas." 

--Charlotte Mason

This is the reminder on the front page of my planner that welcomes me each new school day ...

We school around the philosophy of revered British educator, Charlotte Mason. After Jesus, she is the heartbeat of our home school. Her thoughts on children and education and living and learning are truly exceptional and lovely and I strive to bring them to life daily.

This is our fourth week of school this new year and when my children are playing outside or sleeping I am going around and around with the routine and rhythm of our day to really focus in on not only *what* we are doing, but *how* and *why* we are doing it. Education is much more than academics ... much much more. Thankfully. 

How do we infuse "a daily diet of ideas" into the atmosphere of our home school? 

We begin with the study of the following subjects ... some together, some independently, not all everyday ...

Bible

devotions

worldview

hymns {church, American}

habits

recitation

classical language

modern language

history

biography

geography

natural history

science

children's literature

fables

fairy tales

poetry

Shakespeare

composer study

picture study

read-aloud classic literature

math

elocution

reading

copywork, dictation (handwriting, cursive, spelling)

composition (oral and written narration)

typing

instrument

handicrafts

fine art

Biblical character

Here is a glimpse of how I spread a feast of learning for my four children ~ all in a few hours, four days a week ~ carefully applying Miss Mason's hallmark principles of short lessons, habits, and beauty. We move from lesson to lesson seamlessly and several lessons overlap ... for instance, Mae is currently reading Inside Out and Back Again by Lai for elocution, copywork, dictation, literary elements, narration oral and written, writing projects, grammar, and independent reading. We bring Spanish folksongs into our math lessons. Fables read aloud become platforms for written narrations and for polishing and introducing oral narration. Our study of habits sets our feet on the path of smooth and easy days (not always easy, not always smooth, but we always give our best effort).

We fully live our education at home. Miss Mason is likely most known for her assertion that "education is an atmosphere, a discipline, a life" and it is my hope that I am putting forth a curriculum that illuminates these truths and that fosters a deep love for Jesus, His gospel, His people, and that stirs the wonders of their minds and both their spiritual and intellectual gifts. I am grateful to have found the beauty and rigor of a Charlotte Mason education from the start and each year (with the help of a handful of very dedicated home school moms) our home school grows closer to God and to the guiding convictions of Miss Mason. I am utterly grateful to share this journey with my children.

curriculum & cute faces 2013 ~ 2014

"Count it all joy ... " James 1:2

Jack ~ 4 years old

Jack ~ Helpful, distracting, utter happiness.

Before Five in a Row

Zebulon ~ Year 1

Zeb ~  Year 1

{history}

Bede's History of Me by Veritas Press

{biography}

Leif the Lucky by D'Aulaire

Pocahontas by D'Aulaire

Christopher Columbus by D'Aulaire

Benjamin Franklin by D'Aulaire

George Washington by D'Aulaire

Abraham Lincoln by D'Aulaire

Buffalo Bill by D'Aulaire

{literature}

Fables by Lobel

Memoria Press First Grade Read-Aloud Literature

{skills}

Delightful Handwriting by Lanaya Gore

Memoria Press Copybook I

The Three R's by Ruth Beechick

Memoria Press Alphabet Books

Memoria Press First Start in Reading

Reading Literature Primer by Treadwell

Mathematics Enhancement Programme Reception

Arithmetic for Young Children by Horace Grant

Memoria Press Numbers Book

VIola ~ Year 1

 Viola ~ Year 1

{classical language}

Getting Started with Latin by Linney

{history}

Fifty Famous Stories Retold by Baldwin

Viking Tales by Hall

{biography}

Pocahontas by D'Aulaire

Benjamin Franklin by D'Aulaire

George Washington by D'Aulaire

Abraham Lincoln by D'Aulaire

Buffalo Bill by D'Aulaire

{natural history}

James Herriot's Treasury

Seed Babies by Morley

A Child's Book of the Seasons by Ransome

{literature}

Charlotte's Web by White

The Moffetts by Estes

Mary Poppins by Traver

The Twelve Dancing Princesses retold by Mary Hoffman

Fables by Lobel

{skills} 

Memoria Press Copybook II

Simply Charlotte Mason Copybook Reader Vols 2 & 3

Bravewriter Jot It Down

Reading Literature Third Reader by Treadwell

(1) Free Write weekly

Mathematics Enhancement Program Year 2

Life of Fred Elementary Series

{free reading}

Chanticleer and the Fox retold by Barbara Cooney

Five Little Peppers and How They Grew by Sidney
Heidi by Spyri

Lola's Fandango by Witte
Otto of the Silver Hand by Pyle

Owls in the Family by Mowat

Pinocchio by Collodi

Pippi Longstocking by Lindgren

The Boy Who Grew Flowers by Wojtowicz

The Door in the Wall by de Angeli

The Family Under the Bridge by Carlson
The Story of Doctor Dolittle by Lofting

Mae ~ Year 4

Mae ~ Year 4

{classical language}

Getting Started with Latin by Linney

{church history & biography}

Monks & Mystics, Vol 2: Chronicles of the Medieval Church by Withrow

{geography}

Fifty States & Capitals by Memoria Press

{natural history}

Gentle Ben by Walt Morey

{literature}

Heidi by Spyri

The Saturdays by Enright

Twelve Dancing Princesses retold by Mary Hoffman

Eight Cousins by Alcott

{skills}

Intermediate Language Lessons by Emma Serl

Spelling Wisdom by Sonya Shafer

Hymns in Prose Cursive Copybook by Sonya Shafer

Bravewriter Arrow*

*Inside Out and Back Again

*Turtle in Paradise

*The Great Turkey Walk

*How Tia Lola Came to (Visit) Stay

*Navigating Early

*Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

*From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs Basil E Frankweiler

*The Dreamer

*The Single Shard

*The Prairie Thief

Bravewriter Jot It Down

(1) Fable written narration weekly

(1) Free Write weekly

Mathematics Enhancement Programme Year 3

Life of Fred Elementary & Intermediate Series

Typing Instructor for Kids by Mavis Beacon

{free reading}

A Wonder Book by Hawthorne

Chanticleer and the Fox by Clooney

Five Children and It by Nesbit

Five Little Peppers and How They Grew by Sidney

Gone Away Lake by Enright

Hans Christian Anderson Fairy Tales

Little Leap Forward: A boy in Beijing by Yue, Farrow, & Cann

Mary Poppins by Travers
Otto of the Silver Hand by Pyle

Pinocchio by Collodi

The Door in the Wall by Marguerite de Angeli

The Light Princess by MacDonald

The Moffats by Estes

Family Studies ~

{bible & devotions}

Joshua - Malachi, Simply Charlotte Mason Module 2 Guide

JPS Illustrated Children's Bible by Frankel

Wonder of It All by Terrill

Glory by Carlstrom

Let the Whole Earth Sing Praise by de Paola

When Dragon's Hearts Were Good by Davis

The True Account of Adam and Eve by Ham

The True Story of Noah's Ark by Dooley

Joseph by Wildsmith

Moses by Hodges

Exodus by Wildsmith

David and the Giant by Little

Jonah by Mitchell

Esther's Story by Wolksten

The Story of Daniel in the Lion's Den by McCarthy

The Princess & The Kiss by Bishop

Grandpa's Box: Retelling the Biblical Story of Redemption by Meade

Jesus In the Spotlight: John 1-10 by Arthur

Jesus: Awesome Power, Awesome Love: John 11-16 by Arthur

Jesus: To Eternity and Beyond!: John 17-21 by Arthur

{hymns}

Ambleside hymn rotation

{habits}

Laying Down the Rails for Children by Lanaya Gore

*Attention, Gentleness

**Obedience, Reading the Bible

***Kindness, Truthfulness

{recitation}

Psalm 1, 23, 63, 19

Smells by Christopher Morley

{modern language}

De Colores and Other Latin American Folksongs by Orozco

{instrument}

Oak Meadow Recorder

Fiddle lessons with the New Year

{history}

Our Island Story by HE Marshall

This Country of Ours by HE Marshall
Leif the Lucky by D'Aulaire
Christopher Columbus by D'Aulaire

{geography}

Charlotte Mason's Elementary Geography by Mason

Home Geography for Primary Grades by Long

Tree in the Trail by Holling

Seabird by Holling

{nature & science}

Handbook of Nature Study by Comstock

Burgess Animal Book for Children

Science Lab in a Supermarket by Friedhoffer

{poetry}

Ambleside Online Poetry: Year One Collection

Milne, Stevenson, A Child's Book of Poems by Fujikawa

{music study}

Haydn

Handel {attend Messiah at Music Hall}

Opera

{picture study}

Van Gogh

Turner

Monet

{handicrafts & art}

Creating a Masterpiece: Lessons in Acrylic

Mary Frances Knitting & Crocheting Book

Creating a Masterpiece: Lessons in Pastel

{read aloud literature}

My Book House by Miller

The Complete Winnie the Pooh by Milne {audio}

Little Pilgrim's Progress, Part II by Bunyan

The Chronicles of Narnia by Lewis

Child's Book of Heroes edited by Bennett

Swallows and Amazons by Ransome

Robin Hood by Calcutt & Baker-Smith

Wind in the Willows by Graham

{Sunday reading}

Parables from Nature by Gatty

make time slow down

We are into our third week of our new home school year. Sigh. I cannot believe my sweet Mae is going to be nine and has started third grade. I vividly remember every moment of her life. Not kidding. And, I remember like yesterday our first day of Kindergarten together. We read Lentil with Five in a Row and practiced puckering. I love home schooling. Love love love love. Now we're onto reading the Gospels, singing hymns, memorizing scripture, loving the unlovable, primary language lessons, thinking math, oral narration, forgiveness, picture study, composer study, geography of the life of Christ, service, intentional nature study, commonplace books of poetry, tales, Shakespeare, good books, and lots of art and prayer and playing outside.

I have {FIAR} sitting here all ready to dig into for this year with the girls, but every time I think we'll start I miss the organic simplicity of our Charlotte Mason days, and I really cannot blend the two seamlessly. I know that Viola would thrive with {FIAR} but I also know my limitations and separating the girls right now with my challenges that Zeb brings and his own full Kindergarten plate, including {B4FIAR}, and I don't think I can be all that I should be to each of these little people, while keeping up with Jack, too.

Mae is really soaking in our days and she loves it. Our smooth and easy routine resonates with her, while Viola hasn't quite found her groove. This is her first true year of school and she hasn't been expected to sit for long periods of time, so we are working on those habits right now. ("Long" in our lessons means 20 min at most for her, at most.) Last year in her "Kindergarten" year she completed into second grade math and she reads and comprehends at an 8th grade level, and she learned about birds so deeply as to put ornithologists to shame, so this year holds a lot of awesome experiences for her that go far beyond the scholastic ... like stillness, discovery, nature, journaling, wonder, art, cursive, Life of Fred math, singing, music lessons, and scripture over a story Bible. She will turn seven near the end of this school year so there is no rush at all with her. This year is again about fueling a fire for learning and experiencing the lovely in the every day, but intentionally making the every day lovely by finding God's hand in it all.

I've been tucking Zeb's Kindergarten lessons here and there between the girls' lessons, and what works best in our home is no real schedule, but rather a framework of lessons done before lunch, lunch with a read aloud, naps, outdoors time, and chores before baths, dinner, stories, and bedtime. I use the Simply Charlotte Mason Organizer and in truth, I could sing its praises all day long and that couldn't express enough my thanks for it. 

Jack is my joy. He centers me every single day and brings complete unbridled happy to this home. A good dose of Jack and the day bubbles over with spontaneity and carefree. We read Bible stories together, build legos, watch trains, color, finger paint, play cars, make play doh picnics, dig in the sandbox, get sweaty outside, play Pictureka, and eat snacks to our hearts' content. He is the baby preschooler, afterall, and I for one am reveling in that bittersweet reality.

All Things New

I've missed it here! Oh I'm eager to begin writing a bit again and sharing our weeks of homeschooling and life ... especially for all of my family and friends who are too far away. This month winds down Second Grade, Kindergarten, nine months home for Zeb, and amazing growing-up for my littlest. Lots to catch up on and to share. 

Until then, here's a recent pic of my four visiting Paul Revere's House on the anniversary of his midnight ride ...

Time

I'm ridiculously blessed to find that so many friends out there have missed my posts here. Thank you for caring! In truth, I can't seem to find the passion to write much lately. Life is very hard with Zeb and much of the joy in our lives has been sucked out and we are desperately trying to find it again on a minute-to-minute basis. I devote every waking (and that includes the wee hours of the morning) hour to our school lessons and to creating an atmosphere of loving learning and living, despite the chaos that engulfs us daily. It is exhausting and draining and saddening. I have little time to chronicle our weeks like I used to, but I hope to someday soon find that place of peace again. I am maintaining my curriculum page here since it's my virtual notepad, but aside from that, I need time to just be quiet in the evenings ... time with Him, praying, learning to knit, reading, lesson planning, crying, whatever keeps me sane in order to face the next morning. Perhaps I'll share photos of the week if I'm so stirred. Talk soon ... we deeply covet your prayers. 

Lessons ~ Bible, Science, History, & Nature

The really good stuff ...

Scripture Memory

Adventures in My Father's World ~ science

Interaction of yeast and sugar ... Jesus is the bread of LIFE.

Notebooking our discoveries.

Yeast interacting with salt ... not so impressive.

Adventures in My Father's World ~ History

Oiled paper windows, in the spirit of the Pilgrims.

The Dutch Pilgrims ... well, coloring the Dutch Pilgrims.

Unusual concentration for this one.

Homemade butter.

James was not a fan.

All Nature Sings, Queen Homeschool

Studying oak leaves.

Aging trees.

Picking moss.

Lovely lichen.

Weekly nature walk.

Or, skip.

Or, climb.

Back home ...

to notebook our exploration.

Viola, age 5

Mae, age 7

Birds, Nests, and Eggs (Take Along Guides)

This week we read about the Chickadee in the Burgess Bird Book for Children, listened to its song, watched a video of it in flight, then enjoyed a little fellow on our bird bath outside the kitchen window.

Each of my girls keeps a nature notebook to chronicle our bird studies, ala Burgess.

I am crazy thankful for the gift of home schooling these children and witnessing their amazing growth and learning and wonder. So very thankful.