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.