I just heard about The Read-Aloud Handbook. I looked it up on Amazon and read a few pages of it from that site. Then I ordered it; it will be here tomorrow. It basically talks about the effects reading to your children has on them, when to begin reading to them, when to stop, and what to read. It is highly motivating and has, once again, changed my ideas about homeschooling and how to educate my kiddos. Reading that book in light of studying Charlotte Mason, Charlotte Mason is beginning to make a little more sense. Or rather, I'm seeing the value of educating FULLY Charlotte Mason style. I really like Ambleside Online, for example. But over and over again on that site the creators say not to treat this like another booklist, but to implement it the way Charlotte Mason prescribes. I've been treating it like a booklist :) A booklist that is difficult to make time for.
Our homeschoool day is full. First the kids do Xtra Math, then a page out of their math books. By the time we do those two things, in addition to getting everyone dressed, feeding everyone, cleaning up the mess, and reading out of the scriptures, the morning is over. I let the kids go out to play for a while as a break, then bring them back in at lunch, clean up, do a quick devotional (sing, recite a scripture, listen/read a scripture story or Friend article). Baby and Zach go down for naps and the rest of us go outside and do some sort of outdoor chore with Isaac. Babies wake, need diapers, everyone needs fed, kitchen needs cleaned again. Then I start phonics/spelling/grammar/reading/writing/lit. individually with Savannah and Charlotte. You know, the beast known as Language Arts. I also try to get them to do their piano during the day; they are both taking piano lessons now. I break up fights, clean up the constant huge messes made by Destructo Boy, clean out poopy panties, spray down poopy bums in the shower, clean more messes by D.B., do more dishes, make more food, give hugs, loves, and spankin's, and try not to lose my mind. I'm just a little busy. I try to squeeze in a read-aloud when they are in bed, but more often than not I'm too tired. This is NOT a Charlotte Mason education. : (
Can I just say right here and now: I'm OK with just one boy. That's all we need.
Where was I? Oh yeah, read-alouds. So reading aloud, aparently, is SO important, SO foundational to a good education and character, that I really can't afford to miss them. In fact, read-alouds should become the CORE of what we do during the day. Which means I need to reorganize our day and our priorities and our approach to education... again. It is too much of a check list. Math done.. check! Phonics Road done... Check! Scripture reading done.. check!
It's not meaning anything to the kids and the kids do not love learning : ( But they do like books and they like to listen to stories : )
If I took that amazing "book list" called Ambleside Online and made that more important than, say... the Beast, commonly known as Language Arts... and diligently read aloud and required the kids to read widely and often, narrating as we go, copying down the great ideas we read... I think that the Beast can appropriately be slain. Which hurts. I'm not sure I have the guts to put Phonics Road to the side. I'll have to ponder that a little longer.
A Charlotte Mason education is putting a feast of ideas (nature, science, artist, composers, math, geography, biographies, myths, fairy tales, character sketches) in front of the child through worthy books. The books have to use literary language and be uplifting (think: virtuous, lovly, of good report and praiseworthy). It is letting the child read, ponder, and then express through narrating or art, so that the ideas become digested and become theirs. Charlotte Mason education inspires a love of learning. A Charlotte Mason education is also a life style; it is having the Spirit in our home, being together as a happy family, working in the garden together, taking TIME together. Reading, walking, talking, singing, laughing together. JOY. For instance, DB is currently climbing in my lap trying to turn off the computer screen so that I will sing him itsy bitsy spider. That means I'm done typing for now.
Later.
Showing posts with label Charlotte Mason. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Charlotte Mason. Show all posts
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Monday, February 13, 2012
Moving towards Charlotte Mason
I've always loved Charlotte Mason's ideas on education. I've been acquainted with them for a few years now and have used many of her methods on and off. I just recently purchased For the Children's Sake and When Children Love to Learn, both of which are EXCELLENT reads and I highly recommend them to those thinking about homeschooling and wanting to learn more about Charlotte Mason.
Her ideas are very deep. You can't read and understand the philosophy in a short amount of time. And I won't attempt to explain her philosophy either, because I'm bound to do a hatchet job of it. But after reading those two books and few other articles on the subject, I have learned a few things I just want to make note of for myself.
When I read about CM and think about her philosophy on education as a life, and her view of children as people, and that my purpose as a teacher can and should be the same as my purpose as a mother, which is to share with my children virtuous ideas and experiences so that they can be filled with joy throughout their life. When I read and think about these things, I feel really good.
It has made me look at education differently. What is education anyway? What part of my education made a lasting impact on me? I have to admit, most of it has been flushed because it didn't mean anything to me. I learned information long enough to take a test, but I recall only a few things that actually had an impact on my thoughts or worldview or character, and those always came from a real book. In short, much of my "education" contributed absolutely nothing to my life. It was a waste of my time. Truly.
I could do that to my kids here at home too. I could get them the workbooks and have them diligently fill them out so they learn all the facts and information they need to know to pass the tests and get the paper that declares them educated.
But my kids... they deserve more than that. They're wonderful, and they have bright, imaginative minds that love learning and growing...
What do I want for my kids? I want them to be happy, to be intelligent, to be able to participate in the "great conversation", to be able to stand for truth and righteousness in a bold, intelligent, and convincing way. We are in a war of ideas, and more than anything I want my children to be able to effectively fight in that war when they leave my home. I want them to be well educated, but I don't think "being educated" comes from workbooks or texts or tests. Education comes from an abundant feast of virtuous, lovely, and praiseworthy ideas. Those sort of ideas come from the best books. The best books become part of your thoughts, character, and intelligence when they are read slowly and digested, then when narrated they become your own.
I happen to think Charlotte Mason's ideas will get us there. I think she is right. My kids will get the paper that says they are educated, but they will have so much more than a piece of paper when they leave my home.
At least that's my goal.
So what does this look like, day to day? My role has changed. My purpose is not to get my kids to plug through their first and second grade curriculums and be done with it, but rather to enjoy the journey of teaching, learning with, and interacting with my children while I have them. Together we get into books and learn ideas, words, worlds, virtues. We go outside and study God's creations and learn about reverence, order, beauty, and God. We create relationships with all these things, find joy in them and each other, and together become truly educated. Our time will not be wasted.
Her ideas are very deep. You can't read and understand the philosophy in a short amount of time. And I won't attempt to explain her philosophy either, because I'm bound to do a hatchet job of it. But after reading those two books and few other articles on the subject, I have learned a few things I just want to make note of for myself.
When I read about CM and think about her philosophy on education as a life, and her view of children as people, and that my purpose as a teacher can and should be the same as my purpose as a mother, which is to share with my children virtuous ideas and experiences so that they can be filled with joy throughout their life. When I read and think about these things, I feel really good.
It has made me look at education differently. What is education anyway? What part of my education made a lasting impact on me? I have to admit, most of it has been flushed because it didn't mean anything to me. I learned information long enough to take a test, but I recall only a few things that actually had an impact on my thoughts or worldview or character, and those always came from a real book. In short, much of my "education" contributed absolutely nothing to my life. It was a waste of my time. Truly.
I could do that to my kids here at home too. I could get them the workbooks and have them diligently fill them out so they learn all the facts and information they need to know to pass the tests and get the paper that declares them educated.
But my kids... they deserve more than that. They're wonderful, and they have bright, imaginative minds that love learning and growing...
What do I want for my kids? I want them to be happy, to be intelligent, to be able to participate in the "great conversation", to be able to stand for truth and righteousness in a bold, intelligent, and convincing way. We are in a war of ideas, and more than anything I want my children to be able to effectively fight in that war when they leave my home. I want them to be well educated, but I don't think "being educated" comes from workbooks or texts or tests. Education comes from an abundant feast of virtuous, lovely, and praiseworthy ideas. Those sort of ideas come from the best books. The best books become part of your thoughts, character, and intelligence when they are read slowly and digested, then when narrated they become your own.
I happen to think Charlotte Mason's ideas will get us there. I think she is right. My kids will get the paper that says they are educated, but they will have so much more than a piece of paper when they leave my home.
At least that's my goal.
So what does this look like, day to day? My role has changed. My purpose is not to get my kids to plug through their first and second grade curriculums and be done with it, but rather to enjoy the journey of teaching, learning with, and interacting with my children while I have them. Together we get into books and learn ideas, words, worlds, virtues. We go outside and study God's creations and learn about reverence, order, beauty, and God. We create relationships with all these things, find joy in them and each other, and together become truly educated. Our time will not be wasted.
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