I finally read the free ebook, Getting Started in Homeschooling…and loved what I found:
“Remember the motto “Education is the Science of Relations.” Charlotte (Mason) was not so concerned about what facts a child knew as what relations he had formed—what ideas he felt a kinship with and cared about.
The question is not,––how much does the youth know? when he has finished his education––but how much does he care? and about how many orders of things does he care? In fact, how large is the room in which he finds his feet set? and, therefore, how full is the life he has before him?”
With its comparison to other learning methods, Charlotte’s made the most sense to me…even with unschooling.
I still believe in letting the child’s interest lead the way, but giving them, as Charlotte says, “a feast of ideas to choose from”, seems even better…some structure and guidance, but still choice.
I will definitely put their other free ebooks on my list:
Smooth and Easy Days
Education is an Atmosphere, a Discipline, a Life
(..and, who knows, maybe even purchase this one.)
As well as, start using simplycharlottemason.com as a regular reference:
Early Years Guide
Early Years Read-Alouds
Handicrafts and Life Skills
Book of Centuries
Trip Journal
I can also start to implement the basic principles of the Charlotte Mason way:
~ Keep lessons short (stopping before the child gets bored. (I’ve experienced this with Marbs…with her saying, “Mommy, I really don’t feel like doing this anymore.”)
~ Emphasize good habits:
“Two very important habits for school time are the habits of attention and best effort. You can encourage these habits from the beginning by emphasizing quality over quantity.”
I’ve experienced this as well, especially with our art…Marbs will easily create 5 paintings/pictures/whatevers to my 1. I try to showcase my thoroughness and attention to detail, taking my time and filling the entire page, but she’s just like, “haha Mommy, you only have one, but look at all mine.” Step it up. :)
I would also like to incorporate “narrations” in our reading. I had started something similar with the book, Chasing Redbird by Sharon Creech. Being a chapter book with very little pictures, I thought we could draw our own…recreating the main ideas and hopefully bringing some of those details to life.
The picture, music and poetry “studies” sound interesting as well. Exploring one artist’s collective works until the child has a good feel for their unique and distinctive qualities.
Jerm being the music lover that he is, has already started in. First up…Jack White! :)
Anyway, so many great ideas that I hope to incorporate and expand upon. I hope you’ll be inspired as well!
