Re: Charlotte Mason?
 

I guess I've gotten the go ahead about posting my blog address :). I haven't worked on it all summer, until today when I deleted some of the bulk. But, there is some info. on Charlotte Mason there... if you scroll down (it takes it awhile to load, I need to put it on a diet ;) - plan to work on that soon... I think it's the music that slows it down) you will find a CM section on the right hand side bar.

Blessings!

Donna T.
www.fishfellacademy.blogspot.com

Re: Charlotte Mason?
 

I'm reading The Charlotte Mason Companion by Karen Andreola and I just want to share something that stuck out to me today:

"Charlotte knew that the self-educated, self-made man is energetic, curious, and enthusiastic. Enthusiasm, more than any other quality, has powerfully and permanently influenced the shaping of mankind. Enthusiasm has swayed the hearts of nations and determined the lives and characters of many individuals. Therefore, Charlotte carefully considered enthusiasm in the scheme of education. Mr. Gibbon, the headmaster of a PNEU boy's school, said, 'A nation whose teachers learn to conserve the ardor and suriosity of the seven-year-old for the twelve years that follow, unimpaired, would make itself well nigh invincible in the world.'" p. 279

Re: Charlotte Mason?
 

Great point! Enthusiasm for learning is a wonderful goal--something I am really trying to teach my children in our homeschooling. :tu I had to laugh as I just read something the other day about how higher test scores in schools will bring greater achievement to the US! lol... :shrug3

Re: Charlotte Mason?
 

hi cm mamas...anyone around? i have a dd (three on sun) and would love to start applying some CM principles to our daily lives. i know we are way to young for school...so what would you recommend we (1) do now and (2) i read now. thanks!

ETA: i am making an effort to be outside (despite this cold weather)...2 hours wed and 45 mins today. the kids loved it. we have been blessed with awesome books...and my kids love to read. and i'm working my way thru a stack of books of my own. thanks!

Re: Charlotte Mason?
 

Playoutside and just enjoy nature with your kids. Also do a lot of reading aloud especially with good books- you can get ideas from the fove in a row or before five in a row lists.

Re: Can I do Charlotte Mason in Indonesia?
 

I'm very interested in using CM method for my 2 dc. I've gone thru the Ambleside Online and have printed out the booklist for Year 0 and Year 1. I have a lot of adjustment to make because we live in Indonesia and I can't find some of the suggested books. I really need some advice on how to do this in my country because I really like her method. Thank you...

Re: Charlotte Mason?
 

Did you read For The Children's Sake yet? Follow that with A Charlotte Mason Companion, then the original books. :heart

Re: Can I do Charlotte Mason in Indonesia?
 

The CM method is more than which books you use. It's actually more than living books, narrating and nature study, although those are some of its distinctives. It's a whole different way of approaching teaching because it recognizes a whole different way that children learn.

If you have some time, you could try reading some of the books about the method to get CM's perspective of children; once you truly understand that, much of the rest of it falls into place.

If you need to start school right away, you could try some interesting books in different subjects and have your children tell back after reading. "Interesting books" means books that are so fascinating that you yourself could curl up in a chair and read them and learn something from them.

If you're having trouble finding places to buy books, there are lots of online books for children at www.mainlesson.com; almost any of those could be used without having having to buy anything, although you'd have to read them from your computer or print them out on your printer chapter by chapter. If you need books in a language other than English -- I don't know of any websites, so I can't help with that . . .

Re: Can I do Charlotte Mason in Indonesia?
 

I read this on AO site:

ETA: The bold in the above quote is not my emphasis. It was already bolded. ;)

Re: Can I do Charlotte Mason in Indonesia?
 

I'm not sure I know what point you are trying to make, Codi? Are you interested in Charlotte Mason? :)

Re: Can I do Charlotte Mason in Indonesia?
 

Yes. Actually I am. :)

I just was doing a search to feed my ever growing curiosity and knowledge of CM (might make the switch to CM) and found this thread. While reading (re-reading that is) I wanted to post that quote since it seemed like an important aspect for someone considering CM to know and understand. I quoted Leslie because it supported what she was already saying.

Since this is a stickie, I was just adding info for future readers. :mrgreen

Re: Can I do Charlotte Mason in Indonesia?
 

What's funny is its possible Leslie wrote both, since that's her (and others) website -- amblesideonline.org :giggle

Re: Can I do Charlotte Mason in Indonesia?
 

Really? :giggle That is funny! I didn't know!

---------- Post added at 06:44 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:32 PM ----------

This has been the most helpful link for me so far. :yes

It breaks down each subject and lists her techniques for each.

Re: Can I do Charlotte Mason in Indonesia?
 

I'd forgotten that was on the website! At least I'm consistent. :giggle

Re: Can I do Charlotte Mason in Indonesia?
 

:giggle

Re: Charlotte Mason?
 

I think to some degree, labels of homeschooling methods, "unschooling," etc. are semantics... not that they don't have distinct meanings, but people use them to describe different ideas. I myself use different words depending on whom I'm speaking to. People often ask me about my plans for education (yes, even though my little one is only 3 months old... I think because I live in China and they just wonder what options I will have). If I'm talking to someone who's into alternative education, I might say "more structured learning in the morning, unschooling in the afternoons." If I'm talking to someone who'd rather my kids be in U.S. public school, I might say "I'm thinking about using the Ambleside curriculum." Just whatever would be most accurate to that hearer's ears!

Re: Charlotte Mason?
 

Maybe sometimes they are semantics but Charlotte Mason is a whole different approach and is unique from other ways, I suggest you do some reading about it and then you will understand.

Re: Charlotte Mason?
 

Well, semantics AND point of view, perhaps :) I have researched Charlotte Mason extensively and originally thought it was almost opposite unschooling. But, I quickly learned that I just didn't know much about unschooling! The more I learn about US, the less I think that way, and the more I see it as very compatible with "relaxed CM-ers".

Now, don't get me wrong... I mentioned in my other post the way I word my homeschooling approach to others who don't know Charlotte Mason, but to those who truly understand her philosophy & methods, I'd just say I'm a CM-er. Even though I'm a trained public school teacher, I feel like the CM method is what is best for me and my child(ren, in the future!). It's just that I no longer see it as "opposing" unschooling. (It's amazing how much in my life follows that pattern... but that's another topic!)

---------- Post added at 01:43 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:39 PM ----------

Sorry for off-topic but I also wanted to mention that I absolutely LOVE the "If you think my hands are full you should see my heart" in your sig... what a beautiful sentiment, and a great reminder! (I'd kind of like to have a "hand/heart-full" myself... we'll have to see how DH feels as Tigger grows up tho!!)

Re: Charlotte Mason?
 

I don't see it as "opposing" unschooling, but they are two different things. People do combine elements of both successfully in their own eclectic blend, but it's like combining orange and grape soda. Both sodas, both delicious, no issues with people who want to mix them -- but, for clarity's sake, I don't like seeing them called the same thing. I like things clearly and distinctly defined, and I suspect that the muddling of terms is how so much myth got tangled up with people's impressions of CM.

Edited to say --

I hear what you're saying about who your audience is. If I'm talking to people who aren't familiar with homeschooling, then the name Charlotte Mason isn't going to have any meaning for them, so I might use the same approach you've used and just say something like "we're more structured in the morning..." or the name of the curriculum we're using.

handwriting vs penmenship vs copywork
 

ok...so what do you do for handwriting, initially? i know dd is way to young for anything formal...but she loves to write and draw and can already form quite a few letters, that she taught her self. she often asks me to help her with xyz letter...and i tend to jsut write it on her paper how i would write it and go on.

most of her "writing" is pages full of lines of small print made up of straight lines...similar to the letters V, H, I and M.

should i be showing her a specific way to form her letters? or any old way is fine now and later on she will do penmenship and learn how to make them correctly?

help please...?

Re: handwriting vs penmenship vs copywork
 

Im not sure if it aligns with CM, but HWT (Handwriting Without Tears) has some great manipulatives she could play with and learn more letter forms.

Re: handwriting vs penmenship vs copywork
 

hmmm...i have the teachers guides for HWT for pre and K, but i'm not really interested in "teaching" her per say...more just like, should i be showing her a specific way of writing her letters when she is drawing and playing and asking me, 'mommy help me make an "s" please'

i know janet is using HWT...i just wondered what else CM mamas/families use for handwriting? or even just teaching how to write letters?

Re: handwriting vs penmenship vs copywork
 

From the FAQ's "A child learns the physical skills of learning to write, first by perfectly forming each letter, and later by copying sentences or paragraphs. In the beginning, copywork is no more than letter practice - the child works on forming letters perfectly, with the emphasis on neat, accurate formation--quality rather than quantity. A Year 1 child should do only as much as he can do neatly in ten minutes, perhaps only a single word, or a few examples of one letter, such as "a." Some children may not have sufficient muscle coordination to begin writing until 7 years old."

I believe CM covers it in book one. Best to have them form a few perfect letters. However lessons do not begin before 6. We have used HWT in the past to form perfect letters when he wanted to learn how, we are not doing it now, but we will be starting again soon.

Re: handwriting vs penmenship vs copywork
 

right. sorry, should have quoted that. i read it from AO, but i'm still confused about what the "perfect letters" look like.

and i dont want to do any lessons at all yet....i just want to know what to draw on her pad of paper when she coems to me ans says, "mama, show me how to make an A please" ....cause i can think of a bunch of different ways to make an "a", ya know?

off to read book one...

Re: handwriting vs penmenship vs copywork
 

Where do you start your letters? At the top!

That's all I know :P~

Re: handwriting vs penmenship vs copywork
 

I think that's a good start. Maybe it's all you need to know!

CM used a book by Mrs. Bridges that evolved into what we know as Italics (Getty Dubay), so you could look at that. You could just look at where they start their letters and what the letters look like; you don't have to purchase the program for your child for every grade they're in school. You might even be able to see all you need online.

-----------------

Here's the book she used: A New Handwriting by Monica Bridges. The link has page images where you can see the handwriting samples that were in the book; it looks very much like italics.

Re: handwriting vs penmenship vs copywork
 

We have HWT and there are lots you can do with the manipulatives without actually "doing lessons."

Im not sure what CM suggests as far as a style of writing. I think any style (italics, not italics, etc) can be beautiful if they do it neatly. And I would guess that is all that matters.

Re: Charlotte Mason?
 

hello,
I can see this thread has been quiet for a while, but wanted to say how much I'm enjoying reading the posts. We are 'unschoolers', but very influenced by Charlotte Mason (so lots of nature study, living books, etc).

I've got a 6 year old son and 3 year old daughter. Look forward to chatting :)

Re: Charlotte Mason?
 

:cup


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Re: Charlotte Mason?
 

Us also. We have a 4 year old and these are two educational "styles" we are currently drawn to. I have to admit, I have not done a lot of study on Charlotte Mason, but love the idea of living books and nature study. DS generally takes a topic and runs with it, so unschooling should be right up his alley.

Re: Charlotte Mason?
 

I started with CM and currently have a 5th/6th grader, a 2nd/3rd grader, and a K student. (I school year round, so exact grade levels are kind of arbitrary: when we finish with a course of study on one subject, we just start the next one.) CM cuts out a lot of pointless, annoying classwork, but requires more prep time for the teacher. You have to read ahead on everything because there is no checklist for a lesson, so you can't fake it.

Re: Charlotte Mason?
 

:popcorn

Sent from my Huawei-U8665 using Tapatalk 2

Re: Charlotte Mason?
 

Some examples of Charlotte Mason curriculum:

https://www.amblesideonline.org/
I disagree with some of the textbook suggestions. <i>This Country of Ours</i> uses the word "savage" to describe my neighbors, for example, and some of the literary selections are not well written. I use about 90 percent of the booklists and schedules, though. Goes all the way to high school graduation.

http://www.charlottemasonhelp.com/p/...urriculum.html
I haven't worked with this one much because it opens so many new tabs that my computer tends to freeze! Goes through Year 6.

http://materamabilis.org/ma/
From a Catholic perspective with booklist chosen accordingly. PK-8.

Re: Charlotte Mason?
 

We are diving into full-time CM this year!

Those of you who have posted on this thread, are you still schooling CM style?

Re: Charlotte Mason?
 

We are part of a CM focused homeschool group and while I incorporate many of her philosophies, I am not strictly CM at all.

Re: Charlotte Mason?
 

We do the same. :)

Re: Charlotte Mason?
 

My kids are young (2yo & 4.5yo), so we are mostly unschooling now, but I am overall eclectic with a lot of CM. We are just starting out with a homeschool group, and they happen to be leaning CM, at least for the older kids, so it's good since I've liked CM for a while :)

I'm trying to make sure we incorporate more good literature into our day/week. We have tons of books, but I wouldn't call them all good quality. I would love to just buy all the books on a reading list, such as FIAR or BFIAR, but we are spending a lot this month already. I think I'll just look at some more book lists and check out what I can from the library.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Re: Charlotte Mason?
 

We are now fairly strictly CM. We've just finished an Australianised AO year 1 (both my older two combined).

Sent from my GT-S5310B using Tapatalk

Re: Charlotte Mason?
 

I think strict fits us best as well.

Re: Charlotte Mason?
 

We just started AO year 1 with my oldest and he loves it. I am pretty sure he doesn't even realize the reading are "school" since we already had a reading time each day :D