Living Charlotte Mason in California

The Wild Wood

2012-02-14T13:10:00.000-08:00

Reading Wind in the Willows for the second time around, I can't help but wonder if I really ever did read this book before! I just don't remember ever knowing how wonderful it truly is. I felt the same way about Winnie the Pooh when we picked up that old friend again.

The language and the characters are so rich and exquisite that, as I read to my 8yo son, he commented "Wind in the Willows is getting really good now!" and my 10yo daughter, who was previously playing, crawled up on the couch to cuddle close and hang on every word.

Today Mole ventured off into the Wild Wood alone in the midst of winter. It was one of those chapters that made me want to stick my head out of the window, wave the book in the air and yell to anyone that happened to be passing by, "Words, words, oh glorious words! You must read this!" Which is what I'm doing here I suppose.

Read for yourself a little bit of Kenneth Grahame's wonder. Here he is describing Mole's impression of the winter wood:

The country air lay bare and entirely leafless around him, and he thought that he had never seen so far and so intimately into the insides of things as on that winter day when Nature was deep in her annual slumber and seemed to have kicked the clothes off. Copses, dells, quarries and all hidden places, which had been mysterious mines for exploration in leafy summer, now exposed themselves and their secrets pathetically, and seemed to ask him to overlook their shabby poverty for a while, till they could riot in rich masquerade as before, and trick and entice him with the old deceptions. It was pitiful in a way, and yet cheering - even exhilarating. He was glad that he liked the country undecorated, hard, and stripped of its finery. He had got down to the bare bones of it, and they were fine and strong and simple.

This is the Science of Relations at its finest, don't you think?

Later, when Ratty joins Mole who gets cut with a door scraper, a comical exchange ensues between the one, who knows a door-scraper naturally leads to a door, and the latter, whose thick-headedness prevents him from discovering the same. When at last Mole does put it all together, Graeme treats us to his ever so delicious wit:

"Rat!" he cried in penitence, "you're a wonder! A real wonder, that's what you are. I see it all now! You argued it out, step by step, in that wise head of yours, from the very moment that I fell and cut my shin, and you looked at the cut, and at once your majestic mind said to itself, 'Door-scraper!' And then you turned to and found the very door-scraper that done it! Did you stop there? No. Some people would have been quite satisfied; but not you. Your intellect went on working. 'Let me only just find a door-mat,' says you to yourself, 'and my theory is proved!' And of course you found your door-mat. You're so clever, I believe you could find anything you liked. 'Now,' says you, 'that door exists, as plain as if I saw it. There's nothing else remains to be done but to find it!' Well, I've read about that sort of things in books, but I've never come across it before in real life. You ought to go where you'll be properly appreciated. You're simply wasted here, among us fellows. If I only had your head, Ratty-"

"But as you haven't," interrupted the Rat...

...and off we are with AO's YR2 living literature.

True Love

2012-02-14T01:16:00.000-08:00

LORD JESUS,
Give me to love thee, to embrace thee,
though I once took lust and sin in my arms.
Thou didst love me before I loved thee,
an enemy, a sinner, a loathsome worm.
Thou didst own me when I disclaimed myself;
Thou dost love me as a son,
and weep over me as over Jerusalem.
Love brought thee from heaven to earth,
from earth to the cross,
from the cross to the grave.
Love caused thee to be weary, hungry, tempted,
scorned, scourged, buffeted,
spat upon, crucified, and pierced.
Love led thee to bow thy head in death.
My salvation is the point where perfect created love
and the most perfect uncreated love meet together;
for thou dost welcome me,
not like Joseph and his brothers, loving and sorrowing,
but loving and rejoicing.
This love is not intermittent, cold, changeable;
it does not cease or abate for all my enmity.

Holiness is a spark from thy love
kindled to a flame in my heart by thy Spirit,
and so it ever turns to the place from which it comes.
Let me see thy love everywhere, not only in the cross,
but in the fellowship of believers and in the world around me.
When I feel the warmth of the sun
may I praise thee who are the Sun of righteousness with healing power.
When I feel the tender rain
may I think of the gospel showers that water my soul.
When I walk by the river side
may I praise thee for that stream that makes the eternal city glad,
and washes white my robes that I may have the right to the tree of life.
Thy infinite love is a mystery of mysteries,
and my eternal rest lies in the eternal enjoyment of it.

~Valley of Vision

The Atmosphere of Economic Woes

2012-02-07T01:48:00.000-08:00

A kindness is like a flower that has bloomed upon you unawares, and to be on the watch for such flowers adds very much to our joy in other people, as well as to the happy sense of being loved and cared for. ~Charlotte Mason, Vol. 4, p.109

For all the books we've read to the kids, it seems mostly what comes out of our mouths as parents and what lives in the air about our home is what affects our children most.

The reason I know this is because I have seen my very own selfish attitudes come right back at me from little persons I know I have taught otherwise!

In light of the economic woes we see affecting so many, this is something worth considering.

Wives, Mothers... let us not pollute the atmosphere.

Wives - when there isn't enough, do we make him feel worse than he already does by pointing out what all he doesn't provide? Are we wise stewards or do we fall prey to impulse, adding to his burden? Are we needy and pestering around him when he is detached, trying to work out whatever it is he needs to work out, or do we give him space and find contentment in our own space? What are we teaching our daughters - future wives - by how we are treat our spouse in the midst of difficulty? What are we teaching our sons - future husbands - about a man's worth?

Mothers - when our children have to go without, do we shed tears for all they have not, or do we rejoice in the character God is forging in their souls? What are we teaching our children about our faith when we are fearful? What do we teach our children when we allow ourselves to lose control, complaining, worrying, raising the tone of our voices, reacting in anger? What of humility and receiving grace?

Let's 'be on the watch for such flowers' - the soft pillow, the warm sunlight, the hug, the new seedling, the smile, God's word, the poem, the story, the music, the truth, the grace we have just for today... there is so much, always.

Not being able to provide them with every good thing under the sun can weigh heavy on a good mother's heart, I know. And yet, this is the time when it counts the most; it is a time of great opportunity in educating children. Don't miss it.

That he should take direction and inspiration from all the casual life about him, should make our poor words and ways the starting-point from which, and in the direction of which, he develops––this is a thought which makes the best of us hold our breath. There is no way of escape for parents; they must needs be as 'inspirers' to their children, because about them hangs, as its atmosphere about a planet the thought-environment of the child, from which he derives those enduring ideas which express themselves as a life-long 'appetency' towards things sordid or things lovely, things earthly or divine. ~Charlotte Mason, Vol. 2, p. 37

Did Charlotte Mason believe in Original Sin?

2012-02-06T01:58:00.000-08:00

Frescoe of Santa Maria Novella

Grab a cup of tea and make sure you have some time carved out before you dig into this one - there's a lot of reading!

Starting with an article by Aimee Natal titled "Charlotte Mason: For Whose Sake?" in which she wrote:

After studying Charlotte Mason's six volumes, a Christian should conclude that her educational philosophy is not for the children's sake.

Art Middlekauff responded to Ms. Natal with an article titled "For Whose Sake?" in which he states:

Evangelism is a discipline and a life. And I know of no better method to evangelize your children than a Charlotte Mason education.

Elaine Cooper, author of When Children Love to Learn, also responded to Ms. Natal's article in her own article titled "Charlotte Mason: A Different Perspective" wherein she explains the historical context of CM's writings and points out that:

Some have incorrectly concluded that Miss Mason had an incorrect understanding of the doctrine of salvation because of her emphasis on the outworking of education in the life of the child, especially regarding the place and role of habit. Miss Mason did enjoy an enthusiastic study of brain research by the physiologists of her day. However, to quote her out of context in this regard is to misunderstand her and to misquote her.

Anne White, a member of the Ambleside Advisory also posted on the topic of CM's theology here stating:

Chapter 25 of Charlotte Mason's book Parents and Children should be required reading for homeschoolers...especially for anyone who thinks that Christian belief is not integral to Charlotte Mason's philosophy of education. Apologies to atheists, agnostics and CM users of any other faith, but this chapter lays it out straight: Charlotte Mason puts everything in charge of the Holy Spirit, including both the moral aspects of child training (with which Christian parents would quickly agree) and the intellectual.

And lastly, I wrote a post here on Charlotte Mason's Great Recognition after having attended Deani Van Pelt's class on the topic at Childlight in 2010. In CM's own words, the great recognition in which:

...we hold that all education is divine, that every good gift of knowledge and insight comes from above, that the Lord the Holy Spirit is the supreme educator of mankind, and that the culmination of all education (which may, at the same time, be reached by a little child) is that personal knowledge of and intimacy with God in which our being finds its fullest perfection.

And one very last thing: there is a continuing discussion on this topic on the Charlotte Mason Education site here that you are welcome to join in on.

And if you get through all of that, please do leave me a comment so I can be amazed at how much you read! I'd love to hear from you.

The Object of Nature Study

2012-02-03T01:45:00.000-08:00

Someone recently asked a question about Nature Study in the AO Yahoo group and after looking into it more, I posted a response, which I'd like to post here for the sake of sharing and also to be able to refer back to again in the future.

I don't know that my answer is 'correct' at all, it's just what I found in reading about it, and I continue to be a work in progress, so if you have anything to add or an observation to make, please do so in the comments section.

The question was basically this: Is it enough for our kids to just be out in nature? What if they don't naturally grow into curiosity and scientific observation, should we direct them?

Based on CM's writings in Vol. 6 on Science, it seems we are definitely to
direct them in their Nature Study (see below at the bottom***).

The Handbook of Nature Study also has a great section in the beginning titled
'The Teaching of Nature Study' that is helpful in how to do that. Comstock says:
"Nature Study ... consists of simple, truthful observations that may, like beads
on a string, finally be threaded upon the understanding and thus held together
as a logical and harmonious whole. Therefore, the object of the nature-study
teacher should be to cultivate in the children powers of accurate observation
and to build up within them understanding."

In the section titled "The Field Excursion", she basically says the child's 'seeing nothing'
can be avoided if the teacher plans the work definitely before starting and
demands certain results.

She says if it's well planned it shouldn't take more than ten or fifteen
minutes.

"Certain questions and lines of investigation should be given the pupils before
starting and given in such a manner as to make them thoroughly interested in
discovering the facts."

"...the pupils must know that certain observations are to be made or they will
not be permitted to go again. This should not be emphasized as a punishment; but
they should be made to understand that a field excursion is only, naturally
enough, for those who wish to see and understand outdoor life."

In the section preceding this titled "The Field Notebook", she says the notebook
is the child's property and we are not to criticize it or correct any English in
it.

So... I translate all that to mean that we require the observation and
notebooking of the observation, and then trust that the interest will develop
and learning occur without checking up on their work.

Comstock does say the notebook is useful to the teacher in learning what the
child sees and cares for, helping us know where to find the starting point for
"cultivating larger intelligence." So, maybe peek at it when they're not looking
if they don't want you looking, or maybe they will naturally want to show you at
some point.

I used to have the kids just pick something and draw it, but then I saw a
friend, Shannon's nature journal. She did things that called for observation -
like drawing the scene across the street from her window and drawing in where
the sun set in the summer. Then returning to the same picture and filling in
where the sun set in that picture in the winter, you can't help but notice - it
moved! She drew the moon every night before bedtime for two weeks along the
edges of her notebook.

Some other things I read about on the Handbook of Nature Study blog or somewhere
else - collect six seeds that fly and draw them. Draw six different types of beaks on birds (Jen's idea). Draw six types of leaves including pine needles. Draw where the water level is in the spring and in the fall. Pick a tree and draw it once in the spring, summer, fall and
winter. I'm sure you could come up with more of your own ideas here.

So, specific and firm in what they are to do, then giving lots of freedom in the
doing, and not checking up on their work, is what I think I'm getting from
my reading. (In hindsight, I might have better said here not 'correcting' their work)

***Here are CM's writings from Vol. 6, I added the corresponding years in
parentheses:

We find an American publication called The Sciences (whose author would seem to
be an able man of literary power) of very great value in linking universal
principles with common incidents of every day life in such a way that interest
never palls and any child may learn on what principles an electric bell works,
what sound means, how a steam engine works, and many other matters, explained
here with great lucidity.

Capital diagrams and descriptions make experiments easy and children arrive at
their first notions of science without the verbiage that darkens counsel.

Form IIA (5th & 6th grade) read Life and Her Children by Arabella Buckley and
get a surprising knowledge of the earlier and lower forms of life. IIB (4th
grade) take pleasure in Kingsley's Madam How and Lady Why. They are expected to
do a great deal of out-of-door work in which they are assisted by The Changing
Year, admirable month by month studies of what is to be seen out-of-doors. They
keep records and drawings in a Nature Note Book and make special studies of
their own for the particular season with drawings and notes.

The studies of Form III (7th & 8th grade) for one term enable children to––"Make
a rough sketch of a section of ditch or hedge or sea-shore and put in the names
of the plants you would expect to find.

"Write notes with drawings of the special study you have made this term,"

"What do you understand by calyx, corolla, stamen, pistil? In what ways are
flowers fertilised?"

"How would you find the Pole Star? Mention six other stars and say in what
constellations they occur."

"How would you distinguish between Early, Decorated and Perpendicular Gothic?
Give drawings."

Questions like these, it will be seen, cover a good deal of field work, and the
study of some half dozen carefully selected books on natural history, botany,
architecture and astronomy, the principle being that children shall observe and
chronicle, but shall not depend upon their own unassisted observation.

The study of natural history and botany with bird lists and plant lists
continues throughout school life, while other branches of science are taken term
by term.

CM 101 - a new series

2012-01-27T15:22:00.000-08:00

Did you know? The moderators over at the AmblesidOnline Yahoo groups are starting a new series, CM 101, where they will be posting a series of messages that cover the basics of CM. Many of the list members will be available to answer questions as well as link to their helpful blog posts so head on over! It's a great opportunity to learn something new about CM.

Here is the first post:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AmblesideOnline/message/80692

If you aren't already a member, you will have to register for the group first.

Nature Finds 1.27.12

2012-01-27T02:25:00.000-08:00

My images from our nature outings frequently pile up so rather than waiting for a blog topic to post them, I think I'll just start posting them as Nature Finds with the date to simplify things.

Speaking of nature, if you haven't seen this article on sand over at Circe, it's fascinating; you won't want to miss it. They quoted Author N.D. Wilson's quote in reference to the sand pieces:

"Slice the world as fine as you like it, an Artist has been there first.”

That's one for the Commonplace Book!

So here are some of our finds from our trips to the Arroyo over the past couple of weeks, in it's too late to organize them order.

Giant Beehive

Giant Water Bug

Woodrat nest

Gorgeous Sycamore Leaves

Mayfly nymphs

Caught mayfly nymphs

Dragonfly

Raindrops

Raindrops on fresh lupine leaves (only the babies are covered in hair like that)

earthstar - Arica, my fungi fiending frend, discovered these. They puff spores when you tap them.

lovely leeches

now this is amazing - a wolf spider carrying it's egg sac!

twilight through bare sycamores

California buckwheat in the afternoon light

another beautiful sunset

Stay posted for more nature finds!

Mendelssohn

2012-01-03T18:32:00.001-08:00

Ambleside Online's Composer for the 2011/12 school year's second term is Felix Mendelssohn.

Portrait of Mendelssohn by James Warren Childe

From AO's composer schedule, here are the selections, including his Octet, which, according to Wikipedia, was composed when he was only sixteen years old:

2011-2012 TERM 2 (This term's artist is Albert Bierstadt, landscape) Felix Mendelssohn (1840) (Romantic)
Listening selections for this term:
Songs without words (there are 8 volumes, 8 different opus numbers. notes)
Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64
Symphony no. 4 in A major, Op. 90 ("Italian") (4 weeks)
Octet in E-flat major, Op. 20
Fingal's Cave ("Hebrides") Overture, Op. 26

Here is a Grooveshark playlist of the above selections in the same order you can play off of your computer.

View of Lucerne - Watercolor by Mendelssohn, 1847

I also found a download on Project Gutenberg titled "The Great German Composers" by George T. Ferris, which contains a biography of Mendelssohn as well as others. I also found it available at no charge for the Kindle on Amazon.

It seems to have short enough biographies for me to read and tell something about the composer to the kids, but I haven't read it through to be able to comment on it otherwise. If you know about this book, please add a comment to this post and share your thoughts.

An Invitation to Wonder

2012-01-01T20:23:00.000-08:00

How do we teach our children about the world around us?

In our efforts to ensure that they gain knowledge, do we hasten to sit our children in front of what they must learn, have them draw and label all the parts of it, and then explain at length how such and such part enables it to work, followed by a lengthy reading on the subject before dinner to cement their knowledge?

Children do learn this way, but what of their interest? their curiosity? their desire to know and understand? How much of their learning is truly theirs?

A seed is indeed a vessel produced by a plant to propagate, equipped with various parts for disbursement. But why so clinical, so factual in our approach? How interesting, how living, is that, really?

Children are born persons, and as persons, they are spiritual in nature.

Step into the world of your child - and invite them to wonder, to look closer.

"Look! What is that flying there? They look like dancing fairies! How is it they fly so gracefully, and what is it they are carrying? How far will they go?"

Why jump to fact and explanation so fast? They grow dull when there is no curiosity of their own. In this world of cut and dry with every ounce of knowledge at our technical fingertips, it will all become apparent soon enough. Why not linger for now, just a little while longer, in glorious childhood wonder?

Here we have the right order. That which was born of the spirit, the idea, came first and demanded to confirm and illustrate. ~CM, Vol. 6

Nature Study, The Elixir Of Youth

2011-12-20T01:29:00.000-08:00

After all, what is the chief sign of growing old? Is it not the feeling that we know all there is to be known? It is not years which make people old; it is ruts, and limitation of interests. When we no longer care about anything except our own interests, we are then old, it matters not whether our years be twenty or eighty.

It is rejuvenation for the teacher, thus growing old, to stand ignorant as a child in the presence of one of the simplest of nature's miracles - the formation of a crystal, the evolution of the butterfly from the caterpillar, the exquisite adjustment of the silken lines in the spider's orb web.

I know how to "make magic" for the teacher who is growing old. Let her go out with her youngest pupil and reverently watch with him the miracle of the blossoming violet and say: "Dear Nature, I know naught of the wondrous life of these, your smallest creatures. Teach me!" and she will suddenly find herself young.

~Anna Botsford Comstock, Handbook of Nature Study

One of the most common trees we see around are Oak Trees. Our kids climb them, play in their shade, swing on their branches, collect their acorns, observe their galls.

Any mother who has inherited a bowl full of acorns after a nature study knows well that there are more to those acorns than meet the eye. What seems like clean acorns will produce a bowl full of crawling larvae by dinner time

Arica, one of the mothers in our group, mentioned having read about how to rear some of these acorn inhabitants so I googled around and found this.

It sounded pretty involved with wooden frames and all so I just pulled out an old vase I had lying around, filled it with potting soil (I didn't have any sand handy) and threw the acorns on top, covered it with plastic, poked holes in the plastic with a toothpick, and tied a hairband around it.

While my husband sighed at the sight of yet another 'collection' of sorts, (in fact, he reminded me of the killer in Silence of the Lambs who had a similar interest in insects) and dinner guests shuddered at the sight of it, I cheerily peeped into my new pet project several times a day with excitement and anticipation at what might possibly emerge.

Amazingly, one of the larvae cocooned along the wall of the vase where it was in full view. Unfortunately, I didn't take pictures, but was able to observe it change into a darker color and one day found it had emerged. There were both a beetle and a moth present so I'm unsure which it was I had been observing.

The moth that emerges is a filbertworm moth. There have been several of them, a couple came from a container that didn't even have dirt in it so they must have cocooned in the acorn itself.

At first, I thought, "Oh, a tiny moth."

But then I noticed the beautiful streaks of gold on its wings created by hundreds of tiny scales and the delicate ends of its wings resembling folds of exquisite draperies. Such minute, intricate handcraft. And I noticed those big green eyes... with a pupil!

Pupils that follow me when I take its picture!

I don't think I will ever quite forget those eyes!

So there you have it. I stand completely ignorant! You never do know what might be watching you in your neck of the woods, but finding out is your secret to the fountain of youth!

Living Pulsing Thought

2011-12-07T01:30:00.000-08:00

It is hard to describe how incredibly satisfying it is when you make a new discovery. When a light of truth comes on as a result of your very own digging - it is nothing less than thrilling.

I recently had just such a discovery.

In YR4, we read both Poor Richard - a biography of Benjamin Franklin and Robinson Crusoe by Daniel DeFoe, side by side in the same first term. And last week, a discussion on the topic of Robinson Crusoe came up in the AO Yahoo Group, where someone asked, "What does CM say about Robinson Crusoe?" to which, Anne White replied with a link to a Parent's Review article titled:

"Robinson Crusoe" in Education by T.G. Rooper dating back to 1903

Defoe in the pillory for pamphleteering and political activities.
1862 line engraving by James Charles Armytage courtesy of Wikipedia

The article by Rooper is a biography of Daniel Defoe followed by some writing on educational philosophy related to Robinson Crusoe. In it, there is a quote by Benjamin Franklin:

I discovered in my father's library an old book, yellow with age, Defoe's Essay on Projects, a book full of novel and illuminating ideas, which had so great an influence upon me that it changed my whole system of philosophy and morality. The chief events of my life and the share which I have taken in the revolution in my country are to a certain extent due to the perusal of the Essay on Projects in my youth.

That Franklin was so influenced by Defoe's writing was fascinating to me and unraveled a chain of thought upon thought in my mind, connecting people, places, practices, books and ideas. I'm sure it is common knowledge to anyone who reads much history, which I am not, being more of the 'just awakening' sort, to me it was a brand new discovery of great consequence to my understanding of many things.

Charlotte understood about this thrill; hers was a cause to preserve this joy of discovery for children.

A child should be brought up to have relations of force with earth and water, should run and ride, swim and skate, lift and carry; should know texture, and work in material; should know by name, and where and how they live at any rate, the things of the earth about him, its birds and beasts and creeping things, its herbs and trees; should be in touch with the literature, art and thought of the past and the present. I do not mean that he should know all these things; but he should feel, when he reads of it in the newspapers, the thrill which stirred the Cretan peasants when the frescoes in the palace of King Minos were disclosed to the labour of their spades. He should feel the thrill, not from mere contiguity, but because he has with the past the relationship of living pulsing thought; and, if blood be thicker than water, thought is more quickening than blood. ~Vol. 3, p.161

living pulsing thought...

Why else would she rant against teachers who practiced otherwise:

The conscientious, ingenious and laborious teachers who produce these 'concentration series' are little aware that each such lesson is an act of lese majesté. The children who are capable of and eager for a wide range of knowledge and literary expression are reduced to inanities; a lifelong ennui is set up; every approach to knowledge suggests avenues for boredom, and the children's minds sicken and perish long before their school-days come to an end. ~Vol. 6, p.116

and rant...

A scheme which throws the whole burden of education on the teacher, which exalts the personality of the teacher as the chief agent in education, which affords ingenious, interesting, and more or less creative work to a vast number of highly intelligent and devoted persons, whose passionate hope is to leave the world a little better than they found it by means of those children whom they have raised to a higher level, must needs make a wide and successful appeal. It appeals equally to Education Committees and school managers. Consider the saving involved in the notion that teachers are compendiums of all knowledge, that they have but, as it were, to turn on the tap and the necessary knowledge flows forth. All responsibility is shifted ... triumphs are brought about by dramatic display, so ingenious, pleasing, fascinating, are the ways in which the teacher chooses to arrive at her point. I say 'her' point because women excel in this kind of teaching, but men do not come far short. What of the children themselves? They, too, are amused and entertained, they enjoy the puzzle-element and greatly enjoy the teacher who lays herself out to attract them. There is no flaw in the practical working of the method while it is being carried out. Later, it gives rise to dismay and anxiety among thoughtful people. ~Vol. 6, p.118

tell us how you really feel Charlotte ;-)

and rant...

I have even known of teachers who have thought well to compose the songs and poems which their children use. Think of it! not even our poets are allowed to interpose between the poor child and the probably mediocre mind of the teacher. The art of standing aside to let a child develop the relations proper to him is the fine art of education... ~Vol. 3, p.67

and rant...

Everything is directed, expected, suggested. No other personality out of book, picture, or song, no, not even that of Nature herself, can get at the children without the mediation of the teacher. No room is left for spontaneity or personal initiation on their part. ~Vol. 1, p.188

and this...

...we feed upon the thoughts of other minds; and thought applied to thought generates thought and we become more thoughtful. No one need invite us to reason, compare, imagine; the mind, like the body, digests its proper food, and it must have the labour of digestion or it ceases to function.
But the children ask for bread and we give them a stone; we give information about objects and events which mind does not attempt to digest but casts out bodily. But let information hang upon a principle, be inspired by an idea, and it is taken with avidity and used in making whatsoever in the spiritual nature stands for tissue in the physical.
"Education," said Lord Haldane, some time ago, "is a matter of the spirit,"––no wiser word has been said on the subject, and yet we persist in applying education from without as a bodily activity or emollient. We begin to see light. No one knoweth the things of a man but the spirit of a man which is in him; therefore, there is no education but self-education, and as soon as a young child begins his education he does so as a student. ~Vol. 6, p.26

and this...

He must generalise, classify, infer, judge, visualise, discriminate, labour in one way or another, with that capable mind of his, until the substance of his book is assimilated or rejected, according as he shall determine; for the determination rests with him and not with his teacher. ~Vol. 3, p.179

As a parent, learning side by side with my children, I find I need to be careful of keeping the learning theirs as well. It is human to want to tell all about everything we've learned and are excited about - and for a CM educator - there is much of that. We are, after all, the teacher and it's our responsibility to teach and now we can do so with such vigor and life because we are so excited about what we are learning through the CM method and we have new eyes to see... But in doing so, might we be robbing them of *their* opportunities for discovery and thrill?

I admit it is not always easy to discern what ought to be pointed out and what ought to be left for their own discovery.

I think in this instance, regarding Franklin and Defoe, I'll practice the 'art of standing aside' and save it for my daughter for another day. Defoe's time in history is still to come in Term 2 and one of her books may mention him yet. Without that, and without a fuller knowledge of the American Revolution, I don't think it would be quite as exciting to her right now.

I am every so grateful again for the AO Curriculum. As I travel through it, the many, many opportunities for the learner to make connections of their own - ones that haven't been pointed out, mapped out and beaten to a bloody pulp - ones that float about you like little seeds waiting to take root - are so richly abundant.

It is this very point that educators miss when they try to find ways to engage children in their education and fail.

Charlotte's advice?

Let them get at the books themselves, and do not let them be flooded with a warm diluent at the lips of their teacher. The teacher's business is to indicate, stimulate, direct and constrain to the acquirement of knowledge, but by no means to be the fountain-head and source of all knowledge in his or her own person. The less parents and teachers talk-in and expound their rations of knowledge and thought to the children they are educating, the better for the children. Peptonised food for a healthy stomach does not tend to a vigorous digestion. Children must be allowed to ruminate, must be left alone with their own thoughts. They will ask for help if they want it. ~Vol. 3, p.162

John Muir

2011-12-03T23:13:00.000-08:00

As I was browsing through The Magic Catalog of Gutenberg E-Books on my Kindle for Christmas books to download, I came across the name 'John Muir'.

John Muir, 1912, courtesy of Wikipedia

I'm embarrassed to say I've lived in California for almost twenty years and the only thing I knew about him is that he was some sort of naturalist who had national parks and trails named after him.

I probably would have left it at that except that the title of one of his books The Story of My Boyhood and Youth caught my attention. It couldn't hurt to find out what inspired a naturalist as a boy and it didn't cost a thing so I downloaded it and started reading.

I was surprised to find he was originally from Scotland and even more so that I could hardly put the book down! Here are a couple excerpts:

With red-blooded playmates, wild as myself, I loved to wander in the fields to hear the birds sing, and along the seashore to gaze and wonder at the shells and seaweeds, eels and crabs in the pools among the rocks when the tide was low; and best of all to watch the waves in awful storms thundering on the black headlands and craggy ruins of the old Dunbar Castle when the sea and the sky, the waves and the clouds, were mingled together as one.

To me the best story of all was 'Llewellyn's Dog,' ... It so deeply interested and touched me and some of my classmates that we read it over and over with aching hearts, both in and out of school and shed bitter tears over the brave faithful dog ... We have to look far back to learn how great may be the capacity of a child's heart for sorrow and sympathy with animals as well as with human friends and neighbors.

One of our best playgrounds was the famous old Dunbar Castle, to which King Edward fled after his defeat at Bannockburn [I believe it's the battle featured in the movie Braveheart]. It was built more than a thousand years ago, and though we knew little of its history, we had heard many mysterious stories of the battles fought about its walls, and firmly believed that every bone we found in the ruins belonged to an ancient warrior. We tried to see who could climb highest on the crumbling peaks and crags, and took chances that no cautious mountaineer would try. That I did not fall and finish my rock-scrambling in those adventurous boyhood days seems now a reasonable wonder.

Among our best games were running, jumping, wrestling, and scrambling. I was so proud of my skill as a climber that when I first heard of hell from a servant girl who loved to tell its horrors and warn us that if we did anything wrong we would be cast into it, I always insisted that I could climb out of it. I imagined it was only a sooty pit with stone walls like those of the castle, I felt sure there must be chinks and cracks in the masonry for fingers and tows. Anyhow the terrors of the horrible place seldom lasted long beyond the telling; for natural faith casts out fear.

I read a bit of the book to my husband today who is interested in reading it himself now. Wikipedia says of him: Because of the spiritual quality and enthusiasm toward nature expressed in his writings, he was able to inspire readers, including presidents and congressmen, to take action to help preserve large nature areas.

As I read about his hands-on boyhood, I couldn't help but wonder what he would think of park rangers telling our children that if everyone took a stick there would be "no more sticks". I wonder if that's what he really envisioned with his preservation efforts.

I look forward to reading his writings on the Sierra Nevada Mountain s, an area we have yet to visit, and being inspired to personally explore them, freely, with our kids some day.

Holiday Handcraft Fair 2011

2011-12-02T01:27:00.000-08:00

The Handcraft Fair we had earlier this year in the Spring worked out so well, we decided to have another one for the Holidays. It turned out to be another great event with so many different creative handcrafts.

My son made homemade artisan bread - crispy crunchy crust, and oh, so soft inside. You must try the recipe yourself - it's so easy to make and wonderfully satisfying.

Homemade applesauce

My daughter embroidered felt ornaments

My son made sculpey necklace ornaments with imprints of leaves, shells, and berries

And he tried his hand at a bit of sculpting

Look at what a four year old can do. I drew this pattern from Doodlestitching onto the fabric, put it in an embroidery hoop, threaded a dull darning needle, spent some time showing her how to stitch in one side and out the other, and she was able to stitch the pattern really well. I will say here that her personality is one of order and perfectionism. She likes to organize everything and is very meticulous about lining things up and things of that sort, so her personality probably lended to the embroidery. She made two - one for her grandma and the other for her friend.

Here are some of the other things we saw today

And last but not least, a little violinist played for us.

We'll be having our next Handcraft Fair in the Spring, hope you'll join us!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-26T12:23:00.000-08:00

Well this is a bit late, but I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We've had Grandma from Vancouver for a visit this Thanksgiving so the kids have been thoroughly stuffed and spoiled which means Grandma's done her job well.

The turkey was dry this year, but an improvement over last year's undercooked bird and nothing that can't be fixed with a good bit of gravy. Next year we'll get it juuuuuuuust right!

We got to see this gorgeous sunset over Catalina Island after dinner

and we enjoyed a nice hike yesterday through the canyon fresh with green shoots this time of year from the rains and warm sun.

Here's a Thanksgiving prayer from AO's Thanksgiving page that I've asked my husband to read for us at dinner. I love that it doesn't ask for everything to be perfect, but asks for the abilities to handle whatever may come. Because perfection in life will come only at glory.

Lord, behold our family here assembled.
We thank thee for this place in which we dwell,
for the love that unites us,
for the peace accorded to us this day,
for the health,
for the food,
and the bright skies that make our lives delightful,
for our friends in all parts of the earth.

Give us courage, gaiety, and the quiet mind.
Spare to us our friends,
soften us to our enemies.
Bless us, if may be, in all our innocent endeavours.

If may not, give us the strength to encounter that which is to come.
May we be brave in peril,
constant in tribulation,
temperate in wrath,
and in all changes of fortune loyal and loving to one another.

As the clay to the potter,
as the windmill to the wind,
as the children of their sire,
we beseech of Thee this help and mercy for Christs sake.
Amen

~Robert Louis Stevenson

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Happy Pilgrim

2011-11-07T20:08:00.000-08:00

We read the Chapter on John Bunyan today in Trial and Triumph.

Although we had read Pilgrim's Progress over a two year period, I had never heard Bunyan's story before. There was a lot that came to mind as we read through it.

Bunyan had been a foul-mouthed tinker until one day a woman rebuked him in the street, causing him great shame and a desire to mend his ways.

John Bunyan, courtesy of Wikipedia

Once proudly reformed into what he perceived to be a God pleasing righteous man, he came across some women in conversation. He heard them talk about the work of God in their hearts.

They spoke as if joy did make them speak; they spoke with such pleasantness of scripture language and with such appearance of grace in all they said that they were to me as if they had found a new world.

He goes on to discover...

I saw it was not my good frame of heart that made my righteousness better, nor yet my bad frame that made my righteousness worse; for my righteousness was Jesus Christ himself, the same yesterday, today, and forever.

I couldn't help but notice how God had used the conversation of these women to convict Bunyan and draw him towards His truth.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue... ~Proverbs 18:21

So much of his personal experience is evident in Pilgrim's Progress; it is his story.

I thought back to Christian's wife and children in Pilgrim's Progress and how they tried to prevent him from going. Was that perhaps his wife, concerned about Bunyan's preaching, pleading with him not to go? It made me so grateful that my husband's life is not threatened doing God's will here in our safe little town. And it made me wonder how I might act in a situation like that.

It made me ponder whether I am like Christian's wife in even the small things - do I try to stop him from the path he has chosen to serve God in?

I imagine if Bunyan's wife had stopped him, we wouldn't have been reading about him today. It wasn't until his second stay in prison - 12 years the first time, 6 months the second - that he wrote Pilgrim's Progress.

Knowing his story, I am going to enjoy reading Pilgrim's Progress that much more with my son this time in YR2.

Mission San Juan Capistrano

2011-11-05T01:22:00.000-07:00

Our dear friend Isabella from South Africa, who has the most delicious South African accent, who has spontaneously brought us dinner several times - months after we'd had our baby, bless her! - who has had us for tea, rooibos of course, and home-made scones with whipped cream - oh, she's a lovely friend to have - offered us free entry tickets to Mission San Juan Capistrano this week.

It is one of a chain of 21 missions in California founded by the Spanish padres to convert the Native Americans to Christianity. They stretch along the coast from San Diego to Sonoma, north of San Francisco Bay along El Camino Real or 'The Royal Road' separated by one day's long ride on horseback.

The beautiful gardens, as gorgeous as they are, are a more modern addition. Much of the land would have been used to grow food for sustenance.

We just don't see historical architecture dating back quite so far in California so the Missions have an awe inspiring presence here.

This little chapel called Father Serra's church is the only building still standing in California in which the founding father of the California mission chain, Father Junipero Serra, conducted mass.

One of the unique features of the San Juan Capistrano Mission is that it is well known for its cliff swallows which return every year in the Spring to soar through the air and build their mud nests under the rafters and anywhere else they can find a spot.

The picture book The Song of Swallows was written about this very mission and a boy awaiting the the cliff swallows' annual return.

Here's something fun - do you notice anything unusual in the detail of this doorway? Look close. I didn't notice it until I was editing the picture...

That little green thing hanging down. I thought it might have been gum until I zoomed in for a closer look. Can you identify it?

Below is my son's quick sketch of the mission bells. Who says nature journals are for nature only?

This is the great stone church which was built between 1797 and 1806 and collapsed during an earthquake in 1812.

If you'd like to learn more about the missions, you can read more about them here or here. And if you ever are in the area, do let us know!

Doodle Stitching

2011-11-05T01:06:00.000-07:00

My latest absorption...

Here's the book that shows you how. If you need additional help, I'm sure YouTube has plenty of tutorials on every stitch in the book.

These could be hung on the wall as is or framed and given as gifts, you could make Christmas tree decorations, aprons, add embroidery to a plain t-shirt or hat, a burp cloth, towel - the fun could carry you well into the winter!

My 9yo daughter and my 8yo son have both been able to do many of the stitches themselves after I showed them how to do it. And with a heat transfer pencil, you could outline just about anything and iron it onto a fabric for them to embroider.

Oh, and that French Knot, that's in there too. So embroider away! It's a very doable, adorable, handcraft to immerse yourself in this winter.

Heritage History

2011-10-28T00:30:00.000-07:00

Some time ago, I read about a site called Heritage History, it must have been a discussion over on the AO list. Interested to see what they had, I visited the site and found it a valuable resource, so I added a link to it from our Charlotte Mason social network (www.charlottemasoneducation.ning.com). Then last month, Teresa Roth, the owner of Heritage History, joined the network and, having noticed the link to her site, contacted me to see if I would be interested in reviewing their curriculum. I was very interested so she sent me their Young Readers Classical Curriculum and their Ancient Greece Classical Curriculum.

I was expecting a large box with several books to arrive, and was surprised to find two CDs and a packet of text instead. Not quite understanding what they contained, I set it on the counter for a later time.

Yesterday, I finally got around to looking at the materials and I must say, I was pleasantly surprised. Being an AO user, I tend to be skeptical of any other curriculum, but what I found with Heritage History is that it contains many of the very same books we use on AO, and many more to choose from within that scope of history. While it isn't a full curriculum like AO, it appears to be a comprehensive option for History. The collection there also has many international selections which may be of interest.

Here's how the curriculum works:

Each curriculum collection costs $24.99 and There are the Young Readers, Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, British Middle Ages, and British Empire Collections to choose from, or you can buy the complete collection for $99.

According to Heritage, the curriculum is centered on 'living' books, and as a matter of fact, their tag line is "Putting the 'Story' Back into History". And this, coming from a woman who confesses to owning over 2,000 classical children's history-related books! She also apparently worked on many of the Baldwin Project books prior to working on her own website.

But back to the curriculum: Each collection comes with a CD containing all the e-book files in that collection in three formats: Kindle, EPUB and PDF versions, so they can be read on any e-Reader or reproduced on any printer. The User Guide I received included a section with instructions on accessing and transferring the e-text files as well as a section on reducing printing costs and binding options.

I also received a Study Guide with helpful timelines, maps, and other learning resources that are top notch. In fact, you can find many of these available for free on the Heritage History website in their Resources area.

The curriculum is flexible in that it does not map out what books to read for you. Instead, recommendations are made for core knowledge books, and then the student is encouraged to select the books along their lines of interest - all of which are marked as Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced. Blank schedules and accountability forms are provided, but not required. It is basically set up so that if you need direction, it's there. If you want to adapt it your way, you can.

Since all of the books contained in the curriculum are in the public domain, you could read them all for free online, and Heritage has them available on their site. But if you want the year's books all on an e-reader for your child, and by the way the images are included in the e-texts, and you want the maps, timelines, etc. printed out for you, you can save yourself the time and hassle and purchase the curriculum instead.

If you have more questions about the curriculum, you can hop on over to CME and contact Theresa through her profile there. And if you have anything to add about the curriculum, feel free to do so in the comments section below.

Habit Training Within a Relational Framework

2011-10-20T02:28:00.000-07:00

Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. ~James 1:19-20

Do you ever lose sight of the person that your child is in the process of training them? Day in, day out, do this, don't do that... it's challenging to rule your spirit when instructing a child. Yet, it is within the fruit of the spirit that we are to influence our children to righteousness.

Dr. Carroll Smith posted on Habits over at the Childlight blog this week and I couldn't help but wonder if I hadn't fallen prey to legalism in my many attempts to train obedience.

...it seems to me, that habits which are not governed by the Spirit become legalism and are destructive and not life sustaining or life giving. As they are governed by the Fruit of the Spirit, they cause us to grow in a virtuous life.

...Virtue for the sake of virtue or the sake of glory or only for human flourishing does not fit within a framework of what it means to bear the image of God. Human flourishing happens within a relational framework. This framework includes relationships and habits that are built around the warmth of community and relationship not the isolation and coldness of legalism.

Being patient, loving, gentle doesn't mean not giving consequences or not disciplining your child. We must train them absolutely. It's your spirit that's at issue. Is it angry, controlling, legalistic?

...the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

We must tread ever so carefully, we are training and educating *persons*.

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. ~Ephesians 4:1-3

Folk Song - Aiken Drum

2011-10-12T16:40:00.000-07:00

Here are #3 and 4 and last month's AO folk song :)

Why do we teach folk songs? What is the purpose? Is it to open up a window into the life of another in a distant time and place? Is it to study the music of the common folk and its impact in their lives? Is it a memorization exercise? Is it to learn History? Nationality? Culture?

Here's a post over at The Common Room that I think speaks to some really good reasons why.

And here are a couple fun folk songs for kicks:

This one is for all of us who struggle with keeping house:

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This one is just too much!

And here's one I just love that I've played so many times, my daughter promised me she'd NEVER like it and said he sounds like Fozzie Bear :\

And here's one coming up this year on the AO folksong rotation that is adorable:

What songs come to your mind when you think of Folk Songs?

California Affidavit

2011-10-10T21:37:00.000-07:00

California private homeschoolers it's time to file your annual affidavit.

The deadline is October 15th. You'll find detailed instructions and a link to the form here: ht tp://www.hslda .org/hs/state/ca/affidavit/AffidavitInstructions.asp

County Fair Handcrafts

2011-10-08T00:32:00.000-07:00

We went to the LA County Fair a couple weeks back and they had the greatest little area called Heritage Square or Heritage something-a-ruther and it was full of handcrafts for the kids. We discovered enough handcrafts there to last the kids through the winter!

Here's a little rag doll made from strips of left over fabric.

It is made similar to this Nettie Doll, except on the one we made, we didn't use separate strips for the arms and floss them on, instead, once we tied off the head, we pulled out the arms from the existing strips of fabric and braided them as arms while we left the remaining fabric strips for the body and legs. I think it's simpler that way.

My daughter made several of these that night with different colored fabric we had laying around and has had them laying in her bed since.

This was adorable and so simple to make, yet time consuming enough to be a quality handcraft project and a labor of love; it's a rug made from left over fabric pieces tied in knots on to a rug Canvas. Messy, yes, but it looked so great when it was put together. We got rug canvas at Joanne's and plan on working on one this winter.

This is also a very simple project I knew nothing about. Needle Felting. I'm not sure now what the fiber is that we got, but it's some type of wool or felt and it came in a pack like this:

And you can make things like this:

I helped my son make the unfinished rhino on the left and my daughter made the camel on the right.

Here are some of the adorable creations they had on display:

The way it works is you take some of the fabric and roll it into the kind of shape you want and then you place it on the sponge and poke it with this needle:

If you look closely, you'll see the angled notches in the needle which the fibers snag on every time you poke it and as the felt fibers get pulled through the rest of the felt, it adheres to itself, forming a sturdier shape. So the idea is to poke, poke, poke a lot of times around to create the shape you want, then you can add colored bits here and there depending on what you want to make. It's very open to any kind of creativity really.

Just Googling "needle felting" images brings up a wealth of ideas.

So there you are! Enjoy!!

Marsh Fleabane

2011-10-07T03:04:00.000-07:00

It's blooming at El Dorado Park if you're in the area.

A True Sense of Things

2011-10-04T22:41:00.000-07:00

And I add this part here, to hint to whoever shall read it, that whenever they come to a true sense of things, they will find deliverance from sin a much greater blessing than deliverance from affliction. ~Daniel Defoe, The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe

This was the last line we read for school today. Robinson Crusoe was delivered from a near death illness and cries out to God, again, as he had so often before in the pit of his despair.

But this time, it felt different. So I asked my daughter if she noticed any difference between this time and all the other times. And she said she thought he was really turning to God this time. When I asked her why, she couldn't quite put it into words.

I bit my tongue.

A few minutes later, after she'd gone up to her room, she came back and said "Why, what do you think was different?"

I was so glad she asked; so thankful for moments like these, and so thankful for these books that give rise to significant discussion with my children.

Crusoe this time, unlike before when he'd completely forgotten the vows he'd made to God in his distress, was instead reading the Bible and thanking God for delivering him from his illness. And he was now feeling the weight of his own sin. He, like Christian, felt the burden on his back.

I chewed on these thoughts throughout the rest of the day. Do I value deliverance from my troubles greater than I do deliverance from my sin? Do my troubles overshadow the goodness of what our Lord has done for me? Do I really have a true sense of things?

The ideas it holds must each make that sudden, delightful impact upon their minds, must cause that intellectual stir, which mark the inception of an idea. ~Vol.3,p.178

Homeschoolers Being Socially Awkward - My Thoughts

2011-09-28T15:10:00.000-07:00

One of the concerns I hear a lot when it comes to homeschooling is the fear of their child being socially awkward. They will dress weird, not know how to hold a conversation won’t be street smart and not know how to interact amongst friends.

Here are some of my thoughts on the issue:

Being Socially Awkward:

I have known numerous awkward public, private and homeschooled children. One of these forms of education is not the remedy to the issue. Whenever I have met a socially awkward child, I have noticed the parents are too. The parents have an awkward way about them that has influenced that child’s personality and way of interacting. If the child is homeschooled then yes, they will have been more influenced by their parent’s ways simply because of being around them so much…the good and the awkward (notice I did not say bad). But a child who is in public or private school does not escape this influence...that is not the cure.

One thing that public and private schools do is give the child an opportunity to interact with many children of all races, personality, style and tone. This allows them to learn and have opportunity to interact with all types of people and be able to learn how to communicate with them. When homeschooling parents do not give their child similar interactions then yes, they may not be as practiced in interacting with all different types of people. This can turn into them being “awkward” socially.

But, we as homeschooling parents can provide this for our children when educating them at home. We can join groups for play dates with other children, put them in a music class, play with kids at church, and be around friends that have children, play with neighbors….etc. One thing I am thankful for is that I can get them this exposure to people and ages of all different races, ages and personalities, but it is under my supervision. If there is a conversation I think is too mature for her with a child at the park, I can have her come away from it. If I see her being over influenced by a friend that has captivated her attention, I can distance them until I think she is ready for that, if someone is exposing her to wrong ideas on something, I can be there to hear it can walk her through how to think about it. I can offer them a form of protected exposure to people and experiences.

I am not saying I am a better mom for doing this… I am simply saying I want to do this and homeschooling offers me this ability.

Dressing Weird:

I do know many homeschooled children of all different ages and once again, the dressing of the child is a direct influence of the parent’s style and preferences. I would say in general that many of the homeschooled parents I know are very wholesome and have convictions of modesty. They do not care as much that their child is wearing name brands and the trendiest style out there…so in that way, are they weird. Maybe, if so, who cares? I love that weirdness. If the child is wearing a dress to their toes and bonnet with purposely outdated attire…this might be because of the mindset of the parent having an unhealthy view that this is more spiritual. Or, it could simply be their style and their influence in this manner is to be liable, not homeschooling.

Madison and Adia are often in thrift shop finds with a slight hippy or vintage look, an old scarf in their hair, kind of a raga muffin eclectic look. That is because that is a style we like as their parents. That is why they are dressed like that, not because they are homeschooled. If someone thinks they are dressed “weird”, so be it, but it’s not because they are educated at home and would be dressed differently if they were not.

Not Street Smart

It all depends on what someone means by this as to what my thoughts are.

If someone means that a child is awkward because they are not aware of the current music and shows in the MTV culture, doesn’t know lyrics to the hottest teenage pop artist, is clueless on name brand clothing and never heard of certain sex or bathroom humor…than PARISE GOD they are awkward. That is a naivety I wish more children knew and did not embrace as “cool” or necessity to being not awkward. When they are an adult they can watch what they enjoy and have liberty to do through their adult mind and conscience. For now, we parents are the guardian of their conscience and thoughts…this is something that we as parents long to protect. If our children are awkward because of that…then that is because of our personal convictions on these topics that we enforce in our home….not because they are educated at home. I hope we are raising the type of child who will not get older and feel neglected because they were not exposed to these topics and content. Even if they are, that is a risk we are willing to take, as parent, wishing good for our children based on biblical principles.

If someone means a child is nervous around adults, children of different ages or races because they have purposely been unexposed to them then I think there is room for criticism. If the child knows nothing of evil, death, crime or a need to protect those they love, then I also think there is room for criticism. Of course this is all exposed to the degree of age and maturity but these topics of life and the reality of the world need to be taught and made aware of. Protecting your child is one thing, trying to shelter them from any form of displeasure or ugliness is not wise. They need to know how to live in this world and know how to handle it well and in good character. We have to prepare them for these things and the scriptures give us great wisdom on how to think about these things.

In general I think people need to look to the parents as liable for their children’s worldview, dress and way of interacting instead of the manner in which they are schooled. What influence has the parent been or what influence has the parent allowed their child to be exposed to form their current state of awkwardness or lack of.

I pray we as parents grow more aware of our responsibility in the thinking and growth of our children. Weather it’s our direct influence or the influences we subject them to. Our influence is huge…even down to their style of dress and what they know and don’t know that is going on in the world. I am not saying that a parent who does not home school does not understand this…I am simply saying that whether your child is educated at home or public or private school…we as the parent are responsible for our children and helping them form a solid and good worldview. Protecting them where we think necessary and providing a methodology to have them achieve this until they are old enough and mature enough to measure these for themselves…weather that methodology be in the form of homeschooling or not.

By God’s grace and wisdom, He gave us His word to help us know what to think about this world and our place in it.

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16

Fullerton Arboretum

2011-09-26T02:59:00.000-07:00

We headed to the Fullerton Arboretum this past week for Nature Study.

There were orchards with ripening fruit

an Ombu tree

a shady creek

with freshwater clams!

and rocks for baby boys to go 'kerplunk'

and cool water for darling big sisters to dip their baby brothers' feet in

and bamboo shoots to delight little flowery girls

here is Jen working on her nature journal

here are some oleander aphids on milkweed

look closer underneath the leaves that have holes in them

check under the other ones also, look a Monarch egg!

This was a first-time sighting for me, a tarantula hawk! I'm not sure what the flower is. It was so big it looked like a black fairy of sorts flying about. These sting and paralyze tarantulas, drag them back to their dens (hole in the ground), lay an egg on them, and their larvae feeds on the tarantula. You can see a video here.

Cactus with thorns

Beautiful cactus bloom

It's been almost five years now that we have been meeting this way and every week is still as exciting as ever because we just never know what God's creation has in store for us!

Designing Sane Habits - Meal Planning

2011-09-26T02:22:00.001-07:00

You may recall my unfortunate post here.

As I mentioned, planning out our meals was the first place I wanted change because it would bring the greatest relief. This past week was my first week designing the change I wanted in our home.

We sat down at dinner one night and made a list of all the meals the kids and my husband like. Then on Sunday, I grabbed a cup of coffee, that list, the weekly ad, pen and paper and I planned out what meals I would make for the next seven days using mostly what I could find on sale.

From there, I made a grocery list of all the things I needed to buy to have everything I need to prepare the meals.

Then I looked at the calendar and wrote in the meals on the days I would make them - I made sure the easiest meals (crock pot pork ribs & left-over-chicken burritos) were on Tuesday and Thursday since we have Bible Study and Nature Study those days.

On Monday, I had planned on getting the shopping done early in the day, but we dawdled and ended up having to squeeze it in after swimming. I hardly felt like shopping and the kids were extra squirrely but I. was. doing. this. no. matter. what.

It felt like a BIG shopping, but I bet we probably saved some $$ not heading to the grocery store so many times the rest of the week - because you always buy more stuff when you're there.

And guess what? My family had home-cooked meals, on time, all week! Except one night when I forgot to take the chicken out and had to defrost it and my daughter cut the potatoes a little big so we had to cook it longer. But we learned from both of those things the right way to do things next time!

The planning really took a huge load off my back all week and I've already planned and shopped for this week. I even have left-overs for extra nights in the freezer.

Another change I made was actually a suggestion by Pam in the comments of my previous post. She recommended having one child help me cook one night while the other cleans and then alternate. I really love that! I used to have three cluttered in the kitchen saying "Can I do it? Can I do it?" and chairs to stand on and everything else. Now, I only have one at a time so I can teach them to cook much better and we also get individual time together. Thanks Pam!

Next area of relief: MY CLOSET. I'll keep you posted :)

Shannon's Notebooks and What I've Decided for Our Book of Centuries

2011-09-18T00:06:00.001-07:00

If you haven't read the last BOC post I did, you can find it here.

Last week we had our Monthly Meeting on the topic of The Book of Centuries and I invited Shannon, a wonderful friend we met through the AO Yahoo groups. She attended one of our meetings a while back - drove all the way from Pasadena, mind you!

She attended the Childlight conference this year after hearing it discussed at the meeting - much like Kristine, and I and Kathy and Connie did after hearing Wendy talk about how eye opening it was for her at a meeting the previous year. Amazing isn't it, how word travels?

She came back from the conference this year and told us that Andra Smith had said she was like our 'child' from California and that next year, there would be grandchildren attending Childlight from California! That Andra, she is so warm and when you meet her, you'll feel like she's known you all along. Lord willing, we're coming next year!!

So Shannon came to the meeting and having attended Laurie Bestvater's class at Childlight, she was quite knowledgeable about the BOC. She even prepared samples of it as well as a Century Chart for us to look over. And wouldn't you know, my camera was completely out of focus :/

I can't recall now if this was the BOC page sample or the Century Chart sample she brought. Maybe someone can clarify in the comments section.

CORRECTION: I spoke with Shannon and this was actually a time-line she got from a pamphlet in the CM Digital Collection titled Notes on Making a Timeline by Winifred Irving. So it appears, please correct me if I'm wrong, that a 'history chart' or 'time chart' as it is both called in the noted pamphlet, and what I noted as a 'century chart' in this post, is a single page the child uses to chart a specific time period they are studying with more space for detail than a timeline or BOC would have. A picture of said chart can be found in the pamphlet linked to above.

What I love about this page is the way she has the reigning Monarchy listed along the margin giving a great visual. From what I was able to gather, the difference between a BOC and a Century Chart is that a BOC is a book the child adds to for all the years of their schooling once it is begun around 4th or 5th grade. The Century Chart, on the other hand, is one page that might have been used for a brief time for the study of a specific time period.

In addition to this page, Shannon also brought a family tree of the Kings and Queens of England that she had made. You'll notice it begins at the bottom and goes up, as a tree would.

This was her copy; her son made his own copy separately. She said having her own copy helped her have more patience with how he made his. She didn't need his to be perfect because she had hers to refer to if she needed. I liked that. And I'm kicking myself now for not having taken pictures of his to show you.

Another interesting thing we discovered was Shannon's nature journal. It drew a crowd to say the least.

On this page, you can see that she meticulously drew the phases of the moon. She said that for one month straight, she would read bedtime stories with her kids every night, then take them outside to draw the moon before they went in to bed. Click on the very out of focus picture to see a larger image.

Here, she drew a picture of the view from her house (I believe). She then drew the sun exactly where it set at that time of the year. Then she went back to the picture at a different time of year and drew in to the very same picture where the sun set then. Fantastic.

I imagine you could do similar things with the location of shadows, the water level in creeks, tide levels at differing hours of the day, the growth in size of a pet, etc.

Touched by an idea :) Thank you so much Shannon! You have just enhanced our nature study exponentially; and actually, Jen has already taken advantage of this idea and scheduled our nature study group to go to the same locations multiple times throughout the year so we can split pages in our journals and draw comparisons. Exciting indeed!

In case you're wondering, these are all Moleskine notebooks Shannon used.

After much thought and having talked with Shannon, I've decided I'm going to use the A4 Moleskine Folio Sketchbook and create our own BOC.

It has a black hardcover that has a nice feel to it and good thick pages, a pocket in the back for maps and things, and an elastic band to hold it shut. Last I checked it was on sale at Amazon for $19.77

She suggested coming up with a template of sorts with the horizontal and vertical line points mapped along the edges on a piece of paper smaller than the notebook pages so I could easily place it on each page and mark them that way. I think I'll use pencil and make faint lines to start because I just don't see my daughter easily being able to figure out where to write in the entries without it.

Another good point Shannon made is that I don't need to complete the whole book right now. I could just do two or three centuries where we would be filling things in now and fill in the rest as needed. I would just need to figure out where that page falls relative to the rest of the book.

Here are Shannon's notes on the BOC page spread within the 96 pages of this notebook. I haven't figured it all out yet, but plan to in the next couple of weeks to finally get my daughter's BOC going.

There were other great resources shared as well. I unfortunately wasn't able to get pictures of everything so if you were at the meeting and have any additional pictures or links to share - email them to me and I'll add them to this post.

Here are Kristn's links which she shared the following day:

Here is the site I was talking about tonight:

http://www.homeschoolinthewoods.com/

And the link to the actual Century Book:

http://www.homeschoolinthewoods.com/HTTA/RecordofTime.htm

They also are the ones that I got those cut outs for. They do not come colored (I did that) but that could be a project for the kids.

They have some really wonderful hands on ideas too. Check out some of these pages

http://www.homeschoolinthewoods.com/hoh/Hands-On-Screen-1.htm

http://www.homeschoolinthewoods.com/HTTA/TimelineHelps/

Let us know what you're doing for BOC in the comments section, we love to hear what you're up to!

Parenting Styles

2011-09-17T01:45:00.001-07:00

We know wisdom comes from God, scripture and good counsel. I've also heard someone put it this way:

wisdom comes from two places - your mistakes, or the mistakes of others.

I providentially landed on this MUST READ post over at The Common Room tonight. And I do prefer to learn from the mistakes of others rather than my own so I'll be heading over there for some reading. Particularly the first link is something I think we should all read and consider.

I have to agree with what she says here:

Parenting is not about the style of parenting you use or the system, or the guru you choose- it's about your children and your relationship with them.

Design, Not Default

2011-09-12T01:23:00.000-07:00

Everything came to a head.

It was as if God's grace disappeared all of a sudden.

Maybe it was the extreme heat that led to dehydration that led to poor milk supply that led to fussy baby and the need to nurse all day long, leaving everything else undone.
Maybe it was the un-pluggable milk duct.
Maybe it was the stress of the first week of a new school year.
Maybe it was the messy house and the piles of laundry everywhere.
Maybe it was the fleas we somehow ended up with and the fact that *I* was their new host.
Maybe it was the sleep deprived camping trip and all the packing, hauling, and orchestrating along with the logistical complexity of camping with a four month old.
Maybe it's the late night blogging ;-p

Whatever it was, I have been covertly losing it over here! As much of a 'do-er' as I am, I have come to the very end of my physical and mental ability and have entered a state of sheer discouragement by the fact that all my efforts thus far have amounted to nothing more than a big pile of muckety muck!

Kids bickering, shoes scattered on the floor, books and toys left all over, teetering piles of laundry stacked up everywhere, hungry mouths to feed, spilled food under the table, sticky stuff on the table, lego's they're 'still playing with' all over their room, piles of stuff out front waiting to be put away... AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

And this is *after* I implemented my new schedule that I talked about here and here.

And my first guilty thought was "I should be content in this circumstance and just accept that this is the way it is. I need to learn to bear this yoke with joy. Shame on me for being frustrated, discontent, angry, short with the kids, miserable. If I would just stop getting upset, then everything would be fine!"

And there is absolutely truth to that, yet we shouldn't stop there. We should continue to pray and strive and seek wisdom and discernment, because in most cases, we don't 'just change'.

My husband once told me that he thinks the idea that you can go from problem to solution without hard work in between is one of the greatest tools of deception. It breeds discouragement. Because we try once, fail, and then resign to the fact that we will never be able to change. We tried and couldn't do it.

My husband actually takes people like me on as clients - to help them learn how to optimize their business rather than their home, but it really is so similar so I took my situation to him, as I often do, and he helped. A lot.

Sometimes you just can't see the forest through the trees when you're right there in the midst of it.

So for starters, he told me to make a list of all the problems I have in the home - on paper. It has to be on paper.

Here's the list I came up with off the top of my head:

-Meals sneak up on me and not everyone likes to eat the same things.
-Kids not patient about waiting for me to help them with school.
-4 month old fussing at times instead of eating, burping, playing quietly and going down immediately for a nap as my ideal schedule calls for.
-Child #2 dragging feet to get started when asked to do independent work.
-housework still undone even with kids doing their chores - dishes, laundry, vacuuming, clutter, etc.
-animosity between #2 and #3
-No time for grocery shopping/leisure in the afternoons.
-no time so I'm always rushing
-closet nightmare - my clothes are in piles so everything is wrinkled, I have to dig forever to find anything to wear.
-kids don't put things back.
-so frustrated with the condition of the home that I'm grumpy and unable to play and enjoy my kids.

Going over my list, he empathized with me. He then said some things that hit home.

"Whether you take the time to plan or not, you are living by a plan. Unfortunately the plan you have is a default plan and, how's that going for you?" {ouch!}

"What you want is a plan by design, not default."

"Because you have no good plan, you compensate by exerting control." {boy, did that remind me of CM's talks here and here.

He continued... "You lack discipline, not because you aren't capable of it, but because of a lack of focus. You have been disciplined and consistent in other areas before, just not in these areas. You've just never taken the time to focus on a good plan for everything you do."

"And then there is no joyful spirit in the doing - the kids obey, but Galatians 5:22 is out the window. And without joy, you resort to outlets."

In my case; chocolate. It makes me feel sooooooo much better. for the moment. But why stop there? Indulge in some bad thoughts; selfish thoughts and start blaming others. {ugh} {sigh}

So now that he had me feeling so fantastic about myself, he pointed me to the sensibility of a plan that I could have confidence in through prayerful discernment and wisdom.

We looked at the list again and he told me to pick out the top two things that cause me the most angst. So I picked meals and closet. Then because meals come three times a day, closet comes once, we decided meals was the place to start to give me the greatest relief.

He asked "What do you want your meals to look like? What would be ideal?"

My mind turned to how I currently open the fridge at lunch time to try and come up with some sort of lunch from the existing components - "how about cucumber and mayo on a tortilla?!"

So I answered, "I want to be able to make healthy, quick and easy meals that I don't have to think much about. I enjoy cooking and trying new recipes sometimes, but I need a standby plan that I can fall back on." So that became the goal.

By this point, I was figuring out what all I needed to do now. I started making another list of things the kids like to eat for lunch:

lunch meat sandwiches
tuna
hummus
bean & cheese burritos
chicken tacos
buckwheat noodles w/seaweed
onigiri (Japanese rice balls)
pasta w/olive oil & salt
fried rice (quick with leftovers)

From there, I made a shopping list of all the ingredients I would need to have on hand to make those items. My husband, who also used to create systems for a living as an engineer, said think of it this way:

Keep a stack of tuna in the pantry in the same place always. The kids know where it is and can always find it when they're looking for it. It's in the tuna spot. When you take a can and there's only 2 cans left, automatically write 'tuna' on the shopping list so you don't run out.

Sounds like creating good habits. This was nothing less than revolutionary to me. I have never had this kind of order in my home and am just now learning it. I'm sure this is all common sense to you all. Unfortunately, I never learned it.

Now, every which way I look, the wheels are turning in my head, wondering what else could be done more efficiently to simplify our lives. I'm hoping between the meals and the closet, I should be able to shave close to an hour a day.

Even though I've only figured out one tiny corner of a plan, and actual implementation is yet to be seen, I feel soooooo much lighter already. The entire tone of the home is lightened.

In the end, I don't think it was God's grace disappearing, it was His grace abounding! It just took a bit of intensity for me to come to terms *again* with my shortcomings and His perfection. And isn't that so often the way? In the valley we look to Him, seek Him, find Him. And in to the valley He sends us for our very own good.

If you have any tips on how you manage your home that you'd like to share, please do post them in the comments for us all to benefit from!

First Nature Study 2011

2011-09-10T03:06:00.001-07:00

We had our annual Nature Study meeting last week and our first Nature Study day for 2011 this week at the creek. It turned out to be 97 degrees, which wasn't so bad until we started trekking up the creek to a point I blogged about here. The creek was rather parched and the heat was very intense. We were all dripping with sweat!

Some things we decided on for this year are to do our nature journals in the first half hour and to reserve that time for nature journaling only so the kids could better focus on their drawings instead of getting distracted by others who may be up and poking around, playing already.

We also will have recitation in place of nature journaling, the last week of the month. The Moms are continuing finishing up The Screwtape Letters, then reading The Great Gatsby while we save our pennies for Norms & Nobility to follow.

We're planning on starting a book club of sorts for the kids with the Peterkin Papers but it's still a bit fuzzy.

Another idea we were tossing around was to find a central online location where the kids could collaborate and share their nature observations. Obviously, the Moms would have to post the info for the kids at this age still, but I thought it might turn out to eventually contain a significant body of observations and encourage more interest and closer observation. The idea is still just that - an idea so we'll keep you posted on how that goes.

Here are pictures from our day. Did I mention one Mom almost slid off a slippery rock, toddler in arms, into a pool of algae covered water? Praise God she didn't and both made it back safe. Her comment later was "Way to bring in the new year with a bang!" What a great attitude. Glad to have such troopers in the group.

Picture Catch Up

2011-09-06T23:50:00.000-07:00

Here's my post for pictures I've been meaning to share, but don't feel like writing an entire post about.

We had Robin Hood 'play' at the end of the year last year...

We went to see Much Ado About Nothing in the park...

We went to visit Johnna and watched a little tiny tug boat tug a massive military ship out to sea.

Our alligator lizard's eight eggs hatched!

We drove up the 101 - marked as part of the Historic Camino Real Route by these bells - just past Santa Barbara

to Refugio State Park and spent four days beach camping

this little gopher was our friend and came to see what we were eating every day

a train roars through there at mind blowing decibal levels so we lost some sleep

That's all!

First Day of School 2011

2011-09-06T19:37:00.000-07:00

The first week of school always lands on a four day school week because of Labor Day. But AO has a full week for week 1 - regardless of when you start. So rather than start our year with the stress of trying to squeeze it all in, I decided to split the first week over two weeks. This would also allow me time to hand out our hymn books, new notebooks, discuss new books, composer, artist, and walk through the schedule pointing out new subjects - grammar, latin, plutarch, etc. We also talked about which books will be read independently, listened to on audio, or read with me; all things that are important for them to know.

After we were done with introductions, my first born daughter characteristically ran off to read two days worth of poetry, the first chapter of Story Book of Science, listen to a chapter of This Country of Ours, and check them off her schedule.

My second born son asked if he was done and could go outside to play now :/

My main goal this year, for my YR4 daughter is to get her working more independently. Her schedule, her responsibility to narrate, rather than me always asking for it.

For my YR2 son, my goals are to continue improving on his reading and to get through some of the more difficult books like Pilgrim's Progress without diminished interest; maintaining and cultivating that love of books and learning, which the CM method so wonderfully preserves.

With my 3, almost 4yo, my main focus is training her to use a regular tone of voice, ie. not fuss and whine when she doesn't get her way. I think this one thing would have the greatest impact on the peace in our home and is worthy of my utmost attention. It will take great vigilance and the patience and grace only God can provide, but I am willing because the alternative is just NOT an option.

With my almost 5 month old, I'm trying to figure out if it's gas, teething, or is he over-tired? I suppose like the rest of the bunch, he'll grow up and be running around before I ever figure it out.

Here are our first day of school pictures...

Never did get the perfect one ;-)

Homeschool Meme

2011-09-06T01:55:00.000-07:00

Because I don't already have enough to do, Brandi @ Afterthoughts tagged me on a Homeschool Meme! ;-p

I am honored. Really. And I did take her 'Don't fail me people!' to heart. Because not only do I really enjoy Brandi's posts and benefit from them, I am amazed at the sheer volume of consecutive blogging and quality thinking she is capable of and so I think it's really, really fantastic that she tagged me! So here we go...

1. ONE HOMESCHOOLING BOOK YOU HAVE ENJOYED

Of course, CM's six volumes. Even though I haven't read them all completely, I have read much of them and continue to be inspired by them again and again. While the language originally was a barrier, I feel like there is no alternative to reading her words directly. They inspire me. period. And she just says things in a way that I don't think could ever be re-phrased quite as effectively. And I learned along the way that the barrier to reading her writings for me was more about historical context and frequent tangents that she'd run off on more than the language itself.

If I could pick a second book, it would be For the Children's Sake. Susan Schaeffer, for me, had the spirit of CM's ideas come through in her book.

2. ONE RESOURCE YOU WOULDN'T BE WITHOUT

Sorry, can't do 'one' here so let's go for three - The Bible. My friend Kristine, who I can just talk to. And my Husband. He clears the muckety muck in my brain and grounds me with wisdom and perspective. I don't know that I would ever have gotten this far in any area of my life without him.

3. ONE RESOURCE YOU WISH YOU HAD NEVER BOUGHT

That Teach Me Japanese tape that has a Japanese woman singing 'Oh Suzannah'. I love many of the songs on there, but I'm sorry, there is nothing more irritating and less Japanese than a Japanese version of Oh Suzannah.

4. ONE RESOURCE YOU ENJOYED LAST YEAR

Hmmm..... can it be a book? I'm just going to say Squanto by Feenie Ziner for now because it's fresh on my mind and it's too late to think any harder. I really enjoyed her descriptive writing - 'he swallowed murder' and felt she really did a good job portraying his character - his hopes, struggles, fears, discouragement, encounters with Englishmen, etc. It was a really enjoyable book to read with my daughter.

5. ONE RESOURCE YOU WILL BE USING NEXT YEAR

Kindle! Just got it :) And more of Librivox because it's just not going to happen otherwise with a YR2 and YR4 combo. Oops, that's 2.

6. ONE RESOURCE YOU WOULD LIKE TO BUY

The Encyclopedia of Bible Truths for School Subjects, but it's $60!! :/

7. ONE RESOURCE YOU WISH EXISTED

An older, wiser, more knowledgeable, sweet, kind and loving woman who knew all about CM homeschooling, parenting, being a wife, and homemaking who felt it her ministry in life to disciple me.

8. ONE HOMESCHOOLING CATALOG YOU ENJOY READING

I don't have one! I don't read catalogs, I know I'm using AO so I toss everything that comes in the mail in the trash. It just clutters my counters.

9. ONE HOMESCHOOLING WEBSITE YOU USE REGULARLY

I use AO all the time for our curriculum. I use the NING for our nature group. And this blog. And Google Reader to catch up on other people's blogs. I plan on checking out the AO Facebook page which seems to be gaining momentum.

10. TAG ~~FIVE~~ FOUR OTHER HOMESCHOOLERS

I tag Greta, Kristin, Johnna and Alaina. And if you don't get around to it, don't sweat it!

Hidden Even to Ourselves

2011-08-26T01:29:00.000-07:00

I resolved in my future conduct to redeem the past; and I can say with honesty that my resolve was fruitful of some good. You know how earnestly, in the last months of the last year, I labored to relieve suffering; you know that much was done for others.... [But as] I smiled, comparing myself with other men, comparing my active goodwill with the lazy cruelty of their neglect... at the very moment of that vain-glorious thought, a qualm came over me, a horrid nausea and the most dreadful shuddering.... I looked down.... I was once more Edward Hyde.
~Robert Louis Stevenson,
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Robert Louis Stevenson, John Singer Sargent

Timothy Keller quotes this excerpt in Chapter 11 of his book The Reason For God. And I find it one worth pondering.

Charlotte Mason homeschooling has such high ideals; ideals I embrace so passionately that I blog about it, read about it, meet monthly to talk about it, etc. The words she wrote over one hundred years ago have set our feet in a very large and beautiful place indeed.

And then sometimes... when I come across others, I find I smile, comparing my curriculum with theirs, comparing my active care in educating my children with their lack of care...

and then I get up on my pedestal and I feel oh so good about myself...

...and then all of a sudden, I see the truth and feel utterly disgusted, ashamed.

Keller writes:

Edward Hyde is so named not just because he is hideous but because he is hidden. He thinks solely of his own desires; he doesn't care in the slightest who he hurts in order to gratify himself. He kills if someone gets in his way. Stevenson is saying that even the best of people hide from themselves what is within - an enormous capacity for egotism, self-absorption, and regard for your own interests over those of all others.

Hideous and hidden - even to himself.

Sin and evil are self-centeredness and pride that lead to oppression against others, but there are two forms of this. One form is being very bad and breaking all the rules, and the other form is being very good and keeping all the rules and becoming self-righteous.

If we do it all so amazingly well and our children turn out so wonderfully fantastic, then we will be so very, very good.

This is a deadly turn of events. For the first time Jekyll becomes Hyde involuntarily, without the potion, and this is the beginning of the end. Unable to control his transformations any longer, Jekyll kills himself. ... Why would Jekyll become Hyde without the potion? Like so many people, Jekyll knows he is a sinner, so he tries desperately to cover his sin with great piles of good works. Yet his efforts do not actually shrivel his pride and self-centeredness, they only aggravate it. They lead him to superiority, self-righteousness, pride and suddenly - look! Jekyll becomes Hyde, not in spite of his goodness, but because of his goodness.

The loveliness we think we see is often ugliness of the worst sort. I wonder how many may have seen the ugliness of Charlotte Mason Homeschoolers?

Women who have to work and cannot stay home with their children. Women who submit to pressure from family to send their kids to school. Women who lack the confidence to homeschool. Women who are unable to manage it all. Women who go through a secular Charter School. Women who blend Charlotte Mason with other methods. Women with special needs children.

What is ugliest of all is that it is only by the grace of God that any of us have come to know about Charlotte Mason's philosophy and methods, and yet it is His very goodness we set aside and forget, in order that we can step up to glory.

Hideous and hidden.

Charlotte herself, said this about 'her' methods:

One discovers a thing because it is there, and no sane person takes credit to himself for such discovery. On the contrary, he recognizes with King Arthur,––"These jewels, whereupon I chanced Divinely, are for public use."

And I believe this sound view of hers came from her clarity on the gospel truth.

Keller goes on in his chapter to describe this truth for us:

The Christian gospel is that I am so flawed that Jesus had to die for me, yet I am so loved and valued that Jesus was glad to die for me. This leads to deep humility and deep confidence at the same time. It undermines both swaggering and sniveling. I cannot feel superior to anyone, and yet I have nothing to prove to anyone. I do not think more of myself nor less of myself. Instead, I think of myself less.

There is beauty in truth and it is here that we will find it.

Oranges and Lemons

2011-08-24T15:19:00.000-07:00

My children came back from church one afternoon this past year playing a game that went something like this:

Down by the banks of the hanky panky
Bullfrog jumped from bank to bank
Hip hop soda pop, hey Mr. William and he went kerplop!

They sat in a circle, criss cross applesauce and had their hands facing upwards on their knees, right hand resting in the left hand of the person on their right. As they sang the song, one person would slap their right hand towards their left hand, and slap the right hand of the person on their left. The slapping would go around and whoever it landed on at 'kerplop!' would be out.

I was amazed at how quickly they had picked it up and wonder at how these songs have a way of traveling orally from generation to generation. I remember as a child sitting in the back of the school bus in Japan on the way to the American school hand clapping with a friend to 'Miss Mary Mack'.

Charlotte talked about these types of games that she had seen played in England in her time:

Before Puritan innovations made us a staid and circumspect people, English lads and lasses of all ages danced out little dramas on the village green, accompanying themselves with the words and airs of just such rondes as the French children sing to-day. We have a few of them left still––to be heard at Sunday-school treats and other gatherings of the children,––and they are well worth preserving: 'There came three dukes a-riding, a-riding, a-riding': 'Oranges and lemons, say the bells of St. Clement's'; 'Here we come gathering nuts in May'; 'What has my poor prisoner done?' and many more, all set to delightful sing-song airs that little feet trip to merrily, the more so for the pleasant titillation of the words––dukes, nuts, oranges,––who could not go to the tune of such ideas?

The promoters of the kindergarten system have done much to introduce games of this, or rather of a more educational kind; but is it not a fact that the singing games of the kindergarten are apt to be somewhat inane? Also, it is doubtful how far the prettiest plays, learnt at school and from a teacher, will take hold of the children as do the games which have been passed on from hand to hand through an endless chain of children, and are not be found in the print-books at all.

It seems the games we know are more likely to have come out of the latter description here. But as you are anxiously preparing for academics with your little ones, perhaps teaching your children some of these games would be another way to enrich their year.

Here is a link to a book called "A Dictionary of British Folklore" http://books.google.com/books?id=e4ohsoURGnEC&lpg=PA338&ots=RxuavsWfZY&dq=Burne that has a large list of nursery rhymes/games that have been observed. (Warning: There are kissing games and lyrics mentioning chopping off of heads and such so obviously, use discretion as needed.)

Here is a video about the rhyme 'Oranges and Lemons' which Mason mentions in her quote above:

Thoughts on YR4 and the Book of Centuries

2011-08-23T00:30:00.000-07:00

With the next school year looming in the very near future, and an eldest daughter heading into YR4, I am scrambling to get my act together and figure out what all she is doing.

For those of you who may not be familiar with AO YR4, there are several new things to become acquainted with: Full length Shakespeare plays, Plutarch's lives, Grammar, Latin (we're trying this one), and the Book of Centuries.

This is not a year I'm going to get away with flying by the seat of my pants! There is planning and decision making to be done; which is probably why some find it a daunting year. So much so that AO actually has a YR3.5.

I've never had a child in YR4 and I don't really know how it will be for us, so I'm just going in with the attitude that, so long as we try our best, it's alright. I'm not measuring my success by 'getting it all done' because I also have a 4 month old, a son in YR2 and an almost 4yo to consider. Plus my daughter is still transitioning to reading her own books and writing, so if we don't finish it all, I'm not getting in a wreck about it. That would be missing the entire point, completely. Let's keep the main thing the main thing shall we?

Well, I spent a few hours on the phone with Kristine into the wee hours of the night (morning really) trying to figure out what to do for the Book of Centuries. This PNEU article says about the BOC:

Though "The Book of Centuries" as such has only been part of the P.U.S. programme since 1915, its earlier form of a "Museum Note Book" dates back to 1906. The late Mrs. Epps advocated in her "British Museum for Children" the keeping of a note-book, each page representing a century, in which one could draw sketches of objects in the Museums, and write notes of the principal events.

So, from everything I've gotten thus far, the idea seems to me to have a book where the child records one-word on a given person, thing, or event of significance on one side of a notebook, and a blank page on the opposing page they draw sketches of objects related to that century, whether from a museum or a book or a website anymore I suppose.

It seems simple enough, and it's in the details that I get confused.

Kristine and I had both thought of buying this one which we read about on a Childlight blog post here, but without a picture of the actual pages and limited information on the layout, we both hesitated to pull the trigger on it.

We also looked at Simply Charlotte Mason's 'My Book of Centuries', which included a 'brief narrative page' and a 'noteworthy page', which didn't appear to be mentioned by the PNEU or seen in Eve Andersen's BOC. I also wasn't too crazy about the categorizing of things on the noteworthy page ('Prominent Men & Women', 'Wars & Politics', Art & Music', etc.). It just seems too compartmentalized and directed to me. I like the simplicity of the 2 page spread, but that's just my personal preference. Another thing I don't like is having 'www.simplycharlottemason.com' on every page. A minor, I know, but I am just so petty like that! And don't get me wrong, they *should* have that on there because it's their product. I just don't want it on my daughter's.

As we talked, some things that came up were:

Where should a BOC start? Creation? 4000 B.C.? 5000B.C.? Laurie Bestvater's site doesn't say where her BOC starts. S.C.M.'s printable one starts at 4000B.C. The PNEU article here says:

...we must turn to the beginning of the book and head the first lined page "Prehistoric Periods." On this it is as well to write a list of the four periods—Palaeolithic or Old Stone, Neolithic or New Stone, Bronze, and Early Iron, explaining what is meant by each.

I have not seen any discussion on these time periods and whether there is no mention of them or how they are being dealt with in the BOC's now.

And what about B.C. and A.D. or B.C.E. and C.E. (Common Era)? I'd never heard of Common Era until I looked at Laurie Bestvater's Book of Centuries where she mentions using B.C.E. and C.E.. SCM's and Eve Andersen's uses B.C. and A.D.

Now this is the kicker that's got me - are the pages ruled or blank? Or is one side ruled, one side blank? Eve Andersen's is ruled on one side and blank on the other, which is what the PNEU article recommends. SCM's 'My book of Centuries' has a grid on one side and blank for the drawing page, their printable one is blank on both sides, Laurie Bestvater's - from what I've heard - has alternating shading grey/white on one side, blank on the other. 'The Book of Centuries and How to Keep One' PNEU article example here (link courtesy of Laurie Bestvater's post here.) is blank on both sides with one horizontal line drawn through the century, but vertical column lines are assumed, not drawn.

Although I like the way the PNEU article example looks, blank on both sides, my 9yo daughter is going to need some kind of lines to guide her writing.

Am I the only one challenged trying to figure this all out? More likely these are minors and you're not as concerned with it all. Yes, I know there are four letter words for people like me - NUTS!

Would you believe I spent no less than an hour looking on the Moleskin website looking for the right notebook?! I could not find one of those hardback notebooks with the elastic that holds it shut with lines on one side, blank on the other that had thick enough paper to prevent Sharpie finepoint pens from bleeding through.

I also checked on Tokyo Pen Shop's site - because I always loved browsing Japanese Stationary stores when I lived in Tokyo - but I didn't find one there either.

So as my search proved futile, I thought: "Forget it, I'll just make one and print it at Fedex Office."

I was going to make very faint grey lines to mark the rows and columns and have a really nice cover page with parchment type background. Well, two hours of attempting to format different headers and backgrounds in one MS Word file and I was DONE. I think I'd have a better chance of programming a simpler word processor before I ever figure that out.

So now I'm thinking I really NEED to find a notebook with lines on one side and blank on the other that is nice enough for her to keep forever. It's going to be a very special book. Once I find it, I think I'll hand write in all the centuries, leaving room for maps, etc. as detailed in this PNEU article here.

I know, don't major on the minors, but it also feels like such a big deal because it's a lifetime book; something that will hopefully be dear to my children that will sit on their bookshelves someday when they are grown men and women. And I really don't want to have to change books ever once we start, so I do want to get it right.

I do wonder though if many of us who are scouring the articles on BOC's aren't ending up very much like the lady who always cut off the ends of the ham. You know the story where she cuts the ends off the ham every holiday and when asked why she said because Mom did, so they check with Mom and she says she did because Grandma did, so they check with Grandma and turns out she did because her oven was so small she couldn't fit a ham in it!

So, I think I'm back to keeping the main thing the main thing. I'd love to hear what you're doing for BOC!

YR4 Term 1 Schedule

2011-08-21T02:15:00.000-07:00

I finally got around to finishing my YR4 daughter's schedule for Term 1. Most of the work was in figuring out how our day would flow and then splitting up the readings, particularly Robinson Crusoe.

I have the Junior Deluxe Edition, which has no chapters, making it very time consuming to split the readings for the week.

It's done, for now. And it's not set in stone. I may find after the first week that I want her to listen to Robinson Crusoe on librivox instead and I'll read Storybook of Science with her; not sure. In any case, it's a start and we'll massage it as we go.

This is the schedule I will give my 9 (almost 10) yo daughter. Mine will look very similar, but will also have my YR2 son's readings and time slots for my 3yo's 'school' and nap. I plan on posting that here when it is done also. Her readings are in blue because I color code each child's work which helps me keep things straight.

I posted it to Scribd so feel free to download and use it, although you would have to double check page numbers because they may vary depending upon which version of the books you have.

Oh, and you'd have to change my daughter's name to your child's name ;)

If you see any errors, feel free to let me know.

Also, for the record, the way we do Japanese is NOT CM. Foreign language is meant to be worked on daily; we're just not there.

And I don't list composer study or handcrafts because these aren't done on a schedule for me - I play composer music and work on handcrafts with them when the opportunities arise rather than at a set time every week.

Please keep in mind that this is a YR4 schedule so if you're doing YR0 or YR1 and looking at this schedule, thinking it would work for you - it could, but practically none of what is on here applies to YR0 and only some to YR1 so you would need to pare it down significantly. Please check AO to see what is appropriate for your child's age.

Also, while it may seem overwhelming - and yes, I admit I did feel overwhelmed at first - many of the things on the schedule are very short. Scripture memory takes less than 10 minutes, singing a hymn takes less than 10 minutes, art study takes no more than 15 minutes so while it seems like A LOT, (and this is me reasoning myself into what my will has already decided) it is just many bite size pieces.

It is wide and varied and it's all a part of setting their feet in a large room.

Check back with us in 12 weeks and we'll see how we're doing :)

AO YR4 Schedule

The Clothing of Thought

2011-08-21T00:49:00.000-07:00

I'm working through my daughter's YR4 AO schedule, and I noticed that in The Story Book of Science, a book I'm really looking forward to after hearing Kristine rave about it, Chapter 19 titled 'The Book' is skipped entirely.

Well, curiosity does kill the cat doesn't it?

I nosed through it and here's a snippet:

"I am sorry, my dear child, but I must undeceive you. Grammar cannot teach one to write. It teaches us to make a verb agree with its subject, an adjective with a substantive, and other things of that kind. It is very useful, I admit, for nothing is more displeasing than to violate the rules of language; but that does not impart the gift of writing. There are people whose memories are crammed with rules of grammar, who, like you, stop short at the first word.

"Language is in some sort the clothing of thought. We cannot clothe what does not exist; we cannot speak or write what we do not find in our minds. Thought dictates and the pen writes. When the head is furnished with ideas, and usage, still more than grammar, has taught us the rules of language, we have all that is necessary to write excellent things correctly. But, again, if ideas are wanting, if there is nothing in the head, what can you write? How are these ideas to be acquired? By study, reading, and conversation with people better instructed than we."

The clothing of thought...

A lovely way to put it isn't it? And I couldn't help but notice how this rings of CM.

Before they are ten, children who have been in the habit of using books will write good, vigorous English with ease and freedom; that is, if they have not been hampered by instructions. It is well for them not even to learn rules for the placing of full stops and capitals until they notice how these things occur in their books. Our business is to provide children with material in their lessons, and leave the handling of such material to themselves. If we would believe it, composition is as natural as jumping and running to children who have been allowed due use of books. ~Vol. 1, p. 247

I wonder why AO chose to skip it.

Yet Another Schedule

2011-08-12T02:40:00.000-07:00

My, this blog has been sorely neglected! Time is just an extremely rare commodity these days, but all for good reasons :)

A while back I mentioned I was reading the book "A Mother's Rule of Life, How to Bring Order to Your Home and Peace to Your Soul" by Holly Pierlot. I've been enjoying it slowly and most of it is her story, through which she shares gems of wisdom that you would otherwise have to suffer and struggle in order to learn yourself.

Now, 122 pages into the book, she's gotten to the crux of what I picked up the book for - 'Working Out Your Essentials', and offers up a starting point:

What exactly do your children need to do? For daily hygiene? To deal with their clothing? Their personal prayer? Sports and hobbies? Friends? Catechism and Mass and Confession? Homework or schooling? Sleep and rest? Exercise? Make lists, and write these down.

Pure genius. So obvious! Why wouldn't you start here? Yet somehow its foundational simplicity has managed to evade me for years as I struggled to make room for it all - particularly the clean and orderly home part of it ;)

If you aren't Catholic - which I am not - you would just change those areas to what you do.

So I spent about an hour scribbling lists off the top of my head and put it all together in a weekly schedule of sorts. It isn't a final schedule (is there such a thing?), there will be many adjustments and lots of fine tuning as I go. But I just wanted to start, and start with the basics.

So here's what I came up with. Feel free to upload it and adjust it to your own needs if you see any use for it in your home.

Weekly Schedule

Our school schedule is separate from this, although I did include some of the things we do all together. As you can see, I have no times since I don't do well with strict time schedules. That's just me.

She recommends making lists of what is involved in every task for them so they know exactly *what* to do. I LOVE this part of it because it makes what is expected of them clear. It eliminates the "what else Mommy?". For now I made a list for after-meal cleanup, which is marked with a * on the schedule and mapped out for them on the second page.

I also made a revolving list of things to be done on Saturdays on the second page. This way things like washing sheets, etc. that don't need to be done weekly, are still being done. Again, this is just a start, which I wanted to keep 'light' until somewhat of a habit is established, at which time I can shift some of the items from my Saturday list (like toilet cleaning) to the more regular weekly time slots. I focused on the major trouble areas first.

I added "Clean Floor" first thing in the morning - meaning they clean the floor in their room, which is where most of the mess ends up, and "5 Minute Tidy up" before bed - because that's usually all it takes for them to quickly clean up the mess that was made that day. Just these 2 things alone have put a big dent in the mess in our home.

I just know this is IT, the schedule I've always been waiting for, the one that will finally bring complete order to our home and peace to our souls!

And if you laugh at that like my husband did - you're gonna get it! ;)

Children

2011-07-16T00:42:00.000-07:00

My daughter read Longfellow this past week, which she hadn't been too enthused about because the poems are longer and of a more serious tone than those of A.A. Milne, Christina Rosetti, James Whitcomb Riley, Eugene Field and others from previous years.

Precisely why they are very much up my alley - I particularly loved Nuremberg, which I hope to experience first hand someday.

But this past week she read one that she told me she liked a lot. She asked if I wanted to hear it and I said I did. This is the one verse she read me:

In your hearts are the birds and the sunshine,
In your thoughts the brooklet's flow
But in mine is the wind of Autumn
And the first fall of snow.

How is it that a poet I don't even know can take a few words and describe the lingerings in my heart better than I myself can?

Oh to have words like that to tell!

Here is the rest of the poem, which is the scheduled poet for YR3 Term 3 on AO:

Children
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Come to me, O ye children!
For I hear you at your play,
And the questions that perplexed me
Have vanished quite away.

Ye open the eastern windows,
That look towards the sun,
Where thoughts are singing swallows
And the brooks of morning run.

In your hearts are the birds and the sunshine,
In your thoughts the brooklet's flow
But in mine is the wind of Autumn
And the first fall of snow.

Ah! what would the world be to us
If the children were no more?
We should dread the desert behind us
Worse than the dark before.

What the leaves are to the forest,
With the light and air for food,
Ere their sweet and tender juices
Have been hardened into wood,-

That to the world are children;
Through them it feels the glow
Of a brighter and sunnier climate
Then reaches the trunks below.

Come to me, O ye children!
And whisper in my ear
What the birds and wings are singing
In your sunny atmosphere.

For what are all our contrivings,
And the wisdom of our books,
When compared with your caresses,
And the gladness of your looks?

Ye are better than all the ballads
That ever were sung or said;
For ye are living poems,
And all the rest are dead.

Reasons to Teach Handcrafts

2011-07-11T01:50:00.000-07:00

And yes, I am counting 'fixing stuff' a Handcraft.

On Christians and Homeschooling vs. Public Schooling (UPDATED)

2011-07-07T00:23:00.000-07:00

Kristine emailed me last night asking if I was following Challies' latest posts titled: The Weaker, The Stronger, The Homeschooler, a series of posts based on Romans 14:1-12.

The posts discuss Christian Homeschoolers, Public Schoolers and Private Schoolers and their attitudes towards one another's educational choices for their children. Apparently, there are some less than charitable attitudes towards one another within the church regarding these issues, which he describes in the first post.

As I read the posts, I couldn't help but wonder if we don't do the same thing here. Homeschooling vs. Public Schooling, Private Homeschooling vs. Charter School. What about our child training methods? To spank or not spank. These are things we all have strong opinions on, making it easy to fall into temptation and judge another or puff ourselves up with pride.

Here is the scripture in reference:

Do Not Pass Judgment on One Another

14:1 As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. 2 One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. 3 Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. 4 Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

5 One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. 8 For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. 9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; 11 for it is written,

“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,
and every tongue shall confess to God.”

12 So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

Here are the posts on Challies. I believe there will be three posts total. Below are the first two.

The Weaker, The Stronger, The Homeschooler

The Weaker, The Stronger, The Homeschooler (II)

In the third post which should be out anytime, he is going to reveal which he believes to be the stronger and the weaker. Based on the scripture, I would think the homeschooler is the one who abstains, so that would mean the weaker. Hmmm... we'll see what he says.

And if you're interested, our pastor recently covered Romans 14:1-12 over two Sundays. You can listen to those sermons if you scroll down to 10/10/10 and 10/17/10 on this page. The sermons are titled Mutual Forbearance Among the Weak and the Strong. It was very, very helpful to hear him walk through these scriptures and what they mean.

Post your comments if you have any!

Oh, and thanks again Kristine!!

_____________________________________

Since this writing, Kristine emailed me about another post on this topic so I'm just going to add it here, hopefully those who have already read this post will find this addition.

Brandi at Afterthoughts has posted a very thoughtful post in response to the Challies posts. She makes very good points so I wanted to share it with you here: Mr. Challies and the Strong Man.

If you have any thoughts to add or can help me un-muddle my thinking, I'd love to hear it! Post them in the comments here or there.

Spontaneous Recitation

2011-06-24T12:00:00.001-07:00

...is the best kind :)

We found these little Dees Hobbitses under a canopy of trees on nature day singing songses and asked them to recite them for us :)

Don't you just love how they adopt the accent and all? And little sister in the lap... ♥

These boys listened to the audio version of the Hobbit and learned their songs from there. Maybe Jen can post which version in the comment section for anyone interested?

Thanks for sharing boys!

Wider, Humbler Cognisance of Self

2011-06-24T01:25:00.000-07:00

We spent the day under a thick marine layer that never burned off at the beach for nature study today. The kids didn't seem to notice as they dove in, testing the current in the cold foamy ocean waves.

(Shaw's Cove, Laguna Beach - a not quite finished sketch!)

Their more sensible Mothers sat on the beach and sketched with one eye on the children while chatting away about this and that. Juliet had her copy of Charlotte Mason's Vol. 5 Formation of Character and read us part of this quote:

Formation of Character, Vol. 5, p.72-73

...the love of power, unless it be duly and carefully regulated and controlled, leads to arbitrary behaviour––that is, to lawless, injurious behaviour––towards those under our rule. Nay, we may be so carried away, intoxicated, by a fierce lust of power that we do some terrible, irrevocable deed of cruelty to a tender child––body or soul, and wake up to never-ending remorse. We meant no harm; we meant to teach obedience, and, good God! we have killed a child.

Within the last few years tales have been told in the newspapers of the savage abuse of power, free for the time being from external control; tales, which, be they true or not, should make us all commune with our hearts and be still. For, we may believe it, they who have done these things are no worse than we could be; they had opportunity to do ill deeds, and they did them. We have not been so far left to ourselves. But let us look ourselves in the face; let us recognise that the principle which has betrayed others into the madness of crime is inherent in us also, and that whether it shall lead us to heights of noble living or to criminal cruelty is not a matter to be left to the chapter of accidents. We have need of the divine grace to prevent and follow us, and we have need to seek consciously, and diligently use this grace to keep us who are in authority in the spirit of meekness, remembering always that the One who is entrusted with the rod of iron is meek and lowly of heart.

In proportion as we keep ourselves fully alive to our tendency in this matter of authority may we trust ourselves to administer the law to creatures so tender in body and soul as are the little children. We shall remember that a word may wound, that a look may strike as a blow. It may indeed be necessary to wound in order to heal, but we shall examine ourselves well before we use the knife. There will be no hasty dealing out of reproof and punishment, reward and praise, according to the manner of mood we are in. We shall not only be aware that our own authority is deputed, and to be used with the meekness of wisdom; but we shall be very careful indeed in our choice of the persons in whose charge we place our children. It is not enough that they be good Christian people. We all know good Christian persons of an arbitrary turn who venture to wield that rod of iron which is safe in the hands of One alone. Let them be good Christian persons of culture and self-knowledge; not the morbid self-knowledge that comes of introspection, but that wider, humbler cognisance of self that comes of a study of the guiding principles and springs of action common to us all as human beings, and which brings with it the certainty that––"I am just such an one as the rest, and might even be as the worst, were it not for the grace of God and careful walking."

First off, lets just agree that when she speaks of killing a child or using the knife - that's a metaphor. She's not suggesting anyone really use a knife. Good, now that we've got that out of the way...

Truth is so powerful when we see it isn't it?

'I am just such an one as the rest, and might even be as the worst, were it not for the grace of God and careful walking'

I wonder who she was quoting. If we were to truly believe and live by this always, how different we would be.

She goes on:

...we must rule with diligence. It is necessary for the children that we should; but we must keep ourselves continually in check, and see that our innate love of power finds lawful outlet in the building up of a child's character, and not in the rude rebuff, the jibe and sneer, the short answer and hasty slap which none of us older people could conceivably endure ourselves, and yet practise freely on the children "for their good."

God help us to see our children as persons and ourselves with that 'wider, humbler cognisance of self'!

Handcraft Fair

2011-06-16T22:26:00.000-07:00

For sometimes when we wonder, we can make things begin to happen. ~Teacher in The Wheel on the School by Meindert DeJong

Once or twice a year our little nature study group gathers at a coffee shop in the evening without the children to talk and plan through nature study locations, field trips and events we'd like to incorporate into our schedule.

I believe the idea began when we were discussing Almanzo's milk fed pumpkin and how fun it would be to do something like that and have some sort of a fair where we could show it or win a prize for it.

From there we began to plan and discuss; we set a date, then reset the date. We thought about prizes, etc., but in the end it we kept it as simple as - make or grow something by hand to sell and bring your own mat to lay out your wares.

It's late so I'm just going to let the pictures do the rest here, but I will say that everyone thoroughly enjoyed the event and it was so fun going from mat to mat to see everyone's unique creations! We all agreed this needs to be an annual event and have already started thinking about a Holiday Handcraft Fair sometime around Thanksgiving!

Ordering our Home

2011-06-14T23:15:00.000-07:00

Alicia, one of our nature study group mothers, who moved away to New Mexico about a year ago came to visit recently. It was so nice to see her and her four adorable girls, it was just like she had never left. She joined us for our annual blackberry picking nature day and by the time she left, all four girls were painted all over with the beautiful crimson juice of the berries :)

All of our girls discovered they could rub berries on their lips and look oh, so grown up!

Before she left, Alicia handed me a card congratulating us on the arrival of our 4th child, and in it was a Barnes & Noble gift card :) Thank you Alicia!!

With it, I scanned through the stockpile of books I'd thrown into my Amazon Wishlist and came across A Mother's Rule of Life: How to Bring Order to Your Home and Peace to Your Soul by Holly Pierlot. I had read about it some time ago on The Common Room and have been interested to read it ever since.

In case you don't know, I'm a very spontaneous person who considers rules, schedules and structure a rather heinous restriction to my liberty. "We'll wing it!" is one of my favorite battle cries and for the most part, I somehow managed thus far. But now with four children, homeschooling, homemaking, reading, blogging, crafting, etc., etc., that way of life is losing its luster and I've found myself more and more seeking a way to bring order to our home. So this book was top on the list along with Doodle Stitching (my next handcraft horizon) and a couple others.

I've only just started reading and it's already made a difference in my home. Don't you find that sometimes all you need is the excitement of knowing that an eminent solution is at hand to move you in a positive direction? Well, that's been the case for me here.

Holly is Catholic, so her views come from that perspective and there is much in the book I don't understand because I'm not Catholic, but there's a lot else that is of practical use whether you are Catholic or not. She starts by looking at Mother Teresa's schedule for the Missionaries of Charity and says this about it...

The Rule brings order: 'a happy disposition of things ... a multitude reduced in some wise to unity.' That was just what I wanted: a 'happy disposition,' and to reduce all the overwhelming tasks of motherhood into a nice, single unit of work I could handle. And in my mind, I couldn't see any extreme difference between a religious community and a family community...

A rule is an organization of everything that has to do with your vocation, based on a hierarchy of the priorities that define the vocation and done with the intent to please God. It deals with the essential responsibilities of your state of life, organized to ensure their fulfillment...

We all share the same need for sleep and rest, meals, prayers, and work every day...

While I can't just now find the exact quote that explained this for me, what hit me more than anything in the first couple of chapters is the idea or perspective of seeing my family as a community of people, working together to meet the needs of that community with the intent to please God by maintaining peace and order in the home.

I think I've always seen our home as a place for me to manage, to somehow get it all done, find ways to get more done in less time, maximize efficiency, delegate chores, etc., etc.

...but this idea of all of us working together to make it work, to glorify God in our home, to bring order and peace, ensuring our family's needs are met, isn't about me and all that I can do, it's about us answering God's call in our home.

Because I'm an "I'll do it! Don't worry, I'll take care of it!" kind of person, I take on everything, thinking that I'm serving my family. Of course things go undone, I grow frustrated, lash out at the kids for the mess they're leaving behind, when I never really took the time to institute order or a reasonable way for them to manage their mess.

Oh sure, I'd poke around at it here and there, but it was sporadic and incidental. Then on days when the mess is everywhere and the kids are playing and giggling oblivious to it all, as I, once again, sacrifice what I want to do to tackle it all, I'd start playing that martyr tape in my mind again - you know the one: "Look at this mess! Do I have to do everything around here?! Crumbs on the counter, socks on the floor - don't they see how much I do for them!!? And they don't even notice or appreciate it!"

Dangerous chatter in our minds ladies.

Then I'm left grumpy and too tired to play. Way to serve my family!

Holly goes on to say...

Each need in my vocation and my personal life was given its fair share of my time. Hence, I found a greater variety of pursuits in my daily life as well as the discovery of real free time. Life was not all work or all play, but a healthy interweaving of both.

there's much more that I'd love to read you. And I can't wait to read the rest to learn more from her.

Just in the past couple of days, instead of everyone dumping their plate in the sink and me doing all the dishes for 30 minutes while everyone ran off, we just talked about how if we all work together to clean up, it can be done in 5 minutes. And we did! Rather than me assigning individual chores and alternating them on different nights, we looked at what was left that needed to be done and did it.

In the past, my son would look at what was assigned to the others and would sometimes grump about how unfair it was that someone had an easier chore than him. Even though he'd end up getting that person's work on top of his own - because 'fair' isn't what we get in life and it's our job to teach him that - he still wasn't showing the right attitude towards his chores.

But this working together, all of us, is different in that we're all looking at what else needs to get done. They're seeing the whole picture and all of us working together to achieve it. So it's "What else needs to get done?" Not "Am I done?" Subtle, but significant.

How this will be applied in all areas of our home is yet to come, but I'm hopeful to find some sort of clarity about it in this book.

I think it's important for us to become a 'crafstman' of sorts in our vocation, just as in anything else we'd do. And it is so good when we're able to find wisdom along that path that helps us. It's a rare woman anymore that knows how to manage a full house joyfully, peacefully, orderly and yet it is so necessary, in so many ways, and it affects so many people, and so many things.

God tells us,

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. ~James 1:5

I think I'm seeing some answer to prayer!

Scheduling and How We Do Ambleside

2011-06-12T01:45:00.001-07:00

One of the most common questions new homeschooling Moms have is "What does a day look like?"

I remember my stomach churning in knots the summer prior to my oldest starting Kindergarten. Everything I had read about the Charlotte Mason method resonated deeply with me - treating the child as a person, living books, not dumbing things down, time in nature, short lessons, art and composer study, DELAYING GRAMMAR!

But the Ambleside Online site, which was the curriculum I kept hearing about, didn't seem to 'map it all out' for me. All I saw was what seemed like lists of books and pages of reading I had to do before implementing. September drew nearer and I grew more and more exasperated until one day, my sweet friend Johnna who I had met on a homeschooling field trip through Exploring Homeschooling, invited me over and shared her daily schedule with me.

That day the clouds parted, the shadows dispersed and the sun shone bright as everything became clear.

Oh, so that's what you do!

In hopes of parting the clouds for others who may be feeling the same way, I'd like to post a couple of things here that may help.

First, I came across this depiction of what a CM day might look like in Susan Schaeffer MacAulay's highly recommended book, For the Children's Sake. This example was taken from her chapter "Children are Born Persons" (p.38) so it isn't intended to be a comprehensive outline for a schedule, but it gives us a glimpse for starters:

Let us apply this principle to the actual detailed practice in school or homes.

A seven-year-old happens to need a short period of phonic practice, followed by reading a story out loud to you haltingly every day. He then laboriously concentrates on learning the mechanics of writing for ten to fifteen minutes. This does not mean to say that his mind should be left "frozen" at the level of his skills. When the essential, regular practice has been completed, the child puts all his little books and papers away, and turns his full attention to the adult. She will now be the medium through which he can "read" real books (not second-rate books).

Perhaps she reads a short portion from Pilgrim's Progress. She must, of course, be a person who wants to understand and enjoy this herself. When she has finished, the children might tell back the story, or act out the episode in play. They could make a scroll, as our children did in their PNEU school. As the pilgrim proceeds through various experiences, the children draw pictures of what they remember of the story. They end with the knowledge that life is a pilgrimage. They hear about the River at the end. (By the way, this is the only book that the PNEU recommended to be slightly abridged.)

Pilgrim's Progress will be read perhaps twice a week. After this, the children's next lesson might be a chapter of a well-written biography of a historical figure. Again, the children listen with interest and build up knowledge. And so one proceeds. Science books will not be written in "second-grade language," Choose an interesting book that really explains things in lively language. Perhaps you will start with one on the animals and plants the child can see in his environment. Again, you read a short while. The children respond with a narration. You stop before they become restless.

The morning's program is intense, interesting, but fairly short. It finishes early, leaving the child free to relax and "be."

By the time such educated children are nine or ten they will, of course, have been reading for themselves a long time. They will be ready to read a Shakespeare play. They will enjoy and understand a really rich diet of books, essays, letters, plays, and poetry. They will have thought, discussed, and shared these ideas along with their own personal ideas.

Is this idealistic? Does it work? The answer is, yes.

For the practical side of scheduling, here is what our day looks like; or more accurately, what I hope our days look like. I say 'hope' because we have a 2 month old as well as a newly potty trained 3 yo in the home (delayed due to constipation issues which is a whole other blog post for another time) as well as a husband who runs his business from home, who I am at times a sounding board/assistant for... needless to say, distractions are commonplace; flexibility is a non-negotiable.

Hence, you won't see any times on my schedule, it's really more of a list. Some days we start at 9am, others 2pm. It all depends on the day. Will my children suffer from lack of structure - perhaps. In any case, that's how we roll around here to meet our current needs and both parents are okay with it.

In no way am I suggesting this is how AO is meant to be structured, it is just how our day is structured so take it for what it's worth. Also, this isn't our first schedule, nor is it likely to be our last - scheduling for us has been a process, it takes time and tweaking to get it to what works for your family so don't get discouraged if things don't 'fit' right off the bat.

Most of our school is done on the couch, they do their writing at the dining table. Some days we'll head out doors for a change.

I have a 9yo daughter in YR3, a 7yo son in YR1, additionally I have a 3yo daughter and the 2 mo old son. This is our Daily Schedule we pop the weekly AO readings into. Since we meet for nature study every Thursday, we don't do any school that day except for nature study, recitation (monthly) and nature journaling (weekly).

My strategy is to clump together things both kids do together, then alternate their independent work with things that need my attention - so I'm with one while the other is doing their independent work.

I print this schedule, as well as a copy of their week's reading (a printed copy of the 36 week AO list of weekly readings for their year) and give it to each to encourage self-education. They take more of the reigns when they are able to see what needs to be done for them to finish school that day instead of constantly asking "What's next Mommy?"

Morning Chores (get dressed, make bed, wash face, brush hair)
Breakfast
Chores (I have a separate chore chart with their chores mapped out for the week)

Prayer
Hymn (1 new hymn each month)
Read Scripture (Monday - Storybook Bible, Tuesday - Psalms/Proverbs, Wednesday-Old Testament, Thursday - New Testament, Friday - Catechism)
Scripture Memory Cards

Poetry ( 1 poem each)
Art Study (Mondays only)

Story for 3yo (this usually happens right before nap and is sometimes read to her by older sibling)

Phonics (7yo son reads to me for 15 minutes)
9yo daughter does copywork (M, T, W she does copywork followed by dictation, Friday she practices cursive)

I read to 7yo son his reading for the day & have him narrate (YR1 ends up being about one reading/book per day)
9yo daughter reads to herself one of her readings & narrates (YR3 ends up being about 3-4 readings/books per day, I split up longer readings to shorter sections being read 2/3 times a week)

Lunch

Math - Right Start Math

7yo son copywork
I read to 9yo daughter the remaining 2 or 3 readings

Foreign Language - Japanese

Piano

Free time for play, handcrafts, etc.

Swim Team

Dinner (kids tidy up while I make dinner & set the table & help clean up)

Free reads before bedtime

* 9yo daughter is in transition between having all books read to her to reading some on her own so my hope is that the amount she reads on her own will increase as we go. I do hope to utilize more audio recordings like the ones found on librivox next year when the reading for both kids increases.

* composer study and folk songs are played at random times while I'm doing dishes, at dinner time, or when the kids are drawing/playing quietly, or on car rides.

* Free reads are read to them in the evenings before bedtime or my 9yo reads some to herself or we listen to them in the car.

* With multiples, children inevitably have to wait at times so I leave it to them to find something to do quietly. If they can't find something on their own or if they interrupt, I remind them to be quiet or I find something for them to do - chores, push ups, a nap if they're tired and cranky, etc. The same goes for if they complain when made to come back to do school after they were playing while waiting. These are the habits I try to be tight on because when they aren't, it affects everything.

I'm sure I've forgotten some things here so if this raises any unanswered questions, feel free to post them in the comments. Hope this helps!

Spring at the Vernal Pool

2011-05-21T16:58:00.001-07:00

Spring...

monkey flower and prickly pear on left

prickly pear

prickly pear

golden yarrow

lemonadeberry (give it a taste - it's tart!)

Not sure what this is

mustard

Don't miss it!!

Baptism

2011-05-21T15:13:00.001-07:00

We had Ryden baptised last Sunday.

We have now had all four of our children baptised, thoughtfully, willingly, joyfully.

I realize some of you may be opposed, even appalled by infant baptism. And while I'm not interested in picking up a debate on the issue (Jen!), I realize it is a controversial issue with great thinking minds settling on either side so for those who are interested in the why, here's a book by John Murray on Christian Baptism you can read:

And here are links to our pastor's sermons on baptism:

The one from last week:

http://www.gracechurchlagunaniguel.org/media.php?pageID=17

And two more from previous years here:

http://www.sermonaudio.com/search.asp?speakerWithinSource=&subsetCat=&subsetItem=&mediatype=&includekeywords=&keyword=Pastor^James^Wenger&keyworddesc=Pastor+James+Wenger&currsection=sermonsspeaker&AudioOnly=false&SpeakerOnly=true&keywordwithin=baptism&x=0&y=0

Sew Crazy

2011-05-21T14:57:00.000-07:00

A friend recently gave me this adorable handmade blanket at a baby shower. Could you possibly find a cuter fabric for a nature lover?!?

Talk about mind-to-mind passing on of ideas! The idea that I could find adorable fabrics and create things took hold and since then I've been a bit sew crazy.

I'm making this for my daughter... because what girl can't use a bright new summer dress?

And since I lost my baby sling, I had to make myself a new one and found this beautiful Japanese Cherry Blossom fabric...

As it usually goes with handcrafts around our home, as soon as my daughter sees me doing something, she wants to also. Here's what she made with a little help...

We wouldn't have had these lovely distractions to keep us from getting batty with postpartum cabin fever if it weren't Kristine who loaned me her extra sewing machine (Thanks Kristine!!) and my Mother who took the time to teach me the basics of sewing many years ago.

So while you're busy keeping up on academics, don't forget to make time for a little handcrafting, you never know when it'll come in handy!

Lil' Peanut

2011-05-21T13:57:00.000-07:00

Here's our lil' peanut who has us all completely smitten :)

He's had a rough month of life...

And even had a photo shoot with Arica Hotchkiss, our friend, fellow AO homeschooling Mom and budding photographer.

Aren't her pictures lovely? If you're in the market for photos, you can catch her now while her rates are still affordable! Her blog and more samples of her work can be found at ARICA HOTCHKISS Photography.

For Daddies

2011-05-04T14:44:00.000-07:00

This one from my daughter's YR3 poet Longfellow was too sweet not to forward to my hubby today :)

03 - The Children's Hour

Between the dark and the daylight,
When the night is beginning to lower,
Comes a pause in the day's occupations,
That is known as the Children's Hour.

I hear in the chamber above me
The patter of little feet,
The sound of a door that is opened,
And voices soft and sweet.

From my study I see in the lamplight,
Descending the broad hall stair,
Grave Alice, and laughing Allegra,
And Edith with golden hair.

A whisper, and then a silence:
Yet I know by their merry eyes
They are plotting and planning together
To take me by surprise.

A sudden rush from the stairway,
A sudden raid from the hall!
By three doors left unguarded
They enter my castle wall!

They climb up into my turret
O'er the arms and back of my chair;
If I try to escape, they surround me;
They seem to be everywhere.

They almost devour me with kisses,
Their arms about me entwine,
Till I think of the Bishop of Bingen
In his Mouse-Tower on the Rhine!

Do you think, O blue-eyed banditti,
Because you have scaled the wall,
Such an old mustache as I am
Is not a match for you all!

I have you fast in my fortress,
And will not let you depart,
But put you down into the dungeon
In the round-tower of my heart.

And there will I keep you forever,
Yes, forever and a day,
Till the walls shall crumble to ruin,
And moulder in dust away!

Ryden James

2011-04-27T12:35:00.001-07:00

At 42 weeks the doctor recommended I induce so on Wednesday, April 20 at 11:43 am Ryden James was born weighing in at 7lbs 12oz.

A fresh new life, no matter how many times you experience it, is a miracle, and it's left us more in awe at the glory and mercy of God than ever before.

Where did you come from, baby dear?
George MacDonald (1824-1905)

Where did you come from, baby dear?
Out of the everywhere into here.

Where did you get your eyes so blue?
Out of the sky as I came through.

What makes the light in them sparkle and spin?
Some of the starry spikes left in.

Where did you get that little tear?
I found it waiting when I got here.

What makes your forehead so smooth and high?
A soft hand stroked it as I went by.

What makes your cheek like a warm white rose?
I saw something better than anyone knows.

Whence that three-cornered smile of bliss?
Three angels gave me at once a kiss.

Where did you get this pearly ear?
God spoke, and it came out to hear.

Where did you get those arms and hands?
Love made itself into hooks and bands.

Feet, whence did you come, you darling things?
From the same box as the cherubs' wings.

How did they all just come to be you?
God thought about me, and so I grew.

But how did you come to us, you dear?
God thought about you, and so I am here.

Still Waiting...

2011-04-10T21:57:00.001-07:00

Waiting...

2011-04-04T23:59:00.000-07:00

Reading - April 4, 2011

2011-04-04T23:58:00.000-07:00

Chicken Tacos

2011-04-01T23:45:00.000-07:00

I don't post recipes here often, but this one is quick, inexpensive, tasty and pretty healthy too. The cabbage, cilantro, lemon, salt & pepper mixture is the kicker - you could add it to any favorite taco recipe to add extra crunch and flavor. I use whatever left over chicken we have or if I'm in a pinch, I'll grab a rotisserie on the way home. Enjoy!

Ralphie's Special Tacos
Recipe courtesy of Saveur.com

1 3 1⁄2–4-lb. chicken
2 lemons, halved
1⁄4 head cabbage, cored and thinly sliced
1⁄4 bunch cilantro, chopped
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
6 tbsp. vegetable oil
8 homemade or store-bought Corn Tortillas
1 tomato, cored, halved, and sliced

1. Simmer chicken in a medium pot of water over medium heat, skimming any foam as it rises to the surface, until cooked through, 45–50 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, squeeze juice from 2 of the lemon halves into a medium bowl. Add cabbage, cilantro, and salt and pepper to taste and toss well. Cover and set aside until cabbage is wilted, about 1 hour. Slice the remaining 2 lemon halves and set aside.

3. Transfer chicken to a large bowl (saving broth for another use) and set aside until cool enough to handle. Remove chicken meat from carcass, discarding skin and bones. Using your fingers, shred chicken into medium pieces and set aside.

4. Heat 3 tbsp. of the oil in a large cast-iron or other heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken, season to taste with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring often, until well browned, about 10 minutes. Transfer chicken to a warm plate and set aside.

5. Wipe skillet clean with paper towels. Heat the remaining 3 tbsp. oil in the skillet over medium heat. Fry 2 tortillas at a time until blistered all over yet still soft and pliable, about 1 minute. Using a pair of metal tongs, transfer tortillas to a warm plate and loosely fold them in half. Repeat process with the remaining tortillas.

6. To serve, stuff each tortilla with some of the chicken, then some of the cabbage. Garnish each tortilla with a slice each of tomato and lemon.

Starr Ranch

2011-03-30T23:30:00.000-07:00

Last week we headed to Starr Ranch for a field ecology program on Reptiles and Amphibians and a Nature Hike. We've been there in the past for their Song Bird monitoring program and it's really one of my favorite places in OC.

Tucked away in an unnoticeable corner of Dove Canyon, Starr Ranch is owned by the Audubon Society and there is a lot of research that goes on there. You can only visit by appointment but they do take small groups of families and are 'homeschool friendly' - accommodating curious Mothers, younger siblings, infants, etc.

This is the fun road to Starr Ranch

Here's Scott, the 'herp' guy (or herpetologist) talking to our group. If you know me, you know how I feel about Rangers and Educators and the way they talk to our kids, and I can emphatically recommend Scott. He is PASSIONATE about reptiles and amphibians, particularly snakes, and he is all about getting in touch with real things - a total fit for our CMers.

Here's a picture of a Herp Array, or a trap. Basically, it's a series of panels or walls that direct the animals towards a trap.

Here's the real thing

Here's Scott looking in a funnel trap - almost the same setup as the crawdad trap we borrowed once.

Here's a pitfall trap - basically a bucket in the ground that the animal falls into.

Unfortunately, there were no snakes, it was too cold a day for them to be out. But there was a fence lizard in one of the traps and here's a harvestman.

Salamanders

They're really cute!

I forgot the name of this caterpillar, but it was crawling along the herp array.

After the first session, we had our lunch outdoors back at the picnic tables then went for a rigorous (for me and my belly anyway) hike up the hill.

Here's a wooden post covered with Acorn Woodpecker holes filled with Acorns.

I. love. open. space. !!! It feels so incredibly amazing.

Yucca, or Our Lord's Candle

Here's a close up of prickly pear cactus - can you see the white scale bug on there?

Well she took it (what a neat shirt by the way)

And smushed it and look at that color! It's called cochineal and the scale bugs are used for its dye. Isn't that interesting? I never knew, nor had I ever noticed the white scale bugs on prickly pear. Imagine what else we fail to notice right before our eyes.

And last but not least, we saw several mule deer - what a treat!

You can enjoy some of Starr Ranch too by viewing their live Barn Owl Cam. Hope you can visit, it really is worth the effort!

Pittypat and Tippytoe

2011-03-30T21:28:00.000-07:00

Kristine framed this poem for me for my baby shower last night.
It was one of our favorite poems from YR2, one of those things that just warms a Mother's heart.

Enjoy!

Pittypat and Tippytoe
by Eugene Field

All day long they come and go
Pittypat and Tippytoe;
Footprints up and down the hall,
Playthings scattered on the floor,
Finger-marks along the wall,
Tell-tale smudges on the door
By these presents you shall know
Pittypat and Tippytoe.

How they riot at their play! I
And a dozen times a day
In they troop, demanding bread
Only buttered bread will do,
And the butter must be spread
Inches thick with sugar too!
And I never can say "No,
Pittypat and Tippytoe!"

Sometimes there are griefs to soothe,
Sometimes ruffled brows to smooth;
For (I much regret to say)
Tippytoe and Pittypat
Sometimes interrupt their play
With an internecine spat;
Fie, for shame! to quarrel so -
Pittypat and Tippytoel

Oh the thousand worrying things
Every day recurrent brings!
Hands to scrub and hair to brush,
Search for playthings gone amiss,
Many a wee complaint to hush,
Many a little bump to kiss;
Life seems one vain, fleeting show
To Pittypat and Tippytoe!

And when day is at an end,
There are little duds to mend:
Little frocks are strangely torn,
Little shoes great holes reveal,
Little hose, but one day worn,
Rudely yawn at toe and heel!
Who but you could work such woe,
Pittypat and Tippytoel

On the floor and down the hall,
Rudely smutched upon the wall,
There are proofs in every kind
Of the havoc they have wrought,
And upon my heart you'd find
Just such trade-marks, if you sought;
Oh, how glad I am 'tis so,
Pittypat and Tippytoe!

Child Training Revisited

2011-03-28T22:35:00.000-07:00

Last night I spent some time browsing child training articles and was reminded of how good it is to revisit these things at various stages of training my kids.

One of the main issues I'm dealing with now is my 3 1/2 yo daughter who cries very loud and very intentionally when she is offended. She is very particular about things and is easily set off if her sock is slightly twisted causing a bump at the toe, if her jeans aren't tucked in to her boot just right, if her baby's blanket comes slightly untucked, if I give her the wrong spoon at dinner or if I move my hand the wrong way when she's holding it - you get the idea.

While I used to think only people who didn't train their children ended up with children like this, I have, and I did. The result of all my training efforts thus far are that she doesn't cry for hours or throw fits or yell in defiance or hit, she just cries for about a minute or two and then she moves on to pouting or playing, depending on the perceived offense, her level of tiredness and the situation.

Just today we were at the grocery store, I had a full list of things to pick up. #4 is due in one week so I'm hoping to pre-make some dinners and stock the freezer for my husband.

On the way in, I grab a full size shopping cart, my 7 yo asks if he can push one of those "customer in training" miniature carts around the store so I say yes, then my 3 1/2 yo follows suit and pulls out another miniature cart and follows along behind him. We now have a caravan.

I immediately assess the situation, because I just want to get done and get home, but I'm smelling the perfect storm brewing:
-she's going to be all over the place with that cart
-she's overtired because I kept her up late last night which means if I tell her to put the cart back, she's going to cry. longer. louder.
-I'm sick with a yucky head cold + 9 months pregnant = low tolerance

All things considered, I decide against conflict and ask my 9yo to keep an eye on my 3yo and help her maneuver the cart. This was a total cop out - shoving the responsibility off on my 9yo, but a reasonable one I thought considering all things.

We made it to the onions, the bell peppers, the celery - oops, she got distracted to wet her hands in the water spray and left the cart behind in the other isle. 'Go get your cart.' She does. So far so good.

Now for the meat dept. 'Let's go, quick, quick!'

Half way there, she stops.

'Come on Tat, let's go!'

No answer, just a sour look on her face and she's not moving. She wants to take her time, look at what she wants to look at, and play down each aisle at a leisurely pace, bumping into things, etc.

Unfortunately, today is not the day for it. We need to get the shopping done, dinner on the table, and she's part of that program whether she likes it or not, as am I and her siblings.

So I squat down to her eye level and lay down the line: "We have to finish our shopping, so you can either push the cart and keep up with Mommy or I will have your sister push it for you. Do you understand?"

No response.

"Do you understand?"

One lackluster nod in response.

Clearly, she's resisting. But maybe if I let it go, just maybe, she'll get with the program to avoid the conflict.

Who am I kidding? Did I mention she was overtired?

She slowly flops one foot forward and then another at a snail's pace, all the while looking at me with a full pout on her face.

Some people would consider that obedience, but I assure you, it isn't. It's an attempt to move the line I drew to maintain her control. But where I drew the line was clear, she either keeps up with me or she loses the cart.
So I can either keep my word, or I've trained her that she is in control. *This* is the moment of truth - either I mean what I say, or I don't - and this is a hill I'm willing to die on...

because I know the alternative is this little person making my life, and my husband's life, and her siblings' lives completely miserable. I have seen it many a time in the homes of friends and let me tell you, it's an ugly thing.

So I do the unthinkable... I take the cart away.

Her wail breaks forth and travels far and wide from aisle to aisle, heads turn, I become painfully self conscious...

but what does it matter what anyone else thinks? Sure they see my bawling child, my embarrassed face, my big belly blaring 'yes, I'm doing this again!'

What matters is that this child, right here, the one that God has entrusted to us, learns right now that the world will not bend to her selfish demands. If she doesn't learn it within the loving care of our family today, then someday she will learn it, the hard way, in the big harsh world out there.

And just think of all the people who will thank me later - teachers, employers, co-workers, her friends, certainly her husband, her own children... the list goes on. And if I don't set the standard with her, what can I hope to expect from the one still in my womb?

So I take her hand, walk her wailing through the store to the restroom, spank her bottom 3 times and calmly tell her to stop her crying. It takes her a minute or two and she stops - the pout is gone, the look on her face is resigned now.

I tell her "There is no crying to get what you want. We are going to finish our shopping and if you cry and fuss again, we'll come right back for another spanking. Do you understand?"

She nods yes and cuddles up to me.

We walk out and she doesn't cross that line again... not today.

Will she cross it again? Test to make sure it's still there? You betcha. Will I answer in kind. So help me God.

When we get home, she helps me put the groceries away and cook dinner. I give her lots of cuddles and spend time with her and she is cheerful and obedient.

Am I a perfect parent? Hardly. Did I do the right thing? For my child, our situation, I believe so, yes. Is it the right thing for everyone? Only you as the parent can decide that.

One thing I can say is that our home is relatively peaceful with three young children in it. And as a homeschooler with a newborn on the way and a husband who works from home, let me tell you, it matters.

It matters that we can enjoy our children, that we can take them places with us, that we can accomplish life with them a part of it. And from what I can tell, training is at the root of it all.

2011-03-19T23:46:00.000-07:00

We headed out to the San Juan Loop Trail in the Cleveland National Forest today after reading in Orange County, A Day Hiker's Guide that it is one of the best wildflower viewing trails in the county. It's still early in the season, but with a baby due soon, I'm taking in all that I can of Spring while this little person is still quietly contained!

The trail is located 20 miles East of the 5 Fwy on Ortega Highway (74), a winding mountain road which runs from San Juan Capistrano to Lake Elsinore, bisecting the Santa Ana Mountains and connecting Orange and Riverside Counties.

We learned that the parking lot was right across from the famous Ortega Hwy Candy Store where you can purchase a Daily National Forest Adventure Pass for $5. But don't get your hopes up too much about the store, when we got there it looked more like a scantly stocked convenience store, lacking the charm you might imagine in an out of the way candy store.

It was a cool, beautiful day, and while it's still very early in the season, there were plenty of flowers and sights to see along the trail (and a bit off it).

Some kind of Sumac - maybe sugar sumac?

unidentified

popcorn flower

My husband was able to hike down to the pool at the bottom of this waterfall with my 2 older kids. I stayed behind explaining its difficulty to a very teary eyed 3 year old.

Monkey flower

Unidentified

Chaparral nightshade

California Goldfields

I have no idea what these are - some kind of fungi or lichen. Odd and interesting!

Baby blue eyes

Blue dicks

Not sure what this is

More interesting fungi

Poison Oak

And its natural remedy - Mugwort

And last but not least, our little naturalist, conversationalist soon to be big sister :)

Be Still, and know that I am God

2011-03-19T02:04:00.000-07:00

Psalm 46

God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Come, behold the works of the Lord,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots with fire.
“Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Sensory Stimulating Play

2011-03-15T01:57:00.000-07:00

I found this article today on a commercial playground manufacturer's website:

New study says playgrounds should stimulate children's imagination

A five-year study in Vancouver, Canada, recently found that children may benefit from playgrounds that feature areas for free and sensory-stimulating play, The Vancouver Sun reports.

"We found that outdoor play spaces that contain materials that children could manipulate - sand, water, mud, plants, pathways and other loose parts - offered more developmental and play opportunities than spaces without these elements," Susan Herrington, a professor in the University of British Columbia's School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, who led the study, told the news source.

Sensory playgrounds enable children to interact with a variety of materials, such as sand and water, while nature-inspired equipment allows youngsters to experience natural settings in a safe and controlled environment. Parents can speak to town representatives about installing similar play areas in their own neighborhood.

I couldn't help but think that reading a little of Mason's writings could have spared them five years!

Our nature day last week was spent under one big oak tree. We were there for hours and, I'm no expert, but I'm pretty certain even without a five year study that our children will benefit from the free and sensory-stimulating play they had there.

And thanks to the many opportunities they've had out in nature under our guidance, they are learning to determine for themselves what is 'safe and controlled', rather than it always being ensured for them in a manufactured environment.

Trees
by Joyce Kilmer

I think that I shall never see
A poem as lovely as a tree,
A tree whose hungry mouth is pressed
Against the earth's sweet flowing breast
A tree that looks at God all day
and lifts her leafy arms to pray.
A tree that may, in summer, wear
A nest of robins in her hair
Upon whose bosom snow has lain
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.

French Project

2011-03-09T22:56:00.000-08:00

I am an optimist. I thought my inspiring speech to my boys about all the immediate and long term benefits of learning a second language would keep them energized for the rest of the semester: it lasted two weeks. After two more weeks, my oldest son informed me, "I'm not going to thank you for teaching me French when I'm older." This was a reference to my inspiring speech. Even though he said it as a joke and with a big smile, I am still planning my I-told-you-so speech for just the right moment. I envision it being used more than once.

French lessons have not halted in my house during the times my boys don't find them entertaining, and despite the fact that one son has discovered the uselessness of the exercise. But I did get inspired one day, and I hit on a fun way to practice our French skills. Last Saturday, I labeled objects throughout our house in French with the appropriate masculine or feminine definite article.

For the next couple of days, I saw my boys trying on their own to read the labels. Most of these words are familiar to them orally, but they had never seen them in written form.

I also made a preposition chair. Prepositions were written on yellow paper and place around the chair according to their meaning. "Sur" was placed on the chair, "sous" was placed below the chair, "derriere" was taped behind the chair, etc.

Our first project was to go around the house reading the labels, replacing "the" with "my" in French. My husband informed me that projects are very important this year in the public schools, while activities are not (I'm not kidding here). So I'm doing my best to fall in line; this is a project and not an activity. Here's how the project was conducted: If I said "la," they had to find a label with a feminine noun in the room, then read it to me in French, replacing "the" with "my." If I said "le," they could run over to the fan, for example, labeled "le ventilateur," and they would point to it and say, "mon ventilateur."

Another project was to find all the hidden French labels within a room. I taped labels to the underside of object throughout the house. Their job was to find the label, then read it to me, replacing the definite article with the indefinite article. They were almost jumping out of their skin for this one. It was like an Easter egg hunt.

Today, my oldest son thanked me for not having played our Pimsleur CDs lately for French practice. I haven't, only because we use to practice with our Pimsleur CDs during breakfast, and lately I've been reading Calvin's Institutes at breakfast time. But Pimsleur will reappear in the near future. And my boys will thank me when they're older:)

Early Blooms and Flower Clocks

2011-03-04T12:46:00.000-08:00

We headed back to an old familiar spot for our nature study this week - Bolsa Chica Wetlands. It's really amazing to be able to visit the same places over and over throughout the year to see how everything changes with the seasons. So many things were in bloom, it made the whole place look fresh and alive.

Here are just a few of the sights:

Buttercups

Harlequin Bug on Bladderpod

I believe this is Black Sage (we have so many kinds of fragrant sage here I'm never quite sure) with California Encelia in the background.

Rose Buckwheat - a more vibrant variation from the California Buckwheat we often see.

Buttercups galore!

We noticed on the way back, I believe it was a little past 3pm, all the buttercups had closed their petals! Then Isabella mentioned that she had heard on a classical station before that you could plant a garden that would tell the time based on the flowers opening and closing their petals - imagine that!

You should have heard the conversation - "I wonder what triggers that?" "Don't you wonder if they don't have tiny muscles that pull their petals in?" "Well they don't have a brain, I wonder how it is they all know to close at the same time!" And this was us adults talking!

Here's a picture of Linnaeus' floral clock...

And here is a link to a page I found through a quick search that seems to explain how it is done: http://www.dewsworld.com/FHowToMakeAFlowerClock.html

What an amazing project that would be ?!

And here is a link to a classical work by French composer Jean Francaix called L’horloge de flore (A Musical Flower Clock), named for the flowers in Linnaeus' Flower Clock.
http://www.wosu.org/blogs/classical/a-musical-flower-clock-for-summer/

Here are some more things we saw along the way:

California Encelia

Bladderpod

We often saw this tall standing stalk here and there on our nature walks and one ranger told us it was some kind of rhubarb. I recently saw a poster of it on a hike that said it is 'curly dock', which I believe is correct. It turns a deep reddish brown color in the fall.

wishbone bush

eucalyptus

wild radish

And here's another Osprey on its perch. The dry limbs of the trees here often remind me of the tree in Tree in the Trail, it's as if they are pointing you somewhere.

crystalline ice plant

A native to South Africa, these are hard to spot as they grow low to the ground, but our native South African, Isabella, noticed it :) Take a closer look - they are covered with glistening vesicles - and soon they will turn bright pink and look like remarkable jewels. Just another one of God's amazing creations that we probably walked by for years without ever noticing.

Here's a Red winged Blackbird that seemed to be chatting and following some of the girls in our group.

Also called Swamp Blackbirds according to our book, Birds Every Child Should Know. Only the males are this color.

"Ke, kong-ker-ee," he flutes from the willows and alders about the meadows where he and his bachelor friends flock together and make them ring "with social cheer and jubilee." ... By the first of May all have settled down to home life. ... Ever in foolish fear for the safety of his nest, he advertises its whereabouts in musical headlines from the top of the nearest tree ... But how short-lived is this excessive devotion to his family! In July, the restless young birds flock with the mothers, but the now indifferent fathers keep apart by themselves. Strange conduct for such fussy, solicitous birds!

We had a windy walk back and the grass rippled like ocean waves as the wind brushed across it. It reminded me of a favorite hymn

In the rustling grass I hear him pass...

O let me ne'er forget, that though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet

Renewing of Your Mind

2011-03-02T13:09:00.000-08:00

"...be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind..." ~Romans 12:2

How do we as teaching Mothers renew our minds in the midst of all the cooking, cleaning, reading, managing, teaching, listening, doing, doing, doing every day?

Well, here's one great way!

Christian Audio is giving away a free download of The Holiness of God by R.C. Sproul through the end of March 2011.

Here is a description:

Central to God’s character is the quality of holiness. Yet, even so, most people are hard-pressed to define what God’s holiness precisely is. Many preachers today avoid the topic altogether because people today don’t quite know what to do with words like “awe” or “fear.” R. C. Sproul, in this classic work, puts the holiness of God in its proper and central place in the Christian life. He paints an awe-inspiring vision of God that encourages Christians to become holy just as God is holy. Once you encounter the holiness of God, your life will never be the same.

What could be more renewing than a better understanding of the Holiness of God?

And what could be better than having it read to you? Oh yeah, that it's free!

Enjoy!!

Signs of Spring

2011-02-26T23:09:00.000-08:00

While daytime temperatures here have been in the 50s and 60s - what we consider cold, crisp winter weather - and we've been getting heaps of rain, the birds and plants are clearly under the impression that Spring is well on its way.

The swallows are back in town, soaring here and there and neighborhood birds are visibly perched singing a bold new beautiful tune while a female listens intently nearby. How can she not be impressed by that beautiful song!

And the minnows in our fish tank were acting rather frisky the other day and I had a hunch... yesterday I noticed one has a very big belly!

Rain and cold, it is still such a great time to be outdoors and see the world around us come alive.

Here are some pictures of what we found today. We took Daddy for his first visit to one of our favorite nature sanctuaries in the middle of urban Irvine.

We saw an abundance of fresh growth of Caterpillar Phacelia along the side of the trail...

Fuschia-flowered Gooseberry - my field guide says this is a hummingbird favorite.

There were many of these beautiful purple Vervain flowers just starting to bloom.

My son found this collection of animal bones. We haven't identified it yet, but judging from the size of it, we're thinking it was either a fox or a bobcat. Unfortunately, we couldn't find its skull.

And here's a beautiful Osprey...

Look at those beautiful clouds and the sunshine skimming across the lake.

Truthfully, with only 5 more weeks of pregnancy to go, I would have been perfectly content sitting on the couch with my feet up knitting all day instead of walking trails, but thankfully, we got out instead and I'm so glad we did!

And to top it all off, my husband surprised us with this beautiful chocolate goodness after dinner! You just never know what nature will inspire ;-)

Early March

2011-02-13T19:45:00.000-08:00

Even though it's still February, Early March is here in California.

I thought it was just me, but a friend confirmed it when she was talking to me about the flowers at the Niguel Botanical Preserve, the birds singing, the caterpillars crawling...

it reminded me of one of my favorite blog posts about the awakening that happens in us when we turn our eyes to nature: http://childlightusa.wordpress.com/2008/07/25/a-dangerous-adventure-by-art-in-kenosha/

And this poem we read last year by James Whitcomb Riley (not that we know anything about snow thawing, but...)

When Early March Seems Middle May

When country roads begin to thaw
In mottled spots of damp and dust,'
And fences by the margin draw
Along the frosty crust
Their graphic silhouettes, I say,
The Spring is coming round this way.

When morning-time is bright with sun
And keen with wind, and both confuse
The dancing, glancing eyes of one
With tears that ooze and ooze
And nose-tips weep as well as they,
The Spring is coming round this way.

When suddenly some shadow-bird
Goes wavering beneath the gaze,
And through the hedge the moan is heard
Of kine that fain would graze
In grasses new, I smile and say,
The Spring is coming round this way.
When knotted horse-tails are untied,
And teamsters whistle here and there,
And clumsy mitts are laid aside,
And choppers' hands are bare,
And chips are thick where children play,
The Spring is coming round this way.

When through the twigs the farmer tramps,
And troughs are chunked beneath the trees,
And fragrant hints of s',gar-camps
Astray in every breeze,
And early March seems middle-May,
The Spring is coming round this way.

When coughs are changed to laughs, and when
Our frowns melt into smiles of glee,
And all our blood thaws out again
In streams of ecstasy,
And poets wreak their roundelay,
The Spring is coming round this way.

It won't be long now, Spring is coming round your way!!