This is a sadly neglected blog right now...but not in my head! In my head I write posts all the time...maybe soon they will make it to the computer. For now, I'll just link my post from my family blog of books I managed to finish last year. Enjoy!
Back to School Part Two: Habit Training
Last week I wrote a bit about getting back to school. I wanted to say a little more about how the habit training piece fits into everything. It's such an important part of our school life. But as usual, last weeks post was getting way too long. I decided to make a part two. So … Continue reading Back to School Part Two: Habit Training
Getting Back on the Crazy Train
School hath started. (Yes, it would sound better to say "begun". But this is not a week that things sound better. So "started" is more accurate.) Starting this school year was pretty intimidating to me, I'll be honest. There is a lot going on around here, and I wasn't sure I could keep all of … Continue reading Getting Back on the Crazy Train
Living Education Retreat: South Dakota Edition
I just spent the weekend with some really great people at the Living Education Retreat. This year the retreat was in South Dakota, of all places. We stayed at the beautiful Buffalo Ridge Retreat Center. I thought there would be more buffalo... Instead, there were barns. One of my favorite things in the whole world. … Continue reading Living Education Retreat: South Dakota Edition
Disrupting the Status Quo: Charlotte Mason’s Challenge for Parents
As you read Charlotte Mason's writing, very quickly something begins to dawn on you. Her words are a challenge to our safe, comfortable status quo as parents. Sometimes parents don't appreciate a challenge. It can be uncomfortable. We're tired, we're busy, we don't want to think about how our decisions today are affecting our child's … Continue reading Disrupting the Status Quo: Charlotte Mason’s Challenge for Parents
The Atmosphere a Child Breathes
A week or two ago, after a particularly atrocious day with children and school, and life, I stayed awake much of the night pondering the idea of atmosphere in the home. As I've written before, the responsibility of the mother for this atmosphere can occasionally feel like a real drag. Sometimes it makes me want … Continue reading The Atmosphere a Child Breathes
Yelling Shakespeare
Several years ago while reading When Children Love to Learn, I remember coming across the words of Marion Berry. It was like a gust of fresh wind blowing into our homeschool when I came across her particular slant on Charlotte's method. I felt I could trust Marion's words, because they described in real life what … Continue reading Yelling Shakespeare
Spreading the Feast
One of my favorite things about the Charlotte Mason method is the way Charlotte valued all children; rich, poor, strong, weak, bright and dull. She believed in what she called "spreading the feast" for all children: reading the same rich books, studying the same art, enjoying Shakespeare, history, studying nature and science - all the … Continue reading Spreading the Feast
The First Week of School
School started last week. As usual, it was a bumpy start. I wasn't intending to write about it due to the horrifying nature of the entire week. But when I spent a few minutes writing notes about it (to make myself feel better about worse weeks in the future? To comfort myself that it couldn't … Continue reading The First Week of School
The Living Education Retreat
Last week I had the privilege of flying hundreds of miles away to Iowa to attend the Living Education Retreat. (Yes, my husband is amazing for staying home with crazy people.) I knew it was going to be a relaxing trip when I got to the airport early, was the first in line at security, … Continue reading The Living Education Retreat
Eventide 