Luke the Lizard; Slow and Steady

In a home with six children it should be no surprise that there is a wide spectrum of learners and learning styles.  I continue to stay true to CM methods of education for all of them.  And, honestly, like every caring parent I worry that I'm might be doing something wrong.  Especially, when one does something earlier or even later than another child.  What I'm discovering along the way is that each is learning and thriving at their own pace!  Their strengths are their own! Difficult lesson but a real one.

This week I had one of my ah ha (sigh) moments, everything is all right.  I have a particular child that has the greatest aversion to reading. He understands all the basics of reading and can read.  He just doesn't like it and is struggling with transitioning to independently reading for instruction.  All I can do with him is to continue slow and steady.  Go over the same method and get in daily practice.  There isn't anything wrong with him; that's just not a natural thing for him.  I've learned, though, that he enjoys listening to me read all the time and, oh boy, can he narrate great.  He delights in all the books and stories we read and loves to tag along with his older brother or younger brother when they are reading to me. 

My reluctant reader a year ago.

I have very fast readers and this is my first reluctant reader.  Reading for instruction has been an easy transition for all of them.  I've stuck to my gut and I haven't let their age or reading stage stop us from continuing to use the same wonderful books.  In turn, it hasn't stopped them from enjoying and absorbing all the wonder found within them.

"For the children? They must grow up upon the best.  There must never be a period in their lives when they are allowed to read or listen to twaddle or reading-made-easy.  There is never a time when they are unequal to worthy thoughts, well put; inspiring tales, well told." Charlotte Mason, Volume 2 School Education, pg263

Well, knowing these things about him, I decided that I wasn't going to push much on him...certainly not writing!  So, just like everyone else at this age, the language arts focus has been daily copy work (smaller selections for him, just a few words at a time) and oral narrations.  The idea to ask him to do more than that just wasn't even a thought.  His siblings by now have always shown an eagerness to do more; both in reading and writing.   I have tons of little story, poetry, song books all laying around that they've enjoyed working on; especially, during those let alone times.  I kept worrying that just like the reading there would be no interest in the writing either...

"If we would believe it, composition is as natural as jumping and running to children who have been allowed due use of books. They should narrate in the first place, and they will compose, later, readily enough; but they [children under ten] should not be taught 'composition'. " Charlotte Mason, Volume 1 Home Education pg247.

I should have known better and not worry so much!  Early this week, after one of our readings;  my "reluctant" boy, asked if he could get a notebook from the "notebook" drawer.  Sure, was my response.  I thought he was just going to get a sketch one for drawing/doodling like he usually does.  Minutes passed and I walked over to the counter..."I'm writing a book, is that OK?" he asked.  I'm sure my huge smile and accolades were good responses...

I've already seen about six pages to this story;   they are being done with eagerness and joy.  The reading for instruction will come, but all the other benefits of good books is already here.   I really had no idea how much our work together could produce what he is doing.  I have to keep reminding myself ... Stay true and be steady; there is no rush!

Advent & Winter Term 2012

We tend to start school in mid August and by Thanksgiving have finished a first term.  I've enjoyed this very much.  It gives us about five weeks to shift our CM education towards preparing for the Christmas season.  We don't stop school and our style doesn't change; materials just get replaced a bit.  The month is filled with activities and to do lists outside our home; that I really noticed a sense of rush rather than the calm that should be.  So for the last several years I've felt that letting the kids enjoy the time filled with great books, handicrafts, poetry, music, nature study/science, art and good thoughts about the coming of our Savior in our home was important. 

All our regular school book baskets are put away and filled with lots of Christmas and winter type books.  This year the kids and I will be enjoying the following:

Religion/Faith:  Destination Bethlehem by Sharon Altman and Christine Winkelman

Geography: Christmas Stories 'Round the World edited by Lois Johnson

Music/Composer Study:  All About Christmas by Maymie R. Krythe (the last four chapters on carols)

Poetry: The Young Oxford Book of Christmas Poems

Art Study(&Religion): A King James Christmas edited by Catherine Schuon & Michael Fitzgerald

Nature Study/Science:  And Everything Nice: The Story of Sugar, Spice and Flavoring by Elizabeth Cooper (this ties in great with the Marco Polo year we're having too) and  Twelve Kinds of Ice by Ellen Bryan Obed (not scientific, but a cute story that gives us some thoughts to research)

The kids also each have independent reading time.  They have lots of books to choose from and I've not been keeping up with my new purchases so I've had to make a few trips to the library to get some new titles for them.  Besides their chapter books; we have on our schedule a picture book daily (which we read as a family).  On the schedule is also a craft or baking/cooking.  They really enjoy this (I'll post next on how this has turned out great with our Spices books).  This gives us lots of time to enjoy our days, but daylight is shorter.  What are they to do?  Well, I've noticed they ended up indoors more this time of year and this gives them time to create or make handmade gifts for people.  One of my girls is on her third set of crochet items she'll be gifting; don't want to spoil what it is in case the grandmas' & aunties are reading ; )

Our math continues as usual (not so creative here, sorry).  I do, however, create a notebook for them to keep all their copy work or written narrations/pictures for the season; a spot for our language arts you might say.  Another instance when I just love my binding machines, pretty paper and my StartWrite program:

This is our second week on this schedule and already I feel like we've slowed down and are enjoying each other.  I can't wait to share with you what's on our nature study table and the cute things the boys are enjoying in that little nook. 

Fairy Tales & Lego Narrations

A little background first:  My 8 year old was given some movie tickets for her birthday, so last Friday night we made it a girls night out.  The girls and I went to Michael's bought a few things we needed before the start of Advent and then headed to the movie theater.  Yes, going to Michael's with my girls is a treat ; ) Now, keep in mind the movie was an eight year old's choice; we watched Puss in Boots and had lots of buttered popcorn.

I guess the fact that this started a flurry of fairy tale narrations this week is a good thing.  I had chosen Hans Christian Anderson, Aesop and the Brothers Grimm as our fairy tale read alouds last year.  Again, I choose something for the little boys and quickly the girls want to be a part of it.  We had many favorites. 

My six year old disappeared into his room earlier this week after doing his table school work.  I figured he was just off with his legos and toys.  Well, he certainly was.  That evening he proudly displayed and retold some of his favorite tales. That's narrating...right? ; )


Jack and the Beanstalk (the little red lego in the middle is Jack)

Rapunzel (the extra layer of yellow legos coming out the window are hair)

And I am so sorry to say that Thumbelina got destroyed before I could get a picture of it. (sigh) We do have little brothers ready to pounce.  The retelling by kids is always wonderful.  My son continues to impress me with his creativity and humbles me:  by reminding me that narrations don't always have to be verbal.  His little mind spent a lot of time placing details into his Lego displays and he was more than willing to tell us about them.

Upcoming School Year in Focus: Math & Language Arts

How did these two end up being my last subjects?  Well, both for very different reasons.  Let's start with Math.  I followed a recommended true and tried program for two years.  It was clear after a struggle the first year that we were sinking at the beginning of the second year.  It completely makes sense to me (I went as far as Calculus in H.S. and then a pre-med science background in college meant more math.)  Well, my very voracious literary child doesn't quiet feel the same about the subject.  So I did the one thing we home schoolers can do:  stopped and completely switched math programs in the middle of the school year.  I had to analyze who this child was and what her strengths were.  She is a reader!!  I decided to try Life of Fred Fractions; she loved it.  But I still felt she needed a little more, so I added Math U See Epsilon.  After Life of Fred she was just to watch the MUS DVD and work on a test per lesson (we didn't bother with the student book at all).  My goal was to have the two programs supplement each other and compliment her learning style.  I think this a perfect fit for her.  It's made us both happy ; ) We will continue with two days of Life of Fred and two days of MUS for Decimals.  I honestly don't know where to go from there, I'll keep researching.


where my older three kiddos work,see the MUS

After reading Volume 1 Home Education, I also evaluated how my younger children were dealing with math.  Now, I know that they are all in the beginning stages so math is pretty simple and straight forward.  What I wasn't doing with them was letting them really work with manipulatives and real life scenarios, it was just a workbook style.  To my surprise Life of Fred has come out with an elementary series.  We are excited.  My third grader will start working through Life of Fred Apples and MUS Delta pretty much the same way as her older sister.  For my little boys I'm excited to try the Queens Homeschool Math Lesson for a Living Education.  I love how it is set up as a story and inter woven with ordinary simple manipulatives through out the lessons.  We'll work on this four days a week. Monday through Thursday.

Notice we have one day of the week left where I didn't schedule from the math books.  The goal is that Friday will be Family Fun Math day.  I plan on using of course, Family Math and Family Math for Young Children through out the year.  This should be fun for all the kids.  I'm looking forward to it.  I've mentioned this before, but educating within the Charlotte Mason philosophy has and continues to be a transition.  This is a subject in transition.  I would love to use the Living Math Site, but I'm not ready to incorporate it yet.  I have lots of time and hope to use some of its concepts soon.  I just wanted to mention it for reference sake. My goal for math this year is clear understanding and involvement without the stressful spend way too much time on a subject get frustrated and loose the joy!

the little boys area: ready for letters!

The second subject I left for the end is Language Arts.  I'm not avoiding it, but if you've noticed I tried to incorporate this subject within every other subject will be doing.  My focus is transitioning to fully following the methods of copywork, narration and dictation.  I will include some grammar & writing for my oldest this year.  Again, this is a subject that has been a complete transformation for me and includes some very important methods taught by Charlotte Mason.  If you have a chance, read my favorite posts on Language Arts by Jen at Wildflowers and Marbles.  This is only one of six I believe, so if you like it look around for the others.  I also enjoyed reading the Simply Charlotte Mason book Hearing and Reading, Telling and Writing: A Charlotte Mason Language Arts Handbook.  I enjoyed the separation by grade levels/ages at the end of each chapter to make sure you reflect on your approach for each child.  It has been my experience, that this is the one area where I've really had to let go of old paradigms and trust Ms. Mason.  I haven't been disappointed, rather, I'm encouraged to master this for my children's sake.  These are the programs that will help me along with this process for at least the next two years (some even longer):

Spelling Wisdom Book 1 & 2 from Simply Charlotte Mason.  My oldest will have two dictations per week.  I will let her copy a selection one day and will dictate the next.  I'm going to start this process with my third grader as well.  She will just do one dictation per week.  I love the index in the back of each book!

Primary Language Lessons and Lingua Mater from Hillside Education are scheduled for every other day twice a week and are meant to supplement our other efforts.  I also like that the girls will get some picture study from these programs.  I didnt' schedule that this year because I knew we were using these books. 

I have also scheduled my oldest to read one chapter per week from a very quaint living book called Grammar Land.  Her sister can listen to the story, but is not required.

Delightful Reading from Simply Charlotte Mason.  I started teaching reading pretty much how Charlotte Mason describes before this kit was available.  Since I have three little boys that still need to go through this process I was thrilled to get it.  The handbook is great for mom and the tiles are just what they need.  I did add magnetic tape to the tiles and will have the boys use this magnetic table top easel.  Each will work at his own stage of course.  I'll post my first graders readers at the side bar through out the year. 

StartWrite program.  This has been such a great tool.  I have so many kids that still need a lot of writing practice.  I just kept getting discouraged thinking how many copywork type books I'd have to purchase for each one.  With this program I'm able create pages as we go along and even if it's just print the page with the lines for my third grader, it has been helpful.   I did get a little nervous with her cursive and decided to get the Pictures in Cursive Primer and Book A to get her started.  I'll be making my own pages for cursive once she's done with those two little books.

our reading area, the couches are very comfy

There you have it, my whole year in focus.  It has been great to dissect each subject we are covering.  The process has allowed me to put my efforts into perspective.  Much of what I'm doing will be new but the transition over the last few years has made me very comfortable in planning this year.  Charlotte Mason believed in giving children a true liberal arts education by providing them with an abundance of rich subject material.  In the process they build meaningful relationships by being allowed to make their own connections from all the experiences and great living books they are exposed to.   The goal is to create a love of learning in each of them by introducing them to wonderful ideas.  I've seen those connections made and relationships built by my children in the past.  I hope that I've created a banquet for them this year so they can continue to flourish in God's world.  Blessings to you as you start your new school year!