Beauty

A Peaceful Calm

When I finally made the decision, in 2005, to homeschool, I felt a peaceful calm come over me. I felt this same peaceful calm with the career I chose (I am a nanny school grad that has been running a family daycare since 1995), and when I became a mom. Not that being a mom, daycare provider, and homeschooler is stress-free, but I felt in my heart, deep in my sole that these were the things, I, Storie, was to do in my life. It was like puzzle pieces fitting perfectly together.

Following a loose Charlotte Mason philosophy has brought that peaceful, calm to our everyday life. My son feels this same *fit*. That the philosophy (tweaked a bit) just matches us just right. It sure makes our days much nicer. The weeks, months, sometimes years, we would slip into moving too far from a CM style Oak and I both felt stress with homeschooling. 

Why did we slip? I was a public schooled child. At times I fear he may not be doing enough. When I let these thoughts whirl around my head I start worrying about other things; college, his future career, etc. One thing we have never worried about is what others think. If we did, or I did, this would have reared its ugly head during these times also.

I will always be the product of a public school system. I remind myself that Oak is not (he went for two years but spent most of his life homeschooling). A CM style has proven over and over to allow him the freedom he wants in his learning. He gets more motivated, he enjoys the beauty of his surroundings, his thirst for knowledge grows and grows. Our days flow, mesh between learning, play, living. 

Public school crushed my love for reading. Public school did not allow me to enjoy the fact that history is an on going story, a wonderful story, full of adventure. Public school did not allow me to see the beauty of science. Public school taught me to worry about a test, to wonder what part of this or that would be on a test. Public school taught me that learning was something that was a drag, that happened for 5 to 6 hours monday through friday. 

Homeschooling has allowed me to feel that peaceful calm about my own learning. At least homeschooling with a CM approach, for us. If we were using a different homeschooling approach we would not feel that peaceful calm to our days. 

As homeschoolers we can find that homeschool method that finds that peaceful calm in each of our families. I hope you all have found that place. If you have not found that place just yet, my wish is that you will find it soon.

The Mysterious Benedict Society By Trenton Lee Stewart ~ Book Review

*****

I give The Mysterious Benedict Society 5 stars

(Book Review By Oak)

I gave The Mysterious Benedict Society 5 stars for many reasons. Number 1, you CANNOT put this book down, just tell your friend they won't be seeing much of you for a few days. The suspense builds up well, and every chapter ends with a cliff hanger. The author did a great job of making you feel the characters emotions, you got nervous for them! This book also gives you a chance to unravel the mystery alongside the characters, which makes this book even more fun. I could go on forever but I need to get back to reading the next book in this series! If I enjoy the second book as much as I liked the first I should be making a review of it fairly soon.

                                                                                   ~ Oak

A Much Improved Written Narration

We are currently reading two history read-alouds, America First and Streams of History: The United States. I explained, before I started reading, that he was going to do another written narration today. I explained again what I was looking for with a written narration. I told him he could choose from which book he would narrate from. He chose America First, we read the chapter on Sir Walter Raleigh.

I left him to his independent work. When lunch was nearing I went and checked on things. He is really enjoying things this year. He has been usually getting most of his work complete before lunch. Today was no different. He had two things left to do...yep, one was his written narration (the other, drawing an outline of Africa for geography). I am learning to zip my mouth. 

I am glad I kept my mouth zipped. Right after we finished lunch he got busy right away and ended up with a much improved written narration. It will take time for it to feel more natural for him (oral narration is very natural for him) but I am surprised how much of an improvement this one was.  

Thursday or Friday I will be asking for another one.

A Morning Break

Our neighborhood is located on two lakes. It is great for nature studies; water birds, alligators, insects, snakes, fish, turtles, frogs, ...

The last few days we have been having afternoon storms so we had to get out and enjoy the blue skies. It is still hot and humid here. I am looking forward to cooler temperatures and being able to open up the house.

A few minutes after taking this shot four Sandhill Cranes flew over the water and landed in the grass near us. They gave us a big scolding. They think they own the neighborhood. ~smile

Slow Start To Written Narration

Last week I talked to my son, ninth grade, about written narration. I handed him a new notebook and told him that I felt it would be a benefit for him to begin keeping a narration notebook for history. He has never been a big fan of writing, typing, yes, oral narration, talk your ear off.

Instead of diving into a written narration on his current history readers or read-alouds, I asked if he would prefer to start with his reader of choice, The Mysteries Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart. He loves history and very interested in the books that are being read but is engrossed in The Mysteries Benedict Society. For a non-lover of writing, I thought there would be more encouragement to write from this book.

I actually received no baulking. I honestly thought I might. He is not a big complainer but he does have his moments...like we all do. He did question what he should talk about. He started the book only a week ago, and at the time of me asking him to write the narration, had the book almost finished. I told him that he could write about one of his favorite moments or a part of the book that got him thinking harder. I told him that the notebook was his to enjoy and that he could add pictures, poems, etc...to make it his own.

He went off to complete is independent work, including this written narration. When I checked in on him an hour or so later he was completing all his work...except the written narration. I remained positive and voiced how I was looking forward to reading what he wrote.

A half-an-hour later I found him reading. He told him he had completed his written narration. I opened up the first page to see a 3 to 4 sentence paragraph. Oh, boy! Now I will give him that it was a well thought out, well written paragraph, but he could have done so much more.

I waited until later in the day when he gave me an oral narration and then explained I want to see that kind of details and length in his written narrations. I explained that I knew he did not enjoy writing and that it might take time to feel comfortable.

Fast forward to today. I am going to ask him to do another written narration tomorrow, on one of his history readers or read-alouds. Depending on how smoothly that goes, I will ask him to do another later in the week. I want him writing in his history narration notebook at least a few times per week...eventually. This is where I need to practice patients. It will happen, he just needs extra time and reassurance.

I Am, I Can, I Ought, I Will

I am . . .

a child of God, a gift to my parents and my country.

I'm a person of great value because God made me.

I can . . .

do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

God has made me able to do everything required of me.

I ought . . .

to do my duty to obey God, to submit to my parents

and everyone in authority over me, to be of service to others,

and to keep myself healthy

with proper food and rest so my body is ready to serve.

I will . . .

resolve to keep a watch over my thoughts

and choose what's right even if it's not what I want.

Effortless Spicy Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Pancakes

I make these very simple pancakes when my son and I feel like pancakes but I do not feel like making a mess and spending hours in the kitchen. I use a Hungry Jack Chocolate Chip Pancake Mix Easy Pack and add a spoonful of peanut butter, a small dash of ground cloves and ground ginger, and an ample dash of cinnamon. We enjoy our pancakes being more cake like so I add less than one cup of water. My son likes to top his with sugar free pancake syrup and I like to top mine with organic maple syrup. 

We enjoy playing around and trying other ingredients and other Hungry Jack Easy Packs.

A Charlotte Mason Companion By Karen Andreola ~ Book Review

*****

I give A charlotte Mason Companion 5 stars!

I highly recommend this book to every homeschooling family that would like to learn about Charlotte Mason's philosophies or any family that already homeschools with a CM style. I bought this book about 6 years ago and have read it several times since. I am sure I will read it several more times while I am homeschooling my son and then again if/when I become a grandma (I am sure I will have to buy several more copies). A Charlotte Mason Companion can not replace reading Charlotte Mason's own writings but I suggest beginning with this book and then reading CM's. The original set of 6 books is a challenge, A Charlotte Mason Companion allows you to learn the philosophy in a gentle, easily understood way. The book is well written and is broken down into chapters that make revisiting certain subjects easy. If you are in the midst of struggling with narration you can easily find that chapter and re-read it or skim over things and go back about your business.

Our First Week Of School Is Coming To A Close

Oak and I had a fabulous first week of school. Oak did find waking up earlier a bit hard. Normally we are year-round homeschoolers but we decided to take the summer off. He ended up getting into a pattern of waking up closer to 9:00 each morning. We both seem to have gotten back into the normal school routine pretty quickly though.

This week I had him ease into his lessons. I had him doing science, history, literature, and math. Next week I will add in Language Lessons, vocabulary, copywork, spelling, and geography. I think this helped with the transition.

He is LOVING...and I am too...his science. We are doing Summer By the Sea in The Discovering Nature and Science Series by Queen homeschool supplies. I must admit I was not really looking forward to biology, or any high school science curricula for that matter. Science seemed dry when I went to school (public school) and most high school science curricula for homeschoolers seem very dry (in my opinion). I wanted something that kept his thirst of knowledge alive. Summer By the Sea along with wonderful whole books will do just that.

My dry science texts made me not enjoy science (made me not like history either). I so wished I had been homeschooled and used a Charlotte Mason approach. This is a whole other matter though, moving forward.

In Summer By the Sea you follow a story about siblings who travel to visit family in New England. Every week you read a chapter of the story and then the rest of the week is followed by activities. The activities include; research, art, writing, experiments, etc.

I am a fan of his history, he is not. We are doing The Story of the Ancients in the A Living History of Our World by Queen Homeschool Supply. We are Christian but he is feeling overwhelmed by the biblical history and prefers to have less or a secular history curriculum. We both have decided to use this for bible. We both really do not want to drop it. A Living History of Our World is well written and follows the style of  The Discovering Nature and Science Series. A Living History of Our World differs in that it includes activities for elementary age up through high school.

We will be using whole books for his history instead. We will use some as read-alouds and some as readers. We will read books from Yesterday's Classics, Genevieve Foster, Beautiful Feet Books, G.A. Henty, among many others.

We are both really enjoying his math. He is doing Life of Fred Pre-Algebra with Biology. I read the introduction with him and we both found ourselves chuckling. I love a math curriculum that keeps learning fun. This not only keeps the learning fun but Oak finds himself wanting to do more math each day. I plan to read through this book and work the math problems myself.

I am so grateful for the enjoyable first week. I hope each week is as enjoyable.

Lesson One (day 3)

Studying Pine Trees native to Maine.

Our *Loose* Schedule

We do not have a set timetable as to how our day goes but we get into a pattern, a routine.

Oak wakes between 7:30 and 7:45 and reads from one of his 

current readers (history, science, or his choice) for about an hour.

Around 8:30 we both work on morning chores and prepare breakfast.

While we are doing this I have Oak narrate from his current science or history reader.

Around 9:30 until around 12:00/12:30 we/he works without break and with full focus.

Normally we start this time working on the things we do together and then reading 

from our current read-alouds (this ends with narration and discussion).

 I will then allow him to focus on is independent work.

We eat lunch around 12:30. I cook while Oak does his independent work. Lunch is our big meal for the day. After lunch he might read from a current reader or take a short free-time.

Around 1:30 Oak gets busy again and finishes any lessons that have not been completed. We may or may not read from the current read-alouds again.

The rest of the afternoon is spent enjoying swimming, fishing, playing sports, down time, reading, hanging with friends, taking walks, playing board games, playing Xbox, writing short stories, running errands, etc, etc.

Around 5:30 we both prepare a small dinner and usually watch something 

we DVRed or talk about the day while we eat.

After dinner is spent with free-time, evening chores, and reading from the current read-alouds.

Around 9:30 Oak will spend an hour or two reading from his current reader in science or history.

(this is what he narrates from during the making of breakfast and morning chores)

Night Night!

(I am usually asleep before he is)

Serenity

I took this picture by the lake near our home. 

This was on a very calm day, everything is at such peace and serenity.

Calm is all nature as a resting wheel

Calm is all nature as a resting wheel. 

The kine are couched upon the dewy grass; 

The horse alone, seen dimly as I pass, 

Is cropping audibly his later meal: 

Dark is the ground; a slumber seems to steal 

O'er vale, and mountain, and the starless sky. 

Now, in this blank of things, a harmony, 

Home-felt, and home-created, comes to heal 

That grief for which the senses still supply 

Fresh food; for only then, when memory 

Is hushed, am I at rest. My Friends! restrain 

Those busy cares that would allay my pain; 

Oh! leave me to myself, nor let me feel 

The officious touch that makes me droop again. 

William Wordsworth

Sandhill Cranes

The Sandhill Cranes love our neighborhood! These birds are amazing creatures. 

Lesson One (day 1)

Oak and I began Summer By the Sea this morning. Each week there is a story to read as a read-aloud and then activities for the student/students to complete throughout the week. Each week the types of activities vary. I find that I am as excited about Summer By the Sea as Oak is. Having the varying activities has us both excited to hear more of the story and also seeing what activities there will be each week. Today Oak is drawing a map of Maine down to New Jersey and researching Pine Trees native to Maine. We have not peeked at what other activities he will be doing the rest of the week. I am sure we will! ~wink~

I must warn all parents! You will want to jump in and do the activities right along with your child. I told Oak I wished I had gotten my own Summer By the Sea. Instead I have a sketch notebook and will be selecting several of the activities to do along with him.

I wish these were easier to see in pictures. 

Summer By The Sea (CM style biology)

Discovering Nature & Science Series (Queen Homeschool Supplies)

Summer By the Sea

A Charlotte Mason style biology curriculum for high school students

Special Delivery!

I just finished posting our 2013-2014 curriculum choices and had a special delivery waiting at the door. Two packages! One from Queen Homeschool Supplies with our history and science books and the other with our Life of Fred book. Yay! We are now waiting for our english books from Queens. I just ordered them this morning, so will not receive them until the end of the week or early next week.

2013-2014 School Year

Math: 
Life of Fred Pre-Algebra with Biology

Life of Fred

English: 
Language Lessons for the High School Student: Grammar Review and More
Vocabulary ~ Word of the Week Volume 2
Copywork ~ For the Love of the Game
Spelling ~ Learning to Spell Through Copywork Book C

LLHS Grammar Review

Word of the Week

For the Love of the Game

Learning to Spell

History:

Whole books (non-fiction and fiction, both readers and read-alouds)

Narration notebook 

Geography:

Africa, Antarctica & Australia

Whole books

Africa, Antarctica & Australia

Science:

Discovering Nature and Science Series: Summer By the Sea (Biology)

Whole books

Summer By the Sea

Literature:

Whole Books in science, history, non-fiction, fiction, ... (logs are listed to the right)

Electives:

Home Economics, Physical Education, Health, Drivers Education, Spanish, ...