Geography, Mary, Makenzie

How can Mary NOT be learning her continents?  Makenzie is seeing to it that she does for sure!

Education as a series of relationships

Charlotte Mason defined education as a series of relationships formed by the learner as he developed intimacy with a wide range of subjects - something she called, "The Science of Relations." She believed that children should do the work of dealing with ideas and knowledge rather than the teacher acting as a middle man, dispensing filtered knowledge. Children should be taught the fallibility of reason, and that the responsibility of each individual is not in reasoning out the proofs, but in making sure the initial idea or assumption is sounds. She saw no separation between intellectual and spiritual life of children and adults, but believed that all truth is of God, regardless of the vessel it comes from.

Some things a Charlotte Mason education would include: (These few are my favorites)

1. Narration of course! Narration, which consists of the child telling back a story. This takes the place of composition in the early years. I love this one because it is so very natural for a child to 'tell back' experiences. They are able to 'connect' so well with the information they are narrating and in turn gain an even deeper understanding of what was learned and how to apply those things (presuming they are good things learned) to their own lives! Plus I love the ability to 'chat' with them as well and hopefully have an opportunity to share some true principles of life with them which we are taught in the scriptures. Because as Charlotte Mason says, "There is no separation between intellectual and spiritual life."

2. Habit training a as discipline of the child's will and behavior. Children are trained to develop the will, which is manifested in a strong resolve to act in a right manner. This one cannot be stressed enough. Helping our children gain good habits in behavior and in other areas of life is like giving them a gift. The gift of good habits learned will stay with them hopefully throughout their entire lives.

3. Living books rather than textbooks to convey ideas. Living books, whether fiction or non-fiction are more than just interesting books that make a tipic come alive. A true living book has the best material, from the best minds, or at least the real story from someone who was there or has a real interest in their subject. This is the one I am most grateful for. I grew up in the public school system and no such books were offered to me and it actually saddens me that this is the case. As I see it, it is the teachers responsibility to mentor the child and give the best of the best but that wasn't the case. I was only exposed to watered/dumbed down literature while as a child. But now as a parent I see the down fall of being brought up in such a light minded fashion and I can bring the best minds to my children through living books. I encourage parents everywhere, whether your child is in school or homeschooled, you too can open a world of great books to your children that they will treasure all their lives.

These are just 3 ideas that I love about home educating my children. I have the ability, time, and resources through the internet, home library, public library, and so much more at my fingertips to offer my children through their homeschooling journey.

101 reasons as to Why I homeschool reason #74

Curriculum choices and the individuality of children

I thought this article was well written and informative as it speaks on curriculum choices and the personalities of our children. (see link below for full article)

When it comes to cooking, it seems that there are two kinds of people: those who follow the recipe exactly and those who tweak it.

Those who tend to stick to the recipe probably like the security of doing what they're told to do. Someone has already figured this out so I don't have to can be a comforting thought. But sometimes the recipe just doesn't fit your situation. Maybe the person who created the recipe has a passion for hot and spicy, while your family prefers mildly spicy. Maybe the recipe says to bake at 450 for 15 minutes, but you know that your oven struggles to keep a constant heat at that high of a temperature.


So most cooks learn to make adjustments. They might reduce the amount of cayenne pepper or leave out the tabasco sauce. They might add more minutes onto the baking time. Whatever adjustments they make, they tweak the recipe to better fit their families and their situations.


Curriculum is like a Recipe


Curriculum is a lot like a recipe. Whoever writes the curriculum is setting forth what he prefers; what worked in his situation. But just because the author presents it a certain way doesn't mean you have to use it exactly as is.


Maybe a certain curriculum moves a little too quickly for your child; you can adjust it to a slower pace. Maybe a curriculum doesn't include enough hands-on activities for your tastes; you can add some. Maybe you like everything about the curriculum except one little part; leave it out. Maybe a particular recommended "ingredient" isn't available in your location; substitute something similar.


Just as people who create recipes are dealing with ingredients, not your family's taste preferences or your finicky oven, so people who write curriculum are dealing with the material, not with your unique child. It's impossible to write a curriculum that will address the specific needs of every single child. That's where you come in.


As the parent-teacher, your focus needs to be on educating your child as a person. In fact, that premise is the foundation on which Charlotte Mason built her whole philosophy.


The central thought, or rather body of though, upon which I found, is the somewhat obvious fact that the child is a person with all the possibilities and powers included in personality.


So don't expect a one-size-fits-all curriculum to suit each unique personality in your family; it won't. But that's the beauty of homeschooling; you can make adjustments. Any time!


You have permission. It's your family. It's your child. You know him better than any curriculum writer ever could.


Teach the child; don't just teach the curriculum. ~full article can be found at Simply Charlotte Mason


This is why I LOVE homeschooling. I have so many different types of learners, personalities, and temperaments that there is NO way I could possibly try a one size fits all approach. Truly each child is different and having the ability to pick and choose what fits each child is key in preparing them for their special and unique walk that they will have to walk in this life. Other wise it's kind of like pushing a square peg into a round whole. It just doesn't work and trying to force upon a child something that 'we think' is a one size fits all curriculum will eventually bring frustration, unhappiness, boredom, etc. for all involved.

101 reasons why I homeschool #75

But what about socialization.....

No, not this again!! I'm sure it's not going to be long and we will be seeing this question on bill boards all across our nation's highways simply because of it's popularity. But I'm not going there anymore. I've exhausted myself on the issue and closed the book on it. However, I really don't mind sharing what other's have to say about it. Because no matter who you ask, I think you may get a different answer. I've chosen one from R. C. Sproul to sum it up for many of us who have chosen to homeschool our children.

"Sometimes I ask those who raise this objection, "Now, when you speak of socialization, you're talking about my child's ability to get along with others who are different. Is that it?"

Uh, well, yes!

"And your solution is for my 10-year-old to spend seven hours a day stuck in a room with a bunch of other ten year olds?" "But this isn't really what people mean by socialization. What they want for my daughter is for her to be hip to all the things other 10-year-old girls are concerned about, like fashion labels, television shows, pop singers, and other essentials to the good life. They are concerned that my daughter is not under the sway of Madison Avenue, that she is free. But I have none of that concern. I raise my daughter, her sister, and her brother to be free. Their identity is in Christ, not in pop culture." R. C. Sproul

I have decided that there is some bottomless pit somewhere from which questions like this are pulled. How about you? What are your answers or comments that you have on socialization?

"I'm not writing about a conspiracy."

"Conspiracies deal with what is done in secret." Quoting J0hn A. Stormer from his book None Dare Call It Education. This book is not new to my library as I've read through it before but just recently my dear sister in law Mary reminded me what the 'education reformers' are up to and how their plans are openly revealed in pages of documents available to anyone who cares enough to search out their agenda. John Stormer has done just that and documented what he has found in this book.

He starts out with: The education "reformers" who have made America's school's the primary agency for changing our culture and our way of life wrote spoke openly about their dreams and their goals. The tragedy is that for far too long no one noticed-or no one took their words seriously. Now we are reaping the harvest in a serious academic decline and a changed national culture. A changed way of living. It is time to look deeply into their goals to see how they are achieving them in the lives of our children.

Without a knowledge of what they planned, it is impossible to understand how American society and it's culture have been transformed-or where we are headed. What those "pioneer" reformers started planning for our children and our nation over 65 years ago, their present day successors in education and government are implementing now.

In this book you will learn things like: "We no longer see the teaching of facts and information as the primary function of education...Building a new kind of people must be part of the curriculum."

What kind of "new people" do these educators have in mind? Representative Henry Hyde is chairman of the US House of Representatives Judiciary Committee. In a letter to his congressional colleagues he said: "Behavior modification is a significant part of restructuring our schools. Children will be trained to be "politically correct," to be unbiased, to understand diversity, to accept "alternative lifestyles..."~~~~"In short-"The purpose of education is to change the thoughts, feelings and actions of the students." Or the way I see it, "To be socialized according to the standards of our current culture. No thanks, I've seen the village and I want no part of it!!

If you think the quotes I've left here are even a tiny bit scary, then I promise you, upon reading this little book entirely it will knock your socks off. Every piece of information will direct you to the person, the documents, etc. of each and every plan that has been set in motion by the education reformers of this nation. And the funny this is, is that it is not done in secret places but right before our eyes. Either we as a nation are sleeping, hiding our heads in the sand, or whatever, there is no excuse in the American people allowing such plans and reformations to be exacted out on our children; in turn affecting the sacredness of our homes, our churches, and our nations.

101 Reasons as to why I homeschool

Reason 87

"I don't know how you can homeschool all those kids, I only have 3 and I can hardly make it through summer break. Come September I am so ready to send them back and get them out of the house."

If I had a dime for every time I hear comments like this I would be the most monetarily richest woman in the world!! And usually the only I can say is, "Oh, how much you miss."

"We should understand that teaching our children is our delight, our joy, our opportunity. When we see spending time with them as a burden, rather than a joy, we see further evidence of how encultured we have become. Children, biblically speaking, are a blessing from God. And we ought to seek out time with blessings from God, not plot out ways to avoid them, or hand them over to others."~R.C.Sproul When You Rise Up

I feel one of the greatest blessings I have been given are the gifts of my children. Sure, we all have those days when life is tough. The kids are loud, contentious, moody, energetic, dirty, smelly, etc. But overall, count it all joy when you can spend your days with your little ones!!

Yes, we shelter our children

Yikes, you "shelter" your children? Here's a new word that keeps coming up around homeschoolers. It is mostly used by non-homeschoolers and you may even hear it at your church from your Christian friends and leaders. That word is often spoken in whispers regarding 'the family' who has chosen to shelter their children.

 I admit that we do. But before you begin to psycho analyze our decision let's consider the meaning of the word shelter.  (I firmly believe that however the Lord leads you in your family, then that is what's best for you. All families are different.  I feel it is extremely important to search the Lord's will through faith and prayer when it comes to decisions being made for your family.)

Shelter~That which covers or defends from injury or annoyance. The state of being covered and protected; protection; security. He that defends or guards from danger. To cover from violence, injury, annoyance or attack. To defend; to protect from danger; to secure or render safe; to harbor. There are many scripture passages that show what a loving, protective, sheltering, delivering, Father we have.

Psalm 18-2 The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer

2 Timothy 4:17-18 God strengthens us and rescues us.

2 Thessalonians 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.

Psalm 56-9 When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back

Psalm 91:3-5 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler...he shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

Psalm 121:3-8 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is they keeper: the Lord is they shade upon they right hand. vs. 7-8 The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve they going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

Joshua 1:5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

Isaiah 41:10 I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Psalm 1241 2-6 If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when men rose up against us: then they had swallowed us up quick,, when their wrath was kindled against us....Blessed be the Lord, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth.

If our family is guilty of sheltering, then so be it. Even the wonderful Christian 'sooth sayers' who love to counsel families in regards to the idea that our/your {homeschooled} children should be the 'salt and light' to the world, and, they should be exposed to the evils and the wrongs in the world in order to 'strengthen' them against it.  Those overwhelming feelings of love, the desire to protect, and care for you baby! That shouldn't end just because your child turns 5. They depend on us, their parents, to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord all their days. They don't need to be exposed to evils, lies, and the false teachings that are corrupting our children each and every day to make them strong and stand against the storms of life. The word of God, His teachings is what they need to make them strong. Do we feed their bodies junk food to strengthen their bodies? No, that weakens them, just as the junk food fed their minds in our schools, by tv, etc do not strengthen them. We feed them whole foods, living foods; that is where their bodily strength comes from. So as filling them up in the word of God strengthens their souls.

So I say "shelter away." "I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble. Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life. Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil men. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way." Proverbs 4-11-15

I love those verses in Proverbs. Ask yourself~are YOU guiding your children in the way of wisdom? Are their teachers, the television, friends, and church leaders guiding them in the way of wisdom. To whom are we trusting the guiding to?

Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well. Whatever your child is being instructed in, that will he hold onto.

Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil men. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way."

"If you want to know what has de-Christianized the country, I point my finger to the provided school from which Christ has been turned out and the door slammed in His face. The thought of it makes me bury my face in my hands and sob with sorrow and shame.~Heber C. Iverson Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way.

What I Love About Homeschooling

I received this in an email today and thought I'd make a post about it.

The list was a bit shorter (not much though) until I got hold of it and added a few of my own thoughts!!

What I love about homeschooling

I could...

Send them to school and from 8:00 to 3:00 and have no clue...

How many times they laughed

How many times they learned something and what they learned

How many times they questioned

How many times they understood

How many times they wanted more information and couldn't get it because class was over or teacher was too busy

How many times they bounced up and down from excitement over something new they learned

How many times they were proud over an accomplishment

How many times they wanted to cry and be hugged but couldn't be

How many times they wanted to pray and couldn't

How many times I would miss out on a hug

How many smiles I would miss

How many cuddle times I would miss

I could send them to school....

And in only 20 minutes a day they could soak up the sun

Eat highly processed food for lunch

and if they're lucky, finish off the lunch before someone says lunch is over

let them be bullied on the playground

allow them to be told how, when, what they can draw, read and write rather than being able to use their own imaginations

They would miss their hours of picking dandelions and playing in our yard...

And I would miss the bouquets they create for me

I would miss our picnics and walks in the woods

I could send them to school...

And let others have the best of my children's hours of each day

Allow others to instill their values in them rather than our values

Promote peer dependence

Promote socialism rather than individualism

Be led to believe that two mommies are better than one~that may be true for bowls of ice cream but not for mom's and dad's

By no means would I consider this list "exhaustive", at least not for me. I could go on but I encourage you to grab it up and add to or delete from it. Whatever suits you!

Homeschooling in America

Anyone who knows me KNOWS that I am very much pro-homeschooling and I love to read articles and such on the subject.  And of course I feel the need to share with those around me as well.  Here is an article I found on The Well Trained Mind forums that I thought was really good.  I chose from the article the section I liked the best but you can read the full article HERE

if you're a fan of numbers and statistics!!

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Homeschooling is now a major force in American education, and Christian parents have been in the vanguard of this movement.  For many Christian parents, homeschooling represents the fulfillment of the biblical mandate for parents to teach their children.  These parents deserve our respect, our support, our advocacy, and our prayers.  This movement is a sign of hope on our educational horizon, and a phenomenon that can no longer be dismissed as a fringe movement.

As president of a seminary and college, I can attest to the fact that questions about the educational aptitude of homeschooled students are now settled.  These students can hold their own as compared to students from all other educational backgrounds.  One other fact speaks loudly to me concerning their education.  Most of the homeschooled students I meet at the college and graduate levels indicate an eager determination to homeschool their own children when that time comes.

Education cannot be reduced to statistics, but the trends revealed in this new report from the Department of Education deserve close attention.  In our day, education represents a clash of worldviews.  Increasingly toxic approaches to education (or what is called education) drive many schools and many school systems.  In that light, the fact that so many Christian parents are taking education into their own hands is a sign of hope.  As this new report makes clear, we should expect homeschooling to be a growth industry in years ahead.

But, What About Socialization????

Socialization: Homeschoolers Are in the Real World

By Chris Klicka, Senior Counsel for the
Home School Legal Defense Association

Academically homeschoolers have generally excelled, but some critics have continued to challenge them on an apparent "lack of socialization" or "isolation from the world." Often there is a charge that homeschoolers are not learning how to live in the "real world." However, a closer look at public school training shows that it is actually public school children who are not living in the real world.
For instance, public school children are confined to a classroom for at least 180 days each year with little opportunity to be exposed to the workplace or to go on field trips. The children are trapped with a group of children their own age with little chance to relate to children of other ages or adults. They learn in a vacuum where there are no absolute standards. They are given little to no responsibility, and everything is provided for them. The opportunity to pursue their interests and to apply their unique talents is stifled. Actions by public students rarely have consequences, as discipline is lax and passing from grade to grade is automatic. The students are not really prepared to operate in the home (family) or the workplace, which comprise a major part of the "real world" after graduation.
Homeschoolers, on the other hand, do not have the above problems. They are completely prepared for the "real world" of the workplace and the home. They relate regularly with adults and follow their examples rather than the examples of foolish peers. They learn based on "hands on" experiences and early apprenticeship training. In fact, the only "socialization" or aspect of the "real world" which they miss out on by not attending the public school is unhealthy peer pressure, crime, and immorality. Of course, the average homeschooler wisely learns about these things from afar instead of being personally involved in crime or immorality or perhaps from being a victim.
For full article click HERE