Water Already?

Posted by Cindy on April 24, 2008

So I’m sick with strep.  (Feeling much better today.  Thank the Lord for strong antibiotics!)  My sweet older children offered to take little one out while I napped yesterday.  Here’s what they did.

Yes, it was only April 23rd.  I suppose they cared more that the thermometer said 80.  I’m just thankful I had the chance to nap!

Hot Rocks!

Posted by Cindy on April 20, 2008

Making hot rocks was SO much fun!  Since we just happened to be doing the rocks and minerals section of our earth science unit, the craft fit in perfectly.  The rocks turned out so well, we entered them in the craft division of our co-op’s expo.

You can find the original directions at Wise Craft, but put very simply:  Heat rocks in the oven at 350 for 15 minutes.  While you wait, peel the paper from several crayon colors.  After 15 minutes, you place the crayons on the hot rocks and create your masterpieces.

I placed aluminum foil on the pan, so when the pan came out of the oven, we gathered around it, used old oven mitts to steady the rocks and then we went to town.

Expo Comptetions

Posted by Cindy on April 19, 2008

I know, you’re tired of hearing how wonderful our co-op is!  But seriously, it is.  Friday night was our annual competition night.  The children choose from all sorts of competitions to enter – music, art, cooking, Bible memorization, science fair, construction, knitting/crochet/sewing, spelling bee – and maybe even more.

Here are a few pictures from the night.  Mahayla entered knitting, science fair, cooking – pies, and art – painting, crafts and printing.  Caleb entered wood construction, cooking – cakes, and art – printing and crafts.  We’ll have a fun ceremony in a couple of weeks where the kids will find out if they placed.  Pretty ribbons and certificates are given to all winners and participants.  They make for a nice addition to a yearly portfolio.

CM Scheduling

Posted by Cindy on April 18, 2008

How do you schedule a Charlotte Mason-style day?

Short answer:  Any way you want!  LOL

Longer answer:  If we’re talking a true CM day, it will be characterized by the following:

• short bookwork lessons (10-30 minutes depending on the age of the child and the subject)

• daily lessons in Bible, copywork, math, language arts, foreign language

• weekly or more lessons in science, history

• bookwork finished in the morning hours

• afternoons spent outdoors with free play or nature study, handicrafts, reading, etc.

• time scheduled throughout the week for nature study, artist/composer study

I’m not a CM “purist”, but our day usually goes something like this:

Chores – aka Life Skills

Bible

Bookwork – which isn’t necessarily workbooks.  This includes everything from math to language to unit study.

Lunch

Family Reading  – sometimes quiet time reading

Art/Nature/Handicrafts – sometimes guided, sometimes free

FREE Time

Here are some sample schedules from Simply Charlotte Mason.

I realize this post is fairly vague.  Since I don’t do CM education to a “T”, I don’t want to mislead anyone.  Also, my opinion as you’ve heard my say 1,000 times, is that your homeschool should be your homeschool.  Incorporate what you want to incorporate in a way that really works for your family.  A Charlotte Mason-style education is a wonderful path to take with your children, though, I can’t deny that!

Creative Memorization Ideas

Posted by Cindy on April 17, 2008

Creative Memorization Ideas

My all-time favorite creative memorization tool so far has been Times Tales!  My oldest daughter had struggled with the upper multiplication facts for months.  In ONE day of this program, she knew the facts!  I’m not kidding!  It uses little stories to tell about each fact.  After doing the program with her, I still can’t think of 8×7 without picturing Mrs. Snowman and Mrs. Week driving one mile over the speed limit at 56mph!

Getting children to memorize anything from math facts and spelling words to Bible verses and history dates is going to depend greatly on their learning style.  Lucky for us, there are a wealth of ideas and resources available for memorization using different learning styles:

-lists or topics put to songs (like Lyrical Life Science, Garden of Praise (FREE), Geography Songs, or States and Capitals Songs)

-flashcards

-facts put into silly stories

-mnemonic devices

-reviewing facts or verses using clapping rhythms or movement rhythms

-reviewing facts or verses with large motor movements like tossing a ball fact and forth

Here’s a fun site I found on the internet with ideas for memorizing Bible verses.  You could use the same ideas for a variety of memory work topics.

Creative Bible Study

Enjoy memorization!  Here are some fun resources to help you…