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Thursday, May 24, 2012

More Snow Fun

Posted by Cindy on December 17, 2008

My children seem to think all the snow is wonderful!  After a busy day of snowmen and sledding, they spent hours cutting out and hanging snowflakes all over their bedrooms.  It’s festive for sure!  (I’m keeping my fingers crossed that all that tape doesn’t pull the paint from the ceiling!  Oh well, they’re only kids once.)

Merry Christmas!

Charlotte Mason Carnival – Back To School Planning Bash

Posted by Cindy on August 19, 2008

Welcome to the Charlotte Mason Carnival Back To School Planning Bash!

This has turned out to be such an exciting and busy carnival that I feel like some sort of festive music should be playing - like you might hear on a merry-go-round.  :o )   I just know you’re going to enjoy post after post of planning and organizing wisdom.  In fact, you may want to have a pad of paper and pencil ready to jot down all the wonderful ideas you’ll come across!  Don’t get overwhelmed, though.  One idea at a time……

Daily Schedules and Curriculum Choices

Erin from Delighting in His Richness tells us how her plans are coming along in Ready, Set…Still Working on the Set Part.

Kris from Musing Mom gives us a glimpse into her day in Our Schedule for Next Year.

Makita from Twinkling Stars Family School shows us her detailed plans in Our 2008/09 School Plans.

Kathy from Piney Woods Homeschool tells us how she plans practically using the Ambleside curriculum in Scheduling CM.

Barb from Harmony Art Mom gives us some planning ideas for older children in Our Plan for High School: Tapestry of Grace ala Charlotte Mason.

DeeDee from Doing Things Anglo/American Style shows us how she is easing into a CM lifestyle in Wanna Be Charlotte Mason Homeschooler.

Tiffany from Homeschool Nature Study lays out how she plans to begin implementing some serious CM plans this year in Charlotte Mason Back to School Planning Bash.

Amada from Manifold Musings of a Missionary Mom takes us through her planning in What to Teach?

Sandy from Falling Like Rain reminds us that not everyone is cheerfully planning and preparing for a new school year.  She gives some great advice in Homeschool Fatigue.

Jimmie from One Child Policy Homeschool has been evaluating her homeschool in Some Homeschool Goal Setting.

Dawn from My4Sweetums has also been setting some goals for the year in Charlotte Mason Planning Bash.

Elizabeth from In the Heart of My Home shares her fall term plans in Sneak Preview – What’s New for the Fall Term at Serendipity.

Tammy from Adventures on Beck’s Bounty shows us how she plans her lessons in Planning at Beck’s Bounty.

Keri from Sunny shows us how she goes about planning in A New School Year.

Swylv from Education is an atmosphere, a discipline, a life answers several planning questions in Back to School Edition Submission.


Sonya from Simply Charlotte Mason shares how she makes time for larger projects in A Project Week Idea.


Sheri from On the Right Track talks about how she planned for fun learning in Summer Session Success.


Rebecca from Home Sweet Homeschool gives us a peek into how she plans using the Ambleside Online curriculum in Week-at-a-glance.



Schoolroom and Other Organizing Ideas

Candace from His Mercy is New gives us a couple of great ideas in Our Bulletin Board and Prayer Door.

Melissa from In the Sparrow’s Nest has organized all the toddler toys and big kid manipulatives in Busy Bookshelf.

Barb from Harmony Art Mom share a simple organizing trick in Need Some Inspiration: Try an Idea Portfolio.  Also be sure to glean ideas for organizing an art study area in Our Van Gogh Wall.  I couldn’t resist adding one more of Barb’s wonderful organizing tips in Keeping Your Art Supplies at the Ready.

Cindy from On Our Journey Westward (that’s me!) hopes to encourage you that the schoolroom can at least make you smile one time a year (before the children enter the room or area for the first time) in An Organized Schoolroom.

Leslie from Pockets of the Future shares an organizing tip about printer ink in A Key Homeschooling, Homesteading, Self-Sufficiency Item You Can Buy in Bulk.

Plans for Particular Subjects

Candace from His Mercy is New has a fun plan for Fine Arts Friday at her house this year.  Along the same lines, be sure to check out her post about their Music Appreciation Time.

Kysha from Love’s School tells us about her new approach to spelling plans in My Rambles On Spelling.

Mama Squirrel from Dewey’s Treehouse shows us the fine arts side of her second grade plans in Crayon’s Grade Two: What’s Left? (Art, Music, This and That).

Mary Beth at Cheaper By the Half Dozen has reminded us that adding fine arts into our curriculum is not only important, but easy in Picture Study the Charlotte Mason Way.  Be sure to see the second part of this idea at More Picture Study Tips.

Leila at Fredom Academy has started what sounds like a very fun group.  You can read about it in a Charlotte Mason Co-op.

Lindafay from Higher Up and Further In offers her plans for CM-style testing in Year 4 Exams – Term 3.

Keri from Sunny shows us how she incorporated history in History with Story of the World.

DeeDee from Doing Things Anglo/American Style has a great idea for those wonderful read alouds in The End – Finally!

Andrea from Kids and Nature shows us how she plans to use the zoo in her homeschool this year in A New Approach to the Zoo.

Ritsumei from Baby Steps shares how she does nature study with preschoolers in Munchkin Nature Study.

Rachael from Homeschooling Kiwi Style takes us through a year’s worth of picture study in Monet and the Impressionist Picture Study Plan.

Lisa from House of Many Blessings shows how she spices up school in Artist Study and a Little Bit of Fun.

Amy from Growing Fruit…Part 2 shares how she includes literature along with math in Living Math Books.

Jenny from Chartwell Academy and Pook’s Hill Nursery has a fun idea for using postcards to enhance a wall timeline in Postcards from the Edge of Educational Tourism.

Melissa from In the Sparrow’s Nest gives a great overview of how and why to include nature study as part of your curriculum planning in Carving Out Time for Nature Walks.

Cindy from On Our Journey Westward (that’s me, again!) offers her plan for artist, composer and nature study in Setting Aside Time for the Good Stuff.

Thank you so much for visiting and/or participating!  Remember, everyone enjoys positive comments (even me.)  :o )  If you like someone’s ideas, let them know!

Thanks to Jimmie and Swylv for some of the pictures for the carnival!

Let’s continue with another super year of the Charlotte Mason Blog Carnival.  Keep submitting those great posts!  Our outstanding leader, Barb, will be hosting the next carnival on September 2nd!


Charlotte Mason Blog Carnival: "Love"liness Edition

Posted by Cindy on February 5, 2008

Welcome to the 10th Edition of The Charlotte Mason Carnival!!

The “Love”liness Edition

When thinking about educating my children the Charlotte Mason way, the word “loveliness” describes the pictures in my mind.  Children snuggled up with mom, literature that paints vivid pictures, lessons that inspire my children and a general sweetness that surrounds the day.  Of course, this picture is the “ideal” picture, not always the one that is painted!  But, we try.  And many days ARE just that – lovely.  Sweet.  Precious.  Calm.  Easy.  Natural.  Loving.  So, in honor of those days and the upcoming Valentine’s Day, the theme of this carnival is Loveliness.  Enjoy!

Dwelling in the Land takes us right to the heart of what we should strive for in our homes in Hymn-spiration.  She also shares a day of fun spawning from living literature in Wigwams.

Pockets of the Future tells about a new approach she’s found to teaching piano in Simply Music is a Fun and Very Effective “Living Music” Approach to Playing the Piano.

Interested in a New Composer StudyPeakmore Academy gives us many ideas for studying Duke Ellington.

Freedom Academy reminds us of the importance of setting a good example in Mother Culture – Mom’s Nature Journal.

The Heart of Harmony takes us in to nature even in the midst of cold weather in The Pleasures of Winter.  On her nature study blog Handbook of Nature Study,  join her on a wintry trip in Snowshoe Adventure: Tahoe Snowshoes Hare.

Science, anyone?  Where the Kudzu Grows shares a bit about nature study and a bit about science, or should I say a lot about both, in Homeschooling: Science and Nature Study…Part 5.

Treasuring the Moments encourages us to get outside with our little ones in Out of Doors Studies for Children Under Six.

Just can’t stand the cold?  Hearts and Trees has a wonderful indoor nature study alternative for us in Indoor Nature Study Idea- Tabletop Garden.

My Nature Study also has an idea for warm winter nature study in Bird Watching.

Praiseworthy Things makes nature study seem so easy and inviting in Love of Nature.

Nature Notes From Above gives a super tutorial in Nature Activity – Build Your Own Fruit Bowl Bird Feeder.

Wildflower Morning reminds us of the importance of nature and encourages us to bring the camera in Pass the Wonder.

Check out One Child Policy Homeschool’s icy nature adventures in Winter Ice Play.  She also gives a book recommendation in Last Child in the Woods Book Review.

Don’t let the scientific method scare you.  Lifestyle Homeschool walks us through easily incorporating the scientific method into our day in The Scientific Method: Conversations With Science.

Take a peek into Country Cottage’s learning in Term 2 Books.

Piney Woods Homeschool explains how to incorporate CM style education with little ones in Year 0 Introduction.

I’ve shared a glimpse into our special math days in Living Math – Winter Fun.

Dewey’s Treehouse gives her ideas on CM math in Multiplication Without Vexation (CM and Math).

Distinctly Different reminds us to smile as we think back on the lovely literature we’ve read with our children in Of Friends and Fellows.

May the Lord Find Us Faithful has written a very honest post about easing into Charlotte Mason methods in Dictation.

School For Us shows us how she is introducing dictation in her homeschool in Beginning Dictation.  She also askes the question “How am I doing?” in Intellectual Food.

CM, Children and Lots of Grace shares an excellent tip for memorization in A Helpful Technique for Memory Work.

Adventures On Beck’s Bounty has made plans to be sure her children learn wonderful handicraft skills in On Handicrafts (A Charlotte Mason Style Resolution).

Morningstar Academy Art is sharing Week Four: Van Gogh Study, but you’ll want to be sure to check out the previous weeks, too!

Education is an Atmoshpere, a Discipline, a Life shares her thoughts on what this phrase means to her in Meaning Behind ths Weblog’s Title.

Some Encouragement is exactly what Teacher Britt gives us in this thoughtful article.

La Sopa Smith gives a wonderful account of CM Education working in her homeschool in Let the Games Come to You.

Sunny Homeschool encourages us to keep our CM focus in An Aim and Direction.

The House at My Corner tells us her thoughts in Why I Like Charlotte Mason.

(If you submitted an article and don’t see it here, would you please let me know?  A few people had a problem submitting their articles and I want to be able to pass any submission problems on to Barb before the next carnival.  Thanks!)

If you would like to visit past editions of the Charlotte Mason Blog Carnival or submit an article for the next carnival, please visit this page.

The “lovely” clipart comes from The Stock Solution’s Vintage Valentine’s Art Collection.

Charlotte Mason Carnival – Thankful Homeschooling

Posted by Cindy on November 13, 2007

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Praise Him all creatures here below.

Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts.

Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

Amen.

Give thanks unto the Lord, call upon His name, make known His deeds among the people.  Sing unto Him, sing psalms unto Him, talk ye of all His wondrous works.  Glory ye in His holy name:  let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord.  Seek the Lord and His strength, seek His face continually.  Remember His marvelous works that He has done, His wonders, and the judgements of His mouth.

1 Chronicles 16: 8-12

Welcome to the 5th Edition of the Charlotte Mason Blog Carnival!!  As we prepare to give thanks for all the bountiful blessings we have, I decided to go with the theme of Thankfulness.  I’m sure integrating Charlotte Mason techniques and ideas into your homeschool has made you a very thankful momma (or daddy!)  As you watch your children grow in their love of learning because of the gentle, meaningful Charlotte Mason way, you know you’ve found the key to combining family, homeschooling and love.  May you be blessed in your ventures and never forget to be thankful to the One from whom all your blessings flow.

Remembering What a Charlotte Mason Education is All About

The Common Room gives an excellent overview of some of Charlotte Mason’s teachings in Charlotte Mason, Education, and Ideas, Part 1.

Did you ever think that taking care of yourself was part of a Charlotte Mason education?  My4Sweetums explains this idea in Making Time for Mother Culture.

Training Your Child’s Heart

Higher Up and Further In has written a beautiful post about training a child’s soul to be motivated by God in Challenge Your Child with Greatness.

Praiseworthy Things shares a timely post about teaching the topic of loyalty to your children in Teaching Loyalty.

The Nitty-Gritty of Homeschooing

Would you like a simple way to keep track of what you’ve been doing for school, keep your family updated, and organize and plan your lessons?   Living, Loving & Learning shows you how she uses a weekly blog entry to take care of all these thing at once in Plans For October 14-19.

How about exams?  What would Charlotte Mason think?  Freedom Academy gives an insightful look into how she handles them in Semester Exams Charlotte Mason Style.

Do you ever get frustrated with homeschooling?  We all do at one time or another.  Homeschooling Journey tries to keep frustrating days in perspective in Stay Cool While You Homeschool.

Do you ever get bogged down trying to do everything?  The Educational Life shares how she tries to plan her week to fit in everything from school to housework, while not becoming overwhelmed in Rainy Days Clean My Toilets.

Dominion Family debates the need for a schedule versus an atmosphere of learning in Education as Atmosphere: The Schedule.

Nature Study

I’m never more thankful than walking outside in the fresh air taking in every slice of beauty that surrounds me.  Yielded Heart shares a lovely blog about the importance of taking notice of this beauty in Why Nature Study.

Freedom Academy takes you along on a wonderfully fun Nature Study trip.  Be sure to see all their exciting finds!

One Child Policy Homeschool also takes you along on their Last Nature Study for a While trip, but their’s is halfway around the world!

Falling Like Rain gives a very honest and pleasant look into how nature study is incorporated at their house in Nature Study – Relaxed.

Harmony Art Mom keeps a nature study blog called Handbook of Nature Study.  She reminds us of a few of Charlotte Mason’s thoughts in Nature Study for Children, Part 1.

Bright Star Christian Homeschool explains how nature study brings joy to their homeschool in Nature Study = Observing God’s Creation

Life Nurturing Education is encouraging her children to observe the world around them and shares about her children doing just that in Learning by Observation.

Living Literature

I’m so very thankful for good books.  Really good books that just whisk my children and myself away to another time and another place, making us feel as if we’re standing right alongside the characters as they go from one adventure to the next.  Mama Squirrel has written a very lovely and thorough post about falling into books and enjoying the adventure in Notes from a Book Talk

Artist Study

Harmony Art Mom gives a wonderful overview of how easy it can be to add picture study to your curriculum in More Than a Heart Can Hold: Paintings for a Lifetime.

Dwelling in the Land shows the ease of artist study, even with little ones, in Picture Study: Noah’s Ark.

Handicrafts

My post called Handicrafts for the Craftless helps put handicrafts into perspective for those of us who aren’t naturally blessed with handicraft talent.

Music Study

Do you like hymns?  In Music and Toddlers, New Little Blessings tells how she incorporates learning hymns with young children in a very gentle way.

Learning Fun

Dwelling in the Land had me chuckling all the way through her entry called Shoot! as she recounted their day spent learning about William Tell.

Ally Jo’s Erudition shares a high school history lesson and several links in Veterans Day – World War 1 Study.

Timelines anyone?  Such a Time shows us how her first grader is keeping track of history in Century Book Pictures and Planning.

Play

Free play is such an important aspect of Charlotte Mason’s philosophy.  In Masterly Inactivity and some Autism Therapies, Aut-2B-Home in Carolina gives some very concrete example of how free  play has worked wonders in her autistic child.  Don’t be fooled, though, there is much to glean for parents of all children in this article.

Visit this link to see past editions of the Charlotte Mason Carnival.  If you’re interested in submitting an article for the 6th Edition of the Charlotte Mason Carnival, visit this link.

If you are thankful for this edition of the Charlotte Mason Carnival, won’t you leave a comment?

The cute clipart came from ChristiansUnite.