Friday 21 April 2017

Charlotte Mason and Geography

Welcome to day five of the Homeschool Review Crew annual blog hop. Today I would like to encourage you to teach the subject of geography holistically and not as an isolated subject within your homeschool. One of the things I appreciate about Charlotte Mason approach is making geography an integrated and living aspect of your education process.
"The panoramic method unrolls the landscape of the world, region by region, before the eyes of the scholar with in every region its own conditions of climate, its productions, its people, their industries and their history. This way of teaching the most delightful of all subjects has the effect of giving to a map of a country or region the brilliancy of colour and the wealth of detail which a panorama might afford, together with a sense of proportion and a knowledge of general principles.” Charlotte Mason Vol 6 p 228

Geography is often thought of synonymously with mapping but this is only a small part of geography.  Geography is all about places to begin with but ultimately it's about the people and those places. C. C. LONG, Ph.D. had this to say:
Geography may be divided into the geography of the home and the geography of the world at large. A knowledge of the home must be obtained by direct observation; of the rest of the world, through the imagination assisted by information. Ideas acquired by direct observation form a basis for imagining those things which are distant and unknown.
Geography begins with finding the content you are learning about and then it drills down to countries and finally cities.  It has taken me a few years to discover what a living geography text is but the journey has been worthwhile.  The first living geography books I ever read were by Holling Clancy Holling.
The process was so easy.  Read the book, find the place on the map at the end of each reading. Learning to know the names of places takes practice and for each family this needs to take on it's own form.  Some families print maps and fill them in daily, others use tracing paper and trace the maps and fill them in until through route it is learned and others use geography songs.


I am directionally challenged and am eternally grateful that gps navigation is now at my finger tips.  As immigrants we posses an un-quenching desire to see the world around us and as such love to explore new places.  I find there is no better way to learn geography then to go for trips both short and long.  Stop and read memorials where ever you go and you will soon build a repertoire of places and people.  Many signs will explain things of significance and these days the information on geology and ecology abound in public places.

I have found some amazing resources and explanations on teaching Geography from a Charlotte Mason perspective, that I would rather not reinvent the wheel but would encourage you to grab a warm cuppa and read a few of the posts I have found below.

The Parents Review - Geography

A Monthly Magazine of Home-Training and Culture
Edited by Charlotte Mason


On the WWW
Thank you for joining me in a look at geography in homeschool.  What are your favourite resources?

Blessings
Chareen

There are some pretty fabulous posts the crew have been sharing and I would encourage you to grab a cuppa and spend some time cruising the blog hop list at the bottom of this post. 
5 Days of Homeschool Annual Blog Hop - 2017


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Wednesday 19 April 2017

Charlotte Mason Book of Centuries Time Time Lines Resources

Welcome to day three of this weeks blog hop.  In my first two posts I shared some of my all time favourite resources on begining with Charlotte Mason in your Homeschool.  There were: Understanding a Charlotte Mason Education and Charlotte Mason Method Book Recommendations. One of the central themes spoken about outside of living books in this educational method is more often than not Notebooking, Book of Centuries and Time Lines.


There are a number of things to consider when thinking about books of time, notebooking in a Charlotte Mason education. Firstly you need to decide how much of a purist you are.  The only true way of knowing for yourself how to notebook or use a book of centuries or century chart is to read the words of Charlotte Mason and then decide for yourself how you feel it needs to be and how you can be implement it in your homeschool.

Charlotte Mason addresses history in Volume 6 Chapter 10 The Curriculum, Section II The Knowledge of Man - History page 170.

The heart of the matter is showing our students the flow of time in history in 100 year increments to a page.

Century Chart

Century Chart*

In order to give definiteness to what may soon become a pretty wide knowledge of history - mount a sheet of cartridge-paper and divide it into twenty columns, letting the first century of the Christian era come in the middle, and let each remaining column represent a century BC or AD, as the case may be. Then let the child himself write, or print, as he is able, the names of the people he comes upon in due order, in their proper century.We need not trouble ourselves at present with more exact dates, but this simple table of the centuries will suggest a graphic panorama to the child's mind, and he will see events in their time-order.  Charlotte Mason, Home Education (1886) p292
I first heard about a Century Chart from Jeanne at A Peaceful Day at a local homeschool Charlotte Mason support group. It was from her blog post on the subject and Charlotte Mason day that I first became interested in making a Century Chart.

The purpose behind a century chart is to represent how long 100 years is on one page.  We use 100 years for a few reasons such as this is generally the limit of a man's life span and we generally refer to time in centuries of history.

The idea is basically a square containing 100 squares.  Square one is the year zero (or 1900 or 1800 etc) which ever century you have chosen to study and add to a century chart.  The last square is the year 99 (1999 or 1899). You can view a sample of this at Ambleside Online here. Explain that each square represents one year of time.

For very young students to grow in understanding of the progress of time it would be good to do the current century and add in the year they were born and members of the family and special family events such as other births, deaths, marriages etc.  This will help the child understand that this is the progress of time.

Once the child has grasped this concept it is time to create a century chart which covers the time period you are studying in history.  The use of symbols is recommended to help fill in the chart.  You can view a sample of this at Ambleside Online here. You can view a beautiful sample of a century chart for the year 1500 to 1599 on Ambleside Online here.

A local homeschool friend has used a 12" scrap booking journal and made a whole time line of century charts. Each square is one inch by one inch.  As they learn history they fill in the square for that year with the most important event.

This is not the most important event to you it is the most important / noteworthy event for the student.

*To understand the dynamics, reasons and a detailed step by step how to teach and use century charts please read The Parents Review (a monthly magazine of Home-Training and Culture edited by Charlotte Mason) Published in the year 1891 in Volume 2, page 81-90 - The Teaching of Chronology an article by Dorothea Beale, Principal of the Cheltenham Ladies' College. 

About Century Charts On the WWW

the teacher 'shall by the help of histories inform himself of the worthiest minds that were in the best ages.' To us in particular who are living in one of the great epochs of history it is necessary to know something of what has gone before in order to think justly of what is occurring to-day. - Charlotte Mason Vol6 page 170

Original Book of Centuries**

 A Book of Centuries is a Charlotte Mason version of a time line.  The purpose of a Book of Centuries is so a person can see a visual of a full century at one glance. On a double page spread the one side has a hundred years and the opposite side is blank. A short title or description is added in the appropriate rectangle, but the main idea is to have the owner of the book make up their own symbols to represent things that they find interesting. The opposite page is for sketches and little notes to elaborate on what the owner of the book finds interesting.

In it's original form it was a Museum Note Book.  The first published Book of Centuries (1915) contained 48 blank leaves (96 pages).  The last 10 pages were kept aside for maps.

In the article you will read a step by step guide in how a Book of Centuries was put together and used.

**You can read more about the original version in The Parents Review (a monthly magazine of Home-Training and Culture edited by Charlotte Mason) Published in the year 1923 in Volume 34, page 720 - 724 - The Book of Centuries an article by G.M. Bernau.
***Shared with permission

Recreation Sample of an ORIGINAL book of Centuries by Janis Scott ***

More about Book of Centuries on WWW

Books to read

"[W]e have learned to feel that the chief work of the educator is not to give facts, but to order them so that they can fit into the "forms of thought." Dorothea Beale
If you like podcasts you can find one on the topic of history at A Delectable Education: Episode 15: History Things 

Do you use either a century chart or a Book of Centuries? Did you make your own or purchase one ? Tell me more I'm keen to know.

Blessings
Chareen

{All links to the Book Depository are Affiliate Links in this post. This does not change the cost of books should you choose to click on my links. The cost to you remains the same. I only recommend/link to books I have actually used or personally own.}

5 Days of Homeschool Annual Blog Hop - 2017
This post is a part of the Homeschool Review Crew Blog Hop. Grab a cup of your favourite beveridge and be encouraged by this group of homeschool Mom's sharing their hearts and homes with you
 
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Tuesday 18 April 2017

Books to Understand a Charlotte Mason Philosophy

Welcome to day two of the 5 Days of Charlotte Mason Resources.  Yesterday I shared my Charlotte Mason Method Book Recommendations. These books were the very first books I read about home education and they are the books which influenced my home educating journey.  Until recently these were the only books on the market about educating using a Charlotte Mason Philosophy. The topic today has been in response to the following question from my friend in Singapore.

"What books do you suggest that I can pick up and read to understand more?" - Lady T...


For most of my home education journey I have only had access to A Charlotte Mason Companion. This book inspired me and still does. When ever I need some encouragement or reminding I go straight to this book for it.

A couple of years ago I had the privilege of attending a Charlotte Mason Afternoon here in Melbourne that I came face to face with a deeper understanding of her method and how it works in real life.  That wonderful day was hosted by  Jeanne from A Peaceful Day.  Jeanne is passionate about Charlotte Mason, her passion and joy are an inspiration and a deep source of encouragement.  It was at this meeting that I first heard about the two books I am sharing with you today.


Consider This : Charlotte Mason and the Classical Tradition

  • Format Paperback | 138 pages
  • Dimensions 152 x 226 x 12mm | 220g
  • Publication date 12 Oct 2014
  • Publisher Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
  • Language English
  • Illustrations note black & white illustrations
  • ISBN10 1500808032
  • ISBN13 9781500808037
This book inspired and encouraged me to think deeply about why I choose to do things in my homeschool.  Karen asks some very deep questions that most of us simply gloss over.  Karen helped me see that a Charlotte Mason education is deeply purposeful.  Karen explores the Why behind every aspect of Charlotte's methods.  Having a deeper understanding of the Why definitely enables to better pursue the how. I found the word studies fascinating and insightful.  I came to realise that reading Charlotte's books takes on a whole NEW meaning when you understand what the words meant in her era.  Karen has written a book to empower the Charlotte Mason educator to understand the principles that are behind her teachings. Once you have an understanding of these deeper principles you will be able to structure a full educational experience for your child with full confidence.

I wish to share what I think I know concerning the connection between her understanding of educational philosophy and the traditions of the classical past...
I assume you are reading because, like me, you are interested in Charlotte Mason and classical education. If we had the opportunity to sit down comfortable and chat over a cup of coffee, these chapter are what I would share with you. - Karen Glass
This is exactly what Karen has done in this beautifully written book.  This book will challenge and inspire you regularly.

You can connect with Karen on her blog: Karen Glass: Author of Consider This.

The Living Page: Keeping Notebooks with Charlotte Mason

  • Format Paperback | 210 pages
  • Dimensions 154.94 x 228.6 x 17.78mm | 340.19g
  • Publication date 16 Oct 2013
  • Publisher Underpinnings Press
  • Publication City/Country United States
  • Language English
  • Illustrations note black & white illustrations
  • Author: Laurie Bestvater
  • ISBN10 0615834108
  • ISBN13 9780615834108
I really enjoyed reading The Living Page.  Laurie invites us to take a closer look at what Notebooks are and how they were used by Charlotte Mason and more importantly why.  I was surprised to learn just how much notebooking has changed and the deeply personal nature of a Notebook.  A few of the types of notebooks Laurie looks at are:
  • Nature Notebooks
  • Scrap books
  • Science Notebooks
  • Calendar of Firsts
  • Motto Books
  • Poetry Book
  • Fortitude Journal
  • Commonplace Book
  • Copy Books
  • Other Copybooks
  • Timelines
  • History Charts
  • Book of Centuries
  • Calendar of events 
I love the samples and insights.  This book will change the way you view written work in your Charlotte Mason inspired homeschool.

Mason had shown me that the notebooks can be forms of vitality, literally the shape and outline, the liturgy of the attentive life. They nurture the science of relations and the art of mindfulness. They teach us to see the very brief beauty of now, to know the landscape of here, to be present in all our pleasures and pains.  - Laurie Bestvater

You can connect with Laurie here:

Which books have you read that have helped you have a deeper understanding and appreciation for a Charlotte Mason education?
Blessings
Chareen

{All links to the Book Depository are Affiliate Links in this post. This does not change the cost of books should you choose to click on my links. The cost to you remains the same. I only recommend/link to books I have actually used or personally own.}

5 Days of Homeschool Annual Blog Hop - 2017
This post is a part of the Homeschool Review Crew Blog Hop. Grab a cup of your favourite beveridge and be encouraged by this group of homeschool Mom's sharing their hearts and homes with you

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