X-Factor in Your Homeschool

You are the most important X-Factor in Your Homeschool! You are the Key Ingredient to Homeschool Success. Dear Homeschool Parent stop selling yourself short.  You are valuable and you are the reason your homeschool exists and YOU are the central ingredient!

Define X factor

• a noteworthy special talent or quality
• a variable in a given situation that could have the most significant impact on the outcome.
• an unknown or unexplained element that makes something more interesting or valuable (Collins)
  
• a quality that you cannot describe that makes someone very special (Cambridge)
  
• a circumstance, quality, or person that has a strong but unpredictable influence (Merriam-Webster)
  
• When people describe someone they like, they often mention their qualities. One of these qualities is something elusive they can't explain. (Thrive Global)
  

Looking back over the years that I have been homeschooling I've come to realise that playing the comparison game is one of the biggest detailers of my journey. Remain committed to being true to yourself. - Stop comparing what you are doing to what other homeschooling families are doing.  As the mom you are UNIQUELY qualified to homeschool YOUR family Well.

Remember social media and blogs are not a true reflection of what others are doing nor are they a a list of "I need to do this in order to succeed..." It is better to do a little with excellence than a multitude of things incompletely.

Knowledge is Power. That power is either in your hand or in someone elses. If you don't know what you think or what your goals are then there will be someone out there who is only too happy to lead you a merry dance and convince you to spend your money with them.

Knowing why you are doing something 

is the first step in being empowered 

to follow through with your choices.

For Further Reading and Tips on how to cope each day

1. Become Equipped: Know What You Think and Why.
2. Finding Your Rhythm and keeping to it.
3. Buy some Ice Cream - Dealing with difficult days.
4. Tip FOUR - One Step at a Time 
5. Dear Mom Who is Feeling Overwhelmed
6. IF you are a new home educator and have just brought your students home then I encourage you to read: From School to Homeschool 
7. House Cleaning and Home School ? Just how do you balance the two?? 
8. Homeschool Daily Schedules Sally Clarkson says: "There are many varieties of personalities and possibilities of home organization, Each of us simply has to find the combination of routines that suits our lifestyle and desires." - The Mission of Motherhood.
9. Our Rhythm - Year Round Schooling
10. How Important is Alone Time and Home Schooling ? 
11. A little Word on Homeschool Record Keeping 
12. Homeschool Burnout
13. Take a Break when YOU need it ... Do not underestimate the power of rest. Rest at night, rest from school and mini rests throughout your day.
14. The Busy Homeschool Mom's Guide to Daylight. 

Be TRUE to yourself and who He has made you. When He formed you He placed within you all you would need through Him to succeed at the task He has placed before you.

Blessings

Chareen

---oOo---

Find the other ABC posts in this series here:

1. A is for Art Lessons at Home
2. B is for Books Where do You Purchase Yours? 
3. Charlotte Mason a Round Up of Posts 
4. Delight Directed Education
5. Encouragement for Weary Homeschooling Mothers
6. For the Children's Sake
7. G is for Geography
8. Homeschool Bloggers
9. Instagramers to follow who are homeschooling
10. Joy in Your Homeschool Journey
11. Know Yourself - Stop the Comparison Game
12. Life Skills in Your Homeschool
13. Math Resource for Home Education
14. Netflix in Your Homeschool
15. Olympics 2021
16. P is for Podcasts
17. Quintessentially Homeschool
18. Read-A-Loud in Your Homeschool
19. Science in Your Homeschool
20. Teaching From Rest by Sarah Mackenzie 
21. Ubiquitous Homeschooler 
22. Value Added Learning
23. Writing Cursive
24. X-Factor in Your Homeschool

Featured from last week the letter W...

• W is for World over at Our Homeschool Notebook 
• 
  

This Week over at Our Homeschool Notebook the topic is X is for Xylophone

 

Please link up your posts starting with the letter X for this weeks ABC Blogging

Teaching From Rest by Sarah Mackenzie

 Welcome to week 21 of Blogging Through the Alphabet 2021. I can't believe there are only six weeks left in this round.  Today my co-host Desiree is sharing T is for Tensegrity over at Our Homeschool Notebook.

As a veteran homeschooling mom I was feeling very burnt out a couple of years ago. A homeschool friend blessed me with a copy of the first edition of Teaching from Rest A Homeschooler's Guide to Unshakable Peace by Sarah Mackenzie. I came away feeling refreshed and renewed.  I added it to my Audible play list in which Sarah reads the book to her audience. Each time I spend listening to a portion I feel a sense of ease in my homeschooling journey.  Sarah has encouraged me in a deep abiding way. Her conversational tone is a balm to all home educating Mom's the world over. I have learnt so much from Sarah about living and teaching from a state of rest and what it truly means to do so. This book is empowering.

Teaching From Rest

A Homeschooler's Guide to Unshakable Peace

Second Edition

• Author: Sarah Mackenzie
• Pages: 112
• Language: English
• ISBN 1600512879
• Available in paperback and Kindle

Contents:

Introduction: I Shouldn't Have Written This Book 

Before You Read This Book 

Part One: Whose "Well Done" Are You Working For?

• The Cake Under The Couch 
• Why Your Daily Grind Is Holy Ground
• Bring Your Basket

Part Two: Curriculum Is Not Something You Buy

• How to Simplify the Curriculum
• How to Simplify the Schedule
• The Right Thing at the Right Time 

Part Three: Be Who You Are!

• The Truth about You
• The Truth about Them
• Walking on Water

Afterword

Resources

Teaching from Rest Companion Journal and Audio Collection

Recommended Resources

Bibliography

About the Author

What book has greatly impacted you on your homeschooling journey?

Chareen

Find the other ABC posts in this series here:

1. A is for Art Lessons at Home
2. B is for Books Where do You Purchase Yours? 
3. Charlotte Mason a Round Up of Posts 
4. Delight Directed Education
5. Encouragement for Weary Homeschooling Mothers
6. For the Children's Sake  
7. G is for Geography
8. Homeschool Bloggers  
9. Instagramers to follow who are homeschooling
10. Joy in Your Homeschool Journey
11. Know Yourself - Stop the Comparison Game  
12. Life Skills in Your Homeschool
13. Math Resource for Home Education
14. Netflix in Your Homeschool
15. Olympics 2021
16. P is for Podcasts  
17. Quintessentially Homeschool
    
18. Read-A-Loud in Your Homeschool
19. Science in Your Homeschool
20. Teaching From Rest by Sarah Mackenzie 

Featured from last week the letter P...

• S is for Sea and S is for States (board games) over at Our Homeschool Notebook 
  
• Quilter ~ (composers ABC) from At Home: Where Life Happens
• Letter S Homeschool Tips from Homeschooling Highway 
• Discovering the "S" rabbits of the world of the World over At Home Pets.
• Shelving Baby Rabbits and S is for Skating over at A Net in Time.

This Week over at Our Homeschool Notebook the topic is T is for Tensegrity 

 

Please link up your posts starting with the letter T for this weeks ABC Blogging

Know Yourself - Stop the Comparison Game

Welcome to week 11 of  Blogging through the Alphabet 2021! This challenge has stretched me a little more than I anticipated it would.  Some weeks it's been difficult to find a topic to talk about.  This week the letter is K.  

My co-host Desiree is sharing K is for Kitchen in her Lego ABC. I'm looking forward to seeing what the family will build.  I had no idea that lego made some of the sets that Desiree has showcased over the last three months.  

Today I would like to encourage you to Know Yourself and STOP the Comparison Game.

 

  This is far harder than it sounds.  For some reason their is a secret fear that seems to lurk within the homeschool journey. That secret fear is that we will do something wrong and then do a disservice to our children.  This in turn drives us to constantly be watching other homeschooling families and comparing notes with what they are doing.  This in turn results in taking on more and more thing that are unnecessary.

Knowledge is Power. That power is either in your hand or in someone elses. If you don't know what you think or what your goals are then there will be someone out there who is only too happy to lead you a merry dance and convince you to spend your money with them.

Knowing why you are doing something 

is the first step in being empowered 

to follow through with your choices.

Even if you are a seasoned homeschooler and you don't have your thoughts and focus set, then every single time you see something new or meet a new homeschooler and hear what they are doing you will feel as though you are somehow failing your children or they are missing out which in turn will drive you to choose to add more to an already busy homeschool.  The danger of this is that soon you will be doing a great many things with mediocrity and become overwhelmed and exhausted.

STEP one form the cornerstone of your homeschool by Knowing What You Think & Why.

Unfortunately Covid and Quarantine Schooling has really put a spanner in the works and add a pressure we've never had to experience before. 

Remain committed to being true to yourself. - Stop comparing what you are doing to what other homeschooling families are doing.  

Remember social media and blogs are not a true reflection of what others are doing nor are they a a list of "I need to do this in order to succeed..." It is better to do a little with excellence than a multitude of things incompletely.

For Further Reading and Tips on how to cope each day 

1. Become Equipped: Know What You Think and Why.
2. Finding Your Rhythm  and keeping to it.
3. Buy some Ice Cream - Dealing with difficult days.
4.  Tip FOUR - One Step at a Time 
5. Dear Mom Who is Feeling Overwhelmed
6. IF you are a new home educator and have just brought your students home then I encourage you to read: From School to Homeschool
7. House Cleaning and Home School ? Just how do you balance the two??  
8. Homeschool Daily Schedules Sally Clarkson says: "There are many varieties of personalities and possibilities of home organization, Each of us simply has to find the combination of routines that suits our lifestyle and desires." -  The Mission of Motherhood.
9. Our Rhythm - Year Round Schooling 
10. How Important is Alone Time and Home Schooling ?  
11. A little Word on Homeschool Record Keeping  
12. Homeschool Burnout
    
13. Take a Break when YOU need it ... Do not underestimate the power of rest.  Rest at night, rest from school and mini rests throughout your day.
14.  The Busy Homeschool Mom's Guide to Daylight.
    

Be TRUE to yourself and who He has made you. When He formed you He placed within you all you would need through Him to succeed at the task He has placed before you.

Blessings 

Chareen

Find the other ABC posts in this series here:

1. A is for Art Lessons at Home
2. B is for Books Where do You Purchase Yours? 
3. Charlotte Mason a Round Up of Posts 
4. Delight Directed Education
5. Encouragement for Weary Homeschooling Mothers
6. For the Children's Sake  
7. G is for Geography
8. Homeschool Bloggers  
9. Instagramers to follow who are homeschooling
10. Joy in Your Homeschool Journey
11. Know Yourself - Stop the Comparison Game 
    

Featured from Week 10 all things 'J'

• J is for Jurassic and J is for Jenga over at Our Homeschool Notebook
• J is for Johnston  over at A Mom's Quest to Teach.
• Discovering J Rabbits of the World over at At Home Pets
• Joy in Listening to Books over at A Net in Time
  
• Homeschooling Tips from A to Z: the Letter J over at Homeschooling Highway 
• Joplin and Janáček ~ Composer ABCs  and J is for … Joy by Lori at At Home: Where Life Happens.
  

 This Week over at Our Homeschool Notebook the topic is K is for Kitchen . 

 

Please link up your posts starting with the letter K for this weeks ABC Blogging

Take a Break when you need it ...

 I recently joined LinkedIn (if you are on there do pop on over and connect with me) and saw this post this afternoon which has had me contemplating my daily rhythym.

As homeschooling Mothers how often do we hear the catch phrase "I'm so tired...  I'm exhausted..." or we have children who are really tired and strung out. 

One of the questions I'm often asked by homeschool Mom's is "My children keep on zoning out and I can't keep them on track.  What must I do?"

 Dr Mark Hyman shared this insight "Take natural breaks when you are tired. Our bodies function best on ultradian rhythm cycles of 90 minutes of activity punctuated by a few minutes of resting or zoning out!"

Our brains need time to process the information we are working on and zoning out is the way in which we accomplish this.  

Concentration spans vary with the age of the child.  A general rule of thum is twice the child's age.  So for a six year old that equates to twelve minutes.  Maxing out at around 30 to 40 minutes.

There was great wisdom when Charlotte Mason encouraged short lessons for the students.  This safe advice is just as valuable today as when she gave it over a centuary ago. 

Joy in Your Homeschool Journey

I can't believe it's week 11 of Blogging through the Alphabet 2021! Thank you to everyone who has been joining int the fun each week.  This week we are looking at the letter J and how to find Joy in your Homeschool Journey. My co-host Desiree will be blogging about J is for Jurassic in her alphabet lego series.

I had been homeschooling for around two years and was feeling like I was living in survival mode and begining to loose my joy in homeschooling.  I had taken on far too many expectations from others upon myself and had lost sight of the road.   

The year 2000 saw me introduced me to the wonderful Waring Family who were touring New Zealand sharing Beyond Survival with us.  Oh I am so glad I attended this home school seminar.  Diana is an enthusiastic encourager and her family were an inspiration and encouragement to keep schooling through the high school years. Diana's passion and Bills gentle encouragement recharged my batteries.

It was Diana who inspired me to get Beyond Survival in my homeschooling and enjoy the abundance the lifestyle has to offer.  At this conference I learned about learning and teaching styles and the impact this has on our school at home how it causes a lot of frustration both for the teacher and student and it did not have to.  

Arm yourself with this treasure from Diana and discover some excellent tools for your homeschool today. This book is available from: The Book Depository and Amazon.

I discovered that Diana has uploaded an encourageing clip on YouTube called Getting Beyond Survival in Homeschooling, here it is for you to enjoy

About the Author

Diana Waring is the author of Beyond Survival, Reaping the Harvest and Diana Waring’s History Revealed world history curriculum. You can find out more about this at Diana Waring Education that's Relational.

She discovered years ago that “the key to education is relationship.” Beginning in the early ’80s, Diana homeschooled her children through high-school—the real life opportunities to learn how kids learn. Mentored by educators whose focus was honoring Him who created all learners, and with an international background (born in Germany, university degree in French, lifelong student of world history),

Diana cares about how people learn as well as what they learn. Audiences on four continents have enthusiastically received her energetic speaking style.

For those of you who would like to know more about Diana you can read a full author interview over at  Ben and Me. 

Connect with Diana on Social Media

• Facebook - Diana Waring - History Revealed
  
• Pinterest - @dwaringpresents
  
• YouTube - Diana Waring
  
• Instagram - @diana_waring_presents
• Diana Waring Blog 
  

What are your recommendations for finding JOY in your Homeschool?

Blessings 

Chareen

Find the other ABC posts in this series here:

1. A is for Art Lessons at Home
2. B is for Books Where do You Purchase Yours? 
3. Charlotte Mason a Round Up of Posts 
4. Delight Directed Education
5. Encouragement for Weary Homeschooling Mothers
6. For the Children's Sake  
7. G is for Geography
8. Homeschool Bloggers  
9. Instagramers to follow who are homeschooling
10.  
    

Featured from Week 9 all things 'I'

• I is for Iron Man and I is for It over at Our Homeschool Notebook
• I is for Inflation and Financing the Civil War   over at A Mom's Quest to Teach.
• Discovering I Rabbits of the World over at At Home Pets
• Insects at the beach and Igloos and Inukshuks Work over at A Net in Time
  
• Homeschooling Tips from A to Z: the Letter I over at Homeschooling Highway 
• Ives~ Composer ABCs  and Ice Cove and Bandera by Lori at At Home: Where Life Happens.
  

 This Week over at Our Homeschool Notebook the topic is J is for Jurassic . 

 

Please link up your posts starting with the letter J for this weeks ABC Blogging.

 

Encouragement for Weary Homeschooling Mothers

Welcome to week five of blogging through the alphabet. Today my co-host Desiree is sharing E is for Easy and I am writing a letter to weary homeschooling mothers.

Dear Homeschooling Mother who is feeling weary...

You are not alone.  We have all been there.  Sadly not very many of us feel we can voice our weariness.  Weariness is one of the early warning systems on our journey that we need to change something. However if we do not we are plowing headlong into homeschooling burnout.  

**Please be aware this post is not intended as medical advice.  If you’re experiencing serious or prolonged issues with depression, please see your doctor for support and advice.

 Weariness a word study

To better understand and address weariness I found it helpful to look up the definition...

• physically or mentally exhausted by hard work, exertion or strain. (Dictationary.com)
• Characterized by or causing dissatisfaction.
  
• a reluctance to see or experience any more of something.
• having one's patience, tolerance or pleasure exhausted (Merriam-Webster)
  
• the state of being bored with something because you have experienced too much of it. - Cambridge Dictationary
• Being physically or mentally tired. (The Free Dictionary)

As a parent we vigilantly look over our children.  We watch them for signs of hunger, fatigue or illness.  However as mothers we neglect to watch ourselves for these very same things.  The consequence of this is, that we become over taxed and then want to quit or we enter into the realms of depression and exhaustion.  We need to become more self aware and self evaluative as we carry many many roles and responsibilities within our homes. Every single thing you do is saving your family money, and contributing to their wellness.

Homeschooling is both physically and mentally taxing and is not often talked about within the homeschooling community.  This is why it's important to surround yourself with healthy friendships and great community.

 5 things to do to overcome Weariness

1. Find your own rythym. Stop playing the comparison game, it will sap the life out of your homeschool. Find what works for your family and stick to that.  Do NOT change the method that is working, as the old adage goes there is no need to fix it if it is not broken. This is true in the highschool years too.
   
2. Remain committed to being true to yourself. - Stop comparing what you are doing to what other homeschooling families are doing.  Remember social media and blogs are not a true reflection of what others are doing nor are they a a list of "I need to do this in order to succeed..." It is better to do a little with excellence than a multitude of things incompletely.
   
3. Time alone is important.  By this I do not mean a retreat or isolation.  I'm talking about creating space for each and every member of your household. There are many benefits for ever single person in your home if you incorporate this aspect into your homeschooling.  Take a read of How Important is Alone Time and Homeschooling for more information.
4. Do something to fill yourself, because you can't give what you don't have. Think of something to do that replenishes you body, soul and mind. Stop creating reasons as to why you can't and make it a point to do it.  Your family and your homeschooling need it.
5. Choose your support/mentor network carefully.  You need support and the people you are surrounding yourself with are a far greater infulence than you release.  Choose those who leave you feeling encouraged and supported.
   

 Charlotte Mason advised the teacher to replenish her soul with a continual supply of ideas. ...stimulates your educational thought in many directions and keeps you from drifting into mere routine... Do not think this is a selfish thing to do, because the advantage does not end with yourself."

For more encouragement read

• Overcoming Homeschool Burnout What is burnout and how do we combat it? Some practical tips from a Veteran Homeschool Mom
• Dear Homeschool Mom … a collection of encouragement letters to homeschool Mom’s from the Homeschool Review Crew
• Staying On Top of It All – keeping up with all that needs to be done.
• Dear Mom Who is Feeling Overwhelmed – Be True to yourself. Let go of the things that entangle and weigh down your homeschool and go back to the basics. Homeschool unique to you and your family.
• Mother Culture – Time Out {Homeschooling Essentials} – Time to answer the question of What is Mother Culture and why you need to practice it daily in your Homeschool.
• Homeschool Burnout what is it?  How do you deal with it? Practical steps to help you heal and set up ways to combat it.
• One Step at a Time – lets talk about the journey of homeschooling and how to take it one step at a time and prevent becoming overwhelmed and burnt out. 
• Home school Co-ops and what the benefits are for you the home educator
• 5 Days of Homeschooling Encouragement.
  

What are some tips that you have found useful when feeling overwhelmed or weary?

Blessings

Chareen

Find the other ABC posts in this series here:

1. A is for Art Lessons at Home
2. B is for Books Where do You Purchase Yours? 
3. Charlotte Mason a Round Up of Posts 
4. Delight Directed Education
5. Encouragement for Weary Homeschooling Mothers
   

Featured from Week 4 all things 'D'

• D is for Display and Donuts over at Our Homeschool Notebook
• D is for Devil's Den over at A Mom's Quest to Teach.
  
• Homeschooling Tips from A to Z: the Letter D over at Homeschooling Highway 
• Debussy and de Meij ~ Composer ABCsby Lori at At Home: Where Life Happens.
• Discovering the D Rabbits of the World by Annette over at At Home Pets.
  

This week  over at Our Homeschool Notebook the topic is E is for Easy .  

Please link up your posts starting with the letter E for this weeks ABC Blogging. This is a Blog Hop!

Pregnancy is not an April Fools Joke

1 in 8 of your friends Struggle to get pregnant

Some of your friends have lost a baby

1 in 4 Pregnancies is lost in misscarriage 

 

I saw a post on Facebook today that touched me and I wanted to share the words of truth I saw there.  I've made my own graphic because...

I am 1 in 8

I spent more than a decade waiting for two pink lines...

Every four weeks...the reminder of another month of emptyness

A little one who asks... Mommy can we have a baby?

Sadness... Watching a child grow up alone

The guilt... at least you have one

The pain... a heartache that never leaves

Menopause ... the death of hope

I am 1 in 4

One day those lines did appear...

And a few weeks later I joined the statistic...

Words not to say to a grieving mother...  

Don't worry you will have another... I did not.

I watched other mothers go on to have multiple children

Empty arms on a due date ... Mother's Day

Mothers Day ... a birthday missed

The heartache ... that returns uninvited

The grief ... of empty arms

Homeschool Covid Isolation

I'm starting to grieve the lost year with my teen son.  At the start of the year I was enjoying watching his independence grow, new friendships being made and high school opportunities begining to open up.  All snatched away in what began as a four week flatten the curve exercise which has now morphed into something that words fail to describe. Here I sit six months later under what is effectively house arrest in Melbourne along with a fifth of Australia's population when...

A fellow homeschool Mom in a local homeschool group penned the following words which resonated with my heart and I would like to share with you today. (Shared with her permission.)

My heart is as heavy as yours.

 

As we joyfully see all other children returning to day care and school - enjoying their friendships and social time, and lessons as normal - but we privately mourn for our own children.

 

Because for the first time in history, group home education programs are considered socialisation. While all other children enjoy seeing their friends and learning together, our children remain in total isolation, not able to resume any of our cherished group learning programs. 

 

Homeschooled children need connection with friends too. They need normalcy too. They need their education to return to normal too. Homeschooling mothers need a break too. 

 

People may say things like “We’re in this together”. But it doesn’t feel like that right now. We feel excluded from the togetherness.

 

My gut tells me that I won’t see my children participating in their homeschool education programs until 2021. We haven’t had anything running since March, and while the past eight weeks of canceled day care and remote learning have been so hard for families... it’s been six months for us. Please think of us.

 

“All the world is my school” (George Whitman), if only it could be right now

 We are in plain sight yet forgotten.  What most families do not grasp is that this is not normal for us either.  We enjoy all the aspects of homechooling and covid schooling restrictions impact us too.  

 

How are you all coping with 'covid normal' and home educating?  

Chareen

 

Quarantine-schooling is NOT Homeschooling and other thoughts.

I recently came accross and shared the following thought on Facebook:  "Non of us are truly homeschooling; we are quarantine-schooling.  Homeschooling involves visits to libraries, parks, the ice-skating rink, play dates, museums, co-op, gymnastics, etc ...  This is completely different."  Some families are emergency schooling at home or have found themselves with children at home due to early school closures.  I wanted to say take a deep breath and please do remember that homeschool/education is NOT school at home.  You do not need to school for eight hours a day.  I will be sharing more on Monday.

I got thinking about this new normal that we are all struggling with and decided to blow the dust off my blog and start sharing some resources as I find them whilst ambling through too much social media!

One of the biggest blessings in my life is the homeschool friends I have met through being a member of the Homeschool Review Crew.  My friend Michele from over at Family, Faith & Fridays has set forth a fabulous challenge:  A Letter a Day.  I think I will be taking this one up starting on Monday. I really love the idea of posting a letter, yes a snail mail letter to someone.  Social distancing does not mean disconnection.

Here are some great ideas and articals

• The Great Indoors Challenge - Fabulous ideas for your children to do indoors.  There are over 100 activities to access and they can be found here.
• Use toys at home and the sun to create shadow drawings 
• Education Unboxed has some fabulous resources listed to help with Math etc. 
• Ronit Bird is a website dedicated to help parents who have children with special needs (dyscalculia, dyslexia and other specific difficulties)
• Stream Shakespeare via Globe Player. 
• Audible have launched a FREE Stories for kids division.
• Homeschooling is not the same as crisis schooling - Advice during the coronavirus covid 19 Shut downs.

Oh my I have just found a lovely old book on Google Books.  It's a free eBook called: Grand-Papa's Arithmetic: A Story of Two Little Apple Merchants. 

Are you wanting to purchase books to be home delivered?  Take a look at these companies:

• Book Depository 
• Amazon
• Barnes & Noble
• Audible 
• Books A Million

If you are looking for some quick links to specific areas be sure to check out my page of Homeschool Help links.

In anticipation of more regular blogging and wondering how you are all holding up with the lack of social contact.

Blessings
Chareen

Linking with Homeschool Highlights.

Books on the Charlotte Mason Method {Day 5 Friday Favorites}

Welcome to day 5 of the Homeschool Review Crew Homeschool Encouragement blog hop.  Today the Crew will be sharing their Favourite Homeschool items. I am a paper girl at heart and as such love to be surrounded by beautiful books.  On Monday I shared how I am pursuing a deeper understanding of the Charlotte Mason method of education by reading The Original Home Schooling Series.  Today I would like to share a list of books written by other's who are implementing Charlotte Mason in their homes today.

A Charoltte Mason Companion by Karen Andreola

Karen Andreola introduced me to the practical side of a Charlotte Mason education and A Charlotte Mason Companion soon become my favourite home schooling resource and is one that I recommend to any homeschool Mom who asks me which books I would recommend they read.

This beautifully illustrated book is full of encouragement and how to chapters. Karen covers practical topics like: The Art of Narration, Mother Culture, Shakespeare and Dickens. Topics of Art and Music appreciation along with Grammar, History, Nature Study and a few more kernels of wisdom.  A beautiful book full of gorgeous line illustrations.

Purchase this book from Book Depository, Amazon. For online encouragement meet Karen over at Moments with Mother Culture.

Consider This: Charlotte Mason and the Classical Tradition by Karen Glass.

I highly recommend you read this gem from Karen Glass. This thought provoking book helps you to understand the back ground to Charlotte Mason's methods.  Once you understand the underlying motivational principles you will be better equipped to make appropriate choices for your home school using Charlotte Mason's philosophy.

Consider This is availaible for purchase from Book Depository.

The Living Page : Keeping Notebooks with Charlotte Mason by Laurie Bestvater

Laurie has done an incredible job of researching every type of notebook mentioned in Charlotte's writings.  Within The Living Page you will discover not only the different types of notebooks used but why they were used, how they were used and when they were used within Charlotte's school and the PNEU.  This book changed my perspective on Notebooking and Timelines.

You can purchase it from Book Depository.

 

Know and Tell The Art of Narration by Karen Glass

One of the fundamental aspects of a Charlotte Mason education is the Art of Narration. Karen shares the theory behind the use of narration and then provides us with a step by step guide on how to implement this wonderful tool within your home school. She not only tells us how to implement narration but provides examples  and resources to help you use narration successfully within your home.

Purchase Know and Tell from Book Depository.

A Charlotte Mason Education: A Home Schooling How-to Manual by Catherine Levison

Catherine has shared her collection of the key points of Charlotte Mason's methods.  She shares practical and easy to understand insights to empower families to begin using Charlotte's methods within their home schools.

Purchase this book from the Book Depository as well as the sequal More Charlotte Mason Education : A Homeschooling How-to Manual.

Books written by Charlotte Mason

• Charlotte Mason's Elementary Geography 
• Towards a Philosophy of Education: Volume VI 
• Charlotte Mason's Original Homeschooling Series 
• Completed Six Volume boxed series: The Original Homeschooling Series.
• The Original Home Schooling Series by Charlotte Mason Hardback

• The Original Home Schooling Series 6-in-1 Omnibus Edition
• Book 1 - Home Education
• Book 2 - Parents and Children
• Book 3 - School Education
• Book 4 - Ourselves
• Book 5 - Formation of Character
• Book 6 - Towards a Philosophy of Education

The Original Home Schooling Series can also be purchased from

• Living Book Press
  • The Complete Home Education Series (6 Books) – Charlotte Mason
  • The Complete Home Education Series (6 Books) – Charlotte Mason (PDF).
• Amazon
• The Original Home Schooling Series: Study Edition by Simply Charlotte Mason

To find out more about the different published versions please watch this Video Review Comparing the NEW printed versions of Charlotte Mason Homeschooling Series by Brandy from AfterThoughts Blog.

If you are looking for others who are following Charlotte's Methods and sharing about their journeys be sure to take a look at this blog post: 10 Charlotte Mason blogs to follow

---oOo---

This post is part of the Homeschool Review Crew 5 Days of Homeschool Encouragement Blog Hop.

Grab a cuppa and be prepared to be motivated for the year ahead.  Here are a few of the participants of this years blog hop.  Be sure to take a look at some of the posts shared by our wonderful home educating mom's.

• Nicole @ Bless Their Hearts Mom
• Patti @ Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy
• Rebekah @ There Will Be a $5 Charge For Whining
• Rodna @ Training Children up for Christ
• Stacy @ A Homemakers Heart
• Tess @ Circling Through This Life
• Wendy @ Life at Rossmont
• Yvie @ Gypsy Road

Mandy Harvey - "Smile"

There are so many things happening in the silence of my life right now and I would covet your prayers for myself and my family.  I heard this song earlier this week and needed some place to keep it handy as these words have ministered to my heart and I have a feeling I'm going to need to hear it often.

"It's in the future. I need to smile through this. I need to make it okay. There are so many challenges in life that you feel like you can't get over. This is your moment. You can't just let it go because it's difficult. Find the finish line. Smile it's going to be okay" - Mandy Harvey

Smile by Mandy Harvey (Lyrics)

Smile though your heart is aching
Smile even though it's breaking
When there are clouds in the sky you'll get by

If you smile through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll see the sun come shining through for you
Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying
You'll see that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile

Smile though your heart is aching
Smile even though it's breaking
When there are clouds in the sky, you'll get by
If you smile through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll see the sun come shining through for you
Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile what's the use of crying
You'll see that life's worthwhile
If you just smile
Just smile
Just smile

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