The Happiness of Habit
Oh..., how encouraging was this chapter in the Charlotte Mason Companion Guide! I like the habit of routine, I love to make lists of schedules, but it can be hard to stick to these with a big family and the constantly changing dynamics - pregnancy, new baby, a ready to learn new reader, a child moving into a new phase of learning. There have been times I have thrown my hands up in despair and cried out to God for the "merry-go-ground" to stop a while so I can gather all the loose end together again! Of course that isn't how it works, and why habit is important.
Habit is formed over time by repetition and much initial attention. I was amused to read that the author of the above mentioned book had done the same as I; by using my weaker hand to do simple tasks I get an appreciation of how much work it takes to begin to form a new habit. But eventually it becomes second nature and requires little conscious thought. It is a good reminder too, when watching my little ones learn a new skill. I have observed Oak lately trying very hard to brush his own teeth and his efforts are awkward and jerky, but he is making progress and will one day have it down pat - sooner than later I suspect own to his tenacity of spirit!!
Now on the hard days I will remind myself of what Charlotte Mason advised: to continue to acquire my own habit of training my children so that having them with me all day is a pleasure. The mums that do this will have memory banks filled to overflowing of fond memories.
"The phrases that [we] hear or repeat continually, end by becoming convictions."
"Culture is religion externalised."
Two very strong statements which I do not take lightly. Culture can be said to be our everyday lifestyle and our behaviour is directly influenced by what we believe (religion); our standards. What we believe and the standards we live by are a direct result of what we feed our minds with and what we allow ourselves to listen to and repeat. Being open to conviction on our chosen standards means we are constantly being refined and moving toward our goal of being the best God has for us to be.
Sow an act, reap a habit,
sow a habit, reap a character,
sow a character, reap a destiny.
Thomas a Kempis
Charlotte Mason assured us that "when we train our children in virtues while they are young, the enormous strain of moral decision will come upon them only occasionally." Developing habit (training in self-government) plays a large part in developing good character in our children.
A concept Karen Andreola writes about is that of drawing a child forward with an inspiring idea, rather than endless nags or threats. Idea is the motivating power of life, and friend of those who aim to be internally disciplined. This is my challenge hence forth: to be less tyrannical and much more drawing and gentle!
May the Lord help me, as I "water" daily, "weed" often, and encourage my family to face the warm sun of God's ways.
Tuesday 25 October 2011
Friday 21 October 2011
Home Education in Our Family 4
The Atmosphere of Home
When I first got married I had a mental picture of my "perfect" home (which closely resembled the one in a favourite childhood story book, My Dolly and Me). However, this was obviously the remnant of a idealistic childhood thought. In reality I have changed living arrangements about 15 times in the 16 years I have been married! This has taught me a few things, the most important being this: that no matter what size, style, colour, location or arrangement of furniture we have in our four walls the MOST important is the atmosphere of the home. This is the one factor that we can control or take with us. I read a wee story in the Charlotte Mason Companion Guide that I will share here because it illustrates this point so well from the mouth of a child.
During World War II, when America was imprisoning Japanese families in camps, a reporter stepped up to a little Japanese-American girl waiting at a train platform. "How does it feel to be without a home?" the reporter asked. "Oh", replied the little girl, "we have a home, we just don't have a house to put it in."
Touching... perceptive... innocent yet so wise an insight. I am a work in progress in this and often fail to maintain the "perfect" ambiance, however I can say I have learned to be content, thankful for the small mercies, and strive to give a life-supporting atmosphere to my family. Just as a glasshouse protects and gives optimal conditions for plants to thrive and become fruitful, so too can our home atmosphere give simulation for healthy mental, emotional, spiritual and physical growth.
Children draw inspiration from the casual life around them. It is an anxious moment when we ponder on any of our poorer words being a daily influence on our children. We inspire, one way or the other. About our children hangs the thought environment they live in, just as a glasshouse plant is surrounded by humid air. It is how the child develops those lasting ideas which become a part of their inclination toward divine things or distasteful things.
Somethings that make this atmosphere what it needs to be are:
When I first got married I had a mental picture of my "perfect" home (which closely resembled the one in a favourite childhood story book, My Dolly and Me). However, this was obviously the remnant of a idealistic childhood thought. In reality I have changed living arrangements about 15 times in the 16 years I have been married! This has taught me a few things, the most important being this: that no matter what size, style, colour, location or arrangement of furniture we have in our four walls the MOST important is the atmosphere of the home. This is the one factor that we can control or take with us. I read a wee story in the Charlotte Mason Companion Guide that I will share here because it illustrates this point so well from the mouth of a child.
During World War II, when America was imprisoning Japanese families in camps, a reporter stepped up to a little Japanese-American girl waiting at a train platform. "How does it feel to be without a home?" the reporter asked. "Oh", replied the little girl, "we have a home, we just don't have a house to put it in."
Touching... perceptive... innocent yet so wise an insight. I am a work in progress in this and often fail to maintain the "perfect" ambiance, however I can say I have learned to be content, thankful for the small mercies, and strive to give a life-supporting atmosphere to my family. Just as a glasshouse protects and gives optimal conditions for plants to thrive and become fruitful, so too can our home atmosphere give simulation for healthy mental, emotional, spiritual and physical growth.
Children draw inspiration from the casual life around them. It is an anxious moment when we ponder on any of our poorer words being a daily influence on our children. We inspire, one way or the other. About our children hangs the thought environment they live in, just as a glasshouse plant is surrounded by humid air. It is how the child develops those lasting ideas which become a part of their inclination toward divine things or distasteful things.
Somethings that make this atmosphere what it needs to be are:
- A loving mum who makes the house a home.
- God's angels' protecting wings. Now here is a powerful thought. "When home is ruled according to God's word, angels might be asked to stay with us, and they would not find themselves out of their element." ~Charles Spurgeon.
- The freedom to express your own opinion where discussion is open; provided you are respectful in your delivery and humbly accepting of critique. This is the platform for gentle encouragement in the development of mature Godly thinking. Trust and confidence are nurtured when sympathy and support are manifest.
- Hugs and loving touch.
- Good manners and courtesy towards others; just as we would like to be treated ourselves. This creates an atmosphere which then imparts the virtue back to us - a beautiful cyclical passing forward of love.
Thursday 20 October 2011
Home Education in Our Family 3 (part 2)
Today I thought I would add a few examples to accompany the post yesterday.
Jasmine asked me this morning if there is a dictionary to find a word in another language (ie an English to chosen foreign language) I told her to google it (<3 <3 <3 love google!!). She came back to me about 15 minutes later fairly buzzing with excitement!
I wish I could tell you the whole conversation, but it's late and it was a long conversation, however in a nutshell she told me she could figure out quite a lot of the French and Latin words as they are similar to English. We then had a wonderful, impromptu discussion on languages in Europe and how some are very similar to each other and others are quite different, and looked on our large wall map to see how geographical location may have influenced that.
She talked a lot to me of how she sees the importance of understanding and even knowing more than one language - this idea had been brewing away for a few weeks after she read The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom (Corrie and her sisters were fluent in a few languages other than their own) and surfaced now as she had need of finding a word for her own use.
Ahhh, this is what it is all about!
Moss came to me this morning with the "I'm bored" routine. I do find if I look like I'm about to ask him to tidy his side of the room he finds he is not so bored anymore (clever me hehe) and not much time later I found him on his bed reading Robinson Crusoe! Quite some time later I went in to see how he was doing and he gave me a wonderful run down on what he had been reading and all the things he is going to do that Robinson Crusoe did on his island (except for run away from home!). He also asked for a copy of the book written for older readers and announced he is going to re-read My Side of the Mountain!
Hmmmm, happy, happy day :)
Jasmine asked me this morning if there is a dictionary to find a word in another language (ie an English to chosen foreign language) I told her to google it (<3 <3 <3 love google!!). She came back to me about 15 minutes later fairly buzzing with excitement!
I wish I could tell you the whole conversation, but it's late and it was a long conversation, however in a nutshell she told me she could figure out quite a lot of the French and Latin words as they are similar to English. We then had a wonderful, impromptu discussion on languages in Europe and how some are very similar to each other and others are quite different, and looked on our large wall map to see how geographical location may have influenced that.
She talked a lot to me of how she sees the importance of understanding and even knowing more than one language - this idea had been brewing away for a few weeks after she read The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom (Corrie and her sisters were fluent in a few languages other than their own) and surfaced now as she had need of finding a word for her own use.
Ahhh, this is what it is all about!
Moss came to me this morning with the "I'm bored" routine. I do find if I look like I'm about to ask him to tidy his side of the room he finds he is not so bored anymore (clever me hehe) and not much time later I found him on his bed reading Robinson Crusoe! Quite some time later I went in to see how he was doing and he gave me a wonderful run down on what he had been reading and all the things he is going to do that Robinson Crusoe did on his island (except for run away from home!). He also asked for a copy of the book written for older readers and announced he is going to re-read My Side of the Mountain!
Hmmmm, happy, happy day :)
Wednesday 19 October 2011
Home Education in Our Family 3
The Diet of Ideas: Food For The Mind
"Masterly Inactivity" gives a child space to independently explore, ruminate, and reflect in his educational life.
(Quoted from The Charlotte Mason Companion on Self Education)
As I mentioned in a previous post, I so very much enjoy watching the process of thought in my children. I sow an idea (read or provide good books to my children), provide an optimum growing environment (narration, discussion) and step back to see how the idea takes hold.
The best ideas come from the best minds. We can access these in books. Sadly my reading diet as an older child was "junky", but thankfully I am able to draw on the wisdom of others and browse the many titles listed in home educating curriculum, to source great books for my children. In doing this I have learned what to look for in a book, and have found a number more, worthy of a read.
Charlotte Mason's method of reading good books and narration, spark the curiosity of the mind and steep therein, which naturally leads to self education. I witness this often with my children, and will share with you this example.
Moss recently read the book My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George. Chapter by chapter his mind was feed by ideas which he mulled over and discussed with me. By the end of the book he had decided upon a number of activities to accomplish. If I had "set" him a range of tasks this child would have resisted, not enjoyed reading the book and not have leaned very much of anything. However, using the method Charlotte advocated he happily read the book, enjoyed narrating to me the books progress, and set his own learning goals driven on by internal motivation rather than external pressure.
Some of the things he achieved were:
And of course our girls also have stories of their own, which I may share sometime.
"Masterly Inactivity" gives a child space to independently explore, ruminate, and reflect in his educational life.
(Quoted from The Charlotte Mason Companion on Self Education)
As I mentioned in a previous post, I so very much enjoy watching the process of thought in my children. I sow an idea (read or provide good books to my children), provide an optimum growing environment (narration, discussion) and step back to see how the idea takes hold.
The best ideas come from the best minds. We can access these in books. Sadly my reading diet as an older child was "junky", but thankfully I am able to draw on the wisdom of others and browse the many titles listed in home educating curriculum, to source great books for my children. In doing this I have learned what to look for in a book, and have found a number more, worthy of a read.
Charlotte Mason's method of reading good books and narration, spark the curiosity of the mind and steep therein, which naturally leads to self education. I witness this often with my children, and will share with you this example.
Moss recently read the book My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George. Chapter by chapter his mind was feed by ideas which he mulled over and discussed with me. By the end of the book he had decided upon a number of activities to accomplish. If I had "set" him a range of tasks this child would have resisted, not enjoyed reading the book and not have leaned very much of anything. However, using the method Charlotte advocated he happily read the book, enjoyed narrating to me the books progress, and set his own learning goals driven on by internal motivation rather than external pressure.
Some of the things he achieved were:
- built a tin can camping oven and cooked pancakes on it
- built a mini wire brazier and used it
- roasted chestnuts in his dad's brazier
- shot a possum and a rabbit and cured their skins using a method he researched
- made knives using recycled materials
- went eel fishing and researched how to cook them
And of course our girls also have stories of their own, which I may share sometime.
Sunday 16 October 2011
Home Education in Our Family 2
What is Education?
Someone asked me once, "Where do you do your schooling?" I answered, "We are constantly learning and the world is our classroom!" He was slightly taken back, but then impressed with a thought from outside the square.
It is true a child needs to be taught enough skills - or academics - to be able to obtain a reasonable job when they are grown, but there is so much more to education. From the earliest of ages I have told my children that God intended them for a special purpose. It is, therefore, our duty to become the best of all He has made us.
I see a need for a balance between having some experience of various subject matter in order to discover new passions and try something new, and having time to freely pursue those passions more deeply.
Charlotte advocated three things in educating children.
Someone asked me once, "Where do you do your schooling?" I answered, "We are constantly learning and the world is our classroom!" He was slightly taken back, but then impressed with a thought from outside the square.
It is true a child needs to be taught enough skills - or academics - to be able to obtain a reasonable job when they are grown, but there is so much more to education. From the earliest of ages I have told my children that God intended them for a special purpose. It is, therefore, our duty to become the best of all He has made us.
I see a need for a balance between having some experience of various subject matter in order to discover new passions and try something new, and having time to freely pursue those passions more deeply.
Charlotte advocated three things in educating children.
- Something to Love That's not too hard around here! Parents, siblings, animals in the form of long term pets (cats, rabbits, goldfish, chickens) and short term pets (tadpoles/frogs, worms, snails, praying mantis, wetas, injured birds...)! And at times service to others.
- Something to Do Usually when the children say they are bored I find it may be because it has been a while since spent time with them. Most times, however, they are engaged in some creative outlet such as sewing, knitting, cooking, making knives, working with leather, gardening, curing animal skins, building huts, taking photos and still frame movies, drawing and art, and of course the Story-games (which I will post on... I promise!)
- Something to Think About in the book, The Charlotte Mason Companion (which is so far too good to put down!), Karen Andreola says "It is enjoying other peoples' ideas and thoughts and jokes... noticing beauty in music and pictures... enjoying country sights and sounds, birds and flowers. Children's horizons of thought need to be wider than their workbooks." I am often pointing things out as we drive along, or at home as we see or hear sights, sounds or ideas to enjoy or ponder. It is very true that when we give their minds things to think about, it spills out like a cup running over into their leisure activities and , hopefully will be a habit they carry into adulthood. Good books are such a great resource for ideas to think about, especially books about those great people who have gone before us.
Home Education in Our Family
Why did we choose to educate our children at home rather than follow the masses and send our precious ones off to an educational institution?
Well ... to those who understand it, it is my calling, my purpose in life. My earliest memories are that of wanting to be a mummy, which is a fairly integral part of home education. When I was about 8 years old family friends took their child out of public school to educate at home. I was fascinated! Those two ideas entwined themselves together.
There was no question for me about who would have the privilege of spending time with my children, so when they came along I didn't follow the expected norm and we didn't do daycare at 1yr old, nor kindy at 3yr old. However my dh did not have the same conviction as me, so we tried school for 1 term. That was all it took... and the rest is not history but our current path of life!!
The next development was "how do we do this educating?" In hindsight I was hopelessly unprepared in my philosophy of how I was going to approach this lifestyle. After some trial and error, and some research and reading I happened upon the Charlotte Mason philosophy. I was excited and delighted to discover it matched how I naturally thought, and I had comfort in pursuing what my heart felt was right for us.
I am now reading through a book I wish I had read 8 years ago called The Charlotte Mason Companion by Karen Andreola. Part way through the first chapter I started to write down my own thoughts to the question
"What drew me to educate the way I do"?
Living Books - reading books is a passion of mine since childhood, including meandering through an encyclopedia or dictionary on occasion. This I would give credit to my dad for, as I have memories of him flicking through the dictionary whilst sitting at the dining room table, and lying on the floor of the lounge with him while he explained to me how an encyclopedia works.
Narration - I love the term 'conversational language'. I am in much anticipation, when my babies being to talk, to know what is the essence of this little person. As they grow they truly do have their own thoughts on things, and so it makes wonderful sense to allow them to tell back to me what they have learned from what we have read. I enjoy listening to their opinions form on different matters, and seeing them come to a conclusion on an issue. It is then truly their own in that sense.
No Grades - I like the idea of being motivated by good character rather than external reward or competitiveness, which can breed prideful ideologies. I was caught in this unfortunate trap through my school year,s being near the top of my classes but sadly lacking in humility; always striving to be the best outwardly but inside simmered selfishness and a feeling of superiority. Toward the end of my schooling years I realised I was not all I thought myself to be, and there began some years of misery over my inward state! I had all-but lost my curiosity and love of knowledge, not desiring to share what I learned. So I naturally veered away from this with my own children, and I have been learning for myself the gentle art of teaching and learning.
Free Afternoons - many people have the false impression that some home educators don't spend enough time in teaching hours. It just doesn't take that long to impart a little information daily, and then what a perfect way to set that knowledge by allowing quality free time outdoors or in some activity in which they use that knowledge. And in our family this time is not filled with electronic gaming devices, which might give one strong, fast thumbs but numbs the brain and stifles creativity! I am constantly impressed to hear newly acquired knowledge incorporated into their play. (I will post one day on their Story-games)
Ideas and Culture - one thing I do appreciate about computers and the internet is the instantly available pictures and information! When we read about a topic we often look it up online in google images. I once travelled the Grand Canyon and the trans-Canadian highway thanks to google maps!
These are some of the things that form my philosophy of education.
Well ... to those who understand it, it is my calling, my purpose in life. My earliest memories are that of wanting to be a mummy, which is a fairly integral part of home education. When I was about 8 years old family friends took their child out of public school to educate at home. I was fascinated! Those two ideas entwined themselves together.
There was no question for me about who would have the privilege of spending time with my children, so when they came along I didn't follow the expected norm and we didn't do daycare at 1yr old, nor kindy at 3yr old. However my dh did not have the same conviction as me, so we tried school for 1 term. That was all it took... and the rest is not history but our current path of life!!
The next development was "how do we do this educating?" In hindsight I was hopelessly unprepared in my philosophy of how I was going to approach this lifestyle. After some trial and error, and some research and reading I happened upon the Charlotte Mason philosophy. I was excited and delighted to discover it matched how I naturally thought, and I had comfort in pursuing what my heart felt was right for us.
I am now reading through a book I wish I had read 8 years ago called The Charlotte Mason Companion by Karen Andreola. Part way through the first chapter I started to write down my own thoughts to the question
"What drew me to educate the way I do"?
Living Books - reading books is a passion of mine since childhood, including meandering through an encyclopedia or dictionary on occasion. This I would give credit to my dad for, as I have memories of him flicking through the dictionary whilst sitting at the dining room table, and lying on the floor of the lounge with him while he explained to me how an encyclopedia works.
Narration - I love the term 'conversational language'. I am in much anticipation, when my babies being to talk, to know what is the essence of this little person. As they grow they truly do have their own thoughts on things, and so it makes wonderful sense to allow them to tell back to me what they have learned from what we have read. I enjoy listening to their opinions form on different matters, and seeing them come to a conclusion on an issue. It is then truly their own in that sense.
No Grades - I like the idea of being motivated by good character rather than external reward or competitiveness, which can breed prideful ideologies. I was caught in this unfortunate trap through my school year,s being near the top of my classes but sadly lacking in humility; always striving to be the best outwardly but inside simmered selfishness and a feeling of superiority. Toward the end of my schooling years I realised I was not all I thought myself to be, and there began some years of misery over my inward state! I had all-but lost my curiosity and love of knowledge, not desiring to share what I learned. So I naturally veered away from this with my own children, and I have been learning for myself the gentle art of teaching and learning.
Free Afternoons - many people have the false impression that some home educators don't spend enough time in teaching hours. It just doesn't take that long to impart a little information daily, and then what a perfect way to set that knowledge by allowing quality free time outdoors or in some activity in which they use that knowledge. And in our family this time is not filled with electronic gaming devices, which might give one strong, fast thumbs but numbs the brain and stifles creativity! I am constantly impressed to hear newly acquired knowledge incorporated into their play. (I will post one day on their Story-games)
Ideas and Culture - one thing I do appreciate about computers and the internet is the instantly available pictures and information! When we read about a topic we often look it up online in google images. I once travelled the Grand Canyon and the trans-Canadian highway thanks to google maps!
These are some of the things that form my philosophy of education.
Wednesday 28 September 2011
Spring has Sprung
You can tell spring has sprung around here because everything is busy!
This morning we watched two starlings building a nest in the huge Macrocarpa tree. If you stop and think about it for just a minute… it is really marvellous that they know when, and where, and how, and with what materials to begin this seasonal ritual; God’s creative magnificence in action!
We see all the pretty colours of spring emerging from their winter hide away: the smudge of green on the trees as their leaves bud and the dappled colours of the flowers in increasing amounts! God sure loves to make a visual spectacular for us!
All flowers from Lorna’s garden
My children have (figuratively) burst forth from their winter confinement and have been busy tidying up their bush huts and planting various things to beautify their little chosen spots…
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...each one a secret little hideaway made very special by each owner (just like in my favourite children’s book by Shirley Hughes Sally’s Secret)
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Friday 23 September 2011
Eminence of Spring
The hint of blue sky behind the purple-gray clouds bringing light spring showers,
The soft green haze of new life smudged over the Willows,
The delicate pink blur imperceptibly appearing on bare brown winter twigs,
The staccato of orange amidst a sea of yellow daffodils,
Silvery puddles with flecks of golden sunlight,
The sweet songs of the birds on a still warm morning awakening me to this season;
Unfurling me, like a flower emerging, turning its head to the warmth and beauty of the new day.
~Lorna (my picture of spring)
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