It's Been Awhile

Hello Everyone! It is been over a month since I have blogged.It's been pretty busy so far this Summer.

Mainly, I have been trying to get my thoughts in gear about homeschooling. It is kind of intimidating me, but I know once I get going it will be Lots of fun!

I have been reading two books about the philosophy of education that I have chosen to use. It is the Charlotte Mason Method.

Charlotte Mason was a Christian Educator in England during the 1800's. Her ideas were bold and new; as she thought of children as *people* instead of "Children Should be seen and not Heard".

Her method of education is to cultivate a *love* of learning, rather than a bunch of head knowledge that the child may or may not retain. Another name for it is "The Gentle Art of Learning"

The Two Books I am reading About her, are:

A Charlotte Mason Companion by Karen Andreola and

For the Children's Sake by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay

An overview of the Charlotte Mason philospohy that I have learned so far includes:

1.Using "Living Books" These are books that are biographies, auto biographies, books written entirely on the subject that one is studying. Rather than a text book that only gives a simple outline.

2. Narrating the living Books. Once you read a book or chapter to the child, the child is supposed to narrate the book back to you. This helps the child retain what he has learned. And as he/she gets better with narration, the child will developing strong listening skills.

3.Vocabulary This is taken from the new words that they child will read or hear from the living books

Right now that is about all I have gotten to in the Charlotte Mason Companion. :)

Charlotte Mason also wrote an exhaustive six volume set. I haven't plowed my way through those yet. They were my mom's when she was homeschooling me, and I inherited them from her. Hopefully, I will be able to get around to them in the future.

Based on this philosophy; but knowing that I would probably get overwhelmed without some sort of guide, I kept searching for curriculum already planned out for me.

Through The Home school Lounge I was led to My Father's World. (click on the link to read about this curriculum.)

So this year Sweetie will be going through Kindergarten "officially" using this curriculum.

have it already ordered and it is here. Every day I am getting more and more excited. I have been rearranging the house over and over, trying to make room for the supplies, and to encourage the *love* of learning atmosphere.

Hopefully, I will be able to blog more in the coming days. For now, I will leave you with some pictures of getting our curriculum. :)