Designing a home-centered life: learning, exploring, and creating with our five littles
Unfortunately, I sometimes find that what my youngest ones are doing during school is a bit of an afterthought for me. This is a mistake by me. What they need is so important to me and I want to be sure their time is well-spent, not just spent. But, I also need the preparation of these activities to be simple and quick - like pull it off the shelf … [Read more...]
When I started this blog, I didn't realize how many families were considering and searching out information about doing Classical Conversations at home. And guess what? I didn't even think of the name of this blog. A friend suggested I start a blog at a time when I had seriously been considering it and praying about it for a while. She suggested … [Read more...]
In ten ways to destroy the imagination of your child, Anthony Esolen writes an "indispensable guide to overcoming today's treacherous trends in parenting and education -- and the overwhelming banality of contemporary culture." Esolen's scope is broad, but my focus was narrow. I looked for how these cultural shifts, which Esolen strongly argues are … [Read more...]
Did you attend the Classical Conversations practicum with your child in a camp this year? If so, you received this month's book club selection, ten ways to destroy the imagination of your child (I kept the title lowercase here, because that's how it's printed on the book cover! Which by the way, I like!). I have yet to crack the spine on this … [Read more...]
Classical Christian Education Made Approachable (henceforth called CCEMA) felt very much like a simplified synopsis of much of what I've read about classical education this summer and before. It is a short, simple, and meaningful read defining classical, Christian education and answering the questions of how then shall we study and what then … [Read more...]
"The only thing I feel really sure of having accomplished today is that I taught Cliffie Wright that A is A. He never knew it before. Isn't it something to have started a soul along a path that may end in Shakespeare and Paradise Lost?" - Anne of Anne of Avonlea Isn't it something? How exciting that we're able to teach our children to read! I … [Read more...]
UPDATE: Congrats Aimee Zoppi Confer, you are the winner! Aimee has been contacted via email. Thanks to everyone for entering and congrats again to Aimee!CC at Home Book Club selection #3 is Classical Christian Education Made Approachable. Have you read selections #1 and #2 with us? I hope so! If so, this is 3 out of 4 we'll be … [Read more...]
"Understanding the classical sciences allows each of us to appreciate the beauty and harmony of the cosmos while equipping us to participate in the investigative process." (p.179)I believe that understanding the sciences is important to all students, but is especially beneficial to the believer. We know the creator of the extraordinary … [Read more...]
"Teaching reading is best done with a child on someone’s lap. Teaching math is best done sitting near a student as they work through a text. Teaching writing is best done through sharing the joy of words on paper." (p.63)Oh, friends, I was due a reminder that teaching my children at home is a JOY! I often feel the weight of the responsibility and … [Read more...]
"Classical educators want children to memorize a lengthy world history time line over an extended period of time that stays with them forever." (p.165) Are you seeing a pattern here among classical learning? It's so important to lay a strong foundation for our little scholars to build upon. With a basic timeline memorized, our children can … [Read more...]