"The present trend in the teaching of natural science is toward school experiences that are of immediate interest to the pupils and that will fit them for the everyday problems of later life. ...probably the greatest benefit comes from the development of desirable pupil attitudes toward, and appreciation of, beauty in all plant life." - from the book Natural Science Through the Seasons by James A Partridge - The guy at the garden center said they'd take about 6 weeks to flower... :) - Bulbs are a wonderful thing to do with little kids, especially these. They went from nothing to something SO FAST! And grew inches overnight!! And you can't go wrong at $.50/bulb! You really only need 1 per child. - This is a great book describing bulbs for young kids. We love many by this author. - I'm hoping to paint the bloom in my nature journal this week! "...give up your strength the seed to nourish,
that in course the flower may flourish" - People Look East by E. Farjeon a great line of poetry to think of in terms of mothering too 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in your weakness.' II Cor. 12:9 There are a lot of 'First things' in life when you really start to think about it. Noticing these ordinary but special things helps us take joy and remain fresh and excited in our daily living. The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV I picked up this book The Tale of the Wild Goose by Henry R. Kane at a thrift store a while back. I was unfamiliar with it, but it looked promising. I'm glad I took a chance, because we really enjoyed it at bedtime the other night. I wanted to recommend it especially because right now, at least around here, the Canada geese are flocking together feeding in recently combined fields soon to begin their trek southward. The book tells the story of a family of geese starting when the eggs are laid, all the way through their first year of life and the joys and struggles they face. The author is a wonderful storyteller who uses colorful descriptive language that gets the reader's imagination going, and there are black and white photographs and a few lovely line drawings that carry the story along. SOMETHING TOLD THE WILD GEESE
By Rachel Field Something told the wild geese It was time to go, Though the fields lay golden Something whispered, "snow." Leaves were green and stirring, Berries, luster-glossed, But beneath warm feathers Something cautioned, "frost." All the sagging orchards Steamed with amber spice, But each wild breast stiffened At remembered ice. Something told the wild geese It was time to fly, Summer sun was on their wings, Winter in their cry. Each new season has found our family playing, working and dreaming together out in the wooded portion of our farm land. We're out there most in spring and autumn when the weeds and undergrowth are either died off or not grown up yet, or during a mild winter when the snow isn't up to our necks. On the most pleasant days we've sat in the dappled shade and envisioned a path, a "Garden of Eden-ish" fieldstone path running through the trees neatly lined with colorful shade-living flowers and plants, wood benches, a babbling stream and possibly a pond in the center of a soft grassy clearing. You know, something from the pages of a magazine or fairytale. But the reality of a overgrown grove in summertime is more along the lines of mosquitoes, impassable tall weeds and grass, thorny branches, and lots of stinging nettle, not to mention the 100 year old pile of trash that former owners accumulated in a far corner :( Oh, but it's fun to ignore all that and to make plans. After our recent weekend retreat, we came home inspired and ready to run with an idea that had taken root long ago and was now ready for some growth. The very next afternoon my husband got on the lawn mower and disappeared for a while into our weedy woods. During the weekend's sessions, our lovely plenary speaker, Jennifer Gagnon, shared with us how, after she read the book The Nature Principle the first thing she was inspired to do was turn her kitchen table so that it faced the window. One simple change. Now all members of her family could notice the birds out the window and all their funny little habits, and the clouds in the sky etc. With this little change she was nearly effortlessly fostering the habit of observation in her formerly somewhat uninterested family members. It often takes a new idea and bit of intentionality to get us to think out of the box doesn't it? She also shared how science is commonly approached in today's schools. With some informed calculations Jen estimated that there are a couple thousand individuals who are involved in the process our writing our national science standards. Each one represents a certain group with a different adgenda they are trying to promote. This larger group of people puts together a comprehensive list of things kids should know before they graduate. From these curriculums and textbooks are written. I have been on our state's education website and read through some of the standards in the past. They are overwhelming, even to me, a teacher who was trained to use them. In schools students read through explanations and summaries of scientific information in their textbooks. They review terms they need to know. They are presented with experiments and are expected to reproduce their knowledge on a test. That is the bulk of their learning, and from that teachers hope students will fall in love with science, possibly even choosing it as a lifelong pursuit. Some do. It is different in a Mason approach. When kids are yet the littlest of little, they are to be given the wide world to explore, experience, discover, and they are given hours of time in which to make connections with it in a personal way. I read this article recently that said: “Hands-onexperience at the critical time, not systematic knowledge, is what counts in the making of a naturalist.” “Between the ages of six and twelve, children have an innate desire to explore the woods, build forts, make potions from wild berries, dig to China, and each of these activities is an organic, natural way for them to develop environmental values and behaviors. Instead, the “look but don’t touch” approach cuts kids off from nature, teaching them that nature is boring and fraught with danger.” “…the imaginative, constructive practice of fort building actually fosters the sense of connectedness that land trusts [and many others] want to cultivate in young people.” I also read this, "During the six and seven months each year in the twelve fiercest formative years of his life, Abraham Lincoln had the pads of his foot-soles bare against the earth." - Carl Sandburg Jen explained that when kids get a little older, their vigilant teacher/mothermakes sure that only the best living science books are put into their hands, actual stories that put them in directly touch with the great minds of science, that they might re-live the discoveries right alongside the person they read about. And while they read, if an idea strikes their fancy, the child will then want to do some of their own experimenting, to see just how that scientific idea works in real life. Their patient mother then takes them to the hardware store and helps them pick out the supplies they need to test out the theory. When finished, the child makes entries in a notebook, drawings or words or test strips from the experiement, whatever they need to tell all about what they learned. It's a form of narration. This is how a passion for science begins and grows. And the process is the same from elementary to high school. Sigh. That takes away some of my future high school worries (few though they are since my kids are so young). Based on some of the questions that were being asked at the retreat, I think this is really hard for some conscientious mothers/teachers accept this, to feel like this truly is enough (even better) for a high schooler because they don't want their child to miss something important for college. At one of the sessions some sad statistics were shared about how few college students ever even take a science course unless it is required. And how many of our nation's science related jobs are being taken by people who grew up and learned science in other countries, and how with the rise of technology this younger generation's interest in science is lacking. This new way of learning is not meant to be all-encompassing. It is a portal to a wider universe. It is an inch wide but a mile deep. So, anyway, when my husband got done mowing (well, while he was fixing the mower after finding an old hidden fenceline, oops. Thankfully our only glitch.) I followed an exuberant 5yo into the woods and down our new path. He was oooh-ing and aaah-ing and saying "Oh, look, Mom!" To him it was magical and his imagination was already bubbling over with wild turkey hunts and soldier marches. We have been out on at least one walk every day since, once with umbrellas during a lovely evening rain.
Mowing a path may seem very common sense, but to us it took a little thinking outside the box. One fairly simple change opened up a new avenue for us to get in touch with nature and foster a love of science in our kids and ourselves. My mind and heart are full- just the right amount of full after last weekend's retreat. I came home pondering many things but mainly the subject of science and what it looks like where we are at- with little ones. It's nice to be writing this blog post now that it's been one week since the retreat began. It's good think about what we have already done to enrich our life and to implement some of the ideas gained, never sitting stagnant, but moving forward at a steady (sometimes slow) pace. I'm thankful for the vitality of this education/life we have chosen. One of the main thoughts that has stuck with me is that our aim is toward learning that is a mile deep, though it may only be an inch wide. There are many implications to such a statement, but one of them being that this type of learning is not hurried or surface level with the aim being a test at the end of the chapter. There is thought and meaning. It is alive! It is rich and lasting. There is something calming about embracing this philosophy. I dont need to worry that my child might not get everything he needs to know. Not even I, as the teacher, can 'get' everything! I have the "indefatigable Teacher" with me each step of the way who will lead my chlid to just the right things he needs for learning and growing. I rest in this. I look forward to sharing a little more about this time and these ideas I'm pondering,
and to sharing one special thing we've done here at home since we got back! More to come............ "Now, Nature is her own mediator, undertakes, herself, to find work for eyes and ears, taste and touch; she will prick the brain... and the part of the mother or teacher in the early years... is to sow opportunities, and then to keep in the background, ready with a guiding... hand only when... badly wanted. Mothers shirk their work and put it... into better hands than their own, because they do not recognise that wise letting alone is the chief thing asked of them, seeing that every mother has in Nature an all-sufficient handmaid, who arranges for due work and due rest of mind, muscles, and senses." -C. Mason Nature suprised us with a find of tadpoles! And, we seized of the opportunity! May 11: Itty-bitty tadpoles discovered by my son in a puddle atop a low, but flowing waterfall. (and pond snails too) June 1: Our tadpole viewing area. They are fascinating to watch! We kept a clipboard of notes. I wrote my son's observations in his own words as well as some of my own. July 8: Developing legs and toes (the most exciting part of all this!), mouths getting smaller, eyes beginning to bulge, feeding on lettuce and spinach from the garden. The water needed to be changed in this photo! We changed it about once every week and a half. July 12: Sunning on a lettuce leaf and swimming MUCH faster these days!!! July 19: We moved them into a bigger home with rocks for climbing and with a lid - not that their tiny legs could hop out yet, but just in case. Their tails are shorteing at different rates. They're slightly larger than a pencil eraser! One poor little one remains skinnier than the rest :( LOVE: watching water ballet, froggie style July 22: This last part of their development went much faster than I was expecting! Their little tails were mostly gone in no time at all, and we wanted to be sure to release them before their need for live insect food arrived! "as for the 'living creatures,' here is a field of unbounded interest and delight. ...surely there is a pond within reach––by road or rail–– where tadpoles may be caught, and carried home in a bottle, fed, and watched through all their changes––fins disappearing, tails getting shorter and shorter, until at last there is no tail at all, and a pretty pert little frog looks you in the face." - C. Mason I highly recommend the effort of raising tadpoles with little kids!
It really is "a field of unbounded interest and delight." Discovering: the softest nest we've ever seen (thistle down, and orange yarn we put in our suet cage this spring!! also grass and possibly horse hair) Pretty sure it belongs to a goldfinch! Listening: to a favorite! Dvořák from the past school year Watching: an 'accidentally' too-soon-picked sunflower unfold in a cup of water Observing: leg and toe-developing-tadpoles Looking: (once more) at fishermen (from here) Harvesting: nature's bountiful "crop" (in his words) Helping: do cow chores at a friend's house Comparing: blades of grass from the yard on our nature table
It is my pleasure to host this edition of the CM Blog Carnival Welcome! Grab a cool drink, pull up a chair and enjoy some refreshment and inspiration. I wanted to share with you few quotations that I've been pondering after reading an intriguing Parent's Review article titled Adventures in Education by Sybil Marshall. It gave such a wonderful glimpse into a school of the past where Mason's ideas were being implemented. These are the ideas that stuck out to me from my reading. "...their minds were reaping the real benefit. fed with countless real experiences, the children's imaginations began to work as never before. The creative impulse that is born with every child atrophies unless his imaginative response to his environment keeps it actively in use. When in use it demands outlets in many different forms, but above all in words." Nancy over at Sage Parnassus shares with us some great insights for enhancing the reading experience in a simple and natural way- A New Way to Listen: Commonplacing for Little People "...thoughts need the freedom of time to become seasoned, to become personal, to become knowledge." Leah at Homegrown Babies shares with us, and I'm a tad jealous, because I want to go!! A Charlotte Mason 'pilgrimage' "The teacher's greatest asset is the children's desire to learn, but as this is a natural thing it must be used in a natural way." Lindafay shares with us some good beginner tips at Higher Up and Further In- The First Stage of Nature Journaling "Fed on stories of all kinds, the children's horizons get wider and wider, calling for still more detailed observation of nature, of animals, of people... the need for factual knowledge leads them back again to books, and the spiral continues upward and onward." Amy shares some yucky bugs and good ideas at Fisher Academy- Nature Study Monday:Insect Pests Barb shares a wealth of things to try at your house for a simple study on trees at Handbook of Nature Study- For the Love of Trees: A Year-Long Tree Study I'm looking forward to giving some a these a try! Lanaya at Delightful Education shares with us her thoughts on-
(Habit) Training in Truthfulness Oh, and one by Yours Truly :) on Thinking Practice Thanks so much for joining me here. I hope you have enjoyed reading all these as much as I have! And, a special thanks to Amy for heading up the carnival for us all. Upcoming carnival: @ Epikardia on 7/24 Topic for discussion (optional): Principles #9-10 For more info see: The 20 Principles. {an overview} Submit posts here: charlottemasonblogs (at) gmail (dot) com To find out more about upcoming & past CM blog carnival schedule, Click Here! |
Welcome!
"I am recording this so that future generations will also praise the Lord for all He has done." -Psalm 102:18 I am a mama to 2 sweet brothers who aspires to a "thinking love" toward my children.
Take a peek into our journey towards a living education inspired by the writings of Charlotte Mason. Be sure to leave me a comment if you're inspired! I prefer to keep my text and images right here. Please don't copy without permission. Thanks! Categories
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August 2018
I Participate"In this field small efforts are honoured with great rewards, and we perceive that
the education we are giving exceeds all that we intended or imagined.”
- Mason “It may be that the souls of all children are waiting for the call of knowledge to awaken them to delightful living.”
- Mason |