Welcome to the Charlotte Mason Carnival Back To School Planning Bash!

This has turned out to be such an exciting and busy carnival that I feel like some sort of festive music should be playing - like you might hear on a merry-go-round.  :o)   I just know you're going to enjoy post after post of planning and organizing wisdom.  In fact, you may want to have a pad of paper and pencil ready to jot down all the wonderful ideas you'll come across!  Don't get overwhelmed, though.  One idea at a time......

Daily Schedules and Curriculum Choices

Erin from Delighting in His Richness tells us how her plans are coming along in Ready, Set...Still Working on the Set Part.

 

Kris from Musing Mom gives us a glimpse into her day in Our Schedule for Next Year.

 

Makita from Twinkling Stars Family School shows us her detailed plans in Our 2008/09 School Plans.

 

Kathy from Piney Woods Homeschool tells us how she plans practically using the Ambleside curriculum in Scheduling CM.

 

Barb from Harmony Art Mom gives us some planning ideas for older children in Our Plan for High School: Tapestry of Grace ala Charlotte Mason.

 

DeeDee from Doing Things Anglo/American Style shows us how she is easing into a CM lifestyle in Wanna Be Charlotte Mason Homeschooler.

 

Tiffany from Homeschool Nature Study lays out how she plans to begin implementing some serious CM plans this year in Charlotte Mason Back to School Planning Bash.

 

Amada from Manifold Musings of a Missionary Mom takes us through her planning in What to Teach?

 

Sandy from Falling Like Rain reminds us that not everyone is cheerfully planning and preparing for a new school year.  She gives some great advice in Homeschool Fatigue.

 

Jimmie from One Child Policy Homeschool has been evaluating her homeschool in Some Homeschool Goal Setting.

 

Dawn from My4Sweetums has also been setting some goals for the year in Charlotte Mason Planning Bash.

 

Elizabeth from In the Heart of My Home shares her fall term plans in Sneak Preview - What's New for the Fall Term at Serendipity.

 

Tammy from Adventures on Beck's Bounty shows us how she plans her lessons in Planning at Beck's Bounty. 

 

Keri from Sunny shows us how she goes about planning in A New School Year.

 

Swylv from Education is an atmosphere, a discipline, a life answers several planning questions in Back to School Edition Submission.

 

Sonya from Simply Charlotte Mason shares how she makes time for larger projects in A Project Week Idea.

 

Sheri from On the Right Track talks about how she planned for fun learning in Summer Session Success.

 

Rebecca from Home Sweet Homeschool gives us a peek into how she plans using the Ambleside Online curriculum in Week-at-a-glance.

 

 

 

Schoolroom and Other Organizing Ideas

Candace from His Mercy is New gives us a couple of great ideas in Our Bulletin Board and Prayer Door.

 

Melissa from In the Sparrow's Nest has organized all the toddler toys and big kid manipulatives in Busy Bookshelf.

 

Barb from Harmony Art Mom share a simple organizing trick in Need Some Inspiration: Try an Idea Portfolio.  Also be sure to glean ideas for organizing an art study area in Our Van Gogh Wall.  I couldn't resist adding one more of Barb's wonderful organizing tips in Keeping Your Art Supplies at the Ready.

 

Cindy from On Our Journey Westward (that's me!) hopes to encourage you that the schoolroom can at least make you smile one time a year (before the children enter the room or area for the first time) in An Organized Schoolroom.

 

Leslie from Pockets of the Future shares an organizing tip about printer ink in A Key Homeschooling, Homesteading, Self-Sufficiency Item You Can Buy in Bulk. 

   

 

Plans for Particular Subjects

Candace from His Mercy is New has a fun plan for Fine Arts Friday at her house this year.  Along the same lines, be sure to check out her post about their Music Appreciation Time.

 

Kysha from Love's School tells us about her new approach to spelling plans in My Rambles On Spelling.

 

Mama Squirrel from Dewey's Treehouse shows us the fine arts side of her second grade plans in Crayon's Grade Two: What's Left? (Art, Music, This and That).

 

Mary Beth at Cheaper By the Half Dozen has reminded us that adding fine arts into our curriculum is not only important, but easy in Picture Study the Charlotte Mason Way.  Be sure to see the second part of this idea at More Picture Study Tips.

 

Leila at Fredom Academy has started what sounds like a very fun group.  You can read about it in a Charlotte Mason Co-op.

 

Lindafay from Higher Up and Further In offers her plans for CM-style testing in Year 4 Exams - Term 3.

 

Keri from Sunny shows us how she incorporated history in History with Story of the World.

 

DeeDee from Doing Things Anglo/American Style has a great idea for those wonderful read alouds in The End - Finally!

 

Andrea from Kids and Nature shows us how she plans to use the zoo in her homeschool this year in A New Approach to the Zoo.

 

Ritsumei from Baby Steps shares how she does nature study with preschoolers in Munchkin Nature Study.

 

Rachael from Homeschooling Kiwi Style takes us through a year's worth of picture study in Monet and the Impressionist Picture Study Plan. 

 

Lisa from House of Many Blessings shows how she spices up school in Artist Study and a Little Bit of Fun.

 

Amy from Growing Fruit...Part 2 shares how she includes literature along with math in Living Math Books.

 

Jenny from Chartwell Academy and Pook's Hill Nursery has a fun idea for using postcards to enhance a wall timeline in Postcards from the Edge of Educational Tourism.

 

Melissa from In the Sparrow's Nest gives a great overview of how and why to include nature study as part of your curriculum planning in Carving Out Time for Nature Walks.

 

Cindy from On Our Journey Westward (that's me, again!) offers her plan for artist, composer and nature study in Setting Aside Time for the Good Stuff.

 

 

Thank you so much for visiting and/or participating!  Remember, everyone enjoys positive comments (even me.)  :o)  If you like someone's ideas, let them know!

Thanks to Jimmie and Swylv for some of the pictures for the carnival!

Let's continue with another super year of the Charlotte Mason Blog Carnival.  Keep submitting those great posts!  Our outstanding leader, Barb, will be hosting the next carnival on September 2nd!

Whether you've already started school, you never stopped or school is just around the corner, planning is always in season.  And what better way to kick off a new year of the Charlotte Mason Carnival than a Back To School Planning Bash?
 
On August 19th, Our Journey Westward will host this exciting CM inspired event (the brilliant idea from our fearless leader, Barb!)  It's time NOW to send in your best planning or organizing post!  Topics could include things like:

• How you decide what to teach
• How you set up your year
• How you keep plans, keep records, or store work
• How you organize your schoolroom, supplies, literature books
• Where you go for CM planning inspiration
• How detailed you plan for a particular subject or how far in advance you plan
• What your plans are for one of (or all) your subjects
• A new project you've completed to compliment CM style education

Give us a glimpse into your mind, your plan book, your schoolroom or anything else that will supply us with wonderful ideas for our Charlotte Mason inspired homeschools.
 
Spread the word and let's make this a huge carnival full of planning and organizing wisdom!  Click on the bash button above if you'd like to copy and paste it into your own blog.  Copy and paste this message on your blog, too, if you like.
 
Oh, and if you would like to send in a picture for Cindy to include in the carnival as visual inspiration (an ordered shelf of supplies, an open plan book, a stack of great literature....), please do!  Send it to cindykwest@hotmail.com.  But hurry!  She doesn't want all the lovely pictures and outstanding blog posts to come in at the last minute!  :)

Thanks, Amanda, for the very cool bash button!

Well, I'm back from the CHEK Conference in one piece, but with lots of unpacking yet to do.  Besides clothing bags, I packed three BIG baskets/boxes full of things for my workshops!  I'm a very visual person and like to share visuals with others, too.  Sadly, if I had taken everything I'd wanted, I probably could've packed six or more big containers.  Yes, all for two one-hour workshops!  LOL 

I don't know whether it was my heavy containers or the very busy job of chasing a toddler all day Saturday, but my hubby threw his back out and has been out of commission for two days now.  Surely it wasn't my boxes!!  ;)

The workshops went really well.  Thanks for those who prayed!  A very special thank you goes to Melissa, Nora, Jenny, Anne and Bonnie for being there to support me!!  

The first workshop was called "Adding Easy and Creative Touches to Your Homeschool".  Just about everything I talked about I have written a blog post about before.  A lot of the ideas focused on learning centers, learning spaces, creative character ideas, living math and creative writing.  What I haven't blogged about before, will surely turn into posts eventually!  LOL

The second workshop was called "Creative Nature Study" (I think.)   Melissa and I shared this workshop.  She spoke about why we should do nature study, shared some of the creative things she's been doing (which she also shares on her blog), and led the ladies to many wonderful resources.  I talked about how to keep a nature journal, what to pack in a nature bag, some creative activities to do in nature and how to start a Creation Club.  The time went fast for both of us, so we talked a blue streak!  I  sure hope we didn't overwhelm those poor ladies (and one husband)!

Some questions from the workshops have led to a little list of things I will be blogging about soon:

• Creation Club resource books
• Nature study resources for various ages
• Creatively homeschooling older children
• How to say no to some of the lessons in a textbook without worrying that you'll ruin your children
• Some of my favorite blog tutorials and websites

While I'm at it, here are a few more blog post ideas that have been floating around in my head that will most likely find there way into print before long:

• Homemade mixes
• My MSG story
• Our red food coloring story / why we are a semi-Feingold family
• Planning for the upcoming school year

Now that the nature e-book has been sent to the editors and the CHEK workshops are behind me, I hope to be posting more.  With VBS this week and the corn coming on, the posts may still come slowly for a while, but I hope I won't disappear too long at a time.

Oh yeah.  My parents are really cool grandparents.  They took the older kids for the weekend and visited the Louisville Slugger factory/museum, the Falls of the Ohio and the Squire Boone Caverns.  What makes them really cool, though, is the fact that they willingly dressed up like cows for the Chik-Fil-A promotion.  Yes, my children mean that much to them.  Truth be told, the kids only had to ask once - I think my parents secretly enjoyed dressing up for free food!   :)

Jenny at Little Acorns Treehouse has asked that experienced homeschoolers give some of their best advice to new homeschoolers.  Even though I'm a bit late in writing my entry, here it is!  I chose to focus on one of the worst mistakes I made in the earlier years.

The worst mistake I have ever made homeschooling has been trying too hard to push “my” agenda with the children.  It’s so easy to plan, prepare, buy materials and have the perfect schedule of studies set for the year – only to find that your child isn’t exactly on the same page as you. 

As an example, before our third year of homeschooling, I decided that we needed to get more serious.  I had been using a very literature-based, hands-on, mom-planned curriculum through the previous years, but I began to doubt my abilities to teach the “right” things and know my own children’s learning styles. 

In my mind, the way to make sure we were on track was to buy textbooks/workbooks for every subject.  And of course, I needed to add all the extras that so many people recommend, like Latin, etiquette, and even a planned out fitness program.  Let’s just suffice it to say that this year turned out to be our worst ever.  My children were miserable.  I was miserable.  And very honestly, I believe less learning took place because everyone was so miserable.  I wasn’t meeting the learning styles of my children and I was pushing to accomplish way too much. 

Since we’ve been back to a more natural flow of learning for our family, school has become enjoyable again!   That’s not to say that I don’t slip back into the same old habit of over-thinking and over-planning, but keeping my eye on the situation and being willing to make changes when necessary has made all the difference.  Good luck!!  You’re going to love it! 

This was another question asked recently at co-op.  Another part of the question was:  How do you plan for next year when you may or may not want to change curriculums?  Once again, here's the answer I gave, but I know my friend would appreciate your thoughts in a comment.

I've told you before that I can be considered by some as "curriculum ADHD", so I've had experience planning for a year in the midst of curriculum changes!  Here are my basic planning steps:

1.)  PRAY!  Ask God to guide you in all things - and that includes curriculum choice. 

2.)  Know Your Goals

     - What is my educational philosophy?  Do I need to plan my year to be more in line with Charlotte Mason?  Do I need to make more room for classical subjects?  Do I need to buy more workbooks? 

     - What are my children's learning styles?  Do I need to do more/less hands-on next year?  Do I need to find materials that are more auditory?  Do I need to stick with one type of curriculum all year or do I need to vary the approaches for more interest?

     - What "holes" do I see from this year?  For instance, I don't feel like I have been including enough classic literature in our curriculum.  I also don't feel like I've been pushing my oldest to her greatest potential.  Those will be things I'm sure to think about as I make out plans for next year.

3.)  Know your plans

     - For example, if I know that every Monday afternoon we will be at co-op, I need to plan my curriculum with that in mind.  I wouldn't want to plan schooling so tightly that we would be behind in our studies from "missing out" on a Monday afternoon of book work.

     - If I like to plan field trips or be a part of 4-H, Keepers At Home or other clubs, I need to keep all that in mind as I think about what I want to accomplish in our curriculum over the year. 

4.)  Research your choices

     - With all the above in mind, really take some time to research what's best for your family.  Think about things like:

               *Is there anything I can buy that will cover more than one child?

               *Is there anything I can find that will meet several of our needs - meeting particular learning styles, filling the "holes" from last year, and helping me include more CM style learning?

     - I use catalogs, the internet, used curriculum sales, our state homeschool convention and a local Christian/homeschooling bookstore when researching.

     - I often buy things I'm not sure about from used sources so I haven't wasted a lot of money if it doesn't work.  Internet selling sites are my friends when a bad choice has been made!  :)

5.)  Write out a plan for each child to be sure everything:

     - is being covered  (Make sure you haven't forgotten math or something!)

     - is well balanced  (You haven't overloaded the schedule, but at the same time you have enough.)

     - really fits the learning style of that particular child

     - pulls the kids together as much as possible

     - won't overwhelm you!

6.)  Gather supplies

     - don't be afraid to make mistakes

     - don't be afraid to make changes

     - don't be afraid to stick with something and give it another chance

It's funny that as I type this, I'm simply ready for this year to be finished!  It's been a long year with a toddler running around.  We only have four more weeks to go!!  Once our year is over and I have a few moments to sit on the porch swing with the sun in my face, I'll be ready to cart the catalogs out with me.   :)

This was a question asked recently at co-op.  My friend's question related more specifically to whether or not a child is ready to "move on" to the next grade level.   Here's the not-so-short answer I gave.  I'm sure my friend would enjoy reading your comments, too.

1.)  What grade you call a child is fairly meaningless as an overall rule. 

-Most children I know are working either somewhat above or below that particular grade in at least one subject. 

-If a child has struggled greatly in math, for instance, then go slower with math - starting now.  Who cares if the workbook says 2nd grade when they are actually in 3rd grade?  Who cares if they won't finish every workbook page by the end of the year if you go slower? 

-What's more important - that they understand a process or get through the book?  Also, is it more important to get multiplication eventually  - at their own pace - or to become so frustrated with "not getting it" before they're ready that they feel like a failure and never choose to like math from that point on? 

2.)  All schools - whether public, private or homeschools - have different expectations for each grade level.  In other words, what one school expects to be accomplished in 2nd grade might be an expectation for 4th graders in another school. 

-If your child is greatly struggling with an entire 3rd grade curriculum, you might research a different curriculum rather than blaming your child for not being smart enough to keep up. 

-Make sure the curriculum you're using is meeting their learning styles and even their interests.  I don't mean to say that every assignment has to be pure joy, but if your child is motivated by bright colors vs. black and white pages, find a curriculum with bright colors.  If they enjoy crafting over workbooks, look into hands-on curriculums.

3.)  I would never harm a child's self-esteem by telling them that they aren't ready to advance to the next grade level, or that they will redo all the same curriculum again next year because they "didn't get it" this year. 

-Whatever changes you need to make - redoing a particular book, buying a grade level lower, implementing reteaching strategies, taking things slower - should be adult decisions.  A child will be much more motivated to continuing trying and learning if they don't feel like a failure.

4.)  If you are drastically concerned:

-Talk to seasoned homeschoolers about the issues and get their advice.

-Look through books like What Your ___ Grader Needs To Know.  Remember that this is one person's opinion, though. 

-Test the child to see what level they are actually working on.  Remember that not every child tests well and the results may be a bit skewed. 

-Research the particular concerns on the internet to see what steps you might take.

-Get a tutor.

-Here is a website that offers some testing ideas   http://www.homeschool.about.com/od/teaching/Teaching_and_Testing.htm

Homeschooling is such an awesome opportunity for raising children who are bright, confident and allowed to blossom at their own pace.  God created every one of us to be different, unique and special.  Just because one of your children may struggle with a particular subject, or even all subjects, doesn't mean that God doesn't have great big plans for them anyway.  Help them to the best of your ability, while giving them an abundance of encouragement and love, and God will take care of the rest!  :) 

Barb and The Heart of Harmony in hosting the newest edition of the Charlotte Mason Blog Carnival: Spring is Coming!  It looks like there are some great articles as usual.  :)

Welcome to the 10th Edition of The Charlotte Mason Carnival!!

The "Love"liness Edition

When thinking about educating my children the Charlotte Mason way, the word "loveliness" describes the pictures in my mind.  Children snuggled up with mom, literature that paints vivid pictures, lessons that inspire my children and a general sweetness that surrounds the day.  Of course, this picture is the "ideal" picture, not always the one that is painted!  But, we try.  And many days ARE just that - lovely.  Sweet.  Precious.  Calm.  Easy.  Natural.  Loving.  So, in honor of those days and the upcoming Valentine's Day, the theme of this carnival is Loveliness.  Enjoy!

Dwelling in the Land takes us right to the heart of what we should strive for in our homes in Hymn-spiration.  She also shares a day of fun spawning from living literature in Wigwams.

Pockets of the Future tells about a new approach she's found to teaching piano in Simply Music is a Fun and Very Effective "Living Music" Approach to Playing the Piano.

Interested in a New Composer Study?  Peakmore Academy gives us many ideas for studying Duke Ellington.

Freedom Academy reminds us of the importance of setting a good example in Mother Culture - Mom's Nature Journal.

The Heart of Harmony takes us in to nature even in the midst of cold weather in The Pleasures of Winter.  On her nature study blog Handbook of Nature Study,  join her on a wintry trip in Snowshoe Adventure: Tahoe Snowshoes Hare.

Science, anyone?  Where the Kudzu Grows shares a bit about nature study and a bit about science, or should I say a lot about both, in Homeschooling: Science and Nature Study...Part 5.

Treasuring the Moments encourages us to get outside with our little ones in Out of Doors Studies for Children Under Six. 

Just can't stand the cold?  Hearts and Trees has a wonderful indoor nature study alternative for us in Indoor Nature Study Idea- Tabletop Garden.

My Nature Study also has an idea for warm winter nature study in Bird Watching.

Praiseworthy Things makes nature study seem so easy and inviting in Love of Nature.

Nature Notes From Above gives a super tutorial in Nature Activity - Build Your Own Fruit Bowl Bird Feeder.

Wildflower Morning reminds us of the importance of nature and encourages us to bring the camera in Pass the Wonder. 

Check out One Child Policy Homeschool's icy nature adventures in Winter Ice Play.  She also gives a book recommendation in Last Child in the Woods Book Review.

Don't let the scientific method scare you.  Lifestyle Homeschool walks us through easily incorporating the scientific method into our day in The Scientific Method: Conversations With Science.

Take a peek into Country Cottage's learning in Term 2 Books.

Piney Woods Homeschool explains how to incorporate CM style education with little ones in Year 0 Introduction.

I've shared a glimpse into our special math days in Living Math - Winter Fun.

Dewey's Treehouse gives her ideas on CM math in Multiplication Without Vexation (CM and Math).

Distinctly Different reminds us to smile as we think back on the lovely literature we've read with our children in Of Friends and Fellows.

May the Lord Find Us Faithful has written a very honest post about easing into Charlotte Mason methods in Dictation.

School For Us shows us how she is introducing dictation in her homeschool in Beginning Dictation.  She also askes the question "How am I doing?" in Intellectual Food.

CM, Children and Lots of Grace shares an excellent tip for memorization in A Helpful Technique for Memory Work.

Adventures On Beck's Bounty has made plans to be sure her children learn wonderful handicraft skills in On Handicrafts (A Charlotte Mason Style Resolution).

Morningstar Academy Art is sharing Week Four: Van Gogh Study, but you'll want to be sure to check out the previous weeks, too!

Education is an Atmoshpere, a Discipline, a Life shares her thoughts on what this phrase means to her in Meaning Behind ths Weblog's Title.

Some Encouragement is exactly what Teacher Britt gives us in this thoughtful article.

La Sopa Smith gives a wonderful account of CM Education working in her homeschool in Let the Games Come to You.

Sunny Homeschool encourages us to keep our CM focus in An Aim and Direction.

The House at My Corner tells us her thoughts in Why I Like Charlotte Mason.

(If you submitted an article and don't see it here, would you please let me know?  A few people had a problem submitting their articles and I want to be able to pass any submission problems on to Barb before the next carnival.  Thanks!) 

If you would like to visit past editions of the Charlotte Mason Blog Carnival or submit an article for the next carnival, please visit this page.

The "lovely" clipart comes from The Stock Solution's Vintage Valentine's Art Collection.

I read a blog post last week that really touched me.  Under His Construction wrote about talking to others about our children – “venting” about the struggles of our children to others.  I had the opportunity to present the devotion at co-op this week and the Lord very clearly put this topic on my mind.  Here are notes from the devotion.

Leviticus 19:16

Do not go about spreading slander among your people.
Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor's life. I am the LORD.

Proverbs 11:13

A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret.

Proverbs 20:19 

A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks too much.

1 Timothy 3:11

Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.

Proverbs 16:28

A perverse man sows strife, and a whisperer separates the best of friends.

Proverbs 17:9

He who covers a transgression seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates friends.

Proverbs 18:8

The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man's inmost parts.

Proverbs 26:20 

Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down.

Leviticus 19:16

Thou shall not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people:

2 Thessalonians 3:11

For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies.

1)       We are clearly warned against gossip/slander/talebearing.  Usually, we tend to think about this in terms of talking about friends or acquaintances.  We might even consider that we shouldn’t speak about our husbands poorly.  But, how often do we put this in terms of speaking about our own children?

2)      How many times have we found ourselves “venting” about our children to others?  How many times have we “asked advice” about a particular problem with our child to anyone who will listen?  How many times have we told a tale about them in front of others, only to see their mortified face afterward?  How many times have we been so frustrated that we let spill out our frustrations on the phone to a friend, only to have them listening in the other room?

3)      I truly believe there’s a difference in asking advice from a “mentor” about an issue with a child and just openly complaining about the child.  I believe there needs to be one or two close friends or “older women” that you can go to when you need godly counsel.  But beyond those couple of people, spilling our child’s struggles to anyone who will listen can only be classified in my mind as gossip about our children.  Even still, I believe what we share with close friends or mentors needs to be guarded carefully.  Carefully in the way that we are really seeking counsel and not just venting, and careful in the way that we don’t speak about our children so that they can hear us.

4)      When thinking about close friends or mentors, I feel like it’s very important to really know the person with whom we’re talking.  Will they possibly continue the gossip?  Will they give us godly advice and not just help us to continue the cycle of complaining?

5)      What we expect from our children is most often what our children live up to.  Our expectations are not always spoken to them.  Unspoken expectations are read from things like our attitudes, facial expressions and what they overhear us saying about them.  When we talk about them to others, what they hear from our mouths becomes a form of the “expectation” they relate to themselves.  Even if they don’t hear us talking about them, children most often know that we have been.  Don’t be fooled into thinking that they don’t know what we’ve said – even little bitty ones.

6)      And what happens when they overhear us talking about them?  Besides the expectation they start to internalize, what else happens?  Bitterness, anger, dejection, hurt feelings, thoughts that they can’t possibly be good enough, thoughts that they are causing all the strife in our houses, withdrawl, sibling rivalry….????

7)      Go back and reread 2 Thess 3:11.  When we talk, talk, talk – even in the name of “I’m getting advice from a mentor” often gets us nowhere.  Actually getting to work on the “issues” we have with our children is what will really make a difference.

8)      So, what to do?  Practice building our children up to others.  Not only will it reap positive results if our children overhear us, but it’s likely to paint a better picture in our own minds of our children.  The problems may no longer seem so bad.  Ken Ham always says how you see things depends on the glasses you’re wearing.  This holds true with our children as well.  Looking at them from dark and negative glasses will hide all their wonderful qualities and keep us focused on the bad that needs to be fixed.  Putting on positive glasses will help us to focus on their good qualities, in turn, the bad qualities are likely to be pushed out as the good qualities keep growing.

May you be blessed as you strive to uplift your children and train them to wholeheartedly follow their God and Savior.  May we always be mindful of the nudging and teaching of our Lord as He shows us the way in His Word.     

Yep, the season for burnout is upon us.  Better days are ahead for those who hang in there.  I'm hoping this is one blog you can disregard because everything is joyful and sweet in your homeschool.  If not, I hope some of these ideas will perk up your blahs. 

Symptoms of Burnout

fatigue

impatience

lack of motivation

overeating

feel like a failure

crying for no apparent reason

hard to muster enthusiasm about school

many chores/jobs being left undone

feel pressure that children are being left behind

Overcoming Burnout

Pray!

Be in the Word daily

Get plenty of rest - mom & children

Get plenty of exercise - mom & children

Eat well & drink plenty - mom & children

Don't allow too much free time

Don't become a curriculum slave

Take time to be alone

Designate a place for school "stuff" so you have a visual and mental break from school

Don't compare yourself or your school with others

Allow input from your children

Set realistic goals

Take "fun day" breaks

Communicate expectations with children

Take frequent breaks during the day

Vary the teaching and learning techniques

Don't be a perfectionist

Be flexible

Ask hubby for support

Talk to a veteran homeschooler

Don't overschedule

Organize yourself

Be part of a support group!

Well, I'm off for the weekend.  We're headed to Bowling Green for a trip to Mammoth Cave Friday and then the CHEK Leadership Convention Saturday.  I'm doing a workshop at the convention and certainly would appreciate your prayers!  Anyway, I wanted to leave you with some encouragement since I won't be posting for a few days.  Have a great end to your week!  

The latest edition of the Charlotte Mason Blog Carnival is here!  Visit Liberty and Lily for some great CM inspiration.  :)

I just ran across a wonderful post by Marjorie at Life Without School.  A comment was left on her blog telling her she needed to "get a life".  She has written a very good response to why homeschooling is life.  At this time of year when I'm thinking, planning and preparing again, her article inspired me. 

My Educational Philosophy - Get A Life

I'm not sure why, but I feel a need to edit my post to say two things.  #1.  I'm not an unschooler.  I agree with much of what Marjorie said in her article, but I don't agree with the "purist" philosophy of unschooling.   I can explain what I mean by that if anyone cares to know.  :)  #2.  The links from her article may or may not lead you to Christian sites.  Her post has nothing offensive in it, but the others may.  Just so you know.

Here are a few questions I got recently from a blogging friend.  Because her questions were really good, I thought others might benefit from the answers.  As always, if you have additional advice, feel free to add it in the comments!

Hi Cindy -

I just read your post about having a bad day and it encouraged me to email you with some questions. I know you have a young one too - how is that going? My baby just turned one and is toddling all over creating quite a distraction. I get one kid focused and another turns his/her attention to the baby. I have an area for him to be pinned up in and different toys I bring out - but I'm just wearing myself out jumping from one kid to another. I read recently about someone scheduling individual time with each kid on a different day - but I'm rebelling against such structure. Hey, I love structure, but it seems that schedules like that just set me up to fail. Comments?

I wish I could say I have that all together!!  Alas, I think homeschooling with a busy one-year-old is simply challenging.  Luckily for me, my oldest can do most of her work by herself.  I go over her assignments and she only needs me when she's stumped.  While she's working, I focus my attention on the seven-year-old.  He still needs me a lot!  We do math, reading and phonics together.  What's the wee one doing?  Crawling all over the room (babyproofed, of course), crawling all over me, pulling his brother's papers off the table, nursing, eating Cheerios, or napping (rarely!)  Keeping the seven-year-old focused is challenging enough.  Throw a baby into the mix and some days are crazy!

When we do our unit time or Bible time together, wee one just joins in.  Again, trying to steal pencils so he can eat the erasers, tugging on his sister's pants so she'll hold him, or pulling all the books off the bookshelves so he can eat the binding.  Let's just say that our concentration level during school has declined somewhat since last year!!

I am often worn out by the end of a school day.  But, a few things that help....Try to teach as much together as possible so you don't have to jump between children.  Try to make them independent learners as quick as possible.  That way, you won't have to spend so much of your time teaching them.  Be laid back this year, realizing that homeschooling with a baby means less structure and more interruptions.  As baby gets older, school will get back to "normal" again.  If your little one takes a good nap in the afternoons (mine doesn't), that might be the best time for school.  At least the schoolwork that takes more focus and concentration.

Also, I've been a hard-core Sonlight user for the last four years. I bought the curriculum to do Intro to World History and Indepth World History at the same time. Indepth uses Story of the World, which we just love and I find I hardly ever open my instructors guide. I'm actually contemplating going out on my own next year - but I'm scared. I have a 12, 9 and almost 6 year old in addition to the wee one. The 12 year old is miles ahead in writing as compared to the 9 year old. Further, the 9 year old is not interested in lapbooking or notebooking at all - BOY. Suggestions? I've done one In the Hands of a Child with my 6 year old and it worked really well. I guess I'd like to be free of that Instructors Guide telling me I'm only on Week 6 of school and it is actually Week 12. I know I can go at my own pace - but its making me feel bad.

It sounds like you are already on a great start to doing your own thing!  My son doesn't get into lapbooks as much as my daughter either.  My daughter is miles ahead in most subjects - which makes sense since she's three grade levels older.  When we do a unit, I expect different things from each of them.  The ten-year-old is expected to go more indepth.  She is given writing assignments or research assignments, etc. that I don't give my son.  I spice units up by changing the approach often.  We might do lapbooks for one unit, then notebooking for the next unit.  The unit after that might be mostly project-based.  When we work on a lapbook unit, I cut out all the pieces for my son.  That goes a long way in his cooperation!

It sounds like I put a lot of extra thought into how to make the unit appropriate for each child, but it doesn't really take that much effort.  When I'm writing down all the ideas, I put a star beside things that will work for both kids, an M beside things for Mahayla and a C beside things for Caleb.  If Mahayla is given an assignment, I simply find one of the things marked with a C to do with Caleb. 

Using Story of the World, you will easily be able to sort out what to do together and seperately.  For instance, they might all do the map work, but you might ask your older one(s) to label a few extra things on the maps.  When asking the narration questions, you may decide to ask your older child to use one of the questions as a writing assignment, while the younger ones simply narrate or draw a picture. 

And finally, yes - yes, be free of an instructor's guide that makes you feel guilty for taking your time.  Life with children isn't about a perfectly executed schedule.  When I try to plan a wonderful schedule, something ALWAYS happens to mess that schedule up.  Kids get sick, a meal must be prepared for a friend in need, a doctor's appointment comes up.......If I depended on a preset curriculum plan, I'd always be behind and always feel guilty because of it.  Plus, we like rabbit trails.  When my kids get especially interested in something, I like to take time to go further with that topic.  Following a preset plan wouldn't allow me to do that, and what opportunities I'd miss to nurture the learning interests of my children!

In my little homeschooling circle, I'm the one people come to for advice. We dont have a lot of creative homeschoolers in my group. Most use ABekka, so my resources for this stuff is limited. We are plugging along OK this year - but I would really appreciate your input as I know my planning for next year will hit hard come January.

How do you decide what Unit Study's to do. Do you use History as your guide? Do you do more than one Unit Study at a time? I'll check out some of your links as well.

I follow (very loosely) the Well Trained Mind's philosophy for science and history.  Basically, that means we follow a four-year cycle for history units and science units.  Year one - we study ancient history and life sciences.  Year two - medieval history and earth sciences.  Year three - early modern history and chemistry.  Year four - late modern history and physics.  After four years, we start the cycle over again, learning more each time.  Since you already use Story of the World, you are on a four-year history cycle. 

That's how I decide the core of our units for the year.  I tend to get bored dragging a unit out too long, so we usually have time to add a couple other units that suit our fancy each year, too.  This year, on top of medieval history, astronomy and a unit about the earth, we are adding a KY history unit, and doing famous artists and famous composers lapbooks.

I'm not nearly as creative as some people give me credit.  I buy good curriculum and surf the internet for good ideas.  Put those good things together and pull out the best ideas - voila, a creative unit is born.  The more you do this kind of thing, the easier it gets, too.  Story of the World is a great "teacher" of what makes a good unit.  Great literaure, meaningful activities and teaching things in an understandable order are the basics.

No, I usually don't have more than one unit going at a time.  I tried to follow the Well Trained Mind's model of doing history three days a week and science two days, but it always seemed inconsistent.  Just when we were getting into one thing, it would be time to jump into another.  My children seem to "take it all in" better when we smoothly flow through one unit before going on to another.  I typically switch unit subjects each time.  In other words, if we've just finished a science study, the next unit will be a history study.

I'm so glad you felt comfortable asking me your questions.  I hope I've answered them sufficiently.  If not, keep asking!  By no means do I have all the answers.  All I can do is tell you the hows and whys of what we do around here.  Praise the Lord for great resources and this wonderful community of Christian bloggers!   Blessings to you!!

Well, it happened.  We've been working towards this for a while now.  We had a really bad homeschooling day.  You know, one of those days Todd "The Familyman" Wilson  describes in his cartoon book.  The husband comes home from work to find mom missing in action.  After several minutes of searching, he finds her locked in a dark closet in the fetal position!  I guess our day wasn't that bad, but it was close.

I'm convinced that people (including children) who are immeasurably blessed, take their blessings for granted.  To not know what it's like "on the other side of the fence" seems to blind you to how wonderful your side of the fence really is.  My children have never known sitting for hours on end in a public school.  They've never known sitting for hours on end in front of a dvd teacher.  They've never even known sitting in front of textbook after textbook on a daily basis.  They have no idea what a cool mom I really am.  I don't say that in a boastful way!  What I mean is that they have no idea how exciting and wonderful their days really are.  They don't know that not every child gets to do experiments, lapbooks, field trips, nature walks, cooking and art.  They don't realize that not every child gets to sit wherever they want to do their work.  They don't realize that not every child gets to take the day off on an unusually beautiful day in the middle of winter.  They don't realize that not every child is free to spend the afternoon grooming and riding horses.  Believe you me, I tell them how blessed they are.  Sadly, they just don't get it.

I'm not down for the count - just frustrated.  I'm not giving up on them either.  I know they'll begin to understand their blessings as the get older.  I'm just so tired of the whining and complaining.  I wish there were a way to help them to see  - really see - how wonderful their life is. 

We seem to go through a season such as this every year about this time.  The holidays are coming.  It's time for a school break.  Yesterday was the feast at co-op.  It's always hard to lasso my kids back into schoolwork after a special day like yesterday.  Top that off with all the junk food they ate and I know why today has been "one of those days."

After my, ahem, "mommy tantrum", I went to my room to fold about seven loads of laundry that have been piling up.  I heard a lot of ruckus in the kitchen, then complete quiet for about 20 minutes.  Soft footsteps came to the door, then a little knock.  The door opened a crack and through the crack came a folded peice of paper.  That 20 minutes of quiet had been spent writing an apology note.  They gave me great big hugs and led me downstairs to a wonderfully cleaned kitchen.  Yes, there's hope for them yet!   I suppose there's hope for me, too. 

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Praise Him all creatures here below.

Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts.

Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

Amen.

Give thanks unto the Lord, call upon His name, make known His deeds among the people.  Sing unto Him, sing psalms unto Him, talk ye of all His wondrous works.  Glory ye in His holy name:  let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord.  Seek the Lord and His strength, seek His face continually.  Remember His marvelous works that He has done, His wonders, and the judgements of His mouth.

1 Chronicles 16: 8-12   

Welcome to the 5th Edition of the Charlotte Mason Blog Carnival!!  As we prepare to give thanks for all the bountiful blessings we have, I decided to go with the theme of Thankfulness.  I'm sure integrating Charlotte Mason techniques and ideas into your homeschool has made you a very thankful momma (or daddy!)  As you watch your children grow in their love of learning because of the gentle, meaningful Charlotte Mason way, you know you've found the key to combining family, homeschooling and love.  May you be blessed in your ventures and never forget to be thankful to the One from whom all your blessings flow.

Remembering What a Charlotte Mason Education is All About

The Common Room gives an excellent overview of some of Charlotte Mason's teachings in Charlotte Mason, Education, and Ideas, Part 1.

Did you ever think that taking care of yourself was part of a Charlotte Mason education?  My4Sweetums explains this idea in Making Time for Mother Culture. 

Training Your Child's Heart 

Higher Up and Further In has written a beautiful post about training a child's soul to be motivated by God in Challenge Your Child with Greatness. 

Praiseworthy Things shares a timely post about teaching the topic of loyalty to your children in Teaching Loyalty.

The Nitty-Gritty of Homeschooing

Would you like a simple way to keep track of what you've been doing for school, keep your family updated, and organize and plan your lessons?   Living, Loving & Learning shows you how she uses a weekly blog entry to take care of all these thing at once in Plans For October 14-19.  

How about exams?  What would Charlotte Mason think?  Freedom Academy gives an insightful look into how she handles them in Semester Exams Charlotte Mason Style. 

Do you ever get frustrated with homeschooling?  We all do at one time or another.  Homeschooling Journey tries to keep frustrating days in perspective in Stay Cool While You Homeschool.

Do you ever get bogged down trying to do everything?  The Educational Life shares how she tries to plan her week to fit in everything from school to housework, while not becoming overwhelmed in Rainy Days Clean My Toilets.

Dominion Family debates the need for a schedule versus an atmosphere of learning in Education as Atmosphere: The Schedule.

Nature Study

I'm never more thankful than walking outside in the fresh air taking in every slice of beauty that surrounds me.  Yielded Heart shares a lovely blog about the importance of taking notice of this beauty in