Ever wonder how Charlotte Mason's principles translate from the classroom to your homeschool?

Many of Charlotte Mason's principles were written with a classroom in mind so how does that work when you factor in the laundry, lunchtime, and toddlers?

Join me as I welcome my first guest, Kristin Rosin, former CM teacher turned homeschool mama. 

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• how CM's principles play out in a classroom vs. a homeschool
• why CM works for Outside-the-Box kiddos
• one mom's journey from teacher to parent-teacher

I've always been a pretty nostalgic person - always made it a point to reflect and look at life as one big story - so it makes sense that New Year's is my favorite.

Every year I like to reflect back and dream forward but this year I had so much more material to work with. Looking back, thinking of where we were a year ago at this time - in Michigan quite literally at the end of our rope - it blows my mind to see what God has done in 365 days. Through a series of circumstances, He gave us a " George Bailey" experience as well as precious time with family and friends, grew us spiritually, stretched us beyond what we thought was possible and brought us back home to Alabama. To honor the cliche, hindsight really is 20/20. I can see how God moved in many ways; I can understand the reason behind certain struggles, I can find the silver lining.

But I can't for the life of me predict the future.

“Come share this with me! Delight with me! Teach me! Tell me more!” That’s what children are really saying.

Children are generally better at nature study that adults; their fresh perspective is a gift they have that we get numb to as we get older. Nature study reminds us that we don’t have to be seeing something for the first time to be excited about it.

“Look, mom, look!”

And that’s essentially what nature study is…

Look.

Delight.

Share.

Repeat.

Resources

Read the post: Meeting Charlotte Mason: Nature Study

Nature Journal

Explore another cornerstone in a Charlotte Mason education - the Great Outdoors. I'll discuss the benefits of being outdoors as well as practical tips to getting over obstacles like the weather. 

Reading great books is a cornerstone to a Charlotte Mason education, but just what is a "great book?" How do you choose one? And what should you avoid? This episode we'll discuss living books and their nemesis, twaddle. Be sure to grab a copy of the Booklist for the Well-Read Child in the notes.

The other day I recalled a conversation I had with a friend when the boys were really little. A question had been burning in my mind for a while and I needed to ask it…

“What do you do all day? I mean with the kids? What do you do?”

At the time I was a mom of twin toddlers and an infant so believe me there was plenty I could do. Yet every day, I found myself wandering around the house haphazardly from task to task. I would cook meals, clean up messes, and try to make sleep happen for everyone. There didn’t seem to be any purpose in my days and I wanted to live intentionally with my littles.

What I was really asking her was, “what should my days look like as a mom of little ones?” What I really wanted was a pre-school schedule.

Nurturing your pre-schooler’s mind and body are important parts of raising your child but nurturing your pre-schooler’s soul is the most crucial piece of the triad. Without a well-fed soul, the mind would become arrogant and the body would become reckless. The soul is the link that makes a strong mind and body worth having. Without a well-fed soul, your child cannot truly thrive.

It was Charlotte Mason’s belief that the child is a person so we must educate the whole person, not just his mind. This led to her famous statement that “education is an atmosphere, a discipline, a life.” As a living being, your child has a body and during the pre-school years especially, it is important that you nurture it. So how do you nurture your pre-schooler’s body? By helping them learn to regulate it and strengthen it.

When it comes to the early years, it's tempting to get a jump on academics but there is a time for everything.

Listen as I split hairs and explain why "pre-school" and "preschool" are different things. This is the first episode of a series on nurturing your pre-schooler or in other words, how to homeschool during the early years.