pI recently read this wonderful reminder of what it is we are endeavoring to do when we give our children a Charlotte Mason education: I desire my children to form relations with what they study—not to know meagerly “about” something but to really know something by establishing a relationship with it (A Charlotte Mason Companion by Karen Andreola, p. 67). And when we catch a glimpse of the relations a child is making for himself, it can be so encouraging! Melissa S. shared about a special moment when she was privileged to see it happen with her son. Here is…/p

pa rel=nofollow href=https://simplycharlottemason.com/blog/happy-results-melissa-ss-picture-study-story/Happy Results: Melissa S.’s Picture Study Story/a originally appeared on a rel=nofollow href=https://simplycharlottemason.comSimply Charlotte Mason/a./p

pThanks for coming along on this little study that caught my attention. This whole idea of self-educating seems clearer now. We’ve looked at six tools that facilitate self-education: Read or hear literary books. Put it in your own words (narrate). Observe closely and carefully. Record your discoveries in personal notebooks. Memorize and recite. Create something of your own. Each one can be used by an individual to further his personal learning. None requires dependence on a teacher or a schedule of classes or a group of peers. They can be used at any level, with no limitations on topic, age,…/p

pa rel=nofollow href=https://simplycharlottemason.com/blog/use-powerful-combinations-6-tools-self-education-part-7/Use Powerful Combinations: 6 Tools for Self-Education, Part 7/a originally appeared on a rel=nofollow href=https://simplycharlottemason.comSimply Charlotte Mason/a./p

pWhen my children were young we had a designated Craft Box. Into this box went empty paper towel tubes, clean styrofoam trays, sheets of felt on clearance at the fabric store, empty cereal boxes, paper that had been printed on one side and was no longer needed, plastic bottle caps, pictures from greeting cards, and lots of tape, glue sticks, safety scissors, a paper punch, and felt-tip markers. From this box arose imaginative machines, original artwork, cardboard costumes, and an entire civilization for dolls—including dwellings, store contents, clothing, and even currency. Creating something of your own from the pieces that…/p

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pI was talking with a mother recently whose daughter had memorized a poem. The mother shared how some relatives had stopped by, and the mother had taken advantage of their visit to encourage her daughter to recite the poem for them. At first the girl was hesitant, but she took courage, stood before them, and shared the poem. The relatives were thrilled and the little girl gained confidence. The next time her mother asked her to recite for someone else, she was ready and eager to give her gift of recitation. For that’s what the poem had become to her:…/p

pa rel=nofollow href=https://simplycharlottemason.com/blog/keep-give-away-6-tools-self-education-part-5/Keep It and Give It Away: 6 Tools for Self-Education, Part 5/a originally appeared on a rel=nofollow href=https://simplycharlottemason.comSimply Charlotte Mason/a./p

pWrite it down. That was the instruction at the end of the first chapter in the book I was reading. The chapter had been full of ideas and possibilities. So much so that my head was spinning with different images and options. But when I read those words, encouraging me to take a little time to record my thoughts and discoveries, I dismissed them. No need to do that, I thought. I’ll sort them out in my head. You can guess what happened. It’s still a swirling mass now, days later. But the swirl is not so big, for, sadly,…/p

pa rel=nofollow href=https://simplycharlottemason.com/blog/record-discoveries-6-tools-self-education-part-4/Record Your Discoveries: 6 Tools for Self-Education, Part 4/a originally appeared on a rel=nofollow href=https://simplycharlottemason.comSimply Charlotte Mason/a./p

pMost of you are familiar with the illustrious fictional detective, Sherlock Holmes. He is famous for solving mysteries by paying close attention to details. One scenario sticks out in my mind, because it sums up the Holmes character in a nutshell. In the scene Holmes instructs Watson on the difference between seeing and observing. “When I hear you give your reasons,” Watson remarked, “the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each successive instance of your reasoning, I am baffled until you explain your process. And yet I believe that my…/p

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p“So where shall we meet?” I was arranging to have lunch with a friend, and we were trying to answer one of the most difficult questions that can ever be posed to two or more people: Where do you want to eat? I had spotted a pizza place recently that looked promising, so I suggested it. We had a winner! Until she asked me where it was. I had a general idea of which road it was on and had mentally filed it under “Between home and church,” but I couldn’t get much more detailed than that. Thankfully she could…/p

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pIt struck me the other day how much time and effort we homeschooling parents put into teaching. We spend hours discussing strategies, learning techniques, and evaluating materials, striving to improve our presentations as teachers. All of that is good. We should be dedicated to doing the best job we possibly can in this calling to home school. But there are two sides to the coin. The teacher is not the only one who should put forth effort. Charlotte Mason held her teachers to a high standard, but she also reminded them that “The children, not the teachers, are the responsible…/p

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pDon’t you love it when you finally reach a goal that you have had your eye on for many years? Well, the year 2017 reflects just such a milestone goal for SCM. We are excited to announce that Free Shipping will now be available every day all year round for contiguous U.S. orders over $75! That means that now you can grab the Learning and Living: Homeschooling the Charlotte Mason Way 12-DVD set you’ve been eyeing and bring it home with free shipping. Spend some time gaining confidence in teaching with Charlotte’s methods. It means that if you have several…/p

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pWhen we think of habits to be formed, we often think of tasks that will make our homes run smoother. We may look at a new year and decide to help our children focus on picking up toys, brushing teeth, putting away shoes, or wiping off kitchen counters. But there is one habit that can transform our homes and our home schools more than we realize. It’s a habit that often gets overlooked. Delight S. discovered the power of this habit with her children. Here is her story. As I think of forming new habits each year, I am reminded…/p

pa rel=nofollow href=https://simplycharlottemason.com/blog/happy-results-delight-s-s-habit-story/Happy Results: Delight S.’s Habit Story/a originally appeared on a rel=nofollow href=https://simplycharlottemason.comSimply Charlotte Mason/a./p