Charlotte Mason Blog Carnival for January 18 - February 1, 2010

I enjoyed hosting the Charlotte Mason Blog Carnival so much in October that I've decided to be a "regular" on the tour. We have many interesting attractions so grab a soda and some popcorn.. it's time to make the Carnival rounds!



Curriculum and Lessons

Our first stop brings us to the Curriculum and Lessons section.  Here we find Jill at Children in the Midst . Her post entitled "A New Semester; A New Beginning" really hits home with me. She explains a little of her journey through homeschooling. She's made some important decisions about her history curriculum. Perhaps you can relate also.

"I guess what it all boils down to is do what works for your family and don't be afraid to change/tweak/abandon a curriculum if you're not happy."

Barb-Harmony Art Mom gives us some more ideas and resources on how to put together exams in a Charlotte Mason fasion.  Check it out at Charlotte Mason Style Exams-Resources posted at Harmony Art Mom.

"Hopefully you can glean some good ideas for your own Charlotte Mason style term exams from the resources in this post. "

The Holistic Homeschooler (yours truly!!) at  What are your goals? asks.. well.. what are your goals! I would love to know what your list of goals for the year looks like. I suppose, being newer to the method than many of you, I'd like to compare what I've got and where I'm going. So if you could visit the page and share, that would be great!


Fine Arts


Our next stop on the Carnival is at the Fine Arts display.  Heather has written Ermines: A Lesson in Art and Science posted at Well Read. While studying the art work of Leonardo da Vinci's "Lady with an Ermine", her family became interested in the Ermine. Please pay her a visit to find out the results of their research as well as suggestions if you'd like to learn more.

"During the renaissance the ermine was prevalent in art and literature."

Jimmie shares some creativity with us. In New Year, New Calendar, New Art posted at Jimmie's Collage, she tells about her calendar-buying and how she uses that for art and recycling (I especially like that since I'm a green-mom).

"...the calendar is a great way to find new artists to learn about and review art that we should already recognize."

At The Holistic Homeschooler, I have shared Artist Study & Art Appreciation: Vincent van Gogh. We are actually a few weeks into it and have used more resources than those listed. But I'd hoped to share what's going on in our homeschool and possibly glean more ideas from you.

"How about you? Which artist are you studying in your homeschool? What resources are you using? Please leave comments. "

Living Math

In line with Charlotte Masons teachings, we are moving to a vastly different subject. At the Living Math section, we find more creativity from Jimmie.  Today, Jimmie shows us the method she used for making integers more "real" for her child using a timeline, a number line and living math. Visit her post Living Math with Positive and Negative Numbers posted at Jimmie's Collage to read how she did this.

"Numbers, both positive and negative are valued in their relationship to zero. Time itself is measured in relation to the life of Christ. "

Cindy shows us how she incorporated math and a nature study at Cold Measurement posted at Shining Dawn Books. Actually, if I'm not mistaken.. this is a bit of science, too.

"I love to incorporate more than one subject at a time when possible. It not only saves time, but makes connections that are so important for children to understand."

Nature Study and Science

Like a real carnival without a ferris wheel, the Charlotte Mason Blog Carnival would be incomplete with out the Nature Study section!  Angie in GA has been following Barb's Cattail study.  She did some additional research and went on an adventure! Read all about it at Winter Outdoor Hour:Nature Close To Home-Cattails posted at TheOneThing where you'll find some nice pictures too!

"This adventure just reinforces my belief that one of the best things you can do for your children and yourself is to spend time exploring God’s Amazing Creation!!"

Kim shares some absolutely beautiful photos of a nature walk her family took. View the photos at Time For A Winter Nature Walk! posted at Homestead Acres.

"They had a wonderful time looking at the deer and finding different tracks."

Annette Berlin presents Amazing Leonardo da Vinci Inventions , in which she shares her review of the book by the same title posted at Craft Stew.

"The projects for me to try include buildng a perspectograph, learning two-point perspective, plastic making and paint making. Projects for the children are a camera obscura, a hygrometer and trebuchet."

Handicrafts

Our carnival doesn't always happen to have Handicrafts displays. It's nice to have Angie in GA on the carnival tour these days. In #5 Handicrafts/ Life Skills Challenge posted at TheOneThing she continues her ideas for handicrafts, presenting challenges to participate in and follow along.

" Let me share my definition of Handicraft/Life Skills: “Anything useful you can learn and use the rest of your life.”  "

Reading and Literature

Jeanne gives us something important to think about: "Susan is saying that if mum does not understand what she is reading aloud, then her children will not enjoy the book." This is truly an important lesson for us to learn. Go read more at Read to enjoy and understand posted at A peaceful day.

Habit Formation
Alicia has had some decisions to make regarding chores and allowance. She posted the resulting decision at Get to Work!! posted at la famille.

"...the point is to help them to understand the importance of good work ethic and working for your money."

keri reminds us of the example Charlotte Mason shared with us on how to develop the Habit of Attention. She then address the "what if..." of a mother who isn't consistent in her habit training.  Read more at: Character Training, Inconsistency posted at Sunny Scholars.

"what is good for mom, will also be good for the children"

Personal Commentary

And now we bring a conclusion to our carnival with some personal comments from carnival members. So sit down and rest your feet from the walking.

The first to take the stage is DeputyHeadmistress. In her post, Charlotte Mason, E.D. Hirsch, and Dropping Science Labs Because Science is Just Too White posted at The Common Room she shows (and vents) about the way that the school systems, in their efforts to be advocates for minorities, are actually limiting their knowledge and ability to learn. This is in starke contrast to Charlotte Mason's teachings.

"We must give up the farce of teaching young people how to learn, which is just as felicitous a labour and just as necessary as to teach a child the motions of eating without offering him food... "

Jeanne presents On Play posted at A peaceful day. Observing children at natural play and computer-assisted play, she has a bit to say on the matter.

"Kids love to play. They have amazing imaginations. They may have forgotten how to use them because of chronic underuse, but to play is natural. "

Angie in GA is the next speaker. In her post,  Why I Home School posted at TheOneThing we find her reasons for schooling and she poses the question back to us. So go share with her your reasons for homeschooling.

"You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. "

It looks like we've reached the end of the Carnival. It's been a lot of fun for me and I hope you've enjoyed the shows. I think we had some wonderful submissions and can't wait for the next tour! If you'd like to submit for the next carnival which will be held at Dewey's Tree house, please submit your article here


Happy Homeschooling!
Michelle