Language Arts and all that Jazz

I will need to break this section in to many posts-due to each level needing a lot of attention for details. The best thing to keep in mind when choosing your curriculum for this area: KNOW YOUR KID! Honestly. If your child is a total workbook freak and learns best through this way, be sure to have it in their program. Do not avoid or drop other things that can, and will cause them to stretch their skills though. The key is to slip it in there and before they know what they are doing, so that they already have that skill.

If you have one who loathes writing things down, but can easily rattle off everything, perhaps lightening up on the writing (again, this is not forever, eventually they need this skill), and having more oral recitation will do the trick.

Remember that each child is different. One may be reading whilst still in the womb, the other may not read until they have facial hair. Ok, that is being a tad dramatic, but you get the point. One may not visually, or mentally be ready to be reading at 4 or 5. Others are reading novels by 3rd grade. Take each child as they are: individuals. Patience will be the key factor here too.

So, when the posts start popping up, keep these helpful hints in mind. Be sure to research as many books as you can on this subject. I prefer the CM way and phonics for a good language arts program. Of course, for those of us who are eclectic in nature-different components of several programs may come into play. Use what you think will work best.

Over and out.

Charlotte Mason sites

I came across a couple new sites today and wanted to post some others I know of that utilize Charlotte Mason's philosophies.

I have not yet purchased from these folks, but from what I see, they have some great materials that play in nicely to Charlotte's way of thinking and teaching. Check them out.

livingbookscurriculum.com (fellow Michiganders and Christians to boot-awesome)

backyardnature.net (nature study helps via online )

simplycharlottemason.com (info on CM and free ebook)

homeschoolhelperonline.com/notebooking.htm (notebooking ideas and more)

queenhomeschool.com (many products geared toward CM style-good info)

amblesideonline.org (mother of all CM sites, has complete book lists and ideas for all grades)


Another great little ditty I found-uses scrapbooking and notebooking and copywork to create nice scrap-notebooks. Follows the same idea of lapbooks.

scrapandlearn.com

Have fun checking these out!

Charlotte Mason Books

Since I posted the web sites that refer to CM...thought I might as well add the books that I love that explain her and her philosophies too!

FAVORITES!!!!

If there is a book about her, I most likely have read it...'cept for maybe one or two I could not get a hold of.
These are the ones that I find best describe CM, have practical and helpful ideas on how to implement them as well.

Charlotte Mason Companion by Karen Andreola (first one I read and refer to the most-very good coverage and explanations)

Charlotte Mason Education and More Charlotte Mason Education by Catherine Levison
(these are not thick books and could be easily read in one sesson, but they are packed with info-I am constantlly picking them up to click the "refresh button" in my brain)

Charlotte Mason Study Guide by Penny Gardner

Another good go along with these are books that list CM style living books.

For the Love of Learning by Jenny Sockey is a decent find. Not too thick and yet, lists what is essential for your library (mixes both CM and Classical)

I have also read and recommend reading Sally Clarkson's, Educating the Wholehearted Child
and The Mission of Motherhood.

Some very good Summer Reads for you to refresh and rejuvie your homeschooling spirit!

Spreading the word on a great FREEBIE site

I dunno if you have heard of this great resource, but Jim Erskine and the fam offer this site which has free downloadable e-Sources for you! Yeppers. I have downloaded a boat load and they are awesome. You can use them to supplement your homeschooling and again-did I mention it is for free? So all you do is join the mailing list to get the reminder notice and head over to the site every day to download something new....oh, and they do have a homeschool resource store too-now those aren't free but they have some great stuff available for resonable prices. Hey, and you support a homeschooling family in the process!

Homeschool Freebie of the Day