Back into the swing of things.

This week we are heading into week 6 of term 2 AO5, after two weeks off. I'm feeling ready and prepared to face the next 6 weeks with fresh vigour. 
What an extraordinary blessing it is to help educate the little persons in our worlds. Well they're not so little anymore, as a matter of fact I think my 14yo son has just grown taller than me. 

We press on, knowing this is our destiny. 
Life is hard and challenging at times, but we press on. 
Life is not all about English, Grammar and Maths. 
It's about knowing you are made and loved by the creator of this universe. I think when one truly grasps this truth, you are freed to become all that you were destined to be. 

We were recently away at a Christian conference, and I sensed God whispering and reminding me of Charlotte Masons motto-
I am
I can
I ought
I will. 
So today I have written them up, and I am going to say these words out loud with my kids everyday.

 

 

Words are so powerful.

I heard a quote- 'Words are not just used to communicate but to create'. I love this, as it reminds me that God used words to bring this phenomenal universe into existence. 
It's something that is vital in our home schooling atmosphere. To use words that create dreams, life and encouragement. 

On Character building

Last night at church I met a wonderful lady; she was the guest speaker to talk about Kairos prison ministry. 

We connected straight away, and at the end of the service this lady came over to me and said, 'I have just been having a lovely conservation with your son, and I also am a home educator, and I just want to encourage you to keep on keeping on, as it's all about teaching character, and in the end that is what is most important'. 

What adjectives can I use to describe my heart and soul at those uplifting words?

- Uplifted
- Blessed
- Raised

The encouragement was simple, but for me it was like someone just coming along and picking me up again. 

This lady doesn't know what hardships I'm enduring with a certain 14yo, and how I am daily struggling to just not turn into a yelling, screaming arguing monster. 

Building character is the most difficult and trying thing to do as a parent, and I know that millions have gone before me, but sometimes I still feel so alone.

I know that God is the character builder, He is the potter and I am clay, and He is the one who shapes and moulds our lives, so we show His very attributes; His nature; His character. 

It's the constant battle between right and wrong. I know that arguing is wrong, that yelling is wrong, but I still do it at times because I am flawed, because my character is still being developed. 

I'm being taught to be humble and always apologise to my kids when I have messed up.

Miss Mason said 'More than upon anything else, future character and conduct depend'. More than anything! 

So those words 'keep on keeping on' are echoing in my spirit today as a gentle reminder to hold strong, even though I am weak, to hold my tongue, even when I want to vomit wrong words, to keep walking in love, even though I want to run away. 

Today is all we have, and today I have the greatest teacher with me, guiding each step, who recently told me 'I don't own my children', they belong to Him. 

A Miss Mason quote

"The children should have the joy of living in far lands, in other persons, in other times--a delightful double existence; 

and this joy they will find, for the most part, in their story books." 

~ Charlotte Mason 

We are going into week 5 of Ambleside online year 5.

We have been thrusted into a plethora of characters & places. 

The Book of Marvels has so quickly become a read aloud not to be missed. Whether it's the way Richard writes, I don't know, but my children & I are enthralled with this book as he discovers some of the wonders in our world. 

I'm reading this one out loud, and I allow my children to use their iPods to search whatever marvel we are reading about, and we then locate the place on our maps. 

After I have finished reading, my children narrate individually what they remember. 

We are also taken with Shakespeare's Hamlet and it is bringing out the theatrical within my children & I; such fun. 

Pondering on Miss Masons quote above, I am continually grateful for the rich living literature that bring this joy; how they transport us to another place and time, such a priceless gift. 

So far this term we haven't done a lot of nature drawings, so I am planning on packing a picnic one day this week and venturing off to either the beach, the bush or the lakes to find an inspiring place to draw what captures our attention. 

Journeying with Reading Aloud

Did you know that the 6th of March was World Read Aloud Day? 
I didn't, not until I saw a few status updates on facebook about it. 


Did you know that there are 793 million people who cannot read?
I didn't!

There really is so much I don't know and my soul aches whenever I hear of neglect towards children. I know I can't save the world, I'm not called to do that, but I can make a difference in one life or maybe even ten and I trust that the Lord will water the seeds I plant.

One thing I do know is the Lord called me to educate my children at home for purposes that I understand and some I don't understand and remain only in God's thoughts.

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

So are My ways higher than your ways,

And My thoughts than your thoughts."

- Isaiah 55:9

Making reading aloud in our home a habit and a top priority has been a long journey. It all began when I was not satisfied with just text books and a small voice inside me kept prompting me to search for more. It was then that I discovered Charlotte Masons philosophy of education and excitement began to stir within. 

I was very ignorant to the fact of how difficult the road was going to be to break the school system out of my mind. It has been one stepping stone after another and a lot of times I slipped off at times when I allowed other peoples ignorant ideas and criticisms really affect my thoughts.

But I persisted and God sent people into my path who He used to strengthen my weak areas.

One being reading aloud. 

Today I am so pleased to be settled into homeschooling using Ambleside Online and the amazing read aloud system they have going on. I used to be so daunted whenever I would look at the years and all the literature to cover. 

But step by step it is possible. I just made small changes all the time until they became a part of our lives. 

Combining my children has been the best outcome for us even if my son is 4 years older than my daughter, combining all the read aloud's is working out to be very successful. 

The benefits that I have so far witnessed from introducing reading aloud as a way of life are - 

• Precious time with your children
• The ability to listen
• An exceptional increase in vocabulary (and not just from the children)
• It is a time of sailing off into someones world or venturing back to what once was
• Having the ability to comprehend and narrate back in your own words
• Developing a love for reading and for books
• Opens up various subjects for tremendous conversations 
• Expands the mind to think

For us this way of learning has been enriching and I Praise God for His leading and wisdom. 

I certainly don't stand back and judge what others do, for it is really important to do what works for each individual family, and homeschooling according to Miss Masons ways works for us.

So today I read aloud two ch of Ethel Turners 'Seven Little Australians' and 1 Chapter from 'Our Island Story' and it was truly a breeze. Ten years ago I would of struggled to even read half a chapter, but that is what is amazing about learning and growing.

All glory to my Heavenly Father who so willingly teaches. 

 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." - John 15:5

Love Sarah

xxx

Changes for Term 3

"That is the capital charge against most schools. 

The teachers underrate the tastes and abilities of their pupils. 

In things intellectual, children, even backward children, have extraordinary 'possibilities for good'––possibilities so great that if we had the wit to give them their head they would carry us along like a stream in spate." - Charlotte Mason 

  
After reassessing my home school schedule for a month, I came to a decision to combine my two children in Ambleside year 2. I did have Joshua in y4 and Gracie in y2, but I really was not following history chronologically. 


Firstly I did feel a little concerned about taking my son back, but in the scheme of life and education it really does not matter, and truly after prayer, I could not go past the peace I had about doing this. 


My son is nearly 12 and he has been slower in the academics side, but his comprehension is incredible, his mind is beautiful he has an incredible artistic side, and he loves nothing more than having a really good conversation with people, I love that!
 
My daughter on the other hand simply breezes through her work and also has great comprehension and that is the fruit of narrating from living books.  

"The more of a person we succeed in making a child, the better will he both fulfil his own life and serve society."

- Educator Charlotte Mason

So below is my new schedule and I feel pleased and content in these changes.


Ambleside Year 2 Australian Schedule

This week in our Homeschool!

This week in our homeschool, everything has worked together so well. For those of you who homeschool according to Charlotte Mason's methods will know how at times alot of the subjects intertwine themselves together.

For Galloping the Globe we have been taking a closer look at the country Italy (no suprises there) and also reading Columbus and following his journey from Italy. I actually didn't plan to have them work together, it's just one of those CM moments.

Do you want to know a secret?

I never knew Italy was shaped like a boot!

We are also reading (and really enjoying) Our Island Story which once again, Italy was the main source of history.

I love this.

I love how our Geography, History and biography lessons have embroided the one subect together.

It's so fun and so rewarding to see my children so fascinated with the stories.

I am experiencing now in our homeschool what Charlotte Mason expressed, how living books brings the class alive.

To wrap up this week, I want to share one of Joshua's oral narrations from 'Our Island Story' ~

'How Caligula Conquered Britian, and How Caractacus

Refused to be Conquered'

"Caligula tried to conquer the britons. Caligula commanded his soldiers to pick up the shells.

The soldiers obeyed there master and took them home to remember that they conquered Britian.

Caractacus made a speech, "show yourself like your men" and the Romans heard them and thought they were cheering.

They got scared and went to go fight, and they took their land.

The Romans put Caractacus, his Wife and daughter in chains and the romans gathered around to watch him because he was a mighty warrior and never gave up and the Romans felt sad.

The King liked Caractacus' attitude and speech and he let his family go free."

Thank you for stopping by, I value your time and comments as always. May you have rest over the weekend, I sure know I need it!

Find rest, O my soul, in God

alone; my hope comes from him.

~ Psalm 62:5

What is a living book?

10:30am ~

"I can't wait to tonight when we can have our tea, have a bath and get into your bed and keep reading our new book "Wy-lah the black cockatoo"

~ Quote Joshua - 8yo

What more can I say?

"The children should have the joy of living in far lands, in other persons, in other times--a delightful double existence; and this joy they will find, for the most part, in their story books." ~ Charlotte Mason Vol. 1 Part IV--Some Habits Of Mind - Some Moral Habits, p.153)

Thank you Ambleside online!

This has been our first year of following Ambleside online wholly and I just have to say how refreshing it is to read lively books that have been beautifully written with brilliant illustrations such as 'Pagoo'.

This lovely story of the life of a hermit crab was one of the read aloud for Ambleside online y2 and this story absolutely captivated and inspired my ds. We finished this week and the first thing ds asks ~ 'is there number 2'?

I am so thankful to God for guiding me to the Charlotte Mason approach and to Ambleside online for providing there free curriculum according to Miss Mason's philosophy!

The last thing I just want to mention is how these great books bring our lessons to life, it is wonderful to just step away after maths and penmanship and get lost in the great minds of the writers.