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Martha
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| Posted: Oct 27 2006 at 3:27pm | IP Logged
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wow.
I admit to laziness or just timidness. I have not read those intimidating 6 volumes of Charlotte Mason.
I was however hoping slimly to abtain 4 Real Learning from the library and instead found another recommendation from Elizabeth Foss - Andreola's CM Companion.
wow.
I got it yesterday and have just finished reading through it this morning. I have no tabs left to mark insights and notes. I will be buying my own copy asap.
wow.
I hate parenting books and most education books. After 6 years and lots of research, I've found most to be of, at best, a minimal benefit.
This book however, gives the meat. She didn't just tell me why narration is important. She actually tells HOW to do it and HOW to correct problems implementing it.
Now I'm inspired!
I am going to keep my children close to me to work on strengthening their Will! I'm going to look for art books at the used store! I'm going to put in Mozart everyday at tea time next week! I'm going to start having tea time! 
I'm going to gather other books near me to cultivate my "Mother Culture" because lately my well has been running dry, which means empty buckets! 
I'm just giddy. This is not what I thought Charlotte Mason was at all. I do so much of it already and didn't even know it. All these stumbling blocks that have had me mystified for so long, I think I finally see how to navigate some of them.
sigh
I'm so relieved to finally have the lights turned onto these problem areas that have been holding us back.
Did anyone else feel this way? I can't wait to read 4 Real Learning and For the Children's Sake and I'm hoping to get my hands on the CM volume set too!
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Martha
mama to 7 boys & 4 girls
Yes, they're all ours!
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Christine
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I really enjoyed this book, too. However, I have to say that Elizabeth's book is even better (imho). I am so thankful that Karen and Elizabeth have taken the time to share.
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Christine
Mommy to 4 girls, 5 boys, & 2 in God's care
Memories of a Catholic Wife and Mother
Pretty Lilla Rose
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Cay Gibson
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| Posted: Oct 27 2006 at 4:18pm | IP Logged
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Martha wrote:
| Did anyone else feel this way? |
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Yep. 
CM Companion was the first book I ever saw and read on CM. I was immediately entranced and haven't come out of the spell since. My copy is literally falling apart.
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Cay Gibson
"There are 49 states, then there is Louisiana." ~ Chef Emeril
wife to Mark '86
mom to 5
Cajun Cottage Under the Oaks
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Martha
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| Posted: Oct 27 2006 at 4:56pm | IP Logged
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Christine wrote:
| Elizabeth's book is even better (imho). |
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OH! Now I'm really feeling deprived! I can't wait to get my hands on a copy!
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Martha
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Yes, they're all ours!
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Leonie
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I have to admit - it is also one of my favourite CM books. I share my copy with those new to CM - and just tell them to read and apply in parts - they don't have to do everything at once!
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Leonie in Sydney
Living Without School
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lapazfarm
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I had never read the 6 volumes either. But thanks to Amy I am now! One bite-size chunk at a time!
A Full Life: The works of Charlotte Mason
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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saintanneshs
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Martha wrote:
| Did anyone else feel this way? |
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Oh, yes! And every time I begin to feel like I'm not prioritizing my day (lesson time-wise) or helping to focus my children's growth in certain areas, I just pull out my CM Companion and 4Real Learning books and read, read, read...instant peace!! (along with a little prayer for guidance) I think my way-too-high expectations of myself and the kids get away from me and these books "reel me back in" to the real world of living a learning lifestyle.
Glad to hear you're inspired too!
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Kristine
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JennGM
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I read Elizabeth's book first, and then CM Companion. Both opened my eyes and were so inspiring. I'm not immersed in schooling multiple children, but they still really made an impression on me.
Now are the other Andreola titles as good or helpful?
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to  & ds1  '03 & ds2  '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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Elizabeth
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| Posted: Oct 28 2006 at 2:58pm | IP Logged
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Martha,
You might also enjoy Penny Gardner's Charlotte Mason Study Guideand Karen Rackliffe's Wild Days. Wild Days is out of print but worth hunting...
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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kjohnson
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CM Companion was the first CM book that I read too. I really loved it and it changed our schooling entirely. I've read Penny Gardner and Catherine Levison's books too, but I've gotten the most out of Elizabeth's book. It was such a breath of fresh air for someone to connect our Catholic Faith to CM's philosophy. It completed it (CM's method).
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In Christ,
Katherine
Wife to Doug and Mother of 6
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Martha
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Thank you for the recommendations Elizabeth. I'm hoping my library has them.
A question...
The one thing that stood out as an obstacle is the art work. It's beautiful! Even the 'earlier' works done by the children seems outstanding to me.
What do those of us who love beauty, but are completely inept at contributing to it, do in this area of study? What about children not so talented? What about children who have a dislike of drawing?
I'm considering doing photography as a family experience... to help fill this area for 2 of my children and everyone's enjoyment. opinions? Am I the only one with this difficulty?
On a related topic..
I went to the used book store and got 10 (TEN!) great books about individual great artists for the awesome price of $40. A brief explaination and intro at the begining of each books, then nothing but lots and lots of their great works. The books are fairly large too (14" x 10") so the pictures are of a good size to notice details. A great deal on top of everything else.. life is good. 
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Martha
mama to 7 boys & 4 girls
Yes, they're all ours!
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Bookswithtea
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I just wanted to add a plug for Sally Clarkson's Educating the Wholehearted Child.
This book, along with Real Learning and the CM Companion are the books I refer to regularly.
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~Books
mothering ds'93 dd'97 dd'99 dd'02 ds'05 ds'07 and  due 9/10
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cathhomeschool
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Martha,
I am artistically challenged, and some of my dc are too. We have borrowed many drawing books but have found the Draw, Write, Now series to be the best for us. Our library carries some of them, but we finally bought the 8 volume set (cheaper than buying them all individually). We don't use the writing suggestions, just the drawing portions. My boys love them.
I think that photography is a great idea too. We also use stickers and coloring pages from the great masters (some dover and some off internet) for those who don't like to draw as much. And we trace. I do require drawings on occasion and we do activities from Discovering Great Artists - Hands-On Art for Children, because if they never practice drawing, they'll never improve. And I think that it's a good skill to cultivate.
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Janette (4 boys - 22, 21, 15, 14)
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lapazfarm
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cathhomeschool wrote:
... because if they never practice drawing, they'll never improve. And I think that it's a good skill to cultivate. |
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I agree wholeheartedly. I come from a nature drawing perspective, so keep that in mind...
Drawing, to me, is less about creating a work of art, and more about learning how to pay attention to detail. To draw well, one must observe a thing closely. And the more studied your observations, the more accurate (and therefore more beautiful) your drawings.This attention to detail will help you to not only learn more about your subject (ex: gee, I didn't realize a fiddler crab had so many mouthparts!), but will carry over into other areas of your child's work.
When I first started sitting down to draw with my ds, he got easily frustrated because his drawings did not turn out the way he wanted them to, and he was always comparing his drawings to mine and finding them lacking.
So I began with simple encouragement to look closer at this line or that shape or those parts and make small improvements.
After many, many drawings and much encouragement, he is more able to look at his subject and determine right off the various shapes and how they fit together and where to begin his drawings. This makes him much less easily frustrated. And he can see that his drawings are now coming closer and closer to how he envisions they should be. This is very satisfying to him and in turn encourages him to do more and more complicated and detailed drawings.
Of course, am not an artist and have never taken any kind of art lessons or classes, so my experience is all I have to share.
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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JennyMaine
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I second the recommendation of "Educating the Wholehearted Child." My copy is now held together with duck tape! This is the book I turn to when I need a reminder of why I do this; that God will give me the strenght to do this; etc. I also love the fact that they give specific recommendations of various programs and materials that have worked for their family. Love it!
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--JennyMaine, Mom to Catherine (17) and Sam (15) "The countenance is a reflection of the soul. You should always have a calm and serene countenance." -- Therese of Lisieux
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marihalojen
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Theresa, Superboy's drawings are amazing as are your own! Very inspiring.
Elizabeth, I really enjoy Penny Gardner's approach as well. There is such richness to be found in the sidebar on her site.
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~Jennifer
Mother to Mariannna, age 13
The Mari Hal-O-Jen
SSR = Sailing, Snorkling, Reading
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: CM Companion by Andreola
