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Connections
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I will start by admitting that I love research (I was an attorney before staying home and I would love to spend the day in the library with all the law books leading me from case to case).
I first read about CM early in my HSing research. From there, I've read about a number of philosophies of education (Classical, Latin-Centered, Waldorf, Unschooling, Montessori, Thomas Jefferson Education among them). I did get something out of each- either something I wanted for our family or something I decided was not right for us (both of those are valuable to me).
Although my children are still young (6 and 7), I have tried elements/planning/schedules from several of these approaches.
I find myself right back at CM. Somewhere along the way I found Real Learning. I am re-reading Real Learning again this week. There is so much wisdom in that book. I feel like it should be all I need in terms of approach and philosophy.
My question is: have you found or developed an approach that works for your family? Once you found it, did you stop researching other "philosophies" of education? Or do you continue to research? If you continue to research, does it seem to benefit or confuse you?
Looking forward to your thoughts.
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Blessings,
Tracey
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12stars
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I am fairly new to HS and I also had thoughts similar to yours. I have read exstensivly in each method and feel as though I only have touched the surface. Once we put our theory into action what I have read I think I will have a better view on how my family learns. Each child learns differently. For that reason I LOVE the CM method because I think it is very gentle and yet I can tailor it to the needs of each one of my daughters. Without comprimising anything in between. I also take bits and pieces from the other methods because they all have something beneficial to offer. But all in all I too fall back to "well what would Charlotte Mason say?"
There are others with insight that has been heaven sent...I asking myself questions constantly and I am always reading.
I love to read on how Elizabeth Foss understands this or that.  . So I am reading her book Real Learning. I also enjoyed Penny Gardner. There are many more great titles sitting on my shelf ready to be read  I feel because I know that the CM method is the most ideal for my family I have to read everything I can about it. So far I have not been dissapointed.
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Claudia in Southern California
Wife to George,
Mom to DD 14, DD 10, DD 7, DS 4, DS 2, 1 in heaven, and now due 5/11.
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Mackfam
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Connections wrote:
| My question is: have you found or developed an approach that works for your family? Once you found it, did you stop researching other "philosophies" of education? Or do you continue to research? If you continue to research, does it seem to benefit or confuse you? |
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Yes to the first question. We settle into a sort of default that works for us...for me. It's a lot CM, a lot Montessori, some Classical, perhaps some others I have yet to put a label on...
Do I stop researching and reading - no! I love learning. The family is always changing. Different seasons and different children bring different challenges that weren't there to begin with or have now morphed into something totally new. Different seasons bring differing perspectives that allow me to appreciate more. Charlotte Mason has always spoken to my heart, but I find a new richness, a new layer or meaning with each year and each child. I love this summer's re-visit with her. It is grounding and centering in the same way a nature walk is refreshing to the spirit.
I love reading about learning philosophies, and sometimes I am quite motivated because of a particular challenge a child faces. I don't mind implementing new strategies or philosophies to address new needs, but these don't eliminate or negate our Charlotte Mason foundations. In our home all of the differing forms of learning and philosophies complement each other in ways that I think all things true and beautiful must complement each other.
In the end, in times of stress or crisis when all the other layers must be peeled away and life must be simplified to essentials, it's CM that carries us through - it's reading together, talking together, exploring together. It is the late afternoon nature walk that anchors us. It's the picture book that propels us when all else must be left or cast aside.
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Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19 , ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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JodieLyn
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Yes we have fallen into a comfortable spot for us.. I don't tend to make a point to keep researching.. but when something is mentioned (here or elsewhere) that sounds interesting I might read about it.. or if I'm feeling blah.. I might reread things or read new things..
So while I don't just stop learning about homeschooling.. I don't stay at it with the same intensity as that first while of learning what it's all about.
__________________
Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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Sarah M
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I, too, love research. Nothing makes me happier than a good stack of books on educational philosophy. I've read extensively about CM, Waldorf, Montessori, Reggio Emilia, Unschooling, and everything in between. I love to learn about how children learn- about what methods have worked for other families/schools.
That said, I am also finding myself back at CM- she was my Square 1. When I first started researching homeschooling, I stumbled across CM- then I dabbled everywhere else in my reading to see what I was missing. Though many many other methods appeal to me in some way or another (most notably Waldorf and unschooling), I find that my core beliefs about what education is fall most in step with Miss Mason. I am finding that even though I've spent oodles on curriculum over the last couple of years, all I really need are a few good books, a library card, and a thorough nature handbook.
But that doesn't keep me from researching. The biggest pitfall for me is feeling anxious that I can't *do it all* or that I'm missing some wonderful component that one of the methods offers. But I reassure myself with Elizabeth's words from the 2007 conference- that there *will* be gaps, that you *can't* do it all, but that we are not called to fill in every gap or cover absolutely everything-- we are just called to love, guide, and teach our children--and the CM method for doing that is beautiful, indeed.
I know that more experienced mothers here say that they have dabbled in other methods- sometimes jumping the CM ship completely to try another method- and these are teachable moments for us- moments when we learn more about ourselves and our families- and that no two families educational style will look exactly the same.
This is what I love about research most of all: knowing that there is not one right method for everyone, but a nugget of truth in every method for all of us- and knowing that I don't have to go 100% of any one method for it to work for us.
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Willa
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Great question.
I think I probably researched more intensely when I was first starting. I wanted to find the "best" method.
After a certain point, I realized that ALL the methods I was interested in had certain things in common. Also, I found basically what worked for us.
I still do research. Most life vocations require continuing education.... medical, teaching, whatever. With the Church, one calls it continuing "conversion" -- it is a pleasure and responsibility to keep oneself informed and keep moving deeper into things.
This is partly rationalization since I LOVE researching.  But also, I think it does pay off.
Also, you see old truths in a new way when you approach them from a different perspective -- which is what I think you are sharing about coming back to CM/RL. I too, find that research tends to make me revisit old methods, but with a renewed perspective.
I suppose I am less likely to make an 180 or even 90 degree turn. Just an example -- I'm NOT a crafty or lapbook-y type person. That doesn't mean that I won't do ANY crafts or lapbooks. But it does mean that my ventures into those things will be more tentative, and I certainly won't feel guilty about not jumping into the deep end, because I know that what we do WORKS for us. In earlier days, I didn't have that confidence so whenever I read or heard about some new method it would make me feel anxious, like my kids were missing something.
Oops, running out of internet time since the kids are showing up for breakfast -- but am adding the topic to my favorites since I would love to read more responses.
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AMDG
Willa
hsing boys ages 11, 14, almost 18 (+ 4 homeschool grads ages 20 to 27)
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websterm
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I too love research! Maybe that is part of the fun of homeschooling...I will get to continue to research.
Sarah M - I haven't heard much talk about the Reggio approach. That brings back memories from years ago hearing about Reggio. Do you have resources you can point me toward? I remember thinking how wonderful it all sounded!
Marcia
On My Mind
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nissag
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I think that we all wind up developing somthing that is ours - even if it stems from a single philosophy. I've been at this for over 10 years and still find things in various methods to use, or to come back to. I'm interested in researching "new" approaches to see what I can use, or if it is of use at all to our family.
It's a journey, this homeschooling thing. It's not a destination. And each child will open a new path for you. Take lots of pictures and enjoy the ride!
Blessings,
__________________
Nissa
Deacon's wife, mother of eleven, farmer, teacher, creator, cook.
At Home With the Gadbois Family
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Sarah M
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websterm wrote:
Sarah M - I haven't heard much talk about the Reggio approach. That brings back memories from years ago hearing about Reggio. Do you have resources you can point me toward? I remember thinking how wonderful it all sounded!
Marcia
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Marcia- when I was in school, one of my early childhood ed teachers was Deb Curtis- she teaches in a Reggio-inspired school, and has written several college textbooks on using Reggio. That's where I was first introduced to the method. There are a lot of books out there on the Reggio method, but the most helpful one I've found is Working in the Reggio Way: A Beginner's Guide for American Teachers. Reggio methodology is only used for early childhood (up to and possibly through kindergarten), although the respect for the child and the concept of emergent curriculum could easily be adopted for older children in a homeschool, I think. I really haven't stumbled across any good homeschool-reggio stuff. Let me know if you find some! I agree- the Reggio way is really wonderful!
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websterm
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Sarah M wrote:
| There are a lot of books out there on the Reggio method, but the most helpful one I've found is Working in the Reggio Way: A Beginner's Guide for American Teachers. Reggio methodology is only used for early childhood (up to and possibly through kindergarten) |
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Thanks Sarah! I will keep you in mind if I find info. I remember watching a video about a newspaper project, and a dinosaur project and I was in awe of what children could create if they were given the oppurtunity!
Marcia
On My Mind
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Angie Mc
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Without knowing exactly what I was doing, I began thinking about and "researching" educational philosophy when I was 15yo. I went on to get a teaching degree (and was suprised at how little educational philosophy was discussed.) When I realized that I would home educate (my first child was 2) I began researching like wild! I'm so glad that I did. All of the time spent reading, visiting different schools (Waldorf, Montessori, co-ops), and pondering how education connected to real life, has served me well. Being a big picture enthusist, I was genuinely surprised when I became an official homeschooler and realized that many of my peers hadn't considered their educational philosophy at all. Most just wanted to be told what to do and didn't really care about the "why." I surely felt alone during that time. Eventually I found some unschoolers and others doing things "outside of the boxed curriculum" and I was so relieved! I finally found my "home" with Charlotte Mason and Real Learning.
At this point in my home learning adventure, I don't spend as much time on philosophy, but I still love it. I don't get confused as often but appreciate the time when I was confused...the battle for clarity...the reward for my persistance....the eventual peace. I find that when things get tough, and they do, it is in large measure my time spent with the "whys" of what we do that help us to be strong in the face of challenges. I honestly feel badly for families who feel called to home educate but haven't had the opportunity, inclination, or understanding of the benefits of education philosophy. Our educational philosophy provide roots from which to grow our minds and souls!
Thanks for asking, Tracey.
Love,
__________________
Angie Mc
Maimeo to Henry! Dave's wife, mom to Mrs. Devin+Michael Pope, Aiden 20,Ian 17,John Paul 11,Catherine (heaven 6/07)
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JuliaT
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I think I have read and tried every educational philosophy known to man. Finally, last year, after switching things around umpteen times my (then) 8 yr. old said, "I like doing school this way. Can we please stop changing things?" Mommy listened.
We now have an ecclesctic blend of mainly classical and Waldord with a smidge of CM and we are very happy with this. I do not regret my years of changing philophies as it has brought us to where we are now. In four years of hsing, this past year was the happiest and calmest year that we have experienced, so far.
I think it is very important to know what is all out there as far as methods and philosphies go. The more you know, the more you are able to meet your child where they are.
Blessings,
Julia
mom of 3 (9,7,5)
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Milehimama
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I have quite a mix of philosophies. I take a little of this, a lot of that... I cook the same way :)
This post really helped, and I'm planning to organize my thoughts in a similar way.
http://angelaboord.typepad.com/three_plus_two/2008/07/planni ng-a-rain.html?cid=122585660#comment-122585660
I continue to research, but always go back to my "touchstones" and whether things fit in.
My biggest problem is remembering that NO curriculum is perfect - finding the "correct" curriculum does not mean that the children will line up quietly and learn with a sparkle in their eye, pausing only to prepare lunch for their poor old Mama.
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Elizabeth
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Here's a hyperlink to Angela's post, referenced above.
__________________
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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Cay Gibson
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Dear Tracey,
Like you I keep returning to CM.
It's always gentle, always peaceful, always simple, always encouraging. And I find myself most often coming back to it right before school starts when my planning and expectations gets too muddled or murky or overwhelming.
After reading Angie's background, I thought I'd share a tidbit of my own.
I grew up playing a lot in my bedroom. It was my retreat from the world. My retreat from the proverbial pickings of an older brother. My retreat from an eight-hour school day that depleted me (without my knowing it). I spent hours in my room reading books, duplicating a classroom where I was the teacher, and also pretending I lived in a family with seventeen brothers and sisters. I even had a list of their names and ages. 
Would someone please tell me why, when I had trouble putting up the one boisterous brother I had, I would desire to have had sixteen more siblings????
When I graduated from high school there was no question I was going to college. It had been a given all my life. It's just what one "did".
However, going for a degree in education didn't enter my mind. I was sick of "school". I had some elementary teachers who mentored me and whom I admired but the ones in junior high and high school only fawned over the cheerleaders and dance line members. I had none to look to for motivation.
Oh, and did I mention I was in love. And my boyfriend was going to Louisiana Tech four hours away. I was mostly focused on planning weekend visits and, later, my wedding.
Those days in my bedroom playing and planning and imagining a large family and a one-room classroom seemed very far away until...
...I had a baby boy and I began reading all the parenting books and magazines and developmental resource books, etc. I could get my hands on.
From that sprung an interest in research and family life and raising children that melded with the desire of my heart...a desire which had not been nurtured or encouraged in my childhood.
Somewhere along the path I heard and read about hsing but I wasn't sure how to approach my husband about it. We knew a few hsing families from when we were in school and we thought they were just plain "weird". So, ever traditional, we enrolled him in Kindergarten. I read some more and spoke to people. Ever cautious, we enrolled him in first grade.
That year should have done me in right then and there but I just wasn't sure enough of myself. But I kept reading and asking questions and researching. I finally got up the nerve to approach my dh about it and we even met a few hsers in the area who weren't exactly "weird" .
I even began experimenting in the summertime with "hs at the table".
Still, I kept my oldest in school for 2nd grade and my dd began K.
Don't ask me why we continued with 3rd grade. That was the biggest mistake of all. Then...perhaps not. We learned many things that year that paved the way to our hsing journey.
I won't go through each child and each scenerio but today I continue to research and read and learn and study.
The past 21 years has been---singularly---the BEST education I've ever had.
So I didn't go to college for it. So I didn't hs my firstborn in K or 1st gr... Doesn't matter. I've learned that dwelling on the past means forgetting to live and be thankful for the present. I'm grateful God allowed me to discover and embrace this lifestyle long before all my children were grown and gone.
Getting back to your questions:
Connections wrote:
My question is: have you found or developed an approach that works for your family? |
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We began formal hs my oldest ds's 4th grade year. I forget what we were using to do school. I know we had Saxon math and I think some Seton workbooks. We began that August, had a baby in October, and I had one close friend (Kayleigh's godmother) who was hsing alongside of me who had a baby in October too, a son Corey's age, and who I could call to talk and pingpong ideas with.
Though my degree was in data process and I was instructed since high school on the word processor, I don't think I knew what Internet was.
Then the following summer, in June, I had had some articles published in magazines and my dh encouraged me to put my earnings on our first computer.
One night I came across a page announcing the publication of Karen Andreola's book A Charlotte Mason Companion: Personal Reflections on the Gentle Art of Learning
The synopsis of it sold me right away. I felt as though the past 10 years, since my oldest was born, that's exactly what I had been striving to give myself...something I'd never had...something I desired for myself and for my children...a "gentle" way of learning!
I bought the book, read it, loved it, treasured it. And the Internet was a blessing too.
Through it I found a "Catholic" Charlotte Mason site, joined that eloop a few months after it's inception and today I'm still here.
I consider the CM approach is the approach I have strived to stay closest to and reproduce for my children. My approach isn't "exactly" like CM but I take the basic list of her approach and make it my own.
Connections wrote:
| Once you found it, did you stop researching other "philosophies" of education? |
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I've trailed off several times researching other things but my heart and mind always come back to CM with a Catholic flair. It's home to me. In the past I've called it Life Learning.
Connections wrote:
| Or do you continue to research? |
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Oh, yes! To me that's what a CM education encourages. To keep learning which means to keep researching and keep trying new things.
Connections wrote:
| If you continue to research, does it seem to benefit or confuse you? |
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It benefits me...widely. Continuous research clarifies my beliefs and my goals and my dreams. It clears my own thought process. It clears up all the "muck" that was put there from years and years of standard, uninspiring schooling.
What a great thread for discussion, Tracey!  Thank you for starting it. I'm looking forward to reading more sharings.
__________________
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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TracyQ
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I think we finally settled on a method of education....it's called, *The Whatever Works The Best for Each Child Method* .
What I've learned into my 14th year of homeschooling, and now having three teens, after trying so many different things is that each child learns differently, and therefore not one educational philosophy works for all of our kids . I have been reading a lot about right brained/left brained learning, and about learning styles, and found that I have three children, and three different ways they learn the best.
Zach, our 16yo is EXTREMELY left brained (very organized, very much an auditory learner, and an absolute DREAM to teach!)
Sarah, our 13yo is EXTREMELY right brained,(extremely creative, loves drama, art, music, literature, doesn't do well or retain ANYthing from textbooks, detests math, and everything about it, because it's too matter of factual, loves being in her own Pollyanna type of world sometimes, needs everything she learns to relate to real life, because otherwise it has no purpose, and is very hands on and visual), and
Jake, our just graduated 18 year old (on Aug. 28th), is RIGHT in the MIDDLE (does great with texts, does fine with other methods, does great in English, History, Math, Science, and whatever subject or activity he picks up, except foreign language). This made me understand why he's having a rough time deciding what field he wants to go into next year when he goes to college, and why we need to do some career planning before then. 
And I've now found that for their Jr.High and High School curriculum/education, we're using three different plans. Jake did more of a traditional textbook type of high school plan for the most part, with lots of computer mixed in for his learning. Zach is using Trisms , a research/history based unit study type of curriculum, but is very chronological, which is good for his left brained learning, and very based on history, which what interests him most.
Sarah, the extremely right brained learner is the biggest challenge, because it's VERY difficult for me to teach this type of learner because I'm more left brained, so I'm praying a lot! But in discerning that, we decided that it brought us right back to Charlotte Mason, with much hands on learning mixed in, which we're planning for grades 8-12 now. It's nice to have that figured out, even though I have a lot to plan, because it's the most teacher intensive. At least I have the direction she needs now (thank God!), and know that homeschooling affords me the opportunity to discern what's best for each of them.
Literature based learning has been the common *method or thread* among all three plans for our three children though, so if I were to pick one method that we've stuck with all of these years, even with trying on different methods or being very eclectic in our choosing or philosophy, LITERATURE BASED LEARNING would be what I would call our mainstay, and what is always incorporated into each child's learning, no matter how they best learn!
__________________
Blessings and Peace,
Tracy Q.
wife of Marty for 20 years, mom of 3 wonderful children (1 homeschool graduate, 1 12th grader, and a 9th grader),
homeschooling in 15th year in Buffalo, NY
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florasita
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I too am totally back into CM teaching
I spent a wonderful 3 weeks at the lake with the kids this summer and it really helped me refocus and remember the Simplicity of the education . I picked up pocketful of pinecones again and ordered A CM education .
We began copywork again after dealing with a dreadful handwriting book last yr.
We keep spelling simple 10 words per week 3 vocab words per week 2 nature study words per week (this is a difficult thing , to keep it down to 2 words I mean  )
We are reading off our sonlight book list at our own pace and doing narration with one book .
Teatime with local homeschoolers and many more outings as well . We are having a much more relaxed yr. and the kids ask to do school work now
I am starting moccasins next week and will post it on our blog sort of like a crafty workshop idea .
I also found an old articvle on the Inuit my grandmother had taught her class some 30 yrs ago the pics are incredible so we will do a little mini unit on that maybe once it is snowshoe weather
Much Love , Roxie
__________________
May I rise & rest with words of Gratitude on my Breath
May I have the Heart & Mind of a Child in my Depth
May I forever remember to be a Light
May Peace Love & Hope be My Sight
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4Real Forums : Philosophy of Education
Topic: Back to CM/Real Learning
