First Week Review in First Grade with Charlotte Mason

September 9, 2018April 1, 2019 nourishedchildren Leave a comment

Our First Week

WHAT WE HAVE BEEN UP TO …

After much careful planning and consideration, we started Form 1B (roughly First Grade) last Monday.

Finally, we did it! One of the hardest parts is over, because last week, we began our First Week in First Grade with Charlotte Mason.

First Grade with Charlotte Mason

“Nothing is trivial that concerns a child; his foolish-seeming words and ways are pregnant with meaning for the wise.” (Mason, Vol. 1)

For many months, off and on, much effort was placed on learning to teach my son. So much went into this preparation because it is currently the most important thing to me. Also, it is his first formal year of education at home.

WHAT TO EXPECT

I have a lot to say about our First Week, so if you are simply interested in the resources, please scroll down to ‘Our First Week.’

First, I outline six basic ideas for early lessons.
Then, I include educational resources we used for our first week. I emphasize materials my son enjoyed. I also highlight books or supplies I felt would be a huge resource to us as we move through the year.
Then, I show a sample of a day of morning lessons.
Next, I share some of my takeaways from our first week.
Finally, I end with our favorite resources in summary.

INSPIRING QUOTES

All of the quotes mentioned in this blog post, come from Home Education by Charlotte Mason.

In the beginning, Charlotte Mason states on the first page of Volume 1 of Home Education:

“Now, that work which is of most importance to society is the bringing-up and instruction of the children-in the school, certainly, but far more in the home, because it is more than anything else the home influences brought to bear upon the child that determine the character and career of the future man or woman.” (Mason, Vol. 1)

This could be discouraging since it ways heavily on the parents. However, Ms. Mason quickly encourages Mothers, saying:

“The mother is qualified…by the creator Himself…” (Mason, Vol. 1)

There are many subjects I’m not well educated on myself, therefore, I’m also learning alongside my children.

SIX IMPORTANT POINTS FOR LESSONS

“That the knowledge most valuable to the child is that which he gets with his own eyes and ears and fingers (under direction) in the open air.” (Mason, Vol. 1)
“That the claims of the schoolroom should not be allowed to encroach on the child’s right to long hours daily for exercise and investigation.” (Mason, Vol. 1)
“That the child should be taken daily, if possible, to scenes-moor or meadow, park, common, or shore-where he may find new things to examine, and so add to his store of real knowledge.” (Mason, Vol. 1)
“That play, vigorous healthful play, is, in its turn, fully as important as lessons, as regards both bodily health and brain-power.” (Mason, Vol. 1)
“That the child, though under supervision, should be left much to himself-both that he may go to work in his own way on the ideas he receives…” (Mason, Vol. 1)
“That the happiness of the child is the condition of his progress; that his lessons should be joyous…” (Mason, Vol. 1)

PREPARING THE FEAST

“The parents’ chief care is, that that which they supply shall be wholesome and nourishing, whether in the way of picture-books, lessons, playmates, bread and milk, or mother’s love.” (Mason, Vol. 1)

I’m seeking to nourish my children in the best way and I can. Charlotte Mason’s philosophy has provided me guidance because I feel more equipped with tools to begin my son’s formal education.

There are MANY subjects included in a Charlotte Mason education because she believed in spreading a wide feast.

NOTE

We did not cover ALL of these every day. However, we DID cover these subjects this week, using these resources. Please keep in mind also, we only read a few pages in some of these books!

Our First Week

Bible – THIS one. I haven’t taken the time to doodle in yet, however, my oldest mentioned it to me today, so we may color in it together!
Geography – Elementary Geography. The first lessons were delightful and very appropriate to a young beginning student.
Handicrafts – Slow and Sacred Advent and Origami.
French – Songs and a poem from mamalisa.com and Hachette’s Illustrated French Primer.
Math – Elementary Math Bundle. The book lays out exactly what you can say in the lessons, so it is very handy for a Mama!
Singing – Spotify playlist I created with Folk songs. I have found my son LOVES singing and my younger son joins in with us typically.
Drill/PE – Rhythmic Games and Dancing for Children and Joyous Book of Singing Games.
Recitation – Child’s Book of Poems and Hymns.
Reading – Discover Reading by Amy Tuttle.
Natural History – Tommy Smith’s Animals and Plant Life in Field and Garden. I know my son LOVES Tommy Smith’s Animals because he asks for more when the lesson is over!
Copywork – Chalkboard and Elementary Composition Notebook.
Music Appreciation – Spotify playlist I created with Composer Study.
History – Lief the Lucky and Map of America and And There Was America. History seems to be another subject that my son is enjoying.
Drawing – Brush drawing course. We are using round, wooden paintbrushes and these AMAZING tubes of paints.
Literature – The Blue Fairy Book and Aesop’s Fables for Children.
Art Appreciation – Artist Prints from Riverbendpress.
Nature Study – Exploring Nature with Children – Seed Week.
Poetry – Child’s Book of Poems and Now We Are Six. I’m surprised because both children love to hear these poems.
Read Alouds – Billy and Blaze and Boxcar Children.

Overall, my son’s favorites are the above resources listed for: Geography, Math, Singing, Natural History, History, Literature, Poetry, Nature Study, and Read Alouds.

MORNING SCHEDULE

+ First, make beds, brush teeth, and free play.

+ Then, enjoy breakfast and help Mama with dishes.

+ Finally, Morning Lessons, which should last about two and a half hours for a little one. In reality, we were taking about three hours. So, I know I need to tighten up our transitions a little better.

+ Lunch. Then, after lunch, we move into the afternoons.

AFTERNOON SCHEDULE

+ First, we have playtime; so I encourage them to spend a couple of hours outdoors.

+ Then, during the late afternoon, we come back inside. I read aloud good literature stories and a couple of poems. Typically, I play music from their Music Appreciation on while I ask them to clean up their toys.

+ One day this week, I introduced piano to them. I plan to increase this steadily as we move on, since it is suggested to work on this daily.

+ As we find our rhythm, I plan to also add by-the-way Geography lessons as we spend daily time outdoors.

+ Also, one afternoon this week, we went to a creek to spend time outdoors in a special nature spot.

Charlotte Mason was a big advocate for the outdoor time in the afternoon. She said,

“…the chief function of the child-his business in the world during the first six or seven years of his life-is to find out all he can, about whatever comes under his notice, by means of his five senses; that he has an insatiable appetite for knowledge got in this way; and that, therefore, the endeavor of his parents should be to put him in the way of making acquaintance freely with Nature and natural objects…” (Mason, Vol. 1).

I love this quote because it takes the pressure off us Mamas to “entertain” the little ones. It is perfectly
fine NOT to keep up with the pressures of society that implore the youngest of children must be shuffled
around from activity to activity, as if they are adults. I believe it is more important to protect this sweet, innocent time for our littles…and allow them the freedom to explore, move, and be in nature as much as possible.

FIRST WEEK LESSONS FOR MAMA

I learned so much in these first days teaching my littles in a formal education. Additionally, I have much more to learn.

First, say a quick prayer before lessons (either with kiddos or alone). On the day I didn’t make time for this, we had a chaotic morning.
Next, spend a few minutes preparing for your morning lessons. I usually spend less than ten minutes on this each morning, however, on the day I didn’t, I didn’t feel at peace.
Observe my son for signs of weariness. When my son was fidgety, wandering off, or not listening, it was time to have either a small break, or switch to the next lesson. This is hard for me because I want him to soak up ALL OF THIS GOODNESS.
Next, I need to lower my expectations. In my mind, my son, at six, should be the next Einstein. Woah! I had no idea that my perfectionist tendencies would come out (mostly as an internal dialogue). These are not helpful to anyone, so I’m working on finding the joy instead.
Finally, I took about five minutes or less each day, to write what we had specifically done in lessons. This was like a journal entry. Mostly, I wrote down what ideas he understood, and where we left off so we know where to pick back up again.

GENERAL CHARLOTTE MASON RESOURCES

A Charlotte Mason Soiree Educator Courses (free and amazing!)
A Charlotte Mason Soiree Facebook Support/Discussion Group
Charlotte Mason’s Home Education Volume 1
Volume 2 Charlotte Mason’s Parents and Children
Charlotte Mason’s School Education Volume 3
A Delectable Education Scheduling Cards
Another Delectable Education Curriculum Templates
Charlotte Mason Says Podcast, reading through Charlotte Mason’s volumes and she lists many Charlotte Mason curriculum ideas

FIRST WEEK RESOURCES

Morningtide to Eventide H omeschool Planner. I love this planner because it has suggested daily Bible readings for Mama, daily planner space, as well as daily lesson spaces for the boys.
Art Images to go along with our Bible readings.
Simply Charlotte Mason Podcast on Starting a Charlotte Mason Education from Scratch. This was encouraging to listen to on my final day of the first week because it solidified some thoughts I was having about our first week.

OUR PICKS

I’m sharing these here because these are my son’s FAVORITES. He always asks for more when we pick these books up!

Also, check out these previous blog posts in the series:

Thank you so much for checking in! Finally, please stay tuned for the next ‘A Charlotte Mason Subject Lesson’ post.

Homeschool Preschool Supplies List

All of the quotes mentioned in this blog post, come from Home Education by Charlotte Mason. The Living Press published my favorite version of her books. Finally, I TRULY recommend any parent read Charlotte Mason’s books! They are truly treasured words I believe I will be reading and re-reading for many years to come.

A Charlotte Mason Bible Study Lesson

June 15, 2018February 4, 2019 nourishedchildren Leave a comment

A CHARLOTTE MASON BIBLE STUDY LESSON

“But let the imaginations of children be stored with the pictures, their minds nourished upon the words, of the gradually unfolding stories of the scriptures, and they will come to look out upon a wide horizon within which persons and events take shape in their due place and in due proportion.” (Mason, vol 1)

First, I explain why I’m focusing subject by subject. I also include Charlotte Mason quotes because I find her original lectures on education to be inspiring and helpful.

Next, please keep reading to see the break down of implementing lessons, the schedule, and resources I’m using that fit our family. Finally, I share the wealth of quality Charlotte Mason resources I have found helpful, from those mothers who have gone before me.

PREPARING THE FEAST

“Our aim in education is to give a full life. We owe it to them to initiate an immense number of interests.” (Mason, vol. 3)

There are MANY subjects included in a Charlotte Mason education because she believed in spreading a wide feast. Sometimes, it feels a bit daunting for a new homeschooling mama. Therefore, I’m attempting to learn, digest, and absorb how I’m going to be teaching each subject. I have decided to compose a blog post on each subject for Form 1B. This will help me prepare to teach my oldest son in the Fall.

SPREADING THE FEAST IS GOOD

“As a matter of fact, it is the man who has read and thought on many subjects who is, with the necessary training, the most capable.” (Mason, vol. 6)

Ms. Mason suggests spreading a wide feast in education, in order to nourish a child’s mind. A Charlotte Mason curriculum aims to be wide and varied. This gives the child a chance to develop many interests and become well rounded. A Charlotte Mason education certainly intends to be rich, varied, and life giving, and this is partly why I choose to focus on her philosophy of education.

“He requires much knowledge, for the mind needs sufficient food as much as does the body.” (Mason, vol. 6)

I became interested in healthy eating almost 12 years ago as a yoga instructor. Once my children were born, I became more focused on nutrition. Thankfully, I was able to breastfeed both children, as babies, because it was a wonderful nutrition option for them.

When I became a Health Coach last year, I focused even more on nutrient dense foods to nourish my family. I aim to give them a great start in their little lives.

“The mind feeds on ideas, and therefore children should have a generous curriculum.” (Mason, vol. 1)

Presently, I continue to to give them a varied and nourishing feast. This carries over to their education. I take it as my job to give a nourishing feast for their minds and body.

Ms. Charlotte Mason also says,

“But, believing that the normal child has powers of mind that fit him to deal with all knowledge proper to him, we must give him a full and generous curriculum…” (Mason, vol. 1)

A CHARLOTTE MASON BIBLE STUDY

WHAT

“Children between the ages of six and nine should get a considerable knowledge of the Bible text.” (Mason, vol. 1)

First, Charlotte Mason says a standard Bible should be used. The Bible lesson should not come from a children’s Bible or devotional. Instead, the child should hear the actual text of the Bible since the stories of the Bible are so rich. Therefore, children are worthy of the very best, and rise to the occupation of listening to the Bible in its whole form.

Personally, I choose a beautiful and journaling Bible because I thought I would really enjoy it. So, I’m using a King James Version. Its called Praise: A Creative Journaling Bible.

In Parents and Children, Ms. Mason says the child, “should not be able to recall a time before the sweet stories of old filled his imagination.” (Mason, vol. 2)

If you have preschoolers, this is my FAVORITE Children’s Bible…though the true Bible should also be read to them from a young age.

Finally, THIS is my dream Bible set! Look how beautiful! But, clearly, for a special occasion, because its a little expensive!

WHEN

Charlotte Mason called the Bible lesson, the “chief lesson.” Its upheld as the most important subject, since it teaches a child right from wrong. Therefore, she urges the Bible lesson to be the first lesson of the day. The lesson should be about 15 minutes long. A Charlotte Mason Plenary has linked to the Parent’s Union school Form 1 schedule, which shows “in all cases the Bible text must be read and narrated first.”

Finally, a Bible lesson should occur once a day, five days a week.

Additionally, Sunday readings were recommended from: Parables from Nature.

WHY

“And perhaps it is not too beautiful a thing in this redeemed world, that, as the babe turns to his mother though he has no power to say her name, as the flowers turn to the sun, so the hearts of the children turn to their Savior and God with unconscious delight and trust.” (Mason, vol. 1)

I love this quote because it shows we should model humility, and faith for our children so they may come to have a relationship with God. Perhaps most importantly, the child learns to have a heart for God, and to develop a personal relationship with God.

“Who is the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven? And He called a little child, and set him in the mist. Here is the divine estimate of the child’s estate.” (Matthew 18: 1-2 King James Version, and Mason, vol. 1)

Then, the Bible goes onto say that those who enter Heaven must be like the child. Since children are so precious to Jesus, we should respect them as persons and nurture them in this endeavor.

“…their Bible lessons should help them to realize in early days that the knowledge of God is the principle knowledge, and therefore, that heir Bible lessons are their chief lessons.” (Mason, vol. 1)

Also:

“It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name…” (Psalms 92: 1 King James Version)

The purpose of the Bible lessons is to lead the child to the knowledge of God.

HOW

“Read your Bible story to the child bit by bit; get him to tell you in his own words (keeping as close as he can to the Bible words) what you have read, and, then, if you like, talk about it; but not much.” (Mason, vol. 2)

For Form 1B, in other words, first grade, the Bible lesson encompasses most of Genesis from the Old Testament. Also, it is suggested to cover the appropriate portions of Matthew from the New Testament. A Delectable Education recommends to alternate Old Testament and New Testament daily for lessons because it may hold a child’s attention better. Each Bible lesson should cover about 10-20 verses per day.

Additionally, Charlotte Mason says the parent should continue to read aloud the Bible passage, even after a child can read it on his own.

NARRATION

First, read the Bible passage to the child once.
Then, ask the child to tell back what he heard, using as close to the words he heard as possible. This is narration.
Finally, Mama and child can discuss what was read.
As an option, Charlotte Mason Poetry notes suggest on how to begin the lesson: ‘Tell the story to the child, only giving the necessary explanations.’

RESOURCES FOR MAMA

Here are some suggested readings for Mothers to prep Bible lessons and discuss with their children following their narration.

“But it is well to let the pictures tell their own tale. The children should study a subject quietly for a few minutes; and then, the picture being removed, say what they have seen.” (Mason, vol. 1)

PICTURES

Moreover, you can choose to share pictures to compliment the Bible stories following the narration or Bible lesson.

RECITATION

“The learning by heart of Bible passages should begin while the children are quite young, six or seven.” (Mason, vol. 1)

Finally, you can have young children learn by heart parables and stories from the Bible. For recitation purposes, the Homeschool Mama should read aloud the passage a few times. Then, the child can narrate back only when they feel they know the words.

FAVORITE RESOURCES

Finally, I have come across some outstanding resources in learning about a Charlotte Mason education. I’m so happy to share them with you! Some of these are sources I return to daily because I’m preparing to teach my children. Also, some of these listed below are specific to a Charlotte Mason Bible lesson study.

GENERAL CHARLOTTE MASON RESOURCES

A Charlotte Mason Soiree Educator Courses (free and amazing!)
A Charlotte Mason Soiree Facebook Support/Discussion Group
Volume 1 Charlotte Mason’s Home Education
Volume 2 Charlotte Mason’s Parents and Children
Volume 3 Charlotte Mason’s School Education
A Delectable Education Scheduling Cards
A Delectable Education Curriculum Templates
Morning Tide to Even Tide Homeschool Planner

CHARLOTTE MASON BIBLE LESSON RESOURCES

A Delectable Education podcast on the Bible subject
Also another A Delectable Education podcast on a simulated Bible lesson
My Current Bible I plan to use for lessons (Praise: A Creative Journaling Bible, King James Version)
Charlotte Mason Poetry – Presentation on Mason’s Program for Bible Lessons
Penny Gardener Children’s Bible Scripture Suggestions
Suggested Bible Artwork Resource
Another Bible Artwork Space Online
Homeschooling Printing Company to Print out Bible Pictures
King James Version of the Bible
Parent’s Union School Form 1 Schedule
Dream Bible Set
Volume 1 Charlotte Mason’s Home Education (pg. 247-253)

OUR PICKS

Finally, if you are interested in additional Charlotte Mason information, feel free to check out these previous blog posts:

Thank you so much for checking in! Please stay tuned for the next A Charlotte Mason Subject Lesson post.

Homeschool Preschool Supplies List

All of the quotes mentioned in this blog post, come from Home Education by Charlotte Mason. The Living Press published my favorite version of her books. I TRULY recommend any parent read Charlotte Mason’s books since I have gained so much from them! They are truly treasured words I believe I will be reading and re-reading for many years to come.

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A Charlotte Mason Summer

June 4, 2018April 9, 2019 nourishedchildren Leave a comment

A CHARLOTTE MASON SUMMER

WHAT WE HAVE BEEN UP TO …

A Charlotte Mason Summer

I’m preparing to teach my oldest son his first, formal year of school at home. In November, he will turn six.

Where did the time go?

I have been planning for this moment for many years and I’m beyond blessed to teach him his first year of school at home.

SUMMER TIME PLANS

In an attempt to ease into formal homeschool later this year, I’m going to begin to implement NOW some parts of his future formal education, yet in a fun and casual way.

Charlotte Mason calls this type of learning “by the way” (Home Education pg. 72).

All of the quotes mentioned in this blog post, come from Home Education by Charlotte Mason. The Living Press published my favorite version of her books. I HIGHLY recommend any parent read Charlotte Mason’s books! They are truly treasured words I believe I will be reading and re-reading for many years to come.

ELEMENTS OF EDUCATION

SUMMER MORNING SCHEDULE

+ Work on Morning Habits (Brush teeth, Make bed)

+ Review Letter Sounds and Letter Recognition … We gently use the Peaceful Preschool to learn letters … Also, here are some of our favorite wooden letters and sandpaper letters

+ Read Bible Stories at Breakfast … My favorite Bible for Preschool Age Children

+ Free playtime

SUMMER AFTERNOON SCHEDULE

+ Nature Play and Free Time

+ Poetry Reading with Snack … Suggested poetry here and here and here

+ Learn a few French and Spanish words each day … We use this audio French CD in the car

+ Free playtime

+ Clean up Toys Before Bed

+ Read Aloud at Bedtime … My favorite stories for preschoolers

OUTDOOR TIME BASICS

All of the quotes mentioned in this blog post, come from Home Education by Charlotte Mason.

“…the chief function of the child-his business in the world during the first six or seven years of his life-is to find out all he can, about whatever comes under his notice, by means of his five senses; that he has an insatiable appetite for knowledge got in this way; and that, therefore, the endeavor of his parents should be to put him in the way of making acquaintance freely with Nature and natural objects…” (pg. 96).

I love this quote because it takes the pressure off us Mamas to “entertain” the little ones. It is perfectly
fine NOT to keep up with the pressures of society that implore the youngest of children must be shuffled
around from activity to activity, as if they are adults! I believe it is more important to protect this sweet, innocent time for our littles…and allow them the freedom to explore, move, and be in nature as much as possible.

“…Never be within doors when you can rightly be without” (pg. 42).

Before I had heard of Charlotte Mason, we were already spending copious amounts of time outdoors. We
are fortunate to live on acreage, and we live in the country outside of Austin, Texas. There are so
many lovely nature opportunities that surround us – many that we have visited, and so many more that we
haven’t explored.

It is so calming and encouraging to spend time outdoors. We aim to spend time in Nature daily!

“As soon as he is able to keep it himself, a nature-diary is a source of delight to a child” (pg. 54) and “While he is quite young (five or six), he should begin to illustrate his notes freely with brush-drawings” (pg. 55).

My children are only four and five, and we have begun to keep a nature diary. However, I have not been
consistent with it, and I plan to work on more consistency throughout the summer. I was recently gifted the Diary of an Edwardian Lady and its a stunning example that I believe Charlotte Mason would have approved of! The book includes mostly notes from the author’s time in nature with beautiful watercolor illustrations. I look forward to keeping a diary of my own alongside my children!

“…I venture to suggest, not what is practicable in any household, but what seems to me absolutely best for the children; and that, in the faith that mothers work wonders once they are convinced that wonders are demanded of them” (pg. 44).

This quote is in response to the fact that children and mothers should spend four to six hours outdoors on
a tolerably fine day. We are currently not spending that much time in this Texas heat, but I do attempt for
us to get outdoors in the morning and we always take a walk in the evening after dinner. When the
weather is more mild, we spend much longer outdoors and its a blessing for ALL of us.

“…she will point to some lovely flower or gracious tree, not only as a beautiful work, but a beautiful thought of God, in which we may believe He finds continual pleasure, and which He is pleased to see his human children rejoice in” (pg. 80).

I delight in seeing how excited my children are when they discover a new flower outdoors! Occasionally,
it is nice to remark how beautiful God made the world. Its so amazing to hear my children talk about God
as if he is an old friend sometimes.

OUR FAMILY OUTDOOR TIME

(During our Charlotte Mason Summer)

1. Allow children one or two hours of free time to play and explore in nature daily. This is a great opportunity for ME to sit outdoors with them to read more on the teaching philosophies I will be implementing, prepare for lessons, write out meal plans, list of house chores, or simply read for pleasure.
2. Send them off to a sight seeing game to paint a mental picture of what they see…so they can hold the
image in their minds forever (about 15 minutes).
3. Observe the flowers, birds, trees, or insects. Watch the creatures’ habits and learn something new simply by paying attention for a few minutes.
4. Jot down any notes in our Nature Journals to remember.
5. Note the weather and date in the Journal.

FAVORITE NATURE JOURNAL AND SUPPLIES

A Charlotte Mason Summer

Nature Journal or Mixed Media Journal
Watercolors or THIS beautiful, quality, and long lasting set
Chalk Pastels or THIS higher quality version
Exploring Nature Curriculum with Children – This works well for my family because it is centered around being outdoors (HINT: If you click on this link, make sure you click “Preview” to check out the preschool curriculum!)
Midsummer: Celebrating the Seasons -Celebrating The Seasons With Children is a series of handbooks written to guide you, step by step, in creating meaningful and authentic celebrations for your own family. If you are interested, make sure to click “Preview” on the upper right corner to view the handbook.
Sabbath Mood Homeschool’s Summer Schedule – It’s worth a read!

Finally, here are my favorite Preschool Supplies all in one, comprehensive list.

OUR PICKS

Before and After Homeschool Space

August 31, 2017February 15, 2019 nourishedchildren Leave a comment

First, I wanted to share our homeschool style and why we went this route. Keep reading to see what’s in our homeschool space.

HOMESCHOOL STYLE

WHAT STYLE OF LEARNING MAKES SENSE TO YOU?

I’m super excited because my children are home for preschool. We began the Peaceful Preschool very slowly last year. My oldest, at four, loves it and asks for more activities! My youngest, at three, sometimes joins in and sometimes simply observes his older brother. I connect well with a Charlotte Mason style of homeschooling. However, I also score highly with Montessori and Waldorf.

Reading quality literature, and having plenty of nature play and free time is important. Our home is filled with natural light, and beautiful, simple materials. Some may call us minimalists. We include our children in our daily life as much as we can. We also make many of their daily tasks easy for them to accomplish independently.

HOMESCHOOL LEARNING QUIZ

I found this great quiz to determine your best homeschooling style and was surprised at the results. I was most drawn to Charlotte Mason, followed by Montessori and Waldorf, however, I also scored high on many of the other styles. Since I scored positively on all areas of learning, I realized I would be willing to try any learning approach that may suit my children best. You can also learn more about homeschooling styles here. The Peaceful Preschool has been great for us because it incorporates Charlotte Mason, Montessori and Waldorf styles.

HOMESCHOOL SPACE BEFORE

I craved a simple learning home space for our boys. The space pictured above is next to our dining room table. It is our only dining room wall. For many months, these fabulous open-ended toys were here for the children to play with. Kitchens, farm stands and toys such as these are great because they encourage imagination, language, social skills and team work. However, it turned into an un-organized mess in a prime space in our home. Finally, the children’s table was covered with clutter making it unusable.

HOMESCHOOL SPACE AFTER

We do most of our school activities at the dining table. It really made sense to use this space for learning since it is next to our dining table. It felt so good, once we refreshed this space!

WHATS IN OUR SPACE

TABLE: I found our adorable children’s table at sprout-kids. We purchased it for my youngest son’s third birthday. I ordered the table set with stools (it was a better price) and they accidentally sent us the chairs. So, they offered for us to keep the chairs since it as their mistake. The boys love having their own furniture that is their size.
CHALKBOARD: We ordered this huge magnetic chalkboard for a great price! My children have a great space to practice handwriting and hang their artwork and projects too! This has been such a valuable resource for us and we love it. It also comes with a shelf to store your chalk.
CHALKBOARD MARKERS: We love this best seller of colorful, non-toxic, dust-free chalk markers.
MARKET BASKETS: I have a slight love for market baskets. We use these to store our books for the week and for daily books we pull out during morning time. These baskets are also in various places throughout our home to store our children’s toys.
NATURE POSTERS: I found 15 small posters for $3.50 TOTAL through Smokey the Bear. These are also adorable.
CAVALINNI POSTERS: I ADORE these. They were $15 for two.
MAPS: We have these are they are super great for a beginning student!
ART SUPPLIES: We store nice quality crayons, colored pencils, paintbrushes and pencils in recycled mason jars.
NATURE TREASURES: We love taking nature hikes in the back. My children gather treasures from the ground and we bring them back to display on our table. We have also used air-dry clay to make an impression of the treasures. Finally, we paint the dried clay and have an ornament to keep forever.
PLANTS: My favorite plant is the fiddle leaf fig. It is a fast growing plant. We purchased a small plant at a nursery and over the years, it is now taller than my husband. Its great to have real greenery in your children’s learning space. The boys help water and take care of the plants too!

What does your homeschool space look like? Do you have a designated homeschool space, or does it simply take place organically at your table or living room? I believe any option works well! Simply find the space that makes sense for your family. Finally, check out our favorite supplies.

ADORABLE POSTERS…Fitting to our area!

OUR PICKS

How We Schedule Our Days

July 11, 2017February 20, 2019 nourishedchildren 3 Comments

PRESCHOOL HOMESCHOOL SCHEDULE SAMPLE:

Our summertime schedule is fairly unstructured. We wake when the sun rises (sometimes sleeping in just a bit) and go to bed when the sun goes down. My boys fill most of their days in between with playtime. I’m lucky – they play so well together. Of course they have occasional disputes, but for the most part they really love to engage in imaginative play.

MORNINGS

We try to begin the day with a nourishing meal. My husband usually makes a hearty breakfast (which I love). When my husband is away on business, I value cooking and baking healthy foods for us also. We are particularly fond of paleo muffins lately. The boys love gathering the ingredients, stirring the batter, and adding in mix-ins at the end, such as blueberries and dark chocolate chips. We typically include a protein with each meal, such as hard-boiled farm fresh eggs, breakfast sausage, or nut butter on gluten-free toast.

THE REST OF OUR DAY

I like to read a children’s Bible story with them during or shortly after breakfast. Afterwards, the boys play for as long as possible. After eating, we usually go outside to play in the sandbox, or do some water play outdoors. The boys will spend their time in imaginative play for most of the morning. After lunch, I typically do more read-aloud time to them. They love to pick out their favorite books for me to read. We may pull out play dough or a fun art activity at this point. If we need to go into town to do errands, such as grocery shopping, this is the time I love to do it.

When we get home, the boys usually assist me in dinner preparation. Their Daddy is normally present for dinner, which I’m so thankful for. If he is home, he is most often the one that cooks, which I’m also grateful for! He will even humor me by cooking a healthy recipe I planned out. After dinner, we typically do outdoor play time, and sometimes go on a short walk. We also try to play a simple card game together.

Finally, my boys take a bath and we get into bed for books. I usually read three books we work together on choosing, and then sing a song. It is one of my favorite parts of the day-the last sweet moments of connection with them before a peaceful rest.

PRESCHOOL HOMESCHOOL SCHEDULE SAMPLE: We gently eased into the Peaceful Preschool curriculum and have completed the letter units A-D. Check out our top preschool supplies here. We will begin again soon and this is the general schedule we are going to strive for! I have pulled different schedule ideas from Charlotte Mason’s Home Education Volumes, Simply Learning Kids, and the Peaceful Preschool curriculum to come up with our homeschool preschool schedule below.

7:30-9:00am: Wake Up, Habits, (Make beds, Get Dressed, Brush Teeth) and Independent Play
9:00-9:30am: Breakfast, and Habits (Put Away Dishes)
9:30-10:30am: Morning Time (Calendar, Bible, Poem)
10:30-11:00am: Snack, Read-Aloud, Phonics and Counting
11:00am-12:00pm: Outside Play, Nature Study, and Large Motor
12:00-12:30pm: Lunch
1:00-3:00pm: Quiet Time (Art, Projects, Fine Motor, Finish Up Anything)
3:00-3:30pm: Snack, Read-Aloud, and Alphabet Memory Verse
3:30-6:00pm: Independent Play, (Sort by Color, Shape Drawing, Object Counting, Letter Book, Alphabet and Object Matching) Outside Time, and Maybe Screen Time or Errands
6:30-7:00pm: Dinner
7:00pm: Habits, (Clean Up Toys) and Family Game
8:00pm: Bath, Read-Aloud, Song, and Bed

What does your homeschool preschool schedule look like? How is it different than your summertime schedule?

OUR PICKS

DAILY AND FAVORITE BOOKS

DAILY SUPPLIES

Our First Week

WHAT WE HAVE BEEN UP TO …

First Grade with Charlotte Mason

WHAT TO EXPECT

INSPIRING QUOTES

SIX IMPORTANT POINTS FOR LESSONS

PREPARING THE FEAST

NOTE

Our First Week

MORNING SCHEDULE

AFTERNOON SCHEDULE

FIRST WEEK LESSONS FOR MAMA

GENERAL CHARLOTTE MASON RESOURCES

FIRST WEEK RESOURCES

OUR PICKS

Also, check out these previous blog posts in the series:

A CHARLOTTE MASON BIBLE STUDY LESSON

PREPARING THE FEAST

SPREADING THE FEAST IS GOOD

A CHARLOTTE MASON BIBLE STUDY

WHAT

WHEN

WHY

HOW

NARRATION

RESOURCES FOR MAMA

PICTURES

RECITATION

FAVORITE RESOURCES

GENERAL CHARLOTTE MASON RESOURCES

CHARLOTTE MASON BIBLE LESSON RESOURCES

OUR PICKS

A CHARLOTTE MASON SUMMER

WHAT WE HAVE BEEN UP TO …

A Charlotte Mason Summer

SUMMER TIME PLANS

ELEMENTS OF EDUCATION

SUMMER MORNING SCHEDULE

SUMMER AFTERNOON SCHEDULE

OUTDOOR TIME BASICS

“…Never be within doors when you can rightly be without” (pg. 42).

“As soon as he is able to keep it himself, a nature-diary is a source of delight to a child” (pg. 54) and “While he is quite young (five or six), he should begin to illustrate his notes freely with brush-drawings” (pg. 55).

“…I venture to suggest, not what is practicable in any household, but what seems to me absolutely best for the children; and that, in the faith that mothers work wonders once they are convinced that wonders are demanded of them” (pg. 44).

“…she will point to some lovely flower or gracious tree, not only as a beautiful work, but a beautiful thought of God, in which we may believe He finds continual pleasure, and which He is pleased to see his human children rejoice in” (pg. 80).

OUR FAMILY OUTDOOR TIME

FAVORITE NATURE JOURNAL AND SUPPLIES

A Charlotte Mason Summer

OUR PICKS

HOMESCHOOL STYLE

WHAT STYLE OF LEARNING MAKES SENSE TO YOU?

HOMESCHOOL LEARNING QUIZ

HOMESCHOOL SPACE BEFORE

HOMESCHOOL SPACE AFTER

WHATS IN OUR SPACE

OUR PICKS

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