Category Education Is

Posts and comments about Charlotte’s philosophy of education as an atmosphere, a discipline, a life.

Living ideas

The Power of an Idea

Last week we talked a bit about how living ideas feed the mind. You will hear that phrase “living ideas” often in a Charlotte Mason approach to learning. Sometimes it’s hard to grasp the concept of a living idea as…

When More Is Less Calendar Journal

What They Don’t Know

I remember pulling some all-nighters during my high school and college years. A test was scheduled for the next day, and there were so many random facts and pieces of information to be recalled for it that every moment counted.…

Another Example of Facts vs. Ideas

Every weekday evening that I am home, I watch an episode of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood with my youngest daughter. (Thank goodness for Amazon Prime!) From the time my girls were little, Mister Rogers has been a staple around our house.…

Reading by the fireplace

A Slow-Language Movement

It seems there is a movement afoot that encourages people to slow down in order to prepare and eat real food in delicious ways, to enjoy the process as well as the health benefits. It’s called the slow-food movement because…

Charlotte Mason Student Motto

The Story of a Stamp

Every once in a while you meet a kindred spirit who just knows how to nourish your heart. I had that privilege last fall when my travels took me to McDonough, Georgia, and the Hildreth family. I had actually met…

Girl on dock

Flowing Stream or Stagnant Pool?

Near our neighborhood are two houses that provide a study in contrast. Each has a pond on its property, and each of the owners has built a little dock at the edge of his pool. When you drive by in…

white picket fence house

A Lesson from an Old House

Earlier this week a dear friend showed me her 100-year-old house. We tread on the original wood floors, admired the multiple fireplaces, and talked about the people who had lived there before. The house has a rich history, and my…

child by fence

A Chance to Be a Person

A couple of weeks ago, for no compelling reason, I pulled off the shelf a historical fiction book that I first enjoyed about 25 years ago. I figured its 1400 pages would again give me many happy moments over the…