We’ve been talking the past couple of weeks about how much Charlotte Mason valued Shakespeare. She considered his works to be a great way to help instruct children’s consciences, reinforcing the differences between right and wrong, good and evil. (more…)
Like many of you, I grew up taking piano lessons. I remember playing Beethoven’s Fur Elise and exercises from Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier. But no one ever told me the stories behind those pieces or introduced the composers to me as real people with living histories. For me, those composers were simply labels and their works […]
As the old year winds down, one thing I love to do is look for resources that will help me in the new year. A variety is best. I keep my eyes open for resources that will save me time, keep me focused on what is most important, help me continue to learn, enrich my […]
Earlier this year I had the privilege of reading Karen Glass’ new book, Consider This: Charlotte Mason and the Classical Tradition. From the very beginning I couldn’t put it down! Her work cuts deftly through the confusion swirling around this topic. She clarifies what true classical education is and how Charlotte Mason related to it; […]
A quick read. Sometimes that little touch lifts our heads from the everyday rush and points our eyes once again toward a beautiful goal. This Christmas season we want to give you the gift of a quick read. One that will encourage your heart for a new year of homeschooling. A little touch that will […]
We are pleased to announce one new book, two new Picture Study Portfolios, and free shipping during the month of December! (more…)
Sometimes a phrase jumps off the page and sticks with me. I’m sure you have experienced similar moments. The choice of words resonates with my heart or touches something deep inside my mind, and I notice them replaying in my thoughts over the next few days, sometimes weeks or months. Sometimes years. (more…)
Isn’t it great when a song gets stuck in your head? I suppose it depends on the song. These past couple of days I’ve had a wonderful stream of words lilting through my mind, thanks to a hymn we sang on Sunday. As I washed dishes . . . O worship the King, all glorious […]
Pocketful of Pinecones is one of my favorite books to read in the springtime. It is such a gentle and uplifting story, with so many Nature Study nuggets woven throughout, that you can’t help but be inspired to get outdoors with your children and enjoy the spring—or any other time of the year, for that […]
About a year ago, my husband John and I were driving home from a convention and discussing how we might be able to help more people understand the Charlotte Mason Method. (We’ve found that drive times are perfect times for brainstorming new ideas.) (more…)
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 hour and another memory trick might just secure a few more bits of information […]
The past few weeks I’ve been having a grand time “living” in 1800 thanks to two friends of mine. Christie you may already know. She designed My Book of Centuries with its helpful guides that give gentle direction for the user: designated spaces for sketches of artifacts, lists of noteworthy people, narrations of the centuries, […]
Since 1994 Practical Homeschooling magazine has hosted annual Reader Awards for homeschool curriculum. This event is a little different in that the Reader Awards are not a “popularity” prize, but a “satisfaction” prize. First, homeschoolers nominate their favorite products in a wide number of categories. PHS tabulates the results and creates a ballot. Then homeschoolers vote, ranking […]
There is such a feeling of anticipation and wonder that sweeps over a person when she walks into a library full of resources! I remember standing in the main entrance of one such library and thinking, This place must be full of ideas! Then just as quickly came a second thought: With all of these […]
As February winds down and March peeks around the corner, the promise of spring somehow starts to grow even before the daffodils. And with the promise of spring comes the urge to spruce things up a bit. Seed catalogs, paint chips, and DIY blogs take on a new attraction as we make plans to give […]
Pressure. Most of us homeschoolers feel like we have a firsthand knowledge of that word. We feel pressured to succeed as we educate our children: pressure from standardized testing, from well-meaning (or not so well-meaning) relatives, from friends and neighbors, even from other homeschoolers we know. But do you experience that kind of pressure about […]
We’re looking forward to traveling the country and meeting up with many of you at homeschool events throughout 2014! In just a couple of weeks we will begin traveling from Minnesota to Florida and from Maryland to Colorado, with stops in several of the states between, and we’re excited! It’s always great to spend time […]
We’re excited to announce that Visits to North America, the latest in our Visits to . . . geography notebooks, is now available! Each notebook combines step-by-step map work with delightful living book suggestions for older and younger students, plus guided reading from a traveler’s firsthand account of visits around the world. The notebook for […]
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 Crystal a few years earlier, but that was in the middle of a busy exhibit […]
There’s something about a blank calendar that excites me! All those days are spread out in enticing array as opportunities. When I look at 2014, I see so many opportunities to learn and grow as a person! But if there is one thing I’ve learned in these 50+ years of life on this earth, it’s […]
Getting the Spine Book Straight
6 days ago
Wisdom from Shakespeare
2 weeks ago
Shakespeare in Three Steps: A New Resource
2 weeks ago
Shakespeare: Author and World-Teacher
4 weeks ago
Small, Constant Touches
1 month ago