Have you ever had the experience where things just come together? You have a discussion with someone, and that person brings up a great point that causes you to ponder. You form some ideas in your head and tuck them away for the time being. Then just a few days later, someone else mentions that […]
The more time you spend around the Charlotte Mason Method, the more you come to realize what a nicely balanced approach it is. CM is not all books and narration; Charlotte also recognized the importance of working with your hands. (more…)
As I sit at my desk, I can see so many pieces of furniture that my father has crafted from wood for our family: four beautiful bookcases that stretch to the ceiling and hold much of my precious library; a shelving unit with adjustable shelves, originally created for one daughter’s special toys and now holding […]
I don’t know about you, but for me the two biggest challenges of teaching handicrafts are (1) not knowing how to do the craft myself and (2) coming up with projects. Despite my noticeable lack of “craftyness,” my oldest daughter Rebekah has become quite skilled in several handicrafts and has taught several children (and adults) […]
Handicrafts and life skills are such a great way to spend cooler afternoons. And as the weather turns cold, they provide a wonderfully productive outlet for energetic minds and fingers indoors. We like to combine handicrafts with life skills because there is a natural overlap and because Charlotte’s students were expected to do house work […]
What do you picture in your mind when you read the word “obstacle”? How large of an obstacle do you imagine? Obstacles can be of various sizes, you know. For example, you might encounter an empty tissue box sitting on the floor right where you intended to sweep. That tissue box is an obstacle, but […]
My daughter just showed me a little mouse that she knitted today. It’s the cutest little thing, with a tiny knit hat and pink ears peeking over the top. She found the pattern and decided to knit it just for fun. While I was making supper tonight my other daughter was busily drawing a geometric […]
“What’s the point?” I often ask myself that question, especially when it comes to various demands on my time. If someone tells me I should add a certain activity to my already-full schedule, I want to know why. Tell me what that activity will gain for me. For many moms, handicrafts fall under the “What’s […]
Many people equate living books with the Charlotte Mason method. And that’s well and good. Living books are a big part of her approach, as we’ve discussed during recent posts. But a Charlotte Mason education is not based just on books; it is also based on “things.” (more…)
Fall and winter seem to be good seasons for handicrafts. There’s just something appealing about being in a warm, comfortable room and working with your hands while the wind blows outside. (more…)
In the Charlotte Mason method of education, lessons should be completed in the mornings. So what do you do with your child during the afternoons? For one thing, Charlotte advocated the child’s learning handicrafts. In her day, those handicrafts could help to support and enable the child as he or she grew to adulthood. So […]
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