School Room Enviroment

According to Charlotte’s 6th of her 20 principles:

“6. When we say that “education is an atmosphere,” we do not mean that a child should be isolated in what may be called a ‘child-environment’ especially adapted and prepared, but that we should take into account the educational value of his natural home atmosphere, both as regards persons and things, and should let him live freely among his proper conditions. It stultifles a child to bring down his world to the ‘child’s’ level.”

I think that helps to answer your question. I believe that a healthy home environment is the Real World, and it shouldn’t be altered for the child, but the child should be absorbed into daily life and its rhythms and requirements.

As for the chalkboard – if a chalkboard is helpful, by all means have one. I have several chalkboards which hubby and I have made from whiteboard material from the DIY store. The whiteboard side is left as-is, and we carefully applied blackboard spray paint to the plain wood side. We round the edges as I think it’s esthetically more pleasing. Sometimes we use the whiteboard side – particularly for spelling visualization practice – other times we use the chalkboard side. Hubby drilled two holes near the top of the largest one and we have two discreet hooks on our dining room wall where I can hang the board (either side) at the appropriate height when I need it.