Why CM & Why Homeschool?

Good morning! 

I’m not exactly answering your question, but it reminded me of the book, Family Matters by David Guterson.  He wrote it as a public school teacher who had chosen homeschooling for his family.  Whereas many “why to homeschool” books have an emotional and spiritual bent, this book was very logical and academic.  I could see it being useful in your situation. 

Hope it goes well, and that you get some answers to your actual question!

Jean

On the left of the SCM site under the schedule and lists is a quote that changes frequently.  These are often pointed and thought provoking quotes from Miss Mason.  Perhaps you would get some ideas from those.

I’m not going to be able to give you great nuggets of wisdom, but we choose to homeschool so that we can offer lessons tailer-made to help our children succeed at their levels, not on a cookie cutter pattern.  We choose to homeschool to give our children a broad array of “subjects” and allow them to have exposure to the great uplifting things of the world, not so much the stuff that is so prevelant in other schools.  We choose to homeschool our children to we can take them to places that enchance what we are studying, while we are studying it.  We choose to homechool so we can introduce our children in society at all levels and help them learn to serve others, respect all people, and learn gratitude for family and God.  We choose to homeschool our children because we can, we love them and want to spend our time with them.  We also had health issues that helped me decide to do this.

My reasons for doing CM were so simple once I found it.  My children thrive with short lessons that focus on important things.  They love the great variety that we can give them that is not given in school anymore.  They love the skills that they are learning, the service they give and closeness of our family.  I love that I can help my children succeed with one on one attention that is not available in public school.  (One  has come up two reading levels this year since I started homeschooling, her handwriting has improved, and her math skills are on the rise) I like that I can afford private music lessons for my children because I am not forced to buy so many un-needed fundraising items, all kinds of unforeseen project things for the whole class, twaddle books from the book clubs, and spend major money on things like school lunches and snacks that my children can’t eat anyway.  I love the whole living book thing combined with nature study and experience in the world as a whole.  It is much nicer to learn this way, and not made to feel different or weird if you enjoy something.  I love that our family is relaxed and so much less stressed than it was a year ago.  I love that I am learning along side my children.

The CM methods are so simple, and yet they really work!  Just this week, one of my daughters told me that she likes Bach, although we have only listened to his CD twice she already likes #7 on the disc.  Another one can’t get enough of the classics read, and another put her arms around my neck and told me that she was missing school while we took a break.   These are the children that were so stressed out at public school that we had stress-fits everyday for several hours.  They are always making connections between what we are studying and things around them now.

Charlotte Mason was remarkable.  Short lessons, habit training, and ENJOYING what you are doing are some of the best recommendations I can give.  I have done it for over 6 months, and am completely amazed at the interest, the rising skill levels, retention, and enjoyment my children are showing compared to I have seen them show before in public school.  

Good luck in your meeting.  Good luck as your embark on one of the most interesting and rewarding adventures in your life!