For our math game today we tried a challenge from @mathforlove Arrange the ten cards to make a pyramid so that each number is the difference of the two below it. My kids announced that it was impossible after 20 minutes. I worked on it for another 30ish minutes and solved it…or so I thought.
Who needs lunch when there is a puzzle to solve!?
Tiny Polka Dot Cards from MathforLove
I teach the classes for Form 2 (4-6th grade) at our Charlotte Mason Alveary Co-op. We have been making a century chart to go along with George Washington’s World by Genevieve Foster. The kids do a great job!
In the center of the Venn diagram where the circles of love of art, Olympic figure skating, and violin music meet, you will find Peach Pie painting flowers while listening to a new music love (Rondo and Capriccioso Op. 28 by Camille Saint-Saen’s) discovered because Yuzuru Hanyu skated to it.
Mid-week of exams, I question everything and all my life decisions, and feel certain we are all failing at homeschool.
We soldier on through the exams, and somewhere by the end of the week, or over the weekend after, I let go of what I wished their exams looked like, and I let go of feeling bad for the courses that exams reminded me about that I either dropped on purpose, or by accident somewhere in the term.
I remind myself that EVEN the exam doesn’t reflect what my kids have learned. It is more of a check on my teaching than anything else.
During the break week following exams, I pray. I make some new decisions about how to move forward, either to hopefully improve the classes or to drop some or to rearrange the schedule, etc. I go back and look at afternoon occupations and see if I can incorporate them in class time. I ask myself, am I starting every lesson with some version of the question “what did we learn last time?” I think about my children’s strengths and ask myself if I am allowing them to use their strengths to learn. I consider how I can improve the quality of the discussion we have after narration each class time. I consider if I need to us materials from a lower grade level to help my child access the ideas more readily.
And then I move forward, because what else can I do? I profoundly believe that the principles behind a Charlotte Mason education are true. I know that raising children who can recite timeline facts or memorized paragraphs about history/literature is not my goal. I remind myself that my child will not retain everything from their lessons that I have retained because I have the advantage of age and many relationships already formed. I remind myself I am raising a person, not an encyclopedia. I pray for grace and help, and move forward with faith.
❤️
For picture study today, Isla suggested the name of this Rembrandt should be “Rich Lady Looking down on Peasants.”😂 (actual title “Woman with Child Frightened by Dog”) #howwealveary
The perils of letting the cats come on Nature walk with us. Neighbor dogs incite them to climb trees. This was only the beginning of the trouble.
Passionflower vine seen on our nature walk today.
The kids are really excited for the fruits to ripen.
I love that I get to nature journal, too.
#foraging #homeschoolrocks #charlottemasonirl #howwealveary #charlottemasoneducation #motherculture #naturejournaling
One senior and 2 kindergarteners! Off to public school. ❤️ it’s been quiet at home today
Level 1 and level 2 Art lessons happen simultaneously because I’m not getting the supplies out twice! #howwealveary
Learned from my friend Jessica how to tell the difference between Queen Anne’s Lace, Elderflower, Common Yarrow, and Spreading Hedge Parsley today. (I used to think they were all Queen Anne’s Lace) #cmiconference #naturewalk #naturejournal
Marvelous Pigs in Satin 