About seven years ago I was introduced to St. Benedict and his teachings by a dear friend and kindred spirit. I had discovered Charlotte Mason about a year earlier and was in the midst of tackling her volumes for the first time. I was amazed to discover that many of Benedict’s teachings seemed to parallel those of Miss Mason’s. My soul was struck profoundly. It caused me to wonder whether or not Miss Mason had studied the 5th century saint herself.
By Jennifer Taylor How fortunate we are, how blessed to live in a time when Miss Mason’s ideas are alive and well in the 21st century, especially here in America. There are so many wonderful, talented people out there spreading the feast through research, writing and speaking on Miss Mason’s works. There are excellent books, articles, blogs and podcasts available at our fingertips. What a privilege to live in a technological age that allows us access to a seemingly endless amount of information at any time, any day. But do you ever feel that you’ll never have enough time, energy or resources to get through those volumes, attend that conference or listen to that podcast all while teaching your kids, managing a household and investing in relationships? It all can quickly become overwhelming. What to do? I have found that an answer lies with a Brit and a saint.
About seven years ago I was introduced to St. Benedict and his teachings by a dear friend and kindred spirit. I had discovered Charlotte Mason about a year earlier and was in the midst of tackling her volumes for the first time. I was amazed to discover that many of Benedict’s teachings seemed to parallel those of Miss Mason’s. My soul was struck profoundly. It caused me to wonder whether or not Miss Mason had studied the 5th century saint herself.
5 Comments
By Jennifer Taylor Yesterday marked the first day of Advent. This season of expectation is present everywhere you turn. People are bustling with their Christmas shopping, smells of cinnamon and warm cookies fill the air, and the town transforms into a magical wonderland of twinkling lights. The atmosphere is rich with the anticipation of this most wonderful time of the year.
One of my most favorite things about the Advent season is the beautiful music that comes bursting on the scene as if packaged and tucked away for a whole year only to explode in glorious song at the close of the Thanksgiving holiday. Music is such a vital part of Advent that I don't think it would be the same without it. Concert halls resound with orchestral Christmas classics, churches echo the angelic choruses from the choir lofts and carolers warm the hearts of neighbors with their simple harmonies. Some of my personal favorites are those nostalgic Christmas tunes I grew up listening to on the family record player: Bing Crosby's White Christmas, Nat King Cole's The Christmas Song and Gene Autry's Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. I loved that last one so much I begged my mother to sing it to me every night of the year! There is something about music that touches the human soul. By Jennifer Taylor Last year at the Charlotte Mason Institute Conference I was inspired by CM mom and educator, Cheri Struble who presented the idea of the Natural History Club. She explained that the original club was established by members of the Parents’ National Educational Union to support parents and teachers in their study and understanding of Natural History. “…children will not become keen and enthusiastic about Natural History, unless their parents and teachers also show feeling of interest and devotion to it. But as very few, comparatively speaking, of the present generation have been taught to study Natural Science in their youth, it is now a difficulty how to set about learning, and how to show enthusiasm over what is unknown and unfamiliar.” (the Lady Isabel Margesson, “Our P.N.E.U. Natural History Club”, The Parents’ Review, p. 920). What a wonderful testimony of people coming together to meet a need in their community. The result? Natural History Clubs established across England that breathed life into parents, teachers and children that then became inspired to study nature.
By Jennifer Taylor “A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions.” – Oliver Wendell Holmes The long Labor Day weekend provided a much needed opportunity for a quick family getaway to our neighboring state New Mexico. My two eldest children were especially interested in exploring the old southwest and experiencing first hand what they have read in Holling C. Holling’s The Tree In The Trail. As teacher and mother, I was giddy at the chance to broaden the geographical feast for our family. In Home Education Miss Mason states, “But the value of geography lies in its fitness to nourish the mind with ideas, and to furnish the imagination with pictures” (Mason, 1925a, p. 272). Here was an opportunity to feed our minds up close and personal…
Dawn Rhymer I am pleased to share with you a project on which Jennifer has been working to serve our local community and beyond: A Sacred Education. For those who are able to attend CMER 2017, Jennifer will be giving a workshop on her years of experience in serving a local community: facilitating a book group through Miss Mason's Volumes and principles, organizing and leading a Charlotte Mason educational cooperative community, and now she will also be able to share what she has learned through her many educational offerings. If you are wondering how you can serve your community, CM in Community: Relationships in the Life and Learning is not a workshop to miss, and we hope you are able to join us.
By Jennifer Taylor Question: Do you have any suggestions (or does Ambleside) for living books on the history of Math and its explorers? Any books with literary presentations of mathematical ideas. Liz Cotrill's Living Books Library, has lots of suggestions for living math books. There is also a good CMI article: Living Math . . .Is it Possible? Finally, there is a Living Math resource website that was suggested on Simply Charlotte Mason and endorsed by a friend of mine who has a living books library in TN. By Jennifer Taylor "Justice requires that we should take steady care every day to yield his rights to every person we come in contact with; that is, "to do unto others as we would that they should do unto us: to hurt nobody by word or deed." -Mason, Ourselves This week we pause to remember, and seek to live into the dream given us by Dr. Martin Luther King. As America's preeminent civil rights activist, Reverend King led an organized, nonviolent resistance movement seeking freedom, equality, and justice for African Americans. Each year I sit down with my children to recap this watershed moment in US history by watching Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech. I cry every time. He was an incredibly gifted orator who captured imaginations and inspired change by offering through poetic passion a brighter vision for our shared future. Watch the full speech here:
By Jennifer Taylor "Mommy, why do we light these candles anyway?" This from my probing seven year old. It is a valid question as we prepare our home for the advent season. It wasn't too long ago that I began asking this same type of question during this most wonderful time of the year. Back then I didn't think much about advent, let alone really know what it meant. The month of December for me was the typical pulling out of Christmas decorations, writing a hundred Christmas cards, baking, shopping and attending a slew of holiday parties. It was all exhaustingly fun. That is until, like my son, I began asking myself, "why am I doing all this anyway?". "For the vast majority of us, December flies by in a flurry of activities, and what is called 'the holiday season' turns out to be the most stressful time of the year. It is also a time of contrasting emotions. We are eager, yet frazzled; sentimental, yet indifferent. One minute we glow at the thought of getting together with our family and friends; the next we feel utterly lonely. Our hope is mingled with dread, our anticipation with despair. We sense the deeper meanings of the season but grasp at them in vain; and in the end, all the bustle leaves us frustrated and drained." (Watch for the Light: Readings for Advent and Christmas, introduction) Not exactly the atmosphere of holiday cheer.
Just as the Christ candle in the advent wreath signifies the light of God coming into the world through his son Jesus, so too does His light shine to reveal understanding when we stand aside and allow the Holy Spirit to teach. By Jennifer Taylor A walk on a mild autumn afternoon amidst the falling golden Aspens. The air is warm and crisp. The wind rustles the quaking leaves. The color is brilliant hues of yellow, gold and brown. It is quiet. The sky a deep blue that contrasts the fading summer vegetation and complements the bright fingers that reach up to offer their crowns of gold. Take it in…
By Jennifer Taylor I’m sick. “ ‘I cannot go to school today,’ said little Peggy Ann McKay. I have the measles and the mumps, a gash, a rash and purple bumps.” (1) It comes to my mind. This silly poem I committed to memory ions ago for a high school english class. Not quite Shakespeare, but it works. Anyway, I’m sick. And it’s a no wonder. To kick off the new school year, everyone of my children have come down with terrible colds. Passing it from the eldest to the youngest. I thought I’d made it unscathed. But alas, the sore throat, fever and congestion settled in yesterday afternoon-ugh! While the cold virus is much to blame, I fear I am a guilty accomplice. Lately, I’ve been working too much. The start of a new school year brings extra work. New schedules, new books to order, new co-op, new book study…not to mention keeping up with house duties, family, and friends. I could see it coming. The sickness. I sensed within myself how things were becoming unbalanced. I was throwing everything into work, which meant neglecting other things. Oh, I still made time to bring dinner to a friend, check in on my parents and chat with a neighbor. But on the whole, I let all the ‘to-do’s’ rule the roost. And I’ve been left wanting, needing…the serenity of a Madonna?
|
CMER Blog
At the CME Retreat Blog we hope to share with you more information about a Charlotte Mason Education, the retreat, the speakers, the workshops and so much more!
Join us on Facebook.
Categories
All
Archives
January 2018
Subscribe
|