During the second Plenary, Learning for a Lifetime: Perks for the CM Teacher, Jeannette Tulis shared with us the many ways she has grown as she has led her children in a CM education. In one example, she shared the story of a woman who had committed to learning one new nature-thing a day and of the inspiration it was to her. It inspires me as well. However, I have conspicuously left a blank in my task. While I need the challenge, I'm reminded of my old military training, "Set high but achievable goals." A day sounds too much. A week sounds too little. Anything in between takes too many rules, and it is not rules but rather a love I seek. We shall see. |
I think I can. I think I can. I, who has the singing talent of a brick, think I can. Heidi Buschbach once again made sol-fa (sight singing) seem doable. She has been a great blessing to the CM community in generously sharing her love and passion for CM music. Added to the encouragement of the session was the inspiration for this little gadget or something similar. I will call it a Mom Tuner. I chose the opening picture Mezzetin by Watteau because this is a little (a lot?) what I see when I try to picture in my mind's eye my teaching of sol-fa. A little humor is OK, is it not? |
It may have been during his Pre-Retreat Gathering that Art Middlekauff challenged us with the idea of having a 30-second Charlotte Mason elevator speech, but it was his Plenary, Charlotte Mason and the Educational Tradition, which motivated me to respond to the challenge. His talk reminded me so much of the opening words in the elevator speech I had written in the past but lost somewhere in Facebook world. Here is my second try. I am sure there are more tweaks ahead. Charlotte Mason was a British, educational revolutionary who lived in England at the turn of the twentieth century. She discovered a Christian philosophy of education based on the fundamental principle that children are born persons. This was in strong contrast to the more common utilitarian educational systems which often viewed children as prizes, products, possessions, projects, pots or puppets. I have experienced first hand the life this education has brought not only to my children but to my whole family. |
I attended Karla Taber's session called A Liberal Education. Together, we read and narrated Part III of the Parents' Review article A Liberal Education in Secondary Schools. The timing was perfect as this year we venture our way into high school. In just the scope of a few pages, the author covered narration, handicrafts, drawing, music, nature study, science, mathematics, foreign language, grammar, bible, citizenship, geography, history, and more. At the end of the article, the author wrote directly to teachers, and I was reminded I'm alongside my children, not just with a schedule and lesson plans, but in enjoying the education as much as I would hope they would be. There is always scope for her guiding hand, and it makes an immense difference to the children if their teacher is enjoying the lesson with them; her sympathetic remarks here and there—sympathetic with the subject, that is—carry them along with her. |
Friday night closed with my attending a book discussion for a book I did not read. While warmly invited to join, I was also instructed not to speak, and rightfully so. It was a wonderful exercise in listening, and it would have been much richer if I had read the book. If I have the privilege of attending the LER next year, I will read the book chosen for the book discussion--not so that I can speak but so that I can know. |