A Charlotte Mason Education - ________________________________
Vol. 3, No. 7 -- May 2002
Circulation: 6,550+
http://sites.silaspartners.com/cmason/DSimple@aol.comCopyright 2002 Deborah Taylor-Hough
ISSN: 1527-1277 All Rights Reserved
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IN THIS ISSUE:-- "Dear Readers"
-- Charlotte Mason Quote-able
-- Science "Living Book" Recommendations
-- Sample Narration: Beatrix Potter video
-- Letters to the Editor / Reader Tips
-- Assorted Information (archives, retrieving back issues, etc.)
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Dear Readers,This year I'm really enjoying the change of the seasons. A warm spring day seems like a piece of heaven ... I must have spent way too much time indoors this winter!
Hope you're having a wonderful May!
Simply Yours,
Debi
(Deborah Taylor-Hough)
Editor, Charlotte Mason Monthly Email Newsletter
Author, "Frozen Assets" and "A Simple Choice"
A Frugal, Simple Life________________________________
CHARLOTTE MASON QUOTE-ABLE" 'Education is an Atmosphere, a Discipline, a Life.' By this we mean that parents and teachers should know how to make sensible use of a child's circumstances (atmosphere), should train him in habits of good living (discipline), and should nourish his mind with ideas, the food of the intellectual life. These three we believe to be the only instruments of which we may make lawful use in bringing up children."
--Charlotte Mason, "School Education," (Vol. 3)
From the Original Homeschooling Series (six-volume set)________________________________
SCIENCE "LIVING BOOK" RECOMMENDATIONS (Part 1)Copyright 2002 Deborah Taylor-Hough
Used with permission. All rights reserved.
http://hometown.aol.com/dsimple/"Living books" are basically the opposite of dull, dry textbooks. The people, places and events come alive as you read a living book. The stories touch your mind and heart. They are timeless.
Finding living books for studies in government, American history, and general literature is relatively easy. But finding living Science books has been more of a challenge for many modern day Charlotte Mason educators.
The following list of books was compiled from several on- and off-line discussions with mothers using Charlotte Mason's methods at home with their children--women who had discovered books they liked to use for science that fit with their personal ideas of what makes a book a "living book." Since tastes and sensitivities are so personal, your mileage may vary. There were more books than could fit in one newsletter, so Part Two of this list will be in the June 2002 issue of the CM-Monthly.
I've included direct links to the books on Amazon.com so you can browse the reviews of other readers to get a better idea of which books would be appropriate for your home and/or classroom. Please feel free to submit your personal favorite "living" science books. Send suggestions to:
dsimple@aol.comA Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton Porter (preteen to adult)
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0253203317/simplepleasuresp/
A touching story of a girl's trials and tribulations, and her devout love of nature.
Archimedes and the Door to Science by Jeanne Bendick, Laura M. Berquist (older children/teens)
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1883937124/simplepleasuresp/
An interesting and educational book about the life and work of Archimedes, the Greek mathemetician.
Backyard: One Small Square) by Donald M. Silver (elementary)
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/007057930X/simplepleasuresp/
Introduces children to the natural wonders of their own backyard. Teaches increased powers of observation.
The Ben Franklin Book of Easy and Incredible Experiments by Lisa Jo Rudy, et al (late-elementary to teen)
Child-friendly activities and experiments related to some of Benjamin Franklin's major interests: weather, electricity, music, paper and printing, light, and sound. An excellent resource to supplement a study of Franklin's life.
Children of Summer: Henri Fabre's Insects by Margaret J. Anderson (teen to adult)
A fictionalized account of what it might have been like growing up in the family of Jean-Henri Fabre, noted naturalist and author. Told from the viewpoint of his son.
Chipmunks on the Doorstep by Edwin Tunis (elementary to adult)
Tunis kept a nature diary about the chipmunks playing in his yard each year. Delightful drawings, excellent text. Currently out-of-print, but definitely worth ordering through an out-of-print book search such as: http://www.ABE.com
The Christian Liberty Nature Readers (5 book series)
by Florence Bass, et al (early elementary)
Book One Elementary "readers" but so much more than just "See Spot Run!" Your child will actually learn about nature and God's creation while learning to read.
(The) Cloud Bookby Tomie dePaola (preschool to elementary)
A basic (and beautifully illustrated) introduction to the science of clouds for children.
Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Comstock (elementary to teen)
A detailed guide for studying nature with your children (whether at home or in the classroom). It's not a book to actually read "to" your kids ... read it yourself to find ideas for how to present different concepts and answer questions while teaching. Especially good book if you're located in the eastern half of the United States, but helpful ideas no matter where you live. Written by a nature professor at Cornell University in New York.
Keeping a Nature Journal: Discover a Whole New Way of Seeing the World Around You by Clare Walker Leslie, Charles E. Roth (preteen to adult)
A truly beautiful book written by college level science teachers who use Nature Journals as their main method of instruction.
Laddieby Gene Porter Stratton (late elementary to adult)
"Educators, naturalists and Theologians will be inspired by Gene Porter Stratton's ideas... The story of 'Laddie' has many similarities to the author's own childhood, making it even more interesting." (from a review on Amazon.com)
Leonardo Da Vinci for Kids: His Life and Ideas by Janis Herbert (elementary to early teens)
Well-written text, a wide variety of side-notes, experiments, illustrations, and art projects for kids based on the life of Da Vinci.
(The) Life of the Fly by Jean-Henri Fabre (preteen to adult)
A classic work on insect life and behavior.
Linnea in Monet's Garden by Christina Bjork (preschool to late-elementary)
Journey with Linnea to Paris and Monet's house at Giverny. Learn about his life and art through this entertaining and educational book children will love!
Other Linnea Books:
Linnea 's AlmanacLinnea's Windowsill GardenLyrical Life Science by Doug C. Eldon, et al (elementary to teens)
Audio cassette of fun, well-written songs for happily learning scientific terms and concepts.
(The) Passionate Observer: Writings from the World of Nature by Jean-Henri Fabre (teen to adult)
An anthology of brief nature-related essays by Henri Fabre, a noted natural historian and well-respected contemporary of Charles Darwin and Victor Hugo.
(The) Physics of Star Trek by Lawrence M. Krauss (early teens to adult)
A fun look at the fanciful "inventions" from the Star Trek series. Are transporters and holodecks really possible within the realm of physics?
(The) Stars: A New Way to See Them by Hans Augusto Rey (preschool to early teens)
If the author's name, H.A. Rey, sounds familiar, he's also the author of the original Curious George books! This is a great book.
Thomas Alva Edison: Inventing the Electric Age by Gene Adair (late-elementary to teen)
This is one of my daughter's all-time favorite books. She was truly inspired by Edison's life and the fact that he was a bit "outside the box" in his thinking and way of life. A great inspiration for all of us who are a little "out-of-the-box" ourselves.
Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White (preschool to late-elementary)
A wonderful story about honesty, perseverance and integrity through the life of Louis the swan. My children developed a strong interest in learning more about swans (the real trumpeter variety) after reading this book aloud together.
Walden by Henry David Thoreau (older teens to adult)
The author's observations of the natural world around him--and his observations on life--are often inspiring as well as thought-provoking. I recommend parents read this one for themselves first, before setting their children loose with this book. There could be philosophies or world views contrary to your family's sensitivities that you'll want to avoid or discuss in greater deail with your children.
LIST COMPILED BY: Deborah Taylor-Hough
--Debi is the editor of the Charlotte Mason Monthly. She's the full-time mother of three, a free-lance writer, and author of the bestselling book, "Frozen Assets: How to cook for a day and eat for a month." Stop by and visit Debi at:
A Frugal, Simple Life________________________________
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NARRATION: Beatrix Potter video--A sample narration by an 11-year-old girl
Note from the Editor: Narration is assimilating information and retelling it -- it's a simple, yet powerful, educational technique that can be used in all school subjects and experiences. We often think of narrating books, but our children can also narrate field trips, movies, or anything we want them to retain.
The following narration was done orally into a tape recorder by an eleven-year-old girl after watching a detailed educational video about the life of Beatrix Potter (author and illustrator of the original Peter Rabbit books).
This child's mother played the tape back and typed up the narration to keep in her daughter's school notebook. I think you'll be able to see how easily oral narration translates into a written form. I've always believed that writing is simply speaking out loud on paper (with a few more rules). Too often we find ourselves so caught up in the mechanics of composition, we consequently lose the feel for how to relate and communicate through our written words.
When I teach writing workshops, one thing I always stress over and over again is, "Don't 'write'! Just 'talk'!"
Also, notice the amount of nature study and nature journaling Miss Potter did as a child. She's definitely a testimony to the wonderful effects of nature observation in a child's early life.
~Debi (Editor, CM-Monthly)
christianity.com/cmasonNARRATION: Beatrix Potter -- Artist, Storyteller and Country Woman (Videotape)--Video viewed and narrated by Kelsey (age 11)
Beatrix Potter was frail little girl. She couldn't play with the other kids because her parents were worried about germs spreading, so she entertained herself by drawing and studying Nature. She didn't get to see much of her mom and dad -- she stayed in the nursery with a governess who watched her. She was homeschooled by her governess.
When she was ten, she could draw pictures that looked almost real. That's really good for someone only ten. When she was older, her family got a microscope and she used it to look at bugs and flowers, and then drew them while looking through the microscope.
Her and her little brother, Bertram, would go and get animals and bring them home. Then she would draw them. They had a turtle, a bunny, and a mouse. She liked to sketch pictures of the animals. She liked to draw pictures of the scenery from different windows. Her family would take vacations out to Scotland and she would draw the scenery. Her drawings were very pretty.
She had a journal and she used a code in it. She used different letters than we use so people couldn't read it. Only just a little while ago people were able to crack the code.
She had the fashions and hair things from that time. She thought they were uncomfortable. I think the fashions looked old -- like from long, long, long ago.
She was very pretty when she was a girl. I think she looks kind of sad in the pictures, and lonely because she didn't have anyone to play with except her brother. When Bertram was older, they would go and pick flowers and bring them back and study them and draw pictures of them. Bertram loved to draw, too.
When she got older, on Christmas she would make Christmas cards and draw the fronts of them with pictures of rabbits because she had a pet rabbit named Benjamin Bouncer and she liked to draw pictures of him. One time a friend saw the pictures and told her that she should take them to a publisher and have them made into real Christmas cards. She wasn't sure if they would like her drawings, but the publisher liked them a lot and sent her a check in the mail asking for more drawings. That would be fun! I think she was excited. I would be excited if someone liked my pictures that much.
Later she wanted to write books. She had written letters to some kids about the stories of Peter Rabbit and some other stories. She borrowed back the letters and took the letters and turned them into real stories with pictures. She started the first one called Peter Rabbit. She wanted to do the pictures in black and white. But none of the publishers wanted them in black and white because they weren't quite as attractive. They wanted colorful pictures.
Beatrix kept looking for a publisher that wanted black and white pictures, but they only wanted colored pictures so they could sell more books. Finally she decided to print and publish the book on her own. It was a good idea, but it didn't work all that well.
A friend of hers told her that the stories should rhyme and have verses. So her friend took the words and made funny little verses out of them. I didn't like those very much. They didn't seem very professional, but Beatrix's are very fun to read and they make sense. Her friend's way, I think, was twaddle. I don't think people would've liked her books very much if they were like that -- they would've only liked the pictures.
A publishing company said they liked the books but wanted them without the rhyming verses. They also wanted the pictures in color. Finally Beatrix agreed and she started to do the pictures over again. At first she didn't want to because the pictures would be just brown and green -- pictures of bunnies and gardens. But the pictures looked nice when she was done.
After the first book, she started to write other books. And then she had a lot of books. These are a few of the books she wrote: The Tale of Jeremy Fisher, The Tale of Two Bad Mice, Little Pig Robinson, Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle, Mrs. Tittle-Mouse, and lots more.
There was a publisher and he liked her. They were good friends. After awhile he asked her to marry him. She said yes, but her mom and dad disagreed. They said because she was the only girl, she had to stay home and care for her parents. I think she should've been able to get married if she wanted to. She was an adult. But finally they were going to get married, but just a few weeks after they got engaged the man she was going to marry died of a disease. She was very sad. It was very hard for her.
She started to write some more books. She wrote about three a year. She wrote Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle a little bit after he died. She had a pet hedgehog that she used for drawing pictures for the book. She drew the hedgehog from many different angles. I think it would be fun to be one of her pets because I'd get to have drawings of me in her books.
She had a bunny name Peter and she used him for her pictures, too. She liked to draw him a lot. A while later in her life, she met a man and they were friends for a long while and he asked her marry him. Later she made enough money from her books to buy a farm. She bought one farm, and pretty soon she had a lot of farms. She had lots of sheep and pigs and other farm animals. She liked to draw the pigs, but sometimes they would chew on her boots. It was very disruptive. I don't think it would be too helpful if I was drawing and a pig was chewing on my boots.
She had a book with different rhymes. They were good rhymes. She used the pictures from her old sketch books with the rhymes. The publisher liked that book a lot and they asked her to write another one. She did write another one and decided to have new pictures. One of the pictures was of a mouse making cider, which was something like beer, but the publisher asked her to redraw it because they thought it wouldn't be good for little children. So she had to redraw it. It looked very nice when she was done.
World War One came and it was hard for her to get help with the sheep on the farm because the men had to go off and fight. She was elected the first president of the local sheep society and she was a judge for their contests.
She had a pretty farm. I'd like to live there. I think she died a little bit before World War Two. She had said that she wanted her farm to stay the same way it had been and not to turn into a bunch of houses or a development. She left thousands of acres of land to the government if they would keep it the same way it was when she was alive and running it. She wanted sheep there. Lots of sheep. You can go there now-a-days and see it, and it's not very different from how it was when she lived on it.
When she was 77-years-old, she caught a bad cold that turned into bronchitis. She died in the winter during the month of December.
I thought her life was very different from what I had pictured. I had pictured her living in a very different place. I thought things might have been easier for her, but things seemed rather hard. Her life was very fulfilling with all the things she did. She wrote lots of books, she drew lots of pictures, she was a farmer, she had thousands of acres of beautiful land, she had lots of animals, and she gave a gift to all of us because of writing her books. Kids can read her books and people can go and see the land where she lived, and the sheep that she loved.
I like her books. My favorite was Peter Rabbit. Beatrix Potter inspires me to draw more in my Nature Notebooks and to work on my spelling and writing.
SUBMITTED BY: Kelsey and her mom :-)
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Feel free to submit your own short articles (300-500 words) about how you're applying Charlotte Mason's ideas and methods in your home or classroom.
DSimple@aol.com________________________________
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR / READERS' TIPS(Share your helpful tips, homeschooling ideas, or personal thoughts with other Charlotte Mason Monthly readers.)
DSimple@aol.comRe: Dover BooksDover Books has its own secure shopping web site:
http://store.doverpublications.com You can also sign up to receive as many of the over 20 catalogs they have. I especially like the coloring books and the $1.00 items -- they make great stocking stuffers, party gifts, and little treats for your children. I've ordered from them several times and received great service. I'd highly recommend them!
--Laura K.
Re: Reading to kids and grandparent ideaReading to children is wonderful, and as you said, some families are not centrally located -- when my kids were small, my parents taped themselves reading books to my boys. My kids went to bed every night listening to Grandma and Grandpa reading to them. Even today, many years later, my son wants to "hear" Grandma read him the same story.
--Sally
Re: Literacy volunteer siteYou have a wonderful site and I have found many resources for our homeschooling here. Thank you for all your hard work. I have another helpful link you might want to include.
http://www.literacyvolunteer.com--Susie B., Houston TX
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FAMILY "TWADDLE-FREE" READING LISTRecommended books for children and families
Go to:
http://hometown.aol.com/BeeME1/bookstore.html________________________________
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A Charlotte Mason Education: A How-to Guide"As a teacher of twenty years, I have greatly appreciated Catherine's guidance in introducing the Charlotte Mason method in my teaching."--Maggie Dail, MA, of Master Enterprises Learning Center
More Charlotte Mason Education"... Levison explains and clarifies Mason's ideas while also adding her own ideas resulting from her years of experience teaching this way in a home school setting ... I found these books extremely practical and thoughtful."--Cathy Duffy, author of
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