The CMP Review — Week of December 2

December 2, 2024

Each year my children and I make an advent wreath with whatever greenery we can find on our property. It has become a tradition of the first thing we do to set ourselves up to observe the Christmas season. Some years the wreath looks nicer than others, but the beauty of the tradition is in the time we spend together, creating something meaningful and setting our hearts on the true reason for the season.

@tessakeath

December 3, 2024

What makes for a good teacher? Perhaps the teacher must be an expert, must be set apart, and perhaps should even have an honorific title like master or sir.

In a fascinating article from the PNEU Journal, educationist Joseph H. Allen said that something different was needful. Surprisingly, he said that the teacher must be humble. And how is that humility revealed? First, by never feeling too embarrassed to say, “I don’t know.”

And secondly, with astonishing insight, he said that the humble teacher is able to laugh at himself.

Are you feeling adequate or inadequate as a teacher? Do you teach in a school, a co-op, or your home? Whatever your situation, you will find something challenging and inspiring in Joseph Allen’s recalibration of values in his 20th century article “The Whole Teacher.” Find it here.

@artmiddlekauff

December 4, 2024

Do you have snow? Would you like to learn why it’s white?

Learn about the winter solstice, the math of snowflakes, the symbolism of holly, and so much more by joining Florence Haines for A Walk in December.

Listen or read via this link.

@rbaburina

December 5, 2024

“The business of every day is not for the teachers to teach, but for the children to learn” writes Charlotte Mason; “when the children are at work, she works too; if they are painting a given object, she paints it.”

My sister-in-law takes this advice to heart and makes liberal use of her own journals and pencils during lessons with her children — whether the lessons are in history, math, music, art, or … science.

When we visited @sjgroom04’s family for Thanksgiving I was struck by her sketches inspired by Holling C. Holling’s Pagoo. Of course, one could ask what benefit is there for the children if their mother-teacher is sketching. Well, the children learn one thing for certain: that hermit crabs are worth paying attention to; they are worth knowing.

@artmiddlekauff

December 6, 2024

The neighbourhood children made a nativity scene with the first snow in our yard.
❄️
In Manitoba, our “buildable” snow only happens twice or thrice a year: at the beginning of winter, at the end of winter, and when things go just right, one other time in the middle of winter. The children know the opportunity is rare and precious and not to be wasted. I love that this is how the chose to use it!

@antonella.f.greco

December 7, 2024

The Iowa countryside is dotted with barns and silos rather than palaces and spires—and, yet, the landscape of my childhood feels the most magical.

Do you feel the same?

@rbaburina

In the Idyll Challenge for men we just finished Charlotte Mason’s first volume, Home Education. A thoughtful question was raised by a father in Brazil who asked about a sentence on page 319: “for though the will appears to be of purely spiritual nature, yet it behaves like any member of the body in this—that it becomes vigorous and capable in proportion as it is duly nourished and fitly employed.”

How, he asked, can we nourish the will of our children?

Several men, thoughtful readers of Miss Mason’s volumes, shared their perspectives. A consensus slowly emerged. If the will is of spiritual nature, then so must be its food.

Today’s poem by Charlotte Mason is timely for us. It corroborates our conclusion. Read or hear Mason’s poem about what “shall nourish thee and make thee grow.” Find it here.

@artmiddlekauff