The CMP Review — Week of September 25

September 25, 2023

“I know that all good teachers have some study each day in preparing for the next day’s work, but besides this study two or three subjects, definitely on your own account. Do not think this is a selfish thing to do, because the advantage does not end with yourself.” (The Story of Charlotte Mason, p. 162)

@tessakeath

September 26, 2023

In 2020, I enjoyed the opportunity to speak to the teen conference at a Charlotte Mason retreat. My topic was “Vocation,” and I could think of no better text for the discussion than Mason’s remarkable closing chapter of Ourselves Book I. The chapter, which continually resonates with Idyll Challenge readers, proclaims that “the worth of any calling depends upon its being of use.”

And yet in School Education, Mason says that “we do not talk about … educating [the child] with a view to his social standing or his future calling.” How do we prepare a child for his calling if we don’t educate him with that calling in view?

In 1928, a graduate of the House of Education named Vera Pim shed light on this apparent paradox of the Charlotte Mason method. “We are not idealists without practical and common sense,” she insisted. Rather, “we are intensely practical as well as idealistic.” She realized that we need to prepare children for a livelihood, as well as for a life.

Today we offer our second vintage article in our series on the Charlotte Mason method in the upper years. Read or listen as Miss Pim touches on Form V students, the Cambridge School Certificate Examination, a wide curriculum, and how all these topics relate to preparing children for life. We believe that parents of teenagers (and future teenagers) will find her words thought-provoking and encouraging. Find it here.

@artmiddlekauff

September 27, 2023

Did you know we have a treasure trove of Nature Study resources on our website?

Read both new and historic articles on topics such as getting started, the theory and practical application of nature study, how to keep a nature notebook, nature in the nursery, and more. Find ideas for special studies by month in The Changing Year, how to mix autumn hues in watercolor, and even video brush drawing tutorials.

Visit our site to explore or let us know in the comments if we can help direct you to a specific resource.

@rbaburina

September 28, 2023

When I posted two weeks ago about Plutarch’s Lives, I got a comment on Facebook which said, “I would love to see the complete list of books you have on your shelf there.” I’ll take that as a prompt to share about some special books. To understand why this version of Parents and Children is twice as long as the rest, click here.

@artmiddlekauff

September 29, 2023

In Canada, September 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. We live on the Providence Manitoba campus, which stands on Treaty One Territory.

This week on campus, there have been various events, led and co-ordinated by our indigenous brothers and sisters, leading up to this National Day. We had indigenous elders who came to tell some of their stories, a university student who shared his experience as a young indigenous person, we have prayed and worshiped together, we have shared in traditional games, foods, handicrafts, songs, and so much more.

The neighbourhood children were able to participate in many of these events, which was a real blessing. Their highlight was being asked to help build the two teepees that were erected at the beginning of the week. One of our little friends was able to tie the knot to hold the 3 main poles of the teepee structure together. Serafina was the runner, and as more poles were added, she ran around the structure with the cord, continuously wrapping the structure, over and over again, to fasten all the poles together. The children helped slide the other poles into place, they helped to fasten the teepee entrance with wooden sticks, they helped put the stakes into the ground to hold the teepee fast.

It was an extremely special experience. For all of us. Adults, children, university students alike.

@antonella.f.greco

September 30, 2023

If you’d like to learn about Charlotte Mason’s approach to learning the multiplication tables, join me over at Simply Charlotte Mason. Their podcast this week features step-by-step instruction and details on when your child should progress to the next table or concept.

Use this link to watch “The Charlotte Mason Way to Teach Multiplication Tables.”

@rbaburina

Years ago at university I was a young man on a large campus. It was easy to feel lost in the crowd, far from home and very much on my own. I used to like to retreat to lonely places to find refuge in prayer. It seemed there was no lonelier place on campus than the two or three chapels built for a different age than mine.

One in particular became special to me. After many months I told a friend about this chapel. “One of the stained glasses is of me,” I said. Incredulous, my friend wanted to see the place. The time came and I pointed to the stained glass window. There was Jesus, the Good Shepherd, holding a little lamb. I pointed to the lamb sand said to my friend, “See? There it is. It’s me.”

No less beautiful than that stained glass window is Charlotte Mason’s poetic portrait of the sweet shepherd. He leads us to “knowledge, poems, pictures, at his will.” And He holds us, no matter how lost or alone we may feel. Read or hear it here.

@artmiddlekauff