My Little Robins

Loving and Learning in the Nest

Our 2020 Homeschool Year in Hindsight

by Leave a Comment

When I pieced together our curriculum last year, I had no idea what we had in store!  None of us could have imagined the turn of events in the spring. Despite the strange ending, it was a year filled with emotional and intellectual growth. There were a few things we tweaked along the way, and a few things that we loved. I've been making mental notes to share with you, but I'm generally moving slower through life these days. 

What we've learned this year will help me make decisions for next year's curriculum. And maybe it will help you make some decisions, too. To see the curriculum we pieced together last year, go here.

I've used affiliate links to share some of our homeschool resources with you. Read more about these in my policies. 


Takeaways from our Homeschool Year

1. We were literature HEAVY

I know that it is a wonderful thing to be literature heavy. At the same time, though, it seemed that we were riding a tricycle with one of the back wheels missing. We were searching for balance, but it couldn't be found with our curriculum. A little math showed me that we spent at least three times as much reading living books than we do studying math or science. And, some of our "science lessons" (nature study) involved reading through the Burgess Bird Book. 

Charlotte Mason said, in reference to math, that one subject shouldn't be valued higher among the others. That makes a lot of sense to me in a whole, well-rounded person sort of way, but not in a modern world way. Math, and its counterpart science, are literally more valuable when it comes to jobs of the future and how much they will pay. While this is not my only goal of education, it is one of them. My husband the architect is adamant that our children could have these jobs if they wanted them.  

The public school system tends to build members of society that are strong in language arts, or strong in math and science. Maybe some of this is naturally ocurring, but what if it's possible to raise children who are strong with the so-called "left-brain skills" and "right-brain skills?" 

Takeaway: Next year, we'll add in a bit more science, and we'll be more consistent with nature study. 

2. And speaking of language arts heavy...

About half way through the homeschool year, Miss H realized that she didn't know how to write as well as her peers. We've spent plenty of time actually writing through copywork and her handwriting book, but she specifically asked me to teach her how to use capitals, periods, and "things like that." I know that interest-led learning is not a part of Charlotte Mason's plans, except for in free time during the afternoon, but this seemed different to me. She wasn't asking to learn about something silly and extra, she asked to learn a core subject area that I hadn't included. 

You can imagine how terrible this made me feel. She had no idea why I wasn't teaching her these skills, and "because Charlotte Mason said so" didn't seem like a strong enough answer. So in the middle of the year, I searched for a language arts curriculum. I decided on Language Lessons for a Living Education, and to be honest with you, it isn't my favorite. We bought the second grade curriculum, but it was not challenging enough at all. She soon tired of writing CVC words, and the stories included were dull. 

Takeaway: I'm letting her have some say in what we're learning. In the next school year, we'll use a language arts curriculum that fits us better (I'll share what we're going to use soon!) 

3. Come up with a new plan.

If this school year taught me anything, it's that we, as homeschooling moms, have to be flexible. I tend to make plans and hold tight to them, but this year, I had to loosen my grip quite a bit. My children's emotional needs were more important than the schedule. I added in some more read-alouds, and more lessons that my middle child could join us in, too. We did part of Playful Pioneers from the Peaceful Press (and will pick up the rest in the fall!) to add something delightfully different into our days. We watched more educational TV than normal, and spent more hours outside. It reminded me a bit of those sacred early years, where the expectations were low but curiosity was high. 

At the same time, I felt so grateful that we already had habits and rhythms established so that it didn't feel like the rug was pulled out from underneath us in March. We were able to finish what we needed to do, even while altering our flow a bit. 

Takeaway: Relish flexiblity in homeschooling.

Books we loved 

Fairy Tales Every Child Should Know by Hamilton Wright Mabie

The Family Under the Bridge by Natalie Savage Carlson 

Linnea in Monet's Garden by Christina Bjork

Benjamin Franklin by Ingri and Edgar D'Aulaire

Books we enjoyed a little less

The Book of Indians by Holling C Hollings

Books that disappeared

We didn't make it through the Burgess Bird Book, because it went missing sometime in the spring. I had all of our books out to catalog our library, and I'm wondering if the littlest wandered off with it! I decided to include this random category because I can't really make a judgment on this book since we didn't finish reading it!  

Soon I'll share with you what we'll use next homeschool year, which amazing starts in about a month! 



We Were Created To Be In Nature

by Leave a Comment

A downpour recently showed me how my life has been enriched by the addition of nature. Standing at the checkout counter at a store, I heard infuriated rain hitting the roof. I looked towards the doors and saw a huddle of people standing and waiting. They waited for weather more pleasant. Less abrasive. 

What to do? I wondered, though only for a moment. I whispered encouraging words to myself ( "Suck it up, Buttercup,") and I left the comforting shelter of the store to face the sensation of sheet-like rain. 

Head down, I raced to my car, splashing through puddles and probably looking a fool to those who chose shelter over showers. I plopped into the seat of my car dripping wet, and you probably won't guess what I did next--

I took a selfie.

 

In that moment, I was so surprised by the person I had become in contrast to the person that I had been. I remember, at 20 years old,  waiting inside a campus building for 30 minutes during a rainstorm so that I wouldn't have to walk home. The time I waited was at least a round-trip walk there and back, but the wasted time was worth dry hair and unsmudged makeup.


 Nature was a foreign place to me. But I see now how my spiritual life is connected to my nature life. The farther away my body gets from the earth, the bigger the distance between my heart and God's.  There's correlation, and most definitely causation. As He draws me nearer, I want to spend more time in His creation. Romans 1:20 says, 

"For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse." 

Related: Making the Most of Outdoor Play 

We Were Created to be in Nature

 In the garden, humans were created. They lived in the land under the shelter of trees and ate straight from the earth. And as a result, humans continue to reap the benefits of nature, even after the fall. 

We feel less stressed. 

Our anger and stress are reduced. 

Heart rates and blood pressure go down. 

Our eyesight improves.

We can clearly see, and clearly see Him.

And yet, collectively, we are spending less time in nature. Children today spend half as much time outside as their parents, some research suggests. We see increased obesity and increased mental health problems, while faith in God is becoming an unmentionable in some communities. We were created to be in nature, and separation from it is not without consequence. 

In July, I will work on giving my children the habit of nature through books and ideas in Idea Nest. Sign up to have Idea Nest sent to your inbox. 

Related: How Not To Fail the 1000 Hours Outside Challenge


Engaging Young Learners in American History

by Leave a Comment

When H was in Kindergarten, I pieced together a curriculum that would make her feel the wonder of learning, but wouldn't seem like the same formal lessons that would soon follow. I wanted Kindergarten to be a good introduction to learning, while still being lighthearted and different than the rest of her schooling. 

This is a sponsored post for Sonlight. I was compensated for this review, but wasn't required to share a positive opinion. These are all my honest thoughts about this product.

Now that Mr. E's Kindergarten year is peeking out over the horizon, I'm looking for options. Piecing something together again honestly sounds exhausting: I'll have another child to educate, and a toddler in tow.  I've been on the lookout for something that is open-and-go, centered around living books, and is not a mini-rendition of the formal lessons to come. Exploring American History: History/Bible/Literature K from Sonlight will be a great option for us, and for your gentle Kindergarten year, too. 

​

Kindergarten American History Curriculum

Exploring American History: HBL K is designed specifically for young children ages 5-6 in Kindergarten or first grade. There is an instructor's guide, two volumes of Heroes and Happenings, picture books, and short chapter books.  (We received the instructor's guide and Heroes and Happenings books, but you can get all of the living books included.) Miss H helped me unbox and test out the curriculum, and immediately fell in love with the Heroes and Happenings books. They are colorful books filled with stories from history, ranging from the Vikings to modern history-makers like Temple Grandin. 

Sonlight wanted to create a curriculum with lots of picture books for young children, but knew that keeping the cost down would be difficult. The Heroes and Happenings book solved that problem! The two volumes are well-written and engaging. Miss H has been asking to read them every morning on top of her regular lessons. 

The teacher's guide has a laminated map that can be used while reading through the books with your child. My kids always find maps to be magical, but they don't know that we're easily integrating another subject, geography, as we map different locations around the world. 

History Through Living Books

On top of the Heroes and Happening books, living books are scheduled throughout the week. Some of the books go along with the history topics, and some are general read-alouds. Miss H was so excited to see the book list.  We've found some books that we might read before Mr E's scheduled kindergarten year; we're just too impatient! 

I think the living books appealed so much to my daughter because they are not the same titles that we've been reading for four years. Normally, Kindergarten and early years book lists contain lots of repeats.  While there are some familiar reads here, most of them are new to us. 

One thing I think I will adapt is to skip the comprehension questions, that mostly begin with "what" and "why." Instead, I'll use narration for comprehension. I really like that the teacher's guide says to use the questions if you think your child needs them. Do what works best for your family! There are some discussion questions that get into the ideas of the books, making those ever-important conversations flow easily. 

Bible

Each day has a Bible reading from the One Year Bible for Children. What a gorgeous edition! Several Bible stories are read each day, and there is a new memory verse every week. The Sing the Word CD corresponds to each memory verse to make scripture memory easier. When I've tried to do weekly memory verses in the past, we usually lose momentum in a few weeks. Having the memory verse planned out and written in front of me is crucial for us! 

Visit Sonlight

Is It a Complete Kindergarten Curriculum? 

Depending on your state's requirements, or your own personal wishes, this curriculum is mostly complete. You can add in math and science from Sonlight, and you'll be all set. You also might want to add in phonics and "the riches." For me, since I like to keep kindergarten informal, it will be plenty of learning for my little guy! 

One thing I love is that it schedules four days of lessons. That is so helpful for busy families  that have activities, enrichment programs, and church groups throughout the week. The teacher's guide is so well-organized that staying on track and doing the daily lessons will take very little prep. 

For busy families, or for those wanting to simplify Kindergarten, this is a curriculum definitely worth looking into. You can request a Sonlight catalog here! 

This giveaway is open to US residents age 18 and over. 

​

​

​

 

Preschool Pond Play

by Leave a Comment

One thing I love about giving my kids lots of time to play is that they come up with the most fun imaginative play scenes! May's Idea Nest nature study topic is ponds, but I only had to read one of the featured books before they started creating a pond in our backyard. It didn't involve a flood or an excess of water, thankfully. 

Although I had planned to offer different materials for pond play, they did their own thing, which is perfectly fine with me. Amazingly, their play turned into an explanation of the frog life cycle, complete with story stones that they asked me to whip up quickly with front yard rocks and a few Sharpies.

In case you need a little inspiration, here are some ideas for pond play. 


Related: Introducing the Idea Nest

Make An Outdoor Pond

This is not as elaborate as it sounds. A pond could have water in it, or not. It could be small or large. It could involve mud (a huge hit in our family!) or be tidier. Basically, you need a container or designated spot for a pond. Here are some suggestions: 

  • A blue plastic baby pool 
  • Sticks arranged in a circle (it won't be able to hold water but maybe mud?) 
  • Plastic storage container (this is what my kids chose to use!) 
  • A large soup pot (they used this, too! It's about their favorite outdoor "toy") 
  • Tarp wrapped around two drainage pipes, a trick I learned as a Tinkergarten Leader! 
  • An unused birdbath or flower pot 

Once you have a container, fill it with pond goodies! At first, the pond that my children made was clear with rocks and shells floating in it. It didn't take long to be filled with mud, grass, and bark. It looked like a legitimate pond! Here are some more pond-like additions:

  • Rocks
  • Leaves
  • Mud 
  • Sticks
  • Toy reptiles and insects
  • Rocks painted with reptiles and insects

Related: The Complete Charlotte Mason Preschool Guide

Pond Play

Setting up a pond is obviously the best part of this pond idea, but my three still found ways to play with their pond for hours! 

  • Retrieve items from the bottom of the pond
  • See what floats
  • ​Make frog story stones
  • Let the frog rocks explore the pond, hop away, and basically try to survive

Indoor Pond Play

This post would be incomplete if I didn't tell you about one of my very favorite pond play ideas that we did this month! I usually don't get into fancy sensory bins because clutter, but desperate times call for desperate measures. Since we've been homebound for six weeks now, I bought a loose parts frog pond kit from Mulberry toes on Etsy for something a little special. To go along with it, I bought a playsilk dyed like a pond from Kitchen Dye Works. The result was a gorgeous, imaginative play scene that kept my kids engaged and happy for days! 

Related: Charlotte Mason Preschool Foundations

​


Teaching Reading With Treadwell Readers

by Leave a Comment

When we teach children how to read through the Charlotte Mason approach, it is not meant to be a quick process. We can take our time (insert sight of relief). But even though we don't want to rush them from nursery rhymes to chapter books, it has to happen at some point. I often recommend the Reading-Literature Books by Free and Treadwell for making the transition to reading longer stories. These books were a part of our learning-to-read curriculum for Miss H, and we had great success with them. 

This is my final post in this Charlotte Mason Reading Series. You can go back to the beginning of this series here, and catch all the help I've shared, or save it for later. 

Reading Series


What are Reading-Literature Readers?

These readers, which are officially called Reading-Literature, were written in the early 20th century By Harriett Treadwell and Margaret Free. The books  start with the Primer, and continue on through volume eight, although the higher volumes are more difficult to find today. Treadwell was a teacher, principle, and activist who believed that children could be taught to appreciate good literature early on, and that teaching to read contained a few essential principles that are easy to grasp. 

The primer, meant for young children, contains repetitive folk tales that children might be familiar with. Level one includes rhymes, and level two contains fables and fairy tales. 

​Related: Phonics, Whole Language, and Charlotte Mason Reading 


Why I Like These Readers

Besides the obvious point that they contain real literature and get children appreciating literature, I think these are a great next-step reading material for several reasons. 

1. They Repeat Sight Words

No flash cards needed to learn sight words. Sight words don't necessarily follow phonics patterns, but appear often in text, so they're important to know. With the repetitive nature of the primer, sight words are introduced naturally, without needing to "drill and kill" them.  

2. The stories increase in difficulty

The first story in the Primer, the Little Red Hen, starts with 30 simple words. Some of those words are repeated throughout the book. The final story has close to fifty words, many of them that haven't been introduced yet in the book. This approach balances new words with familiar words, giving children confidence to keep reading. 

3. They keep classic stories alive

I love that new readers get to read real stories, even if they are familiar with them. It gives children a reason for reading, and gives them a feeling of accomplishment that they've read something real. And, it keeps classic, cultural stories alive. 

How to Use Treadwell Readers

If you follow Charlotte Mason's "reading by sight" approach, you can use it with these readers, too. Choose a few words that your child doesn't know from the text, and introduce them before reading. I like to take some of the words and write them in a Word Processing doc, to be able to move them around, as Charlotte Mason suggested. (It's nice that we don't have to chop up books anymore, like she did!) 

I recommend having your child read two or three pages a day to build endurance while reading. 

Check out My Little Robins'  reading lessons to use with Treadwell Readers. There are 9 weeks of lessons, with four lessons each week. A color-coded list tells you which words haven't been introduced yet, and each lesson introduces a few of the new words by sight. Two or three phonics lessons each week make sure your child has built a strong reading foundation. 

Charlotte Mason recommended that children keep a little journal of the words that they've learned. I like to organize this by phonics skill. This allows me to see if there are phonics skills that we need to review or that we've missed teaching altogether. My Little Robin's Treadwell Reading Lessons have phonics headings for your child to paste into a notebook to keep organized. 

You can find The Free & Treadwell Reading Literature series in the public domain or on Amazon. A free eBook version is also available from The Momma Knows. 

Explore More Posts

%d bloggers like this: