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Charlotte Mason vs. Neo-Classical vs. Classical (Part Three)
Welcome to part three of my series on education. Congratulations for sticking with my sometimes-scattered thoughts for so long. Here come my conclusions. First, Dorothy Sayers may be correct in saying that most children in the elementary grades like the repetition of grammar. I, however, can attest that her “ages and stages” plan does not apply to every child. I have a young boy living in my house (he shall remain nameless) who gets bored, irritable, and antsy when we try to do memory work. He wonders why we’re repeating the same things over and over again. Why aren’t we moving on, Mom? Can we do something else? We already…
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Day Is Dying in the West
These beautiful words come from Mary A. Lathbury. They remind me of the first part of Psalm 24:1: “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein.” Everything on this earth belongs to the Lord. He manages this world with authority and grace, and upholds the universe with His might and wisdom. The “deepening shadows” may fall, but God remains, unchanged, forever. Someday the shadows will end, and a bright, new, eternal morning will rise. Praise God! Day Is Dying in the West Day is dying in the west;Heav’n is touching earth with rest;Wait and worship while the nightSets her evening lamps alightThrough…
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Charlotte Mason vs. Neo-Classical vs. Classical (Part Two)
You may be wondering how Charlotte Mason differs from classical education and how classical education differs from neo-classical education. I asked myself the same question not too long ago. After reading a slew of discussion forums and articles online, I came up with these working definitions. I’m going to begin with neo-classical because that’s where we’ve found ourselves the last couple years. Neo-Classical Popularized by Dorothy Sayers’ essay “The Lost Tools of Learning,” neo-classical education divides the trivium (grammar, dialectic [or logic] and rhetoric), so essential to classical education, by grade levels. According to Classical Conversations (CC), which I categorize as neo-classical, students in preschool through sixth grade study grammar.…
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These Days Are Not Forever
These days are not forever,Good days will come again,When you and I can be together,Safe and sound, my friend. Though hardship draws us far apart,Across the chasm deep;This one bright hope I cling to:Those He loves, He will keep. When night eclipses morning,And sorrow eclipses cheer,Sigh not, dear friend, for I am here,To love you ’til the end draws near. My family, my sisters, my brothers,All must know,That He who keep us in His love,Will be with us where’er we go. (Music later on in this post) I wrote this poem after talking with a friend from church over Facetime. In the past few weeks, I’ve spent more time on…
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Charlotte Mason vs. Neo-Classical vs. Classical (Part One)
For the past few months, I’ve been doing research on different educational methods. Samuel will begin first grade this fall, so I feel like this is the first year that will really “count.” We must send an “intent to homeschool” letter to the school district, and start keeping track of some of his schoolwork. I also feel like this is the year to find out what works for him and what doesn’t as far as curriculum styles go. For the last two years, we participated in a Classical Conversations community. We love the families who are part of our group, and thank God for all the friendships we’ve made and…