Our One room Schoolhouse a la Classical Education
I will have a first grader this year!!!! EEEEEEeeeeeeeek!! Now homeschooling gets serious- or a little more serious for sure, we actually have to DO schoolwork!! Hehehe...but I'm not kidding.
There is a lot to learn, a lot to read, a lot to study. I am not bogged down, but I really want to educate myself and make the right choice. There is time though to tweak and switch things up. You too can do it. I am on a mission to get myself more organized, better prepared and really see what we are capable of!! From all my searching online I have come up with a good wealth of information to share on our selected approach of Classical Education.
Great Homeschooling websites:
Holy Experience- I stumbled upon this woman's website months ago when I was searching for something random and it is one of those I haven't been able to stop navigating to. She has a lot of good info, but I mostly like her personal posts actually.
A Well-Trained Mind Blog- If you are leaning toward Classical Education for your homeschooling, this is the place to go.
Ambelside Online Curriculum- a free online intense classical education course, great for readings lists for the kiddos (thanks P!)
The Old Schoolhouse Magazine Curriculum Guide- Just a guide with how to select curriculum, how to get what you really need and other important and useful info.
There are also some women who seem to know what I want to read when it comes to home education- they just get me, what can I say? Pioneer Woman Homeschooling and the pretty lady at Passionate Homemaking as well.
Answers to my Classical Education questions, which may be yours too:
What is classical education in a nutshell?? The Joy of Classical Education by Susan Wise Bauer will answer that for sure!
Does Charlotte Mason's approach work with the Classical Education style from Well-Trained Mind AKA Susan Bauer?? Yes it does, they differ a tad and you be the judge of where you lean on the differences.
Why study Latin? Really, LATIN!? yes, classical educators include Latin in language studies. It is good for kids minds, and also for helping them understand their own language. Get a much better answer at An Apology for Latin and Math by Cheryl Lowe.
What on earth did I get myself into?? My kids fight, have bad attitudes and we spend tons of time working on discipline. I loved this post by the homeschooling guru Susan Wise Bauer- School at my House. I read all the ones she has, each time I feel like I am able to do it, her kids act up too!!! It is all part of the learning process really.
How can I get some feedback on the Classical Education style? Oh, well I have asked friends (more like bombarded them) with questions and have looked into The Well-Trained Mind forums as well. TONS of stuff there.
The books that I love (love, love, love) so far on Home Education
If you are interested in a classical approach I would steer you towards these rich materials. They are packed with so much good information that will help you in your selection of materials, state homeschooling laws, local homeschooling connections and much more. These are the two books that I go back to again and again- especially this first one. The second is more the practical application as well as information.
Great book on everything a la Classical Education- this is one amazing book!
I just got this one and can't put it down, there is so much good information on "The Gentle Art of Learning" also from the classical education approach
Within the next bit I will post up about what materials we have chosen to use for our first grader. This may help you learn something- but I am always happy to hear your comments on if you have used the materials and what you have to say as well (good or bad).
What other websites or books would you recommend?? I NEED information!! I just love doing all this. It so isn't a chore yet so I want to get as much info while I am still very excited about the process of home education. Give me tips, links, ideas or ask questions, pretty please!?!?
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May 21st, 2010 - 08:16
Hello, I love Charlotte Mason and lean more to CM than WTM but I have several on-line friends who blend, so I am naturally influenced. I really like Simply CM All Day Seminar on DVD, that really helped me pull it all together. As for links, I have a TON on my blog and posts by subject (I probably need to organize even better on my sidebar but categories are useful). I’m coming around to rote memorization and studying latin. I started with Ambleside and have been branching out to more and more living books and ideas. My boys are 6 and 3 and we are following recommendations for Year 0, and next year we will also be first grade also (eldest is a September baby). I see you love Powell’s, I love love love that place! I get up there and to Exodus Books whenever I can. I can spend all day sitting on the floor looking thru books. =)
May 21st, 2010 - 08:27
Hey there! Thank you for your comment. I just took a little look at your blog and you are right you have a lot of very good stuff there!! I too feel just like you lately, spending all day learning of the stuff I get to teach the boys. I would love to watch the seminar on DVD that does sound great and I prefer to learn visually so that would be fab.
I do love Powell’s- they are amazing. I have never heard of Exodus Books!! Uh-oh, I need some info on that :) How could I not know?
Thanks again for your comment and I will check your blog often for good links and info, especially since my kids are very similar in age to yours.
May 21st, 2010 - 08:36
As far as I know Exodus Books is the *best* homeschooling store in Oregon. No garbage books and so much curriculum it will make your head spin. This is where I was able to put my hands on the Ambleside recommendations (hard to find locally). They are off the I-205. http://www.exodusbooks.com/
Do you have subscription to your blog? (off to look now) I’d like to keep in touch thru blog reading and comments. :-)
May 21st, 2010 - 12:43
Yes, you can subscribe. Let me know if there are any glitches though.
I just looked up Exodus and they do have tons of stuff. I just wish something were closer. Yeah I too have a hard time finding books locally sometimes, especially if they aren’t brand-new bestseller vampire books!! Those old tried but true ones are very hard to get sometimes. I love the Corvallis used book sale for that, I snatch up anything that looks old, they get rid of so many good books at really good prices.
May 21st, 2010 - 12:58
I didn’t see the subscribe thingy. I definitely want to subsrcribe now because I think you and I live very close! :-) I’m in Albany. So Exodus is a day trip for me (sounds funny to say Exodus and day trip in the same sentence lol). I go with out kiddos and really enjoy it.
May 21st, 2010 - 13:01
OK, I saw the RSS feed and signed up. I was thinking Feedburner, but this works!
May 21st, 2010 - 13:06
It should be feedburner- up in the header? It says powered by feedburner.For you it doesn’t show up like that??
May 21st, 2010 - 13:11
It is orange and is says “subscribe via RSS” so now you are on my google homepage vs. an email subscription. Can I get an email subscription on that page somewhere? I’ll look again, I just clicked the “google” box… It doesn’t matter really, I think I can set up RSS Feed differently but haven’t yet. I use wordpress so I don’t understand it all, honestly.
May 21st, 2010 - 13:17
Okay, so I had forgotten to put that widget back up since I re-did the layout. It is a little off in size, but now it is up to subscribe via email. I need to figure out how to make my toast smaller now!! :) Thanks for letting me know!!! I completely forgot to put that up there.
May 21st, 2010 - 13:29
OK, I have an email subscription now. Thanks, email works better for me. I found you through Rebekah’s FB page… Later maybe we can connect the dots. Local or far away, I’m loving the blogging world these days.
May 22nd, 2010 - 09:26
Great!!! Oh, cool Rebekah Soriano?? Yes lets connect the dots sometime for sure!