Comments on: Our Charlotte Mason High School – or Maybe Not

By: Michelle

Michelle — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 22:28:23 +0000

Oh, I just love the sentiment of this article. Our family of 4 boys & 1 girl had the same experience with our local pond and forest preserve. I had hope to do nature journals filled with all the drawings & fact that we accumulated as we studied our bit of heaven on earth. I even got a hold of a wonderful microscope from a Bell Labs to use as we examined the pond life, but alas, we never did as much pond analysis as I had hoped we would. We did search for many frogs and witnessed many animals move in and out of our lovely pond & forest preserve, but just like literary analysis, my 4 & girl boys never enjoyed dissecting the information we tried to gather. Instead they just enjoyed living in it, hesitating here and there as we walked slowly back from the pond to finish the school work of the day!

By: Lee

Lee — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 20:46:55 +0000

Dear Angie,
I think all us Charlotte-Mason-WannaBees should stick together
Blessings,
Lee

By: Angie

Angie — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 14:06:26 +0000

I think I just might cry! I only know of 1 person who followed Charlotte Mason’s methods and did so through high school. I’ve been using them ever since I started homeschooling and I often feel like I’ve failed to create the ideal CM education for my kids due to this exact issue! I, too, envisioned all of these things with nature studies and my kids, yet all I get all along are complaints. It was horrible for me and I have since dropped the entire “nature study” portion. My boys also want to run, play, explore, etc. but they definitely do not want to observe and sketch. They truly acted as if they may die! So our “nature studies” have been simply enjoying the outdoors and growing vegetable/flower gardens. They definitely love their gardens, so I know they are getting some exposure there. I am SO pleased to discover that your high school transcript success included a CM style curriculum!! Again…. I think I just might cry! My oldest is 14 so I’m just now delving into the transcript issues but I do feel ready to tackle it. Thanks for all you are doing to help homeschoolers!

By: GinaG

GinaG — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 23:15:31 +0000

The timing of this couldn’t be more perfect! I am currently planning my 13 yo daughter’s CM high school and it’s been a real stretch for me to make sure all the “delight driven” learning is based on her own passions and goals and not mine or Ms.Mason’s. With that in mind my daughter’s CM education is not going to match what you read in the books but it does remain our guiding light when we have doubts or need ideas. And alas, it includes brisk walks in the park but no nature studies.

By: Dawn

Dawn — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 18:34:57 +0000

Oh my! I loved reading this and all the comments, too. How hard it is for me to let go of my visions of educational joy! It often leaves me disillusioned and basking in a sea of self-doubt! Last night I cried out to the Lord asking him to show me why I feel so defeated and why nothing is working out “right”. He impressed on my heart that I have taken up burdens that I wasn’t meant to bear, that He didn’t mean for me. Somehow that’s all connected with home schooling our sons. I often feel their success is all my responsibility and I must figure out the best way and make it work. Is it really? If I recall I am supposed to be a keeper of my home and encourager of my husband first. I’d love to see someone make a very distinct list of what our responsibilities are (in home schooling) and what our children’s are, maybe our husband’s too. We live with much too much false guilt as women. Lots to pray about here.

By: Kai

Kai — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 10:43:43 +0000

Delight for my boys means skipping the anthropology that I love, and incorporating the history of firearms that they love.

It means I learn what I like on my own time, and they study the language they choose rather the one that I choose.

Although we parents are musical, the children detest instruments. Making them practice was like drawing blood.

Yes, indeed, their delight and not mine! I’ve lived a full life and they are just beginning theirs. To teach them to embrace joy and love of everything means I must trust them to know their own minds and let them be different than me.

Somehow, it works!

By: Terry

Terry — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 02:40:26 +0000

You’ve struck a chord – “the “delight” in delight-driven is about them, not me”. I have enjoyed homeschooling my children much more than they have enjoyed being homeschooled. I need to discover what rings their bells, instead of focusing so intently on getting it all done. I’m a check the box, finish the book, complete the list kinda’ gal, and, frankly, it’s wearing on us all – even me, the one who considers learning a privilege and loves it all – well, most all! Thank you, Lee.

By: J W

J W — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 13:54:48 +0000

Hee hee – I have the opposite. My girls want to sit and look at stuff but no way do they want to hike to get there.

If you can get us into The Cove you can borrow them and I’ll help out

By: Chronicles of a Blessed Heritage » Blog Archive » Weekly Homeschool Wrap-Up–April 11, 2010

Thu, 27 May 2010 05:14:08 +0000

[...] it was “okay.” Speaking of which, there’s a short, but profound article from Lee Binz, the Home Scholar, regarding whose delight is key in delight-directed [...]

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Sat, 22 May 2010 16:29:06 +0000

Thanks for the giggle. I have been homeschooling for 8 years now and have had similar experiences. I have had to learn how to be delighted with what delights my kids. I still show them things that delight me, but they don’t always “buy into it.”