Last time we discussed Nature study as perhaps the most obvious of Charlotte Mason’s suggested activities that utilizes many senses, hence appealing more to non-traditional learners. Of course, we are talking about being outside and actually observing nature first hand, rather than studying nature from books alone.  If you missed it, read that post here. Thankfully, Charlotte Mason’s educational methods dovetail with non-traditional learning in many other ways as well!

Train up a Child in the Way HE Should Go…

Many of the public school classrooms that most of us languished in only allowed for the traditional (auditory-sequential) learner to use her gifts. Hear a lecture, read a book, and then write a report on it.  Ho hum.

But if you have homeschooled for a while, you have probably noticed that all of your students do not learn in the same ways and they are not motivated by the same type of assignments. (Is that an understatement, or what?)  As we have mentioned before, as they become older, children begin to exhibit preferences for the way they like to learn.  Some like learning things out loud, perhaps to music, or maybe they like to discuss ideas orally.  There are others who need to read to learn, and are totally distracted by little brother’s humming and toe-tapping. Some think and remember best if information is presented in picture, chart or graph formats. Still others need to move around to maximize their learning.

Pay attention to these details and study your children in order to give them the opportunity to let them do their best work. Give them that opportunity by letting them use as many of their senses as possible, especially until you have identified which one they use the most.  Then maximize it by incorporating it into their assignments regularly.

Students Benefit by Hands on Learning

Activities that are hands on in nature generally benefit ALL types of learners, but especially those who are more ‘right-brained,’ which includes many non-traditional learners. So by giving your students the opportunity to do more hands on activities, you are maximizing all of your kids’ abilities to learn, but you are especially giving your non-traditional learners the chance to shine.  So continue to use those ‘living books’ in your schooling and have your students orally narrate.  But in addition, make sure students are not just reading and hearing; they also need to be seeing and doing.

For example:

• Have your students work on a project such as hooking a rug or dipping candles while you are reading to them about colonial times.

• Incorporate field trips into your school as often as possible – don’t just read about a farm, go visit one!  Let your students produce a photo essay of the trip instead of a written report.

• Let your children draw pictures while you are reading to them. Let your student narrate afterward, using his pictures.

• Create mini-books/lapbooks, Power-point presentations, or create video “TV commercials”  instead of writing traditional reports.

• Create African costumes and cook authentic African food while reading about Africa.

• Research and plan to have an evening of Olympic Games while reading about Ancient Greece.

Other Narration Ideas

As you know, one of those foundational beliefs of Ms. Mason’s was that information was not truly absorbed until it was reproduced in some way, usually through verbal narration.  But there are many ways to reproduce information.  I would not slight that method, however; especially if your children are younger and just starting out to ‘tell back’ that which they have read or have had read to them.  But as children become older, it is especially helpful for the non-traditional learner to be able to narrate in her own way, using her own natural bents.

• Let your very visual child actually take ‘notes’ in pictures while you are reading or teaching him.

• Allow more ‘hands on’ narration, in addition to the above suggestion, such as producing a dramatization, painting a picture, or creating a poem to ‘narrate’ what has been read.

Picture and Music Study

By their very nature, Picture and Music study appeal to the senses and should not be neglected. Some children are reached by art and/or music in a way that can’t be touched by reading.  Read about picture study here.  Books about period music and artists, as well as CD suggestions are included in every unit of our complete programs.

I’m so thankful that our kids have the opportunity to be taught the way that best suits them, rather than the way that best suits the school system!  If you have non-traditional learners at home, I would love to hear how YOU have incorporated Charlotte Mason’s methodology into your homeschool!   Please consider leaving a comment below.

Gratefully His,

On Monday night Beth had the opportunity of presenting a workshop on mini-books and lapbooks, types of graphic organizers, to our homeschooling support group.  We were pleased to have such a good turnout and spent a delightful evening with old and new friends.  It was especially enjoyable to see some ‘textbook’ moms learn that hands on projects such as mini-books and lapbooks were not only fun, but also educational!

What is a Graphic Organizer?

For the benefit of those of you who were not present, a graphic organizer is any tool that allows your student to organize his thoughts and record what he’s learned in a visual way.  Examples of common graphic organizers include:

• Charts and Graphs
• Venn Diagrams
• Scrapbooks, Lapbooks and Mini-books
• Library Pockets and Envelopes

We made two different types of mini-books at our workshop – an accordion book and a layered-look book, and we showed  examples of mini-books and lapbooks that had been made by our children as well as some we had made in teaching a Reluctant Writers class a few years ago.

For example, here is a very simple mini-book that can be made by an elementary aged student:

Directions:

1.  Using one single piece of 8 1/2 x 11 inch colored paper, hold the base piece of paper vertically, then fold it in half lengthwise.

2. Out of contrasting paper colors, construct a simple flower clearly showing the petals, leaves, stem and roots, as shown in the picture on the far left.

3. After gluing the flower to the top half of the folded paper, cut through the flower and the top half of the paper, to the fold.  Make three cuts so that the flower, leaves, stem and roots each have their own section.

4. On the inside of the flaps, label each section, as shown.

5.  Write a short description of each flower ‘part’ opposite each label.

What is a Lapbook?

A lapbook is a innovative, visual, creative, kinesthetic, way to organize information.  Examples abound of lapbooks online (and see our resource list at the bottom of this post), but on the right is an example of one my son made a while back about space.  The base is simply made from two file folders glued together.

Directions for making the lapbook:

1.  Take two file folders, laying vertically open on the table in front of you.

2.  One at a time, take the outside edges of each file folder and fold them in towards the center fold.  Crease well, then let them open.

3. Glue together the sides of each folder that are next to each other.  Voila!  That is all there is to it – you can make lapbooks bigger by gluing on more folders or attaching additional flaps inside.

At the left is a photo of the inside of the lapbook.  There is space for vocabulary, illustrations, charts, book reports, clip art and anything else your study included.  The multicolored mini-book is a favorite of ours, the layered-look book.  It allows students to do a fair amount of writing, depending upon the number of pages it contains, but is much less intimidating than that dreaded big, blank sheet of paper because it is divided into many different sections.

Lapbooks are not only fun to make but:

• they are kinesthetic and visual, maximizing other learning modes
• they beg to be shown to others, giving students an automatic and painless review of the material contained in their lapbook, every time they show it to someone else
• they can be used for studying almost any subject and easily may integrate several subjects, maximizing learning
• they are great at enticing reluctant writers because they are divided into many smaller sections
• they can also be used as an assessment tool, especially when assigned with an accompanying rubric outlining what is to be included in the lapbook
• they can be used for all ages, kindergarten through high school

As with all graphic organizers, anytime your elementary student is organizing information, he is building a foundation for learning more advanced writing skills as well as for learning how to take notes.

At every grade level and in every type of curriculum we have,  Epi Kardia curricula uses mini-books, lapbooks and graphic organizers!

Online Resources for Mini- and Lapbooks

Here is a resource list for mini- and lapbook resources including instructions, ideas and even free lapbooks:

• This site has every type of mini book imaginable as well as  free templates!

• This site has guided reading materials and  MANY mini book ideas and resources for elementary ages.

• This is one of our favorite original sites with great instruction and ideas. Check out the blog for this site as well.

• This has an array of lapbook information for all ages. In fact, at The Homeschol Lounge (highly recommended!) you can join a group of homeschooling moms who share lapbook ideas and resources.

And for those of you who want to incorporate notebooking and scrapbooking into your homeschooling (or you like to scrapbook yourself):

• These are resources and other links for educational scrapbooking.

• This is a free software download (full version) to begin digital scrapbooking immediately.

If you read our last post, Six Steps to Start Second Semester, mini- and lapbooks might be just the thing to add some pizazz to your homeschooling this semester.  Even if you use a traditional curriculum, please give your students a chance to do some thing hands on, colorful and creative!  Enjoy!

In His Service,

P.S. If you have a reluctant writer or two at your house, in addition to trying mini-books, you might find our reluctant writer series helpful.  See Reluctant Writers – Part 1 The Early Years, Reluctant Writers – Part 2 The Middle Years and Reluctant Writers – Part 3 High School and Beyond.

The winter months can be rough for many homeschool moms.  The gray, barren days can follow one another like saltines in a box, making us feel about as drab as the view outside. If you find yourself in the midst of the winter doldrums, it might be time to do some self and school evaluation.

1.  How is Your Private Time with God?

If you have read this blog for very long, you have probably inferred that we think this is the place to begin any self-evaluation. How are you doing on having regular prayer and Bible study times?  If you have found yourself out of the habit after the holidays, now is a good time to get started again. Don’t wait until you have things perfectly quiet and organized before you spend some time in the Word. For inspiration, read this post about Susannah Wesley called Growing Moms.   If you need a jump start in this area, pick up a good devotional.  There are MANY wonderful ones out there.  One of my favorites is the classic My Utmost for His Highest.  If you have ever participated in the Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God Bible study, you might enjoy the devotional I am using this year called Experiencing God Day-By-Day.  I find it helpful to read the daily passage and the thoughts about it in the devotional first, then read the passage in the Bible itself (in the context of the chapter surrounding it).  Then I pray, asking God to show me what He wants me to see in that passage.  Having a journal to jot down what He tells me and other thoughts that come up is a necessity as well.  This time need not be in the morning, but I find it to be my best time before my mind is filled with my ‘to do’ list.

2.  Does Your Marriage Need Attention?

Valentines Day is right around the corner.  Instead of just stocking up on candy  for the…kids (see #3), why don’t you plan a special time to bless your husband that day?  A handmade valentine, a special dinner, or a babysitter for the kids and a bundled up stroll along the beach or a country road might be just the thing to help your husband know he is special.  Does he like to watch the game on TV, play golf, or putter around in the garage?  Maybe just sharing an activity of his choice would be appreciated.  We homeschool moms often need to work harder at getting quality husband-wife time into the schedule!

3.  Are You Paying Attention to Your Own Health?

Most moms are marvelous when it comes to keeping kids dressed warmly, drilling those math facts and doling out vitamins and vegetables.  BUT… what about ourselves?  Are you exercising regularly?  “They” say that thirty to sixty minutes most days is about the right amount of exercise, but that might be pretty difficult if you have little ones.  You can do something, even if it is popping in an exercise video during naptime.  Some virtual accountability might be in order to help you get and stay on track. My friend Cindy showed me this very handy website through Prevention magazine where you can track your exercise, everything you eat and even your mood.  Go to “My Heath Tracker” near the top right  of the page, set up a free account, plug in what you weigh and what you would like to weigh, what you have eaten that day and what you have done for exercise. It is very informative!   If you are already an exerciser,  The Daily Mile might be helpful.  It is an online social training log wherein you can find friends, log in your runs/biking/ walking miles or times, can blog about your thoughts and encourage your friends. It has Twitter and Facebook interfaces as well.  My college-aged daughter’s friends encourage each other in their exercise programs through this venue.

One other health resource I wanted to share with you:   As a 3 1/2 year cancer survivor myself, I am always reading about new ideas and research in the area of cancer prevention.  I came across this free report you might be interested in downloading and reading – it is a food guide for cancer prevention and survival.

4. Is Your House in Order?

I even hesitate to ask that question – I can hear the groans from here!  I mean in good enough order that you are able to function, and obviously we are going to have different tolerance levels here.  Personally, I find it very difficult to focus on school when the house is totally out of control.  Develop some routines and do your absolute best to stick to them.  My favorite resource for keeping the dust bunnies at bay is the Flylady routines.  She talks about controlling C.H.A.O.S. (Can’t Have Anyone Over Syndrome ) by dividing your home into zones and cleaning a little each day in that zone as well as working on general clutter. Go to her website and click on Getting Started for more information.  Make sure your children have age appropriate chores as well! We are big on checklists at our house.  Behind children’s bedroom closet doors is a list in a page protector that says “M’s room is clean when…..1.  All clothes are picked up off the floor and either put into the laundry basket or folded neatly and put in the drawer.  2.  All school papers are punched and put into notebooks and trash is thrown in the trashcan.” etc.  Build into the day a quick pick up before Dad gets home (see #2).

5.  How Many Out-of-the-Home Activities is Too Many?

Did you really enjoy Christmas and New Year’s vacation, in part because most or all of your outside activities ceased during that period?  Did the more relaxed schedule and extra time with your dear hubby and charming children yield better relationships between all of you?  Was it easier to keep the house under control and eat healthier because you weren’t constantly running from one thing to another?   Hmmm.  Maybe this means you/your children are doing too much outside the home.  They do call it ‘home’ schooling, y’know.  Give some hard thought to evaluating each of your and your kids’ activities and consider what you can cut.  Many homeschoolers choose one activity and/or one sport per child per semester.  Husbands’ insight can be helpful here.  My friend Jennifer recently gave me some godly advice on just this subject.  She said, “Lay everything at the feet of Jesus.  Only pick up what He would have you pick up.”  (See #1)

6. Is Your School Curriculum Working for You?

This is the season when we want to forget about this school year and just start planning next year.    It isn’t a bad thing to start looking toward the coming year and making plans, but we do have to finish this year! Try to get energized about finishing this year well while you are dreaming and drooling over what you want to do next.  Getting your school records organized is a good start. I am a long time user of  Homeschool Tracker software.  They have an absolutely free basic package that you can download immediately, which I used for a few years, but if you plan on homeschooling during the high school years (and I hope you do!) spending the $49 and buying the PLUS version will enable you to keep much more detailed records, apply the weighted grading scale that we have to use in South Carolina, and use many more helpful features.  See the comparison between the free version of  Homeschool Tracker and the paid version here. If you decide you can afford the $49, that is all you will ever have to pay because they offer free upgrades. Additionally, the few times I have had questions not answered by the detailed online tutorials, their free software support has been almost immediate.  This software has been a valued tool in my family and has considerably cut down on paper, our family’s biggest nemesis.   Do me a favor and if you decide to purchase the Homeschool Tracker software, please consider typing this code in the Referral Information page of the shopping cart under “Make Selection – **Customer Referral (I have a code)”: FNZ9E .  If you do that, I will receive a small referral bonus.  I appreciate it!

Now, start evaluating your homeschool curriculum.  Most likely you have used it for almost a half a year now.  Is it meeting the needs of your family… or is the honeymoon over? I am not suggesting that you immediately ditch whatever you are using now–just take notice of how it works with your teaching and your kids’ learning styles.  Are you enjoying it?  Are your children enthusiastic about using it?  Does it motivate them to complete their lessons, and are they retaining the information?  Do they discuss it with your husband at dinner, or want to find out more about a subject or person that they learned about during ’school’?  OR Do you have to hound them to get their work done?  Do they constantly denounce it as boring?  Are you having difficulty staying interested yourself?  Dialog with your children about what they think.  What do they like the best about school?  What do they like the least?  Why?  Children can give us some great insights if we would just ask them and really listen to their answers.  If you find that they are bored and unmotivated, adding some living books and more hands on activities might be just the thing to liven things up!  Try to hone in on their interests, as well. We have many well-written, high interest, living books listed on our Books! pages if you need some examples.  If you have a budding artist, instigate some picture study, or create a lapbook that dovetails with your studies.  Instead of your typical textbook book report, try assigning a Book Review.  Try a new, fun way to present or review material, such as the one suggested in this post, The Question Box, or this one, Make a Lapbook!

Use this opportunity to tweak things a little and you might find yourself out of those doldrums and excited once again.  Remember that Mom’s positive attitude sets the tone for everyone else.  I hope you have found some of these ideas and links helpful – I would love to hear your recommendations as well!

In His Service,

On this blog post I had planned on sharing some helpful links and information I have collected to help you hit the ground running this January.  But instead, I want to let you know about a sale going on now to benefit the Estes Family.  Many of you are probably familiar with Jeff and Kate’s company, Hands and Hearts.  They create and sell hands on history kits of entertaining and educational activities to augment history curriculum.  You might know that the Estes family of ten includes a darling, fragile three year old named Noah, who struggles with mitochondrial disease, an ultimately terminal condition.

What you might not know about the Estes family is what they have faced in the last few years:

• Jeff has been out of work after the company he worked for downsized and had to lay him off.
• Federal laws concerning children’s products have radically changed, drastically reducing their company’s profitability
• Noah has had multiple hospitalizations, usually sudden ones that cause Kate to have to drop everything and rush Noah to the hospital in Greenville, SC and Jeff to have to be home with their other children.
• Caring for Noah at home has become more and more challenging with his special medical needs.

Although committed to living debt free, the Estes have seen their savings dwindle.  They are torn because, frankly, it takes both Kate and Jeff to take care of things at home with Noah’s needs and frequent hospitalizations. Jeff needs to work at home.

Thankfully, Jeff has found a business opportunity that he and Kate have researched and feel would be right for them in their challenging situation.  The trouble is, they don’t have the funds to get it started.

And… this is where YOU come in.

Christian self-publishing friends have donated a FANTASTIC list of  homeschool products that are available to those who make at least a $39 donation to the Estes family.  The number of items goes up with the amount of your donation. You are welcome to donate more or less, as you wish, but the Estes family would like to use the income from this sale to give them a way to support their unique family.

If you would like some awesome homeschool products and to help the Estes family, please click here.  If you would just like to make a donation, I’m sure that would be fine, too.

Thanks for taking the time to read about this very difficult situation, and whether you are able to donate or not, please pray for this precious family.

Feel free to forward this to anyone you think might be interested!

In His grace,

Recent question: Can I homeschool my [non-traditional learners] Charlotte Mason style?

Answer: Of course!

As we discuss in our parent manual, parents teach and children learn in a variety of ways.  Some prefer to absorb information by what they see, for example, reading a book, watching a movie or viewing a live demonstration.  Some learn best by what they hear, such as when listening to a lecture, verbal instructions or an audio book. Some prefer to learn through what they do, or retain more by moving around as they are taking in information through another venue.  For example, making candles instead of reading about how they are made, or doing jumping jacks while practicing multiplication tables.   Most people utilize all of these learning methods to some degree, but  prefer one over the others.

Traditional school seems to be notoriously crafted to benefit the type of learners who like to sit still, learn things in a logical progression, and read about rather than experience what they are learning about, to the detriment of the others who don’t fit that mold! What a blessing it is that we are able to craft our learning opportunities to fit our children’s natural bents!

Charlotte Mason understood children. Many of her teaching methods and principles already incorporate a variety of learning methods.

Nature Study

Advocating as much time outside as possible, Ms. Mason suggested children experience nature first hand.

Children should be encouraged to watch, patiently and quietly, until they learn something of the habits and history of the bee, ant, wasp, spider, hairy caterpillar, dragon-fly, and whatever of larger growth comes in their way.

Rather than spending up to six hours outside every suitably-weathered day as Ms. Mason suggested, many homeschoolers satisfy their outdoor longings by taking at least one nature ‘walk’ per week, identifying and recording the different trees, flowers, insects and birds that come across their path.  (Some of our favorite books to use for these activities are below.)

Observing nature incorporates all the senses:  watching a bumblebee extract nectar from a flower while listening to its low buzz…feeling the gentle wind flow through your hair while listening to the leaves rustle…feeling the rough outer layer of a seashell and the smooth-as-glass inside, then holding it to your ear and listening to the ‘ocean’…

We help our children hone their powers of observation as they study their subjects, write about them and make detailed drawings in their nature notebooks, all while using visual, auditory and kinesthetic modes of learning.

Next week we will talk about other aspects of Charlotte Mason’s methods of learning in conjunction with learning styles.

Have a great week!

Warmly,

P.S.  These are some of our favorite books for aiding our nature studies. Check them out!
Handbook of Nature Study
Peterson Field Guide to Birds of North America (Peterson Field Guide Series)
Peterson Field Guides; Rocks and Minerals
Peterson Field Guides; Wildflowers
Kaufman Field Guide to Butterflies of N.A.

P.P.S.  Read about one way to incorporate hands on (also known as tactile or kinesthetic) learning in this post called, Make a Lapbook!

January always brings a bit of a struggle for me.  The spiritual side of me wants to spend copious quantities of time in prayer and the scriptures, searching for God’s direction, asking Him to guide me and help me focus on His priorities for my life as we tackle our last school semester of the year.

But the spiritual side has to wrestle with the “practical” side that wants to DO SOMETHING. NOW.

I want to  PLAN everything myself,  make school bigger and better, add this over here and that over there, as well as insert another activity or two in an already busy schedule.

In other words, instead of seeking what God wants to do in and through my life, our family, our homeschool – I tend to want to make MY plans and just ask God to bless them.  How wise is that to act as if I know best?

I constantly have to remind myself that it isn’t about me, and rather than making ten New Year’s Resolutions, finding the perfect planner for 2010, or setting my personal and professional goals on my own, it would be a more profitable use of my time to seek more of HIS input first.  After all, He has the big picture!  He is already working in my life and that of our family’s, and it is my place to join Him in what He is doing rather than setting off in another direction.

Listen to advice and accept instruction,
and in the end you will be wise.

Many are the plans in a man’s heart,
but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.

Proverbs 19:20-21

How puny my plans must be compared with the Maker of the Universe’s!

Here are some other verses I am praying over as I seek to know His plans for our family for the coming year:

I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills {his purpose} for me. Psalm 57:2

The plans of the diligent surely lead to advantage, but everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty.  Proverbs 21:5

But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. Exodus 9:16

But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations. Psalm 33:11

Commit your works to the LORD and your plans will be established.  Proverbs 16:3

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.  Ephesians 3:19-21

Am I the only one who struggles with this?  What do you do to keep yourself on the wise path?

God’s blessings on your New Year!

With the holidays upon us, I wanted to share a review about one of my favorite gifts ever…my Kindle Wireless Reading Device (6″ Display, U.S. Wireless)! My husband surprised me with a Kindle for my birthday in October. It was one of those things that always fascinated me but I wasn’t sure I’d want to give up physical books. I have always loved reading and usually have a book or several on my nightstand or in my car. Switching to an electronic version was a risk…but I love it and you might, as well!

 Please note that this review is for the Kindle Wireless Reading Device (6″ Display, Global Wireless, Latest Generation) , not the Kindle DX Wireless Reading Device (9.7″ Display, U.S. Wireless, Latest Generation) . 

For simplicity’s sake, as I know we’re all very busy at this time of year, I’ve just created bulleted lists of what I view as the positives, the negatives and unknowns. If you’d like more information, please feel free to comment on this blog and I’ll get back to you right away.

 Let’s start with the positives:

• Ease of use – I was downloading books within 30 minutes of receiving my Kindle. With a few clicks, you can be reading in no time. Other aspects of the reader may take more effort, but navigation through the process of purchasing and reading books takes little instruction.
• Readability – you can adjust the size of the font. For situations where there is less light, I have found that being able to enlarge the font has just been much more comfortable. For those of you who are 40+, like me, it’s nice to set aside the reading glasses because you can see the print. The contrast of the letters and background is strong allowing for clearer reading and I notice that my eyes get less tired. As well, the screen seems to respond well to glare allowing for reading in the sunlight.
• Available materials – you can order 360,000 different books available at Amazon.com. In fact, I haven’t found a book title yet that wasn’t available for download. You can also subscribe to your favorite newspapers, magazines and blogs. They’re delivered straight to your Kindle! I tend to read multiple books at the same time. I usually have a fiction title, a Christian growth title and others. Certain titles live in my Kindle permanently just for reference or regular use including the Bible in various versions and The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness
  by Dave Ramsey. You can also download children’s chapter books if you’re a homeschooler on the go. Finally, if you’re not sure about reading a particular book, you can download the first chapter for free to preview.
• Dictionary included – if I am ever reading and don’t know what a word means, I can find out in seconds without having to leave the page.
• Prices – materials and books are much less expensive! You almost always get a discounted price for a Kindle book and there are many free items. Especially for homeschoolers, it’s nice to find books like The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes absolutely free! I have even found current books that are free because they’re marketing a new author and Christian books offer many deep discounts.
• Take along value – one of my favorite aspects of my Kindle is that I can easily take a library of books anywhere I go! I can even take my Kindle to church and Bible study, allowing me immediate access to a variety of versions of the Bible and commentaries. When I end up waiting at the doctor’s office, standing in line or sitting in my car while John Paul is in class, my Kindle allows me to read and work. It also provides opportunities to make new friends because so many people see me with it and ask me about it!  It’s extremely light and easy to tuck in my purse, tote, etc.
• Storage – with storage for 1500 books, I can keep my entire library with me all of the time!
• Rotating screen – this feature allows you to read in either portrait or landscape screen position.
• Note taking/highlighting/bookmarking – Although this tool is one that I am just beginning to use, it’s really very valuable. You can highlight text or place bookmarks just as you would in a regular book and you can make notes about specific text or at specific points, all of which remain stored in your Kindle. This is particularly helpful for me with the literature courses I teach and for Bible study. By connecting your Kindle to your computer, you can even print out notes and text or transfer items to your computer to email or share.
• Voice activated books – My Kindle will read some books to me. I can even choose whether I prefer a male or female reader. However, it can’t be used with all books (although a large number of them allow this application) and there is no expression in the reading, as with Audio books. It doesn’t sound like a computer generated voice, but it is rather stoic. It’s a good feature when I am trying to multi-task and I’m just seeking the information from the book. There is no extra cost for this application or for the books that allow it. You can easily tell whether a book works with this feature before ordering it.
• Documents – I can carry documents on my Kindle by transferring them from my computer. It allows for a variety of documents types including TXT and PDF. For teaching, meetings, etc. this provides an easy and readable way to share information without having to carry my laptop.
• Automatic shut off – If I am distracted during reading and haven’t turned a page in a while, the Kindle hibernates to save the battery life. Shutting off the wireless, with just a click, extends the battery value.
• Charging and connecting to a computer – Even as an avid reader, I only have to charge my Kindle about once a week. It includes an adaptable charger that allows you charge from an electrical outline or even from your computer. However, you can’t actually use the Kindle when it is charging from your computer. You can use it while it is charging from an electrical outlet.
• Updates are downloaded automatically – Amazon sends emails to Kindle clients when new applications are available. So far, they have not charged me for any of these upgrades and they are automatically downloaded without me having to lift a finger!

 Although I clearly believe that the positives outweigh the negatives, there are a few points that should be made, in fairness:

• Clicking – I am not sure if this is true with every Kindle, but one of my page turning buttons clicks and it can be distracting if someone is sitting quietly next to me or if I am reading in bed at night next to my husband. The other page turner doesn’t seem to be near as loud, so it may be an issue with my particular reader. It is a very minor issue and I compensate by only using the left page turning button if I might disturb someone.
• Buying – I noticed right away that when you are looking at materials to purchase, the “buy” button is easy to push without realizing it. I have purchased an item by mistake, and although there is a screen allowing you to back out of a purchase, the charge is immediately made to your credit card and you have to wait for a credit. However, after the one mistake, I have learned to be extra careful about my button pushing and more attentive when I am shopping.
• Lighting – I wish they had a backlight on the Kindle. In certain situations, it would be nice to be able to read in the dark, such as when you’re traveling at night, in bed or on an airplane.
• Sharing – You can’t loan a book to a friend when you use a Kindle and that is something that I have done a lot of in the past. Sorry, friends!

 The unknowns basically cover those areas that I haven’t had the opportunity to use enough in order to properly evaluate. If you have a Kindle and have used any of these applications, please comment for our other readers.

• Searching – there is a web browser for content/text based sites but it doesn’t support media plug-ins like Flash or Shockwave. You can search for content and definitions in material already on your Kindle and you can search in Wikipedia fairly easily. I have experimented with this somewhat and it seems to work well.
• Music and Audio books – You can download music from your computer onto a Kindle for background music or just to use for listening. You can download audio books as well. I haven’t tried either so I can’t comment on how easily this is done.
• Available covers – I recently found that there are covers available and I hoping to receive one for Christmas, specifically the Amazon Kindle Leather Cover (Fits 6″ Display, Latest Generation Kindle). At this point, I don’t have an opinion on which one is best, but I think a cover makes a lot of sense!

I am sure I missed some other applications and I’ll be sure to update you as I use my Kindle more. If you decide to order a Kindle, we’d really appreciate it if you’d order through a link from this blog as we are an Amazon affiliate. If you go to Amazon and order, we receive no credit.

The Kindle Wireless Reading Device (6″ Display, Global Wireless, Latest Generation)
that was used for this review is currently $256 and the Kindle DX Wireless Reading Device (9.7″ Display, U.S. Wireless, Latest Generation) that was not reviewed costs $489. Both include free shipping.

 Although the Christmas season should not be focused on gifts, it’s nice when you receive one that you use and value! God bless your families as we celebrate Christ this holiday season!!

Time is Running Out to Get the Curriculum You Need at a Great Price!

Buy 2 , Get 1 Free Sale*

Have you ordered an Ancients Unit of our Complete Daily Lesson Plans and wish you could order all three sets? This is the week to do it!

Need high school courses? This is the time to buy! Buy any 2 and get the third one free!

Have multiple aged children and want Complete Daily Lesson Plans for every child?

Can’t decide on a Complete Program or Complete Daily Lesson Plans ? Get both!

You can mix and match any and all of our curriculum for this sale. When you order, be sure to note which item you’d like free in the “notes” section of your order form.

Sale ends midnight, TONIGHT, December 4^th, so order today!

*The lowest priced item of the three will be free.

Near the Original Site of the Settlement of Charleston

Named for King Charles II, Charleston was founded in 1670 at Albemarle Point, on the western bank of the Ashley River and was the first European settlement in the U.S. colonies.  Initially named Charles Towne, the settlement was later moved to its current location on the peninsula in 1680.  If you visit Charleston, make sure you plan a stop at the historical park at Charles Towne Landing.

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Nature Study

One of our favorite parts of following Charlotte Mason’s methods are beginning many of our days with Nature Study. Rather than Amber’s family going out to study nature, they conveniently had nature come to them when they found a snake in their basement!  Of course, they couldn’t let it go without studying it first… Nature Study — Snake! posted at The Mommy Earth.Barb loves the following quote about nature study from Charlotte Mason’s contemporary and friend,  Liberty H. Bailey. Barb-Harmony Art Mom presents The Threads of Nature Study posted at Handbook of Nature Study. Have you ever wanted to take a peek at other kids’ nature journals?  Jennifer includes some pictures of theirs along with some glorious fall color in her article, Our Tree Trip in Utah, posted at Living Charlotte Mason in California. Tammy presents a fascinating and informative article about an impromptu nature study that occurred recently at her house:  An Exciting New Find, posted at Adventures On Beck’s Bounty.

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Reproduction of English Settlers' Cabins at Charles Towne Landing

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Handicrafts

Ms. Mason advocated that children learn skills and abilities that would aid them in life and aid them in being productive.  In her schools she promoted handicrafts, not just arts and crafts. Sometimes moms are at a loss for handicraft ideas to do with their sons,  so here are some manly projects gleaned from Rebecca’s experiences as a Cub Scout leader:  Handicrafts for Boys posted at Little Homeschool on the Prairie.

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The Habit of Thinking

Children do not automatically do what is right – good habits must be painstakingly, regularly, consistently trained. Christin offers us a practical examples of how to do that in her insightful article,  The Habit of Thinking posted at Journey of Discovery.

Open in 2005, the Arthur Ravenel Bridge from Charleston to Mt. Pleasant has the longest single cable-stay bridge in North America.

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Forming a Relationship

It is natural that children, when exposed to great ideas from excellent living books, develop a relationship with what they are learning. Keri presents Forming a Relationship posted at Sunny Scholars.  Barb’s children certainly are forming a relationship with the characters as they study Les Miserables.  Read this excellent reflective piece on their literature study :  “An Appreciative Look or Comment” posted at Harmony Art Mom.  Although much broader than just this topic suggests, Bethany LeBedz presents Confessions of an Organized Homeschool Mom: The Tutor’s Private Coaching Session describing her wonderfully helpful magazines for rounding out a Charlotte Mason curriclum, posted at Confessions of an Organized Homeschool Mom.

Although Phyllis is just beginning her homeschooling years, she shares with us ‘what the beginning of a Charlotte Mason education looks like’ in her home as she shares A week in our school posted at Hunsucker’s Home from the Ukraine.

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Rainbow Row

These often photographed colorful row of houses on East Bay Street are affectionately known as ‘Rainbow Row.’  Although there are several explanations for these bright colors, many feel they originated from the colonial Caribbean, a regular port of call on trade voyages to Charleston.

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Copy Work

One of the basic tenets of a Charlotte Mason education is copy work. Cyndi Kinney posts an informative and helpful article on the benefits of copy work: Why Copywork? posted at Red Head Rambler.

Pineapple Fountain at Waterfront Park

During Colonial times the pineapple began to be used in the South as a symbol for the warm and welcome hospitality frequently found here.

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Picture Study

Like copy work, picture study is a hallmark of Ms. Mason’s education. Please read this for an introduction to picture study, and then read Brenda’s article, The Impressionists for Kids posted at The Tie That Binds Us for a wonderful example of putting it into practice.   If you have older children and would like to have them learn a more formal method of evaluating art, please read my article, Charlotte Mason Mondays: Picture Study for Older Students posted at Epi Kardia.

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French Protestant Church

This historic house of worship is also known as the French Huguenot  Church.  This Reformed church was founded about 1681 by French Huguenot refugees fleeing from religious persecution in France during the Protestant Reformation.

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Living Books

Here is an additional post written by Jeanne about reading aloud, called Again, with feeling posted on her beautiful blog, A peaceful day.

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Ruins at Fort Sumter

No visit to Charleston would be complete without mentioning that the Civil War began right in our backyard with Confederate soldiers firing upon Fort Sumter, across Charleston Harbor, on April 12, 1861.  The Federal fort surrendered within a day and a half and would be occupied by Confederate forces for the next four years.

We hope you have enjoyed your Trip to Charleston as well as this edition of the Charlotte Mason Blog Carnival!

Happy Homeschooling!

We’re Not Just Featuring a Cyber Monday sale…

How About a CYBER MONDAY THRU FRIDAY Sale?!

This week only at Epi Kardia, we are having an unprecedented

Buy 2 , Get 1 Free Sale*

Have you ordered an Ancients Unit of our Complete Daily Lesson Plans and wish you could order all three sets? This is the week to do it!

Example: Buy Sets I and II of any grade level and get Set III for free! If you’ve already bought the Ancients unit, you’ll still get to deduct that original $25 from your total! Save $75-$95!

Need high school courses? This is the time to buy! Buy any 2 and get the third one free!

Example: Buy American History I and American Literature , and get British Literature for free! You’ve covered 1 year of history and 2 years of literature for around $100.

Now, that’s a deal!

Have multiple aged children and want Complete Daily Lesson Plans for every child?

Example: Buy Set I for two different grades and get Set I free for another grade level! That’s a savings of at least $75!

Can’t decide on a Complete Program or Complete Daily Lesson Plans ? Get both!

Example: Buy 2 sets of Complete Daily Lesson Plans and get a Complete Program free! You’ll save at least $75 on that purchase!

You can mix and match any and all of our curriculum for this sale. When you order, be sure to note which item you’d like free in the “notes” section of your order form.

Sale ends midnight, Friday, December 4^th, so order today!

*The lowest priced item of the three will be free.