Friday, October 31, 2014

Gymnastic & Music - The Basis of All Education

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This post contains an affiliate link to the book we are discussing.

Oh, how I am excited to be discussing The Liberal Arts Tradition with you!  Why am I so excited?  It is because in the past six months I feel like my eyes are being opened to a greater understanding of classical education, but I know that I still have so much more to learn.  This book is going to help me (and you, hopefully!) gain some of that knowledge.


Gymnastic & Music


My big takeaway from this chapter is that the early years of a classical education should probably look different than we are accustomed to seeing.  We owe much thanks to Dorothy Sayers for her book The Lost Tools of Learning, but did you know that true classical education was not broken down into grammar, logic, and rhetoric as stages based on age?  I'm not trying to say that we should throw out that idea (because there is much merit to it) but it is interesting to learn more and try to put all the pieces together.


Classical education seeks rather to build upon a robust poetic and moral education before it moves to analysis critique.



That quote was from page 19.  It seems to echo the idea that we are accustomed to about not forcing analysis in the early years, saving it for the dialectic and rhetoric stages.  It does seems to have a different thought about the grammar stage years, though.  Or maybe it is just a matter of making sure that we are handling and prioritizing what we do in the early years the right way.




The Grammar Stage & Delight


I think the average classical education homeschooler thinks of the grammar stage as a time for memorization, fact learning, and copying.  That, in itself, is not wrong, but I think that many people are probably going about it in a wrong way.   Maybe it is because of how we have been told classical education should look in the grammar stage.  Perhaps we have been misguided?  Or maybe, not!  I'd love to hear how you have approached the grammar stage or what your ideas of how it looks are.

What I took from this chapter is that maybe the things we are doing are right, but we need to make sure that we are doing them in a way that produces wonder & delight.

In classical antiquity a major portion of the education of children consisted of physical training, singing, memorizing poetry, acting/imitating, drawing, sculpting, learning of the deeds of the great men of the past, reading great literary works, and experiencing and observing the natural world.  (page 20)

This sounds a lot like Charlotte Mason to me =)  I know that Charlotte Mason is thought of as a classical educator, but some of her methods have often seemed contrary to what I thought of as classical education.  I am seeing now that I have had a misguided view of what early classical education should look like.

Here is Dr. Perrin talking about Wonder and Curiosity.  I love his lectures!




Yes, memorize all the wonderful things that we have been learning about.  Yes, read aloud to our children.  Yes, study history and science.  But, do all those things in a way that produces wonder & delight.


"Before studying scientific astronomy one must admire and delight in the splendor or the heavens."   - Dennis Quinn 


When I first heard Dr. Perrin talk about scholé, my mind opened up to a new understanding that sometimes I need to do things that nourish my soul, not just things with tangible benefit.  I am hearing the same type of message in this chapter.  We (and our children) are not just 'mind,' but we are 'body' and 'soul' as well.  If we train our children's minds only, and neglect the cultivating of their bodies and souls, we are not providing them with a full curriculum.



This chapter contains so much more great information, but these were the things that caused me to pause and really think.  So my encouragement to you is to make sure that the training of your children's souls and bodies is not an after thought in your homeschool.  And also, let us encourage one another with ways to teach our youngsters that produces a wonder for the subjects they are studying.  Please share your ideas in the comments!

I am going to leave you with one last quote from page 29.  I won't leave any commentary on it, but would love to flesh it out in the comments if you'd like to!

"Although musical education considers some of the same 'subjects' as the liberal arts, it does so from the perspective of forming the heart, the sense of wonder, and the affections.  It contains in seed form the liberal arts and the philosophies,  What is sown by music and gymnastic training will be cultivated later in the liberal arts portion of the curriculum devoted especially to the Trivium and Quadrivium.'





Thanks for reading along this week!  What did you think of this chapter?  Leave comments here on the blog post, or share about it on social media (#ClassicalMamasRead).  I'll be sharing too, so follow me on facebook, twitter, or google+ and we can chat about it there as well!  Don't forget, if you want to share your thoughts about Home Education on your own blog, link it up below so we can all come and visit!

Next week we will look at the Liberal Arts in The Liberal Arts Tradition.  If you haven't gotten your own copy yet, make sure you grab a copy so you can join in on our discussions soon!



Classical Mamas Read Link-Up



Did you write about The Liberal Arts Tradition on your blog?  Have you been reading and blogging about another book (for you, not a children's book)?  Do you have a book club going on at your blog (once again, not for a children's book)?  I'd love for you link up here so we can all be encouraged by each other and maybe find another great book to read!

I'm going to keep this link-up ongoing since there aren't going to be a huge number of posts and then anyone new will be able to be encouraged by the other book reading ideas and discussions.  If the number of posts gets too large, I will fix it.

Please note, all posts must be on topic (about a book you are reading) and appropriate (think family friendly).

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Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Can You Homeschool for Free? (And lots of other great ideas!)

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This post contains affiliate links.  Don't miss the giveaway at the end!

I have always been a little cheap.  I have a hard time spending money unless I absolutely have to (though, admittedly I've gotten better at that over the past year or so).  When I was a kid, I loved to earn small amounts of money and then sort and count my coins over and over.

So, of course that mentality translated into my homeschooling.  Like I said, I've loosened up a bit, but I generally get sticker shock when I see curriculum prices and have tended to a more do-it-yourself style of preparation.


Yes!  You Can Homeschool for Free (or very cheap)!


In my search to find great resources for teaching my children, I have found so many great old books that really are treasures.  Many of them are available in print for just a few dollars (and they often are used for 2 years).  Some of my favorites are the McGuffey Readers, Primary Language Lessons, and Ray's Arithmetic, though there are many more if you just look around.

My love for finding a deal led me to writing a chapter about finding free ebooks, audiobooks, and other curriculum for the Big Book of Homeschool Ideas.  This book is an amazing compilation of ideas that will give inspiration, direction, and new life to your homeschool.  It covers ideas for all age children and is over 560 pages, so you know it covers a ton of topics (103 to be precise)!

Right now you can get an awesome deal on the Big Book of Homeschool Ideas when you purchase it in a bundle with the iHomeschool Studio mp3s.





Big Book of Homeschool Ideas Giveaway


You can even enter to WIN one of 10 copies of the Big Book of Homeschool Ideas!  Don't worry, if you purchase the book and end up winning the giveaway, your money will be refunded to you.

Also, the authors of the Big Book of Homeschool Ideas have been sharing a bit about what they wrote in a Blog Tour all month long.  You can visit their blogs to learn more about the book and to enter more fun giveaways!  Yesterday, we stopped by Amy Matkovich's blog (A Journey of Purpose).  She wrote the chapters Making the First Day of Homeschool Special, and How to Make a Homeschool Budget and Stick to it. She is giving away Dave Ramsey?s Total Money Makeover book and The Graduate's Survival Guide (book and DVD).


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Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Trivium Tuesdays - Classical Link-Up #131


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Welcome to another week of Trivium Tuesdays!  For those of you who are new here today, this is a link-up aimed at encouraging and informing other homeschoolers who use the Classical model of teaching.  Here we can share with each other and learn from one another.



Don't forget to follow my Pinterest boards that are a part of the All Things Classical List!

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Also, please remember to only link up posts that have to do with homeschooling using the classical model of education.  Thank you for understanding this link-up's theme.


Featured Post from Last Week



I thought this was a really well written post from Don't Forget the Avacados on how classical education isn't simply a method.  I love learning more about the depths of the classical style!


This Week's Link-Up


Here are the rules:
  • Your post must have to do (in some way) with classical homeschooling (any age children).
  • Your post may be from your archives as long as you only post it one time on this link-up.
  • Please link to your direct post, not your blog in general.
  • Please link back to this post in some way. You can use my Trivium Tuesdays button (found on my right sidebar) if you'd like so others can learn about this link-up! Button code: <a href="http://www.livingandlearningathome.com/" target="_blank" title="Trivium Tuesdays"><img alt="Living and Learning at Home" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8bYsfMVF9tdI6haQLUiZ1rvZIf1kDaqnjHIOJA46X62tWXnlPDkU-5OqujsZyjoDp39J7dbhUx9CRFPyV991_BapG9dHciT8osyXwMtDtG6mV_TDyoECv_e5-oKFc2ZavhE4Ds9rj_8Kn/s1600/Trivium+Tuesdays+-+button.png"/></a>
  • It may be helpful to state in your link description what stage of the trivium or what subject your post is about, if applicable, so others can easily find posts they are interested in looking at.
  • Remember, everyone loves comments =) So don't be shy, and tell someone if you liked their post!


I reserve the right to remove any link-up that does not have to do with classical homeschooling.         

If you are a regular here at Trivium Tuesdays and have something to share that is a little off topic, but still would be an encouragement to the readers here, please still share it =)  I'm referring to people who are just trying to get their blog more exposure without following the rules above.

I will visit each of your blogs this week and feature my favorite link-up for all to see next week!  Also, if your blog has a button I will place it on my sidebar (under Friends to Visit) for the week until it is replaced by the next week's favorite =)


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Monday, October 27, 2014

Scholé Everyday - Incorporating Restful Learning into Your Day

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Click on the pictures below to read each post!  These are just simple ideas for how to include some scholé (restful learning) into your life.


Are you new to the idea of scholé?  Start here: A Home Filled with Scholé













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Friday, October 24, 2014

Piety - An Education in Love

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This post contains an affiliate link to the book we are discussing.

Oh, how I am excited to be discussing The Liberal Arts Tradition with you!  Why am I so excited?  It is because in the past six months I feel like my eyes are being opened to a greater understanding of classical education, but I know that I still have so much more to learn.  This book is going to help me (and you, hopefully!) gain some of that knowledge.


Piety


Piety.  Have you heard that word recently?  I surely haven't!  That is probably because our culture does not value it any longer.   From page 10 -

Piety signifies the duty, love, and respect owed to God, parents, and communal authorities past and present.

Our culture thrives on the modern, the individual, and a rebellion from all things traditional.  No wonder we don't hear the word piety any more, let alone raise it as a virtue to be attained.

This chapter set the wheels in my brain turning.  I have recently been thinking about how children act (mine included) outside their homes, how they interact with others, and (from those I assume) how they act with their families inside their homes.  In general, behavior seems to be poor these days.  There is a lack of respect, lack of love, and great air of selfishness.

It all started making sense to me as I was reading this chapter.  We (in general) no longer teach piety first and foremost to our children.  If we are not actively teaching piety, we are passively teaching individualism, which results in rebellion, disrespect, and the like.



It all comes down to properly ordering our loves (ordo amoris).  Our love for God and his Word should come foremost, then love for family, church, country, etc.  Piety identifies who we are .  If we are Christians, then we should be easily identified by the things that we respect, our actions, and the traditions that we hold to.

As I'm typing this, I'm realizing that I knew all of this, but I don't think I had really thought of it in this way before.  I hold dearly to the Bible, but I admit to being prideful by not heeding the advice of those who have come before me.  I tend to think my own way is best (I'm not talking about forming my own opinion on things the Bible is clear about, but rather the idea of not following the "well-worn paths" of those who have come before me).

I see issues related to this in my own children and I take complete responsibility.  Now is when that changes.  From page 17 -


Without the students internalizing a fundamental respect for God, their teachers, parents, and elders, the entire process of education likewise fails...Before learning can begin there must be an education in love.


Wow.  I would like to say that I knew this already, and I probably did "on paper," but I am seeing this issue in a whole new light lately and now I have the right word for it...piety.  Reading this chapter was very timely for me.






Do you prioritize teaching piety?

How do you practically lead your children toward virtue?






Thanks for reading along this week!  What did you think of this chapter?  Leave comments here on the blog post, or share about it on social media (#ClassicalMamasRead).  I'll be sharing too, so follow me on facebook, twitter, or google+ and we can chat about it there as well!  Don't forget, if you want to share your thoughts about Home Education on your own blog, link it up below so we can all come and visit!

Next week we will look at the subjects of Gymnastic and Music in The Liberal Arts Tradition.  If you haven't gotten your own copy yet, make sure you grab a copy so you can join in on our discussions soon!



Classical Mamas Read Link-Up



Did you write about The Liberal Arts Tradition on your blog?  Have you been reading and blogging about another book (for you, not a children's book)?  Do you have a book club going on at your blog (once again, not for a children's book)?  I'd love for you link up here so we can all be encouraged by each other and maybe find another great book to read!

I'm going to keep this link-up ongoing since there aren't going to be a huge number of posts and then anyone new will be able to be encouraged by the other book reading ideas and discussions.  If the number of posts gets too large, I will fix it.

Please note, all posts must be on topic (about a book you are reading) and appropriate (think family friendly).

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Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Trivium Tuesdays - Classical Link-Up #130


Pin It

Welcome to another week of Trivium Tuesdays!  For those of you who are new here today, this is a link-up aimed at encouraging and informing other homeschoolers who use the Classical model of teaching.  Here we can share with each other and learn from one another.



Don't forget to follow my Pinterest boards that are a part of the All Things Classical List!

 photo AllThingsClassical-titlepic_zps4a3485e7.png

Also, please remember to only link up posts that have to do with homeschooling using the classical model of education.  Thank you for understanding this link-up's theme.


Featured Post from Last Week



My kids and I have enjoyed All About Spelling, but we are only beginning level 2.  Tonia, from The Sunny Patch, shares a great look into the upper levels of the program and encourages us to stick with it!  If you are currently using AAS or are looking for a spelling curriculum, I encourage you to check out the post!


This Week's Link-Up


Here are the rules:
  • Your post must have to do (in some way) with classical homeschooling (any age children).
  • Your post may be from your archives as long as you only post it one time on this link-up.
  • Please link to your direct post, not your blog in general.
  • Please link back to this post in some way. You can use my Trivium Tuesdays button (found on my right sidebar) if you'd like so others can learn about this link-up! Button code: <a href="http://www.livingandlearningathome.com/" target="_blank" title="Trivium Tuesdays"><img alt="Living and Learning at Home" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8bYsfMVF9tdI6haQLUiZ1rvZIf1kDaqnjHIOJA46X62tWXnlPDkU-5OqujsZyjoDp39J7dbhUx9CRFPyV991_BapG9dHciT8osyXwMtDtG6mV_TDyoECv_e5-oKFc2ZavhE4Ds9rj_8Kn/s1600/Trivium+Tuesdays+-+button.png"/></a>
  • It may be helpful to state in your link description what stage of the trivium or what subject your post is about, if applicable, so others can easily find posts they are interested in looking at.
  • Remember, everyone loves comments =) So don't be shy, and tell someone if you liked their post!


I reserve the right to remove any link-up that does not have to do with classical homeschooling.         

If you are a regular here at Trivium Tuesdays and have something to share that is a little off topic, but still would be an encouragement to the readers here, please still share it =)  I'm referring to people who are just trying to get their blog more exposure without following the rules above.

I will visit each of your blogs this week and feature my favorite link-up for all to see next week!  Also, if your blog has a button I will place it on my sidebar (under Friends to Visit) for the week until it is replaced by the next week's favorite =)


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Friday, October 17, 2014

The Liberal Arts Tradition - An Introduction

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This post contains an affiliate link to the book we are discussing.

Oh, how I am excited to be starting the discussion of The Liberal Arts Tradition!  Why am I so excited?  It is because in the past six months I feel like my eyes are being opened to a greater understanding of classical education, but I know that I still have so much more to learn.  This book is going to help me (and you, hopefully!) gain some of that knowledge.


What is Classical Education?


If you were to ask me a year or two about what classical education is, I would have started talking about the trivium.  Most people I have talked to equate the trivium with classical education.  I am learning that the trivium is only a small (none the less vital) part of what classical education is.  Here is a diagram I made to show you what I mean:




Now, am I saying that the above diagram is complete?  No.   Am I missing other aspects of classical education?  Probably.  Am I  an all-knowing expert on this issue?  Absolutely not!  What I hope this diagram does is help you to see that the Trivium is just a small part of classical education.  It is an important part, but it is not enough.  That is something that I am just learning.  Won't you learn along with me?


This book seeks to present "a vision of the liberal arts as a central part of a larger and more robust paradigm of Christian classical education." (pg. 2)


The Six Curricular Categories of Classical Education


The first chapter is an introduction to the book and explains a little about each of these other spheres of classical education.  This was all new to me, so let me briefly explain them:

  • Piety - The proper love and fear of God and man.

  • Theology - The science of Scripture.

  • Gymnastic - Training the body and mind to have the virtue of an athlete.

  • Music - An education in wonder.

  • The Liberal Arts -  The seven skills encompassed in the Trivium and Quadrivium.

  • Philosophy -  The love of wisdom and the unity of knowledge in natural, moral, and divine reality.

Some of these words are defined differently than we are used to in our modern vernacular.  We are creating new categories of thinking, friends!   I am excited to learn more about each of these things.  Starting next Friday we will take one of these aspects of classical education per week and dive deeper into it.

This week I want to leave you with a passage that Dr. Perrin wrote in the "Note from the Publisher."  I think it is a beautiful description of how classical education is being rediscovered.

In the reading of dozens of books on classical education, I often experience the exercise in a kind of dream state.  I find myself catching glimpses of things that I know are a part of a great whole, as if I once knew that whole but can't quite remember it.  When another book restores some great part of that whole, I put that part into place with a flash of recognition---as it fits into place I recognize that I once knew it.




Have you gotten The Liberal Arts Tradition Yet?

 

What are your thoughts on this bigger picture of classical education? 






Thanks for reading along this week!  What did you think of this chapter?  Leave comments here on the blog post, or share about it on social media (#ClassicalMamasRead).  I'll be sharing too, so follow me on facebook, twitter, or google+ and we can chat about it there as well!  Don't forget, if you want to share your thoughts about Home Education on your own blog, link it up below so we can all come and visit!

Next week we will look at the subject of Piety in The Liberal Arts Tradition.  If you haven't gotten your own copy yet, make sure you grab a copy so you can join in on our discussions soon!



Classical Mamas Read Link-Up



Did you write about The Liberal Arts Tradition on your blog?  Have you been reading and blogging about another book (for you, not a children's book)?  Do you have a book club going on at your blog (once again, not for a children's book)?  I'd love for you link up here so we can all be encouraged by each other and maybe find another great book to read!

I'm going to keep this link-up ongoing since there aren't going to be a huge number of posts and then anyone new will be able to be encouraged by the other book reading ideas and discussions.  If the number of posts gets too large, I will fix it.

Please note, all posts must be on topic (about a book you are reading) and appropriate (think family friendly).

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