I've been working on our schedule some more, and reflecting on Charlotte Mason's motto- Education is an Atmosphere, a Discipline, a Life. Trying to reconcile the truth in this motto with the rushed, jam packed, crazy thing that seems to be our life can be quite a challenge. How can I allow my kids the time they need to play house, make forts, catch frogs, see the animals in the clouds, make mud pies and just be a kid when we have 8 appointments or classes each week, in addition to taekwondo and church and grocery shopping, SCHOOL, and everything else? I found the answer to be my educational philosophy. An educational philosophy is the goal, the form, the method, and the process we use to teach our kids. You may not agree with all the educational philosophy of Charlotte Mason, but I think its a great starting point for looking at how we can light that educational fire on our kids. One of Charlotte Mason's principals is that children need time to be kids and think and experiment and fiddle with things in order for it to make it their own
When planning our days I try to start with the most important things. For my family this would be relationship first as it is the foundation of everything else that will follow. My younger kids are adopted and we are still working on attachment and connection. It is especially important for us that for the relationship piece of the puzzle everything be gentle and pleasant, then habits, Bible, reading instruction, writing instruction, math instruction and exposure to great literature are my priorities.
Once they can read, write and do basic math, they have all the tools they need to learn anything they want, at any time. Great literature will provide the ideas needed to fuel the fire of their minds.
Another quote I try to always keep in mind when planning our days-
Education is not the filling of a bucket, but the lighting of a fire. ~ William Butler Yeats
