The Headgate: Understand Lessons and Daily Application Charlotte Mason is Key

Okay, in this section I saw a lot of Charlotte Mason ideas ie: short lessons and narration.

Tibbets says, "I actually require them to obey what I tell them in the lesson. Remember, they are not required to attend the lesson in the first place." This is the perfect place to strive for obedience and perfection. Like chess, "If your going to play the game you have to play by the rules." The rules are simple and few allowing for endless variation. Honestly I don't know enough about the game but what I do know fits here, I think. *grin*

The idea to use journal writing as a method of teaching writing is good. I need to model this more if I want my children to want to do it. I'm not sure that I agree with Tibbets application of the writing/journal method with her son. But that is for her to discern. Sometimes I think if we seek after perfection before starting something then we won't ever start. For example my son often want to write something perfectly (like his letters) yet he doesn't want to practice. He's in a catch 22.

Now for some Charlotte Mason Quotes

"Narrating is an art, like poetry-making or painting, because it is there, in every child's mind, waiting to be discovered, and is not the result of any process of disciplinary education. A creative fiat calls it forth, 'let him narrate'; and the child narrates, fluently, copiously, in ordered sequence, with fit and graphic details, with a just choice of words, without verbosity or tautology, so soon as he can speak with ease. This amazing gift with which normal children are born is allowed to lie fallow in their education. Bobbie will come home with a heroic narrative of a fight he has seen between 'Duke' and a dog in the street. It is wonderful! He has seen everything, and he tells everything with splendid vigour in the true epic vein; but so ingrained is our contempt for children that we see nothing in this but Bobbie's foolish childish way! Whereas here, if we have eyes to see and grace to build, is the ground-plan of his education."

Also, "In every case the reading should be consecutive from a well-chosen book...this sort of narration lesson should not occupy more than a quarter of an hour."