Charlotte Mason Blog Carnival

Welcome to the Noah's Ark edition of the Charlotte Mason Blog Carnival. No, not really, but it's been raining for a solid week now, with lots of flooding in our area, and more rain is expected. So we're all evaluating our boat-making skills around here... guess I could make that into a very hands-on lesson. Let's see, that could cover nature study, we could narrate about it, we could learn useful handicraft skills, living math to figure out how to build it, maybe even some masterly inactivity as we float about on our newly built boat. {hee hee!}

Art Appreciation, Picture Study, and Handicrafts

Jimmie shares her thoughts about Crafts and Hands-on Activities from a CM Perspective, posted at Jimmie's Collage. She points out that not all hands-on activities actually help learning, but why they do still have value.

I always love how Barb at Harmony Art Mom shares what she does. This simple explanation of how she started art appreciation in her family inspires me: Art Appreciation: A Starting Point.

More great ideas from Barb: Picture Study Tip: Using A Viewfinder.

Narration and Living Books

I enjoy Jimmie's creative ideas for making learning more fun. "If narrations are getting dull," she says, "try adding puppets for a twist." See her post, Puppets for Narration, at Heart of the Matter Online.

Jeanne gives us a great approach To Shakespeare... and some wonderful reasons why to take time to enjoy him! Posted at her lovely blog, A peaceful day.

Shannon at Mountaineer Country shares a reminder of why we love Charlotte Mason: Yes, I had a momentary lapse of judgement. (I think we have all had a few of those!) 

Not every child takes to narration naturally. Heather shares Narration with the not-natural narrator posted at her blog, Maple Hill Academy.

Nature Study

Kris at Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers is getting into doing more nature study. She didn't expect the whole family to love it so much, but they do! I'm so glad she shares some of their delight in her post, Nature Study: Mostly Mushrooms.

Today is the first official day of fall where I live, but spring has sprung at Homeschooling Kiwi Style.  Enjoy Rachael's post, Spring Nature Study in the Southern Hemisphere.

I often think exactly what Jill said here: "Isn't it amazing that this woman lived over 100 years ago and it seems as if she's telling us exactly what is needed for mothers today." Read more of her thoughts in Nature Study 2nd week/ Charlotte Mason lessons posted at Children in the Midst.

Our young friend Rachael shares her very first nature journal entry: Daffodils-and goings on-by Emily. Stop by and leave her a word of encouragement at her blog, Notebook for Girls. 

Living Math 

Maybe I have a hard time wrapping my brain around fun math because I never liked it myself. That's why I love posts like this one, shared by Heather at Maple Hill Academy.

Rhonda shares a fun day of math in Real/Living Math posted at Preparation Education. Anybody craving some zucchini bread after that? 

Simple, math, and game all in the same post. Gotta love it! Thanks to Mother Hen for sharing Simple Math Game.

Masterly Inactivity and General CM concepts

Keri at Sunny Scholars shares about Masterly Inactivity. We all need a good dose of that, but it's often the first thing we neglect.

Lee Binz at The HomeScholar Blog presents Our Charlotte Mason High School – or Maybe Not.

Katey shares her schedule and resources in New School Year at Crazy Homeschool Mama.

Kelsey at Mud Puddles shares Adding to our Vacation, saying "Our recent family vacation was greatly enhanced by some pre-learning we did before we went, and the 'letting alone' I practiced while we were there." That's easier said than done for most of us, but ponder this CM quote:

"They must be let alone, left to themselves a great deal, to take in what they can of the beauty of earth and heaven."

Thanks so much for taking time to peruse these articles, and thanks to everyone who contributed to the carnival! I'm delighted that we had some brand new participants this time, and hope to see your blog article in the next edition of The Charlotte Mason Blog Carnival! It's easy to submit them; just use this form.