The New Mason Jar with Cindy Rollins

God the Holy Spirit is himself, personally, the imparter of knowledge, the instructor of youth, the inspirer of genius…. every fruitful idea, every original conception whether in Euclid or grammar or music was a direct inspiration from the Holy Spirit. Charlotte Mason, Parents and children, Vol. 2 Show Summary: Today’s guest is Marcela Best, homeschooling mother of 5 children How Marcela started learning about Charlotte Mason The types of special needs Marcela’s children have How Marcela adapted the process of written narration for her dyslexic son The technology solutions that Marcela found helpful What aspects of the Charlotte Mason method are ideal for dyslexic students How Marcela continues expanding her students’ narration and composition skills How modern brain research backs up Charlotte Mason’s educational ideas Why Marcela believes all children can benefit from a Charlotte Mason education   Books and Links Mentioned: For the Children’s Sake by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay Mere Motherhood by Cindy Rollins Know and Tell by Karen Glass Uncommon Sense Teaching by Barbara Oakley The Pomodoro Technique by Francesco Cirillo Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg Atomic Habits by James Clear Learning How to Learn Course   Find Cindy: Morning Time for Moms Cindy’s Patreon Discipleship Group Mere Motherhood Facebook Group The Literary Life Podcast Cindy’s Facebook Cindy’s Instagram

Today’s guest is Heather Tully, wife, homeschooling mother of 10 children, and photographer of everyday life How Heather first came to hear about Charlotte Mason and made the transition from a neo-classical model How Heather manages many different ages of children by combining into forms What Heather’s family gathering time has looked like over the years How group narrations work in Heather’s family What a typical school day looks like in the Tully household Heather’s take on transitioning kids to college Heather’s words of encouragement for all mothers Books and Links Mentioned: Gather: Exploring the Wonder, Wisdom, & Worship of Learning at Home by Pam Barnhill and Heather Tully Genevieve Foster Our Island Story by H. E. Marshall This Country of Ours by H. E. Marshall AmblesideOnline The CMEC (Charlotte Mason Educational Center)   Find Cindy and Heather: Morning Time for Moms Cindy’s Patreon Discipleship Group Mere Motherhood Facebook Group The Literary Life Podcast Cindy’s Facebook Cindy’s Instagram Heather’s Instagram The mother’s work is unlike any other in the whole world, it entails the constant drawing out of the very depths of her nature, and keeps it on the stretch often for hours together. It is from morning till night, and often does not end with night. But different calls are made on her at different times, that is where the difficulty and the need of adaptation arise. She must, like a musician on a rich toned organ, frequently at a moment’s notice, pull out a new stop and push in all the others–thus only can she supply the harmony of family life. She must be ready to meet these sudden, rapid changes, these calls on her love and her sympathy on all sides… In order to succeed in this, she must bring all her powers to bear on it with definite intention, just as the skillful musician would.. To be Queen over her little kingdom, serene in every family emergency, capable to direct all things with calmness, cheerfulness, and decision, is an ambition sufficient to tax the powers of the most skillful amongst us, and a vocation equal to the highest God has appointed on this earth. Charlotte Mason, The Parents’ Review, Vol. 4, “Family Life"

Let this be the mother’s key to the whole of the education of each boy and each girl; not of her children; the Divine Spirit does not work with nouns of multitude, but with each single child. Because He is infinite, the whole world is not too great a school for this indefatigable Teacher, and because He is infinite, He is able to give the whole of his infinite attention for the whole time to each one of his multitudinous pupils. We do not sufficiently rejoice in the wealth that the infinite nature of our God brings to each of us. Charlotte Mason, Parents and Children, Vol. 2 Show Summary: Today’s guest is Celeste Cruz, homeschooling mom of 10, speaker at Charlotte Mason conferences and supporter of parents using the CMEC curriculum How Celeste first learned about Charlotte Mason’s philosophy How Celeste got involved with the CMEC What was the process of the PNEU exams in Charlotte Mason’s day? What makes a Charlotte Mason style exam different from a typical modern school examination? How could parents set up a schedule for exams? What is the connection between narration and end of term examinations? What advice do you have for parents who are worried about doing exams? Books and Links Mentioned: Charlotte Mason Educational Center (CMEC) Charlotte Mason Digital Collection Parents and Children by Charlotte Mason School Education by Charlotte Mason A Philosophy of Education by Charlotte Mason   Find Cindy and Celeste: Morning Time for Moms Cindy’s Patreon Discipleship Group Mere Motherhood Facebook Group The Literary Life Podcast Cindy’s Facebook Cindy’s Instagram Celeste’s Instagram Celeste’s Blog – Joyful Lessons Keeping Company on Instagram

It is the duty of the nation to maintain relations of brotherly kindness with other nations; therefore it is the duty of every family, as an integral part of the nation, to be able to hold brotherly speech with the families of other nations as opportunities arise; therefore to acquire the speech of neighbouring nations is not only to secure an inlet of knowledge and a means of culture, but is a duty of that higher morality (the morality of the family) which aims at universal brotherhood; therefore every family would do well to cultivate two languages besides the mother tongue, even in the nursery. Charlotte Mason, Parents and Children, Volume 2 Show Summary: Today’s guest is Stephanie Russell, a homeschooling mother of 6 children who uses Charlotte Mason’s Alveary curriculum How Stephanie first heard of Charlotte Mason’s philosophy How did you first find out about The Alveary and decide to use it? What Stephanie likes about using The Alveary for her family What a typical school day looks like in Stephanie’s family Stephanie’s tips on setting realistic expectations What kinds of assessment do you do through the Alveary? What are some of your favorite strengths of the Alveary? Do you think there are any potential weaknesses of the curriculum? Who do you think the Alveary would work best for?   Books and Links Mentioned: Charlotte Mason’s Alveary Curriculum Parents and Children by Charlotte Mason   Find Cindy and Stephanie: Morning Time for Moms Cindy’s Patreon Discipleship Group Mere Motherhood Facebook Group The Literary Life Podcast Cindy’s Facebook Cindy’s Instagram

Is the distinction between being free to choose the right at one’s own option, and not free to do the wrong, too subtle to be grasped, too elusive to be practical? It may be so, but it is precisely the distinction which we are aware of in our own lives so far as we keep ourselves consciously under the divine governance. We are free to go in the ways of right living, and have the happy sense of liberty of choice, but the ways of transgressors are hard. Charlotte Mason, School Education, Volume 3 Show Summary: Today’s guest is Brittney McGann is a homeschooling mother of 3 who uses the curriculum A Gentle Feast How Brittney first came to hear about Charlotte Mason’s methods What is A Gentle Feast and what is unique about this curriculum? What support is offered for users of A Gentle Feast? What does a typical homeschool day look like for your family? Why Brittney started a scouting group and wrote a book about it Who do you think this curriculum would work for? How is A Gentle Feast set up? Books and Links Mentioned: A Gentle Feast Scouting for Wild Ones by Brittney McGann School Education by Charlotte Mason A Charlotte Mason Companion by Karen Andreola   Find Cindy and Brittney: Morning Time for Moms Cindy’s Patreon Discipleship Group Mere Motherhood Facebook Group The Literary Life Podcast Cindy’s Facebook Cindy’s Instagram Brittney’s Instagram

Let this be the mother’s key to the whole of the education of each boy and each girl; not of her children; the Divine Spirit does not work with nouns of multitude, but with each single child. Because He is infinite, the whole world is not too great a school for this indefatigable Teacher, and because He is infinite, He is able to give the whole of his infinite attention for the whole time to each one of his multitudinous pupils. We do not sufficiently rejoice in the wealth that the infinite nature of our God brings to each of us. Charlotte Mason, Parents and Children, Vol. 2 Show Summary: Today’s guest is Camille Malucci, homeschooling mother of 6, contributor to Common Place Quarterly, and user of the CMEC curriculum How Camille first came to learn about Charlotte Mason’s philosophy How and when Camille started using the CMEC What makes the CMEC uniquely helpful for larger families? What are some of the strengths of CMEC that people should know about? What would you say to someone who thinks that you are taking Charlotte Mason’s philosophy and turning it into a system? Can you think of any downsides or weaknesses of using a curriculum like this? Books and Links Mentioned: Charlotte Mason Educational Center (CMEC) Parents and Children by Charlotte Mason Home Education by Charlotte Mason The Little House Series by Laura Ingalls Wilder The Little Britches Series by Ralph Moody The Swallows and Amazons Series by Arthur Ransome   Find Cindy and Camille: Morning Time for Moms Cindy’s Patreon Discipleship Group Mere Motherhood Facebook Group The Literary Life Podcast Cindy’s Facebook Cindy’s Instagram Camille’s Instagram

The child brings with him into the world, not character, but disposition. He has tendencies which may need only to be strengthened, or, again, to be diverted or even repressed. His character––the efflorescence of the man wherein the fruit of his life is a-preparing––is original disposition, modified, directed, expanded by education; by circumstances; later, by self-control and self-culture; above all, by the supreme agency of the Holy Ghost, even where that agency is little suspected, and as little solicited. Charlotte Mason, Parents and Children, Vol. 2 Show Summary: Today’s guest is Emily Tallent, homeschooling mother of 6 who uses the AmblesideOnline curriculum in her home How did you come to know about Charlotte Mason and AmblesideOnline? What made you decide to choose AmblesideOnline for our homeschool? What do you feel are some of the strengths of AmblesideOnline? What does a typical homeschooling day look like for your family? What is it that you like about AmblesideOnline’s middle school science choices? Do you see any potential problems for people diving into using AO? What are your suggestions for moms new to AO? Books and Links Mentioned: AmblesideOnline Parents and Children by Charlotte Mason Home Education by Charlotte Mason For the Children's Sake by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay The Well-Trained Mind by Susan Wise Bauer The Mystery of the Periodic Table by Benjamin Wilker and Jeanne Benedick In Vital Harmony by Karen Glass Start Here by Brandy Vencel   Find Cindy Online: Morning Time for Moms Cindy’s Patreon Discipleship Group Mere Motherhood Facebook Group The Literary Life Podcast Cindy’s Facebook Cindy’s Instagram

Today’s guest is Amy Snell, a homeschooling mother of 5, as well as a speaker, teacher and encourager to fellow Charlotte Mason homeschoolers How did you first hear about Charlotte Mason? What do you think are the elements of language arts in a Charlotte Mason paradigm? What are some of the early steps in teaching language arts at home? What are some other tools we can use besides narration to strengthen a child’s composition skills? What are the differences between transcription and dictation and their purposes? How can parents implement these practices into their daily and weekly schedules? Ideas for helping students transition to written narration How would you approach teaching grammar? What is done for composition in the higher forms? Some encouragement for moms seeking to implement more Charlotte Mason methods in the language arts Books and Links Mentioned: Philosophy of Education by Charlotte Mason First Grammar Lessons by Charlotte Mason The Lively Art of Writing by Lucille Payne   Find Cindy and Amy: Morning Time for Moms Cindy’s Patreon Discipleship Group Mere Motherhood Facebook Group The Literary Life Podcast Cindy’s Facebook Cindy’s Instagram Amy’s Instagram Amy at CMEC …in fact, Composition is not an adjunct but an integral part of their education in every subject. The exercise affords very great pleasure to children, perhaps we all like to tell what we know, and in proportion as their composition is entirely artless, it is in the same degree artistic and any child is apt to produce a style to be envied for its vigour and grace… The response of the young students to such a scheme of study is very delightful. What they write has literary and sometimes poetic value, and the fact that they can write well is the least of the gains acquired. They can read, appreciating every turn of their author’s thought; and they can bring cultivated minds to bear on the problems of the hour and the guiding of the State; that is to say, their education bears at every point on the issues and interests of every day life, and they shew good progress in the art of becoming the magnanimous citizens of the future. Charlotte Mason, Towards a Philosophy of Education, Vol. 6

…the one achievement possible and necessary for every man is character; and character is as finely wrought metal beaten into shape and beauty by the repeated and accustomed action of will. We who teach should make it clear to ourselves that our aim in education is less conduct than character;… Charlotte Mason, Toward a Philosophy of Education, Vol. 6 Show Summary: Today’s guest is Tom Cox, husband and homeschool father, classical educator, and Plutarch podcaster How Tom and his wife learned about Charlotte Mason How Tom became so interested in Plutarch The value of Plutarch in the classroom and homeschool Tips for approaching Plutarch with a realistic viewpoint Some advice on choosing a translation (find Tom’s video on the topic here) Some reasons NOT to study Plutarch What a difference it has made for Tom to use narration in his classroom   Books and Links Mentioned: Toward a Philosophy of Education by Charlotte Mason Plutarch’s Lives: and English Translation by Bernadotte Perrin The Roots of American Order by Russell Kirk   Find Cindy and Tom: Morning Time for Moms Cindy’s Patreon Discipleship Group Mere Motherhood Facebook Group The Literary Life Podcast Cindy’s Facebook Cindy’s Instagram Tom’s Website, Grammaticus.co

What if parents and teachers in their zeal misread the schedule of their duties, magnified their office unduly and encroached upon the personality of children? It is not an environment that these want, a set of artificial relations carefully, constructed, but an atmosphere which nobody has been at pains to constitute. Charlotte Mason, Vol. 6, Toward A Philosophy of Education Show Summary: This week Dawn and Cindy are back with another session answering listener questions Find out about Cindy’s Summer Discipleship for 2022 What is the “ideal” Charlotte Mason atmosphere? How can we add multiculturalism to a Charlotte Mason education? What do you do with your kids in the summertime? Books and Links Mentioned: Toward a Philosophy of Education by Charlotte Mason “The Atmosphere of Home” by M. F. Jerrold Find Cindy and Dawn: Morning Time for Moms Cindy’s Patreon Discipleship Group Mere Motherhood Facebook Group The Literary Life Podcast Cindy’s Facebook Cindy’s Instagram Dawn’s Swedish Drill Website Dawn’s Articles on Afterthoughtsblog.net