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How to Homeschool: Getting Started With Charlotte Mason
Are you new to Charlotte Mason and not sure where to start? Or maybe you’re new to homeschooling in general. Either way, welcome to the club! I started Pine Cones and Primers as a way for busy moms to get encouragement, tips, and helpful info. In this quick start guide, you’ll find practical resources to get you started on your CM homeschool journey! Getting Started with Charlotte Mason Homeschooling The homeschool laws in your area will help form what your homeschool looks like, so it’s important to be familiar with them. Some states are stricter than others, but it’s always doable. I encourage you to connect with homeschool leaders in…
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What a Charlotte Mason Preschool and Kindergarten Looks Like
What does a Charlotte Mason preschool look like? Is it just nature walks and picture books? Here’s how your children can get the most out of their early years and be ready to tackle their elementary years. Charlotte Mason Preschool Mason called these early years a “quiet growing time.” If we look around at a lot of modern day preschools and kindergartens though, quiet is the last thing that comes to mind! Mason’s world of the 1800s is different in many ways from our own, but little minds and hearts still develop and learn with the same principles they did hundreds of years ago. Why Children Don’t Need Preschool Yes,…
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Bird Nature Study: the Ultimate Guide
I have to be intentional with our nature study time or it doesn’t happen. When I have a plan and (mostly) stick to it, things go better. Here are some bird nature study ideas to inspire and point you in the right direction. Bird Nature Study Nature study isn’t my thing. As much as I love nature, actually getting hands on experience with it can prove difficult sometimes. Add in winter weather and little kids… and getting outside can be even trickier. Whether you’re a nature study newbie or it’s old hat, I’ve found that having some direction before stepping outside is key. Winter Nature Study Birds are around most…
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Easy Candy Cane Playdough Recipe
Candy cane playdough is a simple and fun way to ring in the holiday season. Little ones benefit from the sensory play and kids of all ages can get creative with their playdough creations. Even better the crisp mint smell reminds me of sticky Christmas candy canes. Christmas Playdough My kids and I make a batch of playdough every so often. It’s a great way to practice measuring skills and fractions and the end result is a fun activity on the cheap. I wanted to do something a little special for the holidays though. This candy cane scented playdough recipe smells so delicious and is a great way to get…
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What Are Living Books (and What’s Twaddle??)
I’m a big history buff, but I hated history class growing up. While I love history, it wasn’t thanks to my history textbook. I can still remember specific dates and events in the historical fiction novels I read over 20 years ago. What I don’t remember (and don’t care too) are the endless, boring details from my history textbooks. What Are Living Books? Living books, like the ones from my childhood, present ideas in an engaging way that children can learn from. They’re one of the cornerstones of the Charlotte Mason method. “Children must have books, living books; the best are not too good for them; anything less than the…
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My Top 5 Inspirational Books For Homeschool Moms
. This post contains affiliate links. Read our affiliate disclosure here. Like many things in life, we get out of it what we put in. I’ve found that when I take the time to read inspirational books, I feel more inspired to pour out beautiful thoughts and ideas into our home. A good Charlotte Mason reading list is a key way to do that. “Education is a life, nourished upon ideas; and education is an atmosphere––that is, the child breathes the atmosphere emanating from his parents; that of the ideas which rule their own lives.” – Charlotte Mason, Parents and Children, p. 247 I’m Too Busy to Read First off,…
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How to Homeschool when You have a Baby or Toddler
This post contains affiliate links. Read our full disclosure here. “Imagine you’re drowning and someone hands you a baby.” Jim Gaffigan Life with little ones can be challenging, but oh so rewarding. We’ve homeschooled for almost 6 years now, including through a new baby and working full time while homeschooling. The Charlotte Mason method can be very demanding, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming! Here’s how to homeschool with a baby or toddler in tow. #1 Establish Routines It can be tempting to let the day slip by, putting out one fire after the next. Your toddler is having a meltdown. The baby won’t stop crying. Your 3rd and…
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How to Work and Homeschool – from Real Moms
Children need six hours of lessons, three hours in nature, and extra-curriculars every day. Ok, I lied. Homeschooling doesn’t have to be high maintenance! Children can still get a quality education even without a full-time stay at home parent. Homeschooling is Different At 12, I carried a kitchen timer with me to school. Every time we changed classrooms, a student was disruptive, or time was otherwise not spent on school work, it went on the timer. I’d come home and show my mom that we’d wasted 2 hours and 10 minutes that day. I was highly efficient as a kid. What’s the point? A lot of time at public and…
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What is the Charlotte Mason Method?
Plenty of curriculums claim to be Charlotte Mason inspired, but what does that really mean? What is the Charlotte Mason method? And better yet, why would you want to have a Charlotte Mason homeschool? Who Was Charlotte Mason? Before we look into what the Charlotte Mason method is, it helps to know a little more about the person responsible. Charlotte Mason was a British Educator from the mid-1800s to the early 1900s. Mason started off with her teaching certificate at a typical 19th century English school but eventually realized there was a better way. The wealthier students were taught art, advanced literature, and the “finer” subjects. While the poorer classes…
