Secular Charlotte Mason

Originally posted by Chai Mama:

This game is a fun word making tool.  My sonloves this.  When he gets the word right, one of us uses it in asentence.  The sillier the better.  He likes to rhyme so this is anatural extension of that.  I'm surprised at how quickly he's learningto read now that he's actually ready! woohoo!

http://www.homeschoolshare.com/docs54478/workboxes/handmade_word_family_game.pdf

Weare also working on counting to 100.  Everything is 100 now.  He'll saywhen I am 100 years old or something is 100 pounds, etc.  It's funny. This book inspired him to learn to count to 100.  We follow the numbersaround the covers of the book for practice. 

http://www.amazon.com/Curious-George-Learns-Count-100/dp/0618476024

Naturestudies is going very well right now, when we aren't sick that is... I've started a nature blog.  In my first post I talk about a fun pop-upbook that has inpsired both my children (ages 6 & 3) too lookcloser at everything in nature.

http://wonderinthewoods.wordpress.com/2009/11/11/mushrooms/

For geography we love Google Earth and Tree in the Trail by Holling C. Holling. 

http://www.amazon.com/Tree-Trail-Holling-C/dp/039554534X

Weare jumping around a bit in history.  I read the first chapter of Storyof the World and we are reading various books about the stone age andlove the book "All About Prehistoric Cave Men" by Sam and BerylEpstein.  It's an older book.  We have also read two D'Aulaire booksfor American history, Buffalo Bill and Columbus which we give 2 thumbsup!  These books are not secular but have really inspired my son'simagination!  We also read some books from the library on the historyof Halloween and Thanksgiving. 

http://www.librarything.com/work/520559

Forscience we are still having fun with Gismos and Gadgets.  We tested avinegar and baking soda nut launcher but couldn't get it to work aftergoing back to the drawing board a few times.  Ham got really into it bydrawing out his plans (so I knew what he was wanting to do) and testingit.    The book is a great inspiration for a budding toy inventor. 

http://www.amazon.com/Gizmos-Gadgets-Creating-Contraptions-Williamson/dp/1885593260

Asfor copywork, I've stopped asking for daily copywork for now but willadd it back in very soon at perhaps twice a week.  He is writing thingswhen the mood strikes him and he forms his letters pretty well. 

The same with narration, I only ask for it occasionally.

This is his absolute favorite book.  We are re-reading it (asking for another reading is rare).   http://www.amazon.com/Invention-Hugo-Cabret-Brian-Selznick/dp/0439813786/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258643977&sr=1-1

Weplay Dominos, Slamwich, and Sorry while listening to classical music. As for fine art, I have one of Van Gogh's painting on our bulletinboard and I read him one book about Van Gogh. He also did an objectsearch in "Can you find it?" http://store.metmuseum.org/Activity-Books/Can-You-Find-It/invt/14011761

Weare still reading Aesop's Fables (Milo Winter) and The Real MotherGoose.  He's resistant to poetry right now so Mother Goose is justabout the only poetry we are doing right now.  We have also recentlyenjoyed these books:

Rikki Tikki Tavi by Rudyard Kipling and illustrated by Jerry Pinkney

The Seven Chinese Brothers by Margaret Mahy

Saint George and the Dragon retold by Margaret Hodges illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman

The Salmon Princess An Alaskan Cinderella Story by Mindy Dwyer

The Magician's Boy by Susan Cooper

Just So Stories by Rudyard Kipling illustrated by Nicolas

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll and illustrated by Anthony Browne

Asfor habit training, I plan to read and implement more of Simple CM'sLaying Down the Rails.  His behavior toward his brother and other kidsis going really well these days, so we are working on table manners andtelling the truth.  Adding in more chores would be a good thing too.

That sounds wonderful Chai Mama!!!! Goodjob! I remember how panicked you were when you first started. Seemslike you are really finding your groove now!

"I'm surprised at how quickly he's learning to read now that he's actually ready! woohoo!"

Thisis true for most subjects but something most people overlook. Sometimeskids just need the gift of time with certain subjects or skills. Forthe life of me I do not understand our culture's need to rusheverything, including education.

I'm really looking forward to digging into Laying Down the Rails since this is the area I struggle with most.

Originally posted by Chai Mama:

Thanks Gina, I'm enjoying the ride these days. I would love to discuss Laying Down the Rails.  Sounds great for thenext discussion.  I'm just about finished with Last Child in the Woodsso I should be able to focus on LDTR in December.  And it will be anextra kick in the pants as we go into our dark days of winter.  bleh