back to school {soft start}

 It's the first day of August and many are preparing for a new school year...

Whether your kiddos are in a traditional public / private school or homeschooled, reading truly does nurture the soul; and while we're hanging onto summer a bit longer, we're also easing into a gentle daily rhythm with Morning Time and Quiet Individualized Reading Time. 

This year our family was surprisingly blessed with a new addition to our family!
It's been seven years since I've schooled with a newborn in the mix, and I've been overwhelmed with even where to begin covering all.the.subjects.every.single.day.
However, in the quiet moments during the middle of the night feedings, the Father gently spoke.
He reminded me of pursuing peace and rest, not rigor. The beauty of togetherness at the start of our day.

During this season of acclimating to a new pace of life, Morning Time continues to be the best part of our days! I'm seriously amazed at how gathering around the living room for the next chapter of our read aloud, sets the tone for the rest of our day!!  

Currently, you'll only find us reading as we ease into this new season of "life schooling",
Secretly though, our revolving book basket is packed full of curriculum.
This year we will be studying Countries and Cultures, animal habitats, and solidifying grammar skills, so this basket will be continuously full of living books thanks to our local library! 

You can read about our previous year with Morning Time and what Morning Time is all about here. 

What about you? How do you ease back into school?

Does your family read aloud or have an individual quiet reading time? 

Leave me a comment...I'd love to hear from you!

"this day"

The sycamore trees are shedding their leaves and the maple trees are dressed in vibrant color.
It's technically fall here in the south, though unseasonably warm days beg to differ.

I certainly am.not.complaining!

Thanksgiving is in less than a week and my heart is abundantly full.

I'm soaking in the striking beauty of colorful weekend strolls, and the everyday comforts of days
shared with the ones I love dearly.

Currently, the kids and I spend as much time outdoors as we can, but when the evening cools,
I enjoy snuggling beneath a cozy blanket with a good book.

I haven't always had the time to enjoy this leisure, however during this season of feeding the souls of my children through excellent literature, the desire to feed my soul alongside them grows as well.

Currently I'm reading through this, this or this book
 this, and this book are on my amazon wish list.

Fall decor is beautifully simple using outdoor elements;
 tree stumps, collected pine cones and branches,

  While fall is the season of layered clothing, warm drinks, and the external beauty on our doorstep,
 my heart is warmed by the beauty of motherhood and friendship.

My husband, our children, are a gift. This day is a gift.

Being mom and wife to these beautiful people in my life, at times can feel overwhelming.

I stagger under the weight of all I feel demands my utmost importance, a weight I'm not meant to carry.

 I can work to the point of exhaustion and still feel lacking. There will always be more....

But when I choose to lay all those expectations, internal and external, at His feet, 

my heart realigns to His plan, for this day.

End of the Year Portfolio {a Homeschool D.I.Y.}

Earlier this year, while listening to a podcast from Sarah McKenzie, my heart jumped at one of her inspirational ideas to create an end of the year portfolio. 

This was one of those I wish I'd been doing this for the past ten years moments.

but it's never too late to start though, right?! Right!!

These portfolio's aren't anything fancy, just personal, which is exactly what I wanted.

I made mine similar to Sarah's, which you can read all about on her blog, Amongst Lovely Things.

I chose to include artwork, a narration sample, book/poetry list, along with photo's of special moments from the year. I think the best part was asking each child what specific highlights of the year were for them.

Compiling these folders encouraged my heart tremendously! Revisiting the moments from the year truly allowed me to conceptualize the beauty we had in our days.

  These portfolio's are such an encouraging reminder of each child's personal efforts and

highlights of my children's life captured, well that's priceless.  

 

Morning Time {the Details and Benefits}

Life building and relationship with my children is truly is the heart behind why I feel led to home school, and I've only got a limited time with my children to invest in these beautiful, life giving moments.

{Yes, their education is of utmost importance, but quite honestly, outstanding academic excellence is not at the heart of this choice; though it is an excellent benefit!}

In regards to the time commitment our family spends doing Morning Time, we spend an hour - two hours, each day covering four subjects.

While you might wonder if Morning Time adds to our already full schedule, it actually makes good sense given our large family logistics. Rather than each child memorizing Scripture, poetry or Greek roots independently, we incorporate those into our Morning Time routine.

This year, I've got a K, 2nd, 4th, 5th, and 7th grader included in Morning Time.
 Our routine, spoken loosely, consists of Independent study, followed by Morning Time, then Mom time.

Independent Study begins after breakfast, when the middle three children work independently.
 {usually handwriting, math or geography}
 I alternate teaching phonics and reading with my K and 2nd grader during this time.

"Morning Time" actually begins around noon, when I'll turn on our music CD, while lunches are made.
One by one, we all make our way to the living room, settling on couches, surrounding our coffee table.
We begin our rotation depending on which day of the week it is:

{Mon thru Thurs}Literature and Greek

 {Mon and Wed}Music and History

 {Tues and Thurs}Art History and Science

This fall I plan to add Scripture memorization, and Habit training...more on that to come..

"Mom time" is in the afternoon when I rotate History, Language Arts, and Science with each child.

If our day takes a detour and Independent Study ends with tears, Morning Time tremendously changes the tone of our craziness.

If History or Science is delayed until evening, I'm okay with the ebb and tide of our schedule, which included time spent nurturing the hearts and souls of my children.

Yes, even if those dreaded Language Arts completely get put off for the day;
we can always pick right up where we were last time.{wink}

If History, Science and Language Arts don't happen because Morning Time found us outside, basking in the beauty of the afternoon, I can rest knowing that we've covered the important things,
focusing on the beautiful, and the lovely. Nurturing the heart and soul of my children.

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PS.  Just an encouragement, there is {absolutely} not a single ounce of condemnation for those not doing Morning Time! I firmly believe life giving happens in many, many ways! 
I'm in no way preaching a method; just sharing how the Father is unloading life to us in this way. 
Next year could look completely different. We simply are walking where He leads
That's where life is found!!

Morning Time {Bringing Beauty to your Day}

This year has been trans-formative for our family. 

In January I stumbled across the concept of "Morning Time" and it's truly hands down, the best part of our day!
 The idea of Morning Time is quite simple;

  

"It's simply gathering together to cover subjects, as a family, that we can do together which encourage truth, goodness and beauty into our day".

 Honestly, establishing the habit of Morning Time did take some preparation

 mentally, physically and financially.

Mentally. I had to retrain myself that this simplistic, lovely time spent with my children was in fact deeply beneficial to their education. I subconsciously equated a rigorous education with a quality education. However, through our personal experience, I discovered that this meaningful time not only fulfills a quality, thorough education but is life building, relationally, which to me is invaluable!!

Physically. I had to prepare by spending some time alone, which isn't easy with a large family.

Late nights after the kids were in bed, or evenings when Ben was away, I sat down pen in hand, and quietly pondered what subjects I wanted to incorporate into our Morning Time. I took this time to thoughtfully consider which subjects to focus on, then determined to gather the materials.

Many of our materials I already owned; these lovely, lovely books were just being overlooked!

Lastly, I purchased the remaining items I didn't already have.

Morning Time, Circle Time, or as it's known in our home, Living Room Time can be beautifully tailored to fit your individualistic interests. Ours include Ritual, Reading and Recitation.

Morning Time does not eliminate Math, Language Arts, History or Science, though you certainly could thoroughly cover these areas if you're family chooses, especially if you educate Charlotte Mason style.

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Our Morning Time included these resources shown above include:

Literature || all seven Narnia books including the Veritas Press comprehension guide

Music || Mozart and Bach including the music CD's by Zeezok Press

Art History || Degas, Monet, and Renoir | Looking at Picutres | Picture Study Portfolio

Science || Outdoor Secrets, Trees Leaves and Bark, and Nature study

Greek || English from the Roots Up

Once all my materials were gathered, I decided how to "loop" the days to cover each subject:

{Mon thru Thurs}Literature and Greek

 {Mon and Wed}Music and History

 {Tues and Thurs}Art History and Science

  

On nice days we usually head outdoors and add in a bit of Nature journaling as well.

If while reading this, you feel your heart strings tug at the idea of implementing this beautiful, transformative routine to your day, my single piece of advice is

"start small and give yourself tons of grace while you get settled into this new routine"

In my next post, I'll talk about planning Morning Time and our daily rhythm

 Lastly, if your final days of summer find you cleaning out closets or organizing school rooms, and you'd like to learn more about Morning Time, I encourage you to head over to Pam Barnhill and listen to her podcast or if you'd rather cozy up with a good book, you can find that over at Your Morning Basket.

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|| Mama, there is absolutely not a single ounce of condemnation for those not doing Morning Time!  
I firmly believe life is found in many, many ways! 
I'm in no way preaching a method, I'm just sharing how the Father is unloading life to us in this way. 
Next year could look completely different. We simply are walking where He leads
That's where life is found!!

Teach them Diligently

In only a short time, my teenagers and I will be at Teach them Diligently Nashville. 

We've attended this event for the past three years and it has been such a sweet time of refreshment and encouragement.
 

This beautiful chalk print, which I received from the conference, sits on my dryer and is a daily encouragement to my heart. 

Teach them Diligently hosts conventions in multiple cities each year.

 The Nashville convention is held in the massive and gorgeous Opryland Hotel and Convention Center. 

It's simply stunning!

Our children absolutely love the fountains and water show, the boat ride and the luscious landscaping!
                  {attempting to photograph inside the hotel at night, however, is a huge challenge for me}

By nature, I don't tend to enjoy large crowds, and the mere thought of a convention can quickly leave me feeling overwhelmed. Yet, even the gigantic vendor hall, crowds of people by the hundreds,

 and numerous stacked sessions to choose from,

 the Father gently directs my path to peace, and navigates the weekend, so I walk away feeling refreshed.

If I were chatting with you over coffee, the encouragement I'd give you in person would be,

Begin with prayer

Pray about attending in the first place, pray about your spouse and/or children attending,

pray about your lodging, travel, finances, and your childcare situation.

 Pray about which sessions to attend, pray for God ordained encounters with individuals 

and ultimately that His peace reign in your heart throughout the weekend.

:: Once you feel the Father's direction in all those areas, secure your arrangements.

This can take quite a bit of time, as you may need to plan for travel, book a hotel room, 

research local sites you may want to visit during your stay, food arrangements, etc...

:: Print the speaker session schedule and prayerfully listen to the Spirit's direction regarding which to attend.

Personally, this is a fluid process. While I'm reading the descriptions, and planning which to attend,

the Father had re-directed my sight and heart to another session I hadn't planned on.

AND even once I'm at the conference, I continue to listen to His guidance.

  {Don't fret over not being able to hear all the sessions you'd ultimately like to hear,
You can purchase individual sessions on MP3}

"The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps" Proverbs 16:9

:: Lastly, I look over the vendor list and again, prayerfully decide which curriculum purchases I need to make and/or which curriculum I'll want to research in person.

You can find Teach them Diligently on FB and they're downloadable app can assist with planning as well.

Our Father is a good, good Father who longs to reveal paths which lead to life.

Be encouraged, a convention of this magnitude may seem like overwhelming chaos, but He calms that storm

He leads, He guides, He directs, and He makes beauty surround.
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You can keep in touch with Elizabeth and receive truth filled encouragement for your mom heart over at Beauty and Grace {everyday}.  

{homeschool foundations} character training

"The first task of education is a moral one" ~ Charlotte Mason

 

Choosing to educate our children at home involves a great deal of character training.
 It seems like the majority of life is character training, which often times looks like an interruption. 

ie: Little Sister draws on older brother's book, one brother accidentally breaks another brothers lego,
teen Brother can't concentrate on math because three other siblings are playing loudly, etc, etc, etc. 

Interruptions are a never ceasing, every day part of life.

    

 

Handling these interruptions with grace is an area where I daily need wisdom and patience. 

Character training truly is a day by day, hour by hour endless education.
Years into this homeschoool journey, the Father gently reveals; "this is the heartbeat of home education."
 

There is truly such overwhelming beauty in spending the days together as a family. This beauty is completely intertwined with interruptions, irritations and beautiful opportunities to teach our children's hearts;
not just minds.

A decade into this journey, if I could go back and tell the homeschooling mom I was then, it would be: "prioritize training their hearts, instilling character, and habits before even thinking about academics."

 

One of my yearly read's is, "For the Children's Sake" by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay.

This book encourages my heart, and fans the flame of whole heart education. 

Her educational methods have transformed my outlook of this sacred gift of motherhood and educator.

 I highly encourage every homeschooling mom to read it!

Grace and Peace to you!

summer un-schooling

It's summer; oh how I love the summer! It's the season when it's fashionably acceptable to live in flip flops.
 Every morning greets me with chilled espresso, sun kissed faces and laid back summer days.

Summer days beckon dad to linger a bit longer at the table after breakfast.        

                        

                                 The bugs are no fun and neither is the southern humidity...but
  my children love being outdoors, no matter the season; from playing in the leaves to mud puddle jumping.
 

Throughout the school year, I've found that when we head outdoors with blankets, books and journals,

  life just gets a bit more enjoyable!

The never ending to do list, the frustration with the sticky who knows what on the table, thoughts of minecraft, petty bickerings... just seem to fade away!

  

Being in nature, in the beauty of creation,  children, and adults relax; and enjoy themselves.

Summer is full of days spent outdoors, living and exploring naturally, and lots of reading.

Occasionally, we get an awesome good ol fashioned summer day, which you can read all about here

 I'm perfectly content!

                     

explore TN {The Parthenon}

    For the past two years, the kids have been studying ancient history, so naturally, experiencing a visit to the Parthenon would of course be an enjoyable field trip to enhance their learning.

If you've ever been to Nashville, and for those who live here, I'm sure you've visited at least once , maybe more. This place is truly monumental .

              

        Did you know that our "Nashville's own Parthenon" was made to scale as the original one in Athens?

 

  

 

 

 

            Of course, no visit to the Parthenon would be complete without stopping to feed the ducks.

                                           Field trips make for such a sweet, memorable day!