Yesterday I posted about using Charlotte Mason methods of education for teaching a visually impaired student. Today I wanted to give you more about it. So I went to a website. Lo and behold, one thing they were saying was that some people use Charlotte Mason methods "more or less", but they think you should you use them "more and more". Well, confession time: I myself have used Charlotte Mason methods "more or less".
In a busy quest to get on with my son's education, I picked up some of the methods that suited our needs. As I said yesterday, some of these were reading to him - and having him listen to tapes - at a higher comprehension level than he himself could read, having him do oral narrations, and having him do short passages of copywork. I think you would call my methods "eclectic" - with a generous portion of Charlotte Mason education ladled in...
If you would like to read more about Charlotte Mason education by those who think you should use it "more and more", you can do so at Ambleside Online. They have also very generously supplied lists of books to use in giving a child a Charlotte Mason education.
If you happen to be Catholic, like yours truly, you can find lists of suggested Charlotte Mason-type curriculum at Mater Amabilis.
Thursday, March 8, 2007
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Sell the Textbooks. Give them Away.
Sell the textbooks. Give them away. Does that sound drastic? Well, okay, maybe it is. You might want to keep them around until you're sure you aren't going to want them. They can make great reference books. And sometimes they're very helpful to make sure that nothing is slipping through the cracks.
But did you know there's another way? Beginning a few decades ago, many homeschoolers discovered that the Charlotte Mason methods of education work especially well for homeschooling. Now I've found they work well for homeschooling my child who is visually impaired, too.
What is Charlotte Mason education?
There are whole volumes of books in which Charlotte Mason herself explained her educational methods. There have been many other books written. To attempt to explain that method in a paragraph seems foolhardy and impossible. So please know that I am only giving you a few highlights:
* "Living books"
* Nature study
* Oral narration
* Copywork
* Short lessons
* Journaling
* Art Appreciation
* Book of Centuries
* Habits
You can read more about what this list means and what a Charlotte Mason education entails at this website.
Of course, a few of those things may need a little adaption for blind children, such as nature study and art appreciation. But many of the principles would apply particularly well. For example, if a child is learning Braille, he can also be listening to books that are either read to him by the mother or someone else, or played on tape. When the child is doing oral narration, it doesn't matter if his Braille writing skills or keyboarding skills are not yet equal to his thinking skills. As a matter of fact, it's a way to help him expand his thinking skills, as you can ask him questions and draw him or her out. But then there is also copywork, where you can teach the child Braille writing and keyboarding, using shorter, appropriate passages, so that as time goes on, his writing skills will catch up his thinking skills.
But wait. If a child learns with these methods, what happens when he gets to high school? Will he be able to do the work necessary to go on to college or to get a job? Since the student with whom I've tried Charlotte Mason is not quite in high school yet, I can't answer that question from person experience. However, I have watched others use Charlotte Mason methods of education with their children, and from there they go on to advanced high school programs, often studying Latin and other classical and advanced courses.
But did you know there's another way? Beginning a few decades ago, many homeschoolers discovered that the Charlotte Mason methods of education work especially well for homeschooling. Now I've found they work well for homeschooling my child who is visually impaired, too.
What is Charlotte Mason education?
There are whole volumes of books in which Charlotte Mason herself explained her educational methods. There have been many other books written. To attempt to explain that method in a paragraph seems foolhardy and impossible. So please know that I am only giving you a few highlights:
* "Living books"
* Nature study
* Oral narration
* Copywork
* Short lessons
* Journaling
* Art Appreciation
* Book of Centuries
* Habits
You can read more about what this list means and what a Charlotte Mason education entails at this website.
Of course, a few of those things may need a little adaption for blind children, such as nature study and art appreciation. But many of the principles would apply particularly well. For example, if a child is learning Braille, he can also be listening to books that are either read to him by the mother or someone else, or played on tape. When the child is doing oral narration, it doesn't matter if his Braille writing skills or keyboarding skills are not yet equal to his thinking skills. As a matter of fact, it's a way to help him expand his thinking skills, as you can ask him questions and draw him or her out. But then there is also copywork, where you can teach the child Braille writing and keyboarding, using shorter, appropriate passages, so that as time goes on, his writing skills will catch up his thinking skills.
But wait. If a child learns with these methods, what happens when he gets to high school? Will he be able to do the work necessary to go on to college or to get a job? Since the student with whom I've tried Charlotte Mason is not quite in high school yet, I can't answer that question from person experience. However, I have watched others use Charlotte Mason methods of education with their children, and from there they go on to advanced high school programs, often studying Latin and other classical and advanced courses.
Sunday, March 4, 2007
About Me
In October of 2002, something life-changing happened in our family. Our youngest son suddenly could not see very well. Usually a worrier, I wasn't worried this time. My husband needed glasses from his youth, and so did my Dad. I simply made an appointment with the optometrist and didn't think much more about it...until the optometrist found no lenses that would help, and yet could find nothing wrong. In the meantime, my son's vision was becoming progressively worse.
To make a long story short, it turned out that my son had something we had never heard of before, called Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy, which caused him to become legally blind, and for which there is no cure or treatment.
Thus began a journey of discovery. I began to wonder if I should put my son in public school so that he could get special services that I wasn't trained to give him. But I had been homeschooling for many years and it was not an option I would give up lightly.
Along the way, many wonderful individuals have helped us, and we have received information and support from many organizations. During the past several years, money has been an issue, as well, so I have sought economical ways to teach. I've begun this blog in order to share with you some of the things I've learned and some of the new things I am delighted to discover.
If you have something you would like to share, you are welcome to let me know about it, either through the Comments or by posting an email to me at margmary53@yahoo.com
To make a long story short, it turned out that my son had something we had never heard of before, called Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy, which caused him to become legally blind, and for which there is no cure or treatment.
Thus began a journey of discovery. I began to wonder if I should put my son in public school so that he could get special services that I wasn't trained to give him. But I had been homeschooling for many years and it was not an option I would give up lightly.
Along the way, many wonderful individuals have helped us, and we have received information and support from many organizations. During the past several years, money has been an issue, as well, so I have sought economical ways to teach. I've begun this blog in order to share with you some of the things I've learned and some of the new things I am delighted to discover.
If you have something you would like to share, you are welcome to let me know about it, either through the Comments or by posting an email to me at margmary53@yahoo.com
Tactile Alphabet Book
Large letters that the child can feel, and black and white drawings of items that begin with each letter... What could be better in an alphabet book?
As I was browsing through homeschooling blogs, I came across an entry about a multi-sensory alphabet book. The mother enthusiastically said the idea is like sandpaper letters on wood except much nicer to feel, as the letters are felt.
Since my youngest is 13, I probably won't be testing this out! But I wanted to share it for those of you whose children could benefit. For those who have some vision but need large print, it says in the catalog where this book is available, "Letters have specially designed ascenders and descenders for clarity."
The Little Red Alphabet Book.
As I was browsing through homeschooling blogs, I came across an entry about a multi-sensory alphabet book. The mother enthusiastically said the idea is like sandpaper letters on wood except much nicer to feel, as the letters are felt.
Since my youngest is 13, I probably won't be testing this out! But I wanted to share it for those of you whose children could benefit. For those who have some vision but need large print, it says in the catalog where this book is available, "Letters have specially designed ascenders and descenders for clarity."
The Little Red Alphabet Book.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)