Noli me tangere :: Giotto v. Fra Angelico

Have you studied these artists?
We studied Giotto about two years ago and are currently studying Fra Angelico.
Did you know they were both from the same place in Italy?
Did you know they both have a painting entitled Noli me tangere?

Giotto

Take a look:

Fra Angelico

Make some observations of similarities and differences.


Read the Biblical account here:
John 20:14-17

100: What is that?!?

Royal was working on a Mental Math page today by himself. Afterwards, I looked over his work. 
Finding it without error, I wrote on the top of the page: 100

just for kicks, you know?

When I showed him what I wrote (and I never write a grade on his work ... why, really?), he asks: 

What? What is that?

It is unnecessary to stimulate these young scholars by marks, prizes, etc.

-CM, Vol 6: A Philosophy of Education, p 28

And it hit me.

It made me think again on the atmosphere of education.
If we habitually use marks, or grades, to illustrate to the child his progress, or skills, soon (and faster than we know it) he will begin to form a dependency on a number and altogether lose sight of the purpose of education.


In an educational environment, we do ... harm when we offer ... high marks for work well done, rather than let a child have the satisfaction of knowing that he has learned something new, has gone a little further in a meaty book, has solved a difficult problem correctly, 
and has grown a little in the process.
-Karen Glass, Consider This, p 66

But a school may be working hard, not for love of knowledge, but for love of marks, our old enemy; and then young faces are not serene and joyous 
but eager, restless, apt to look anxious and worried.
-CM, Vol 6: A Philosophy of Education, p 98

{Artist Study} :: Fra Angelico

Artist Study is one of the kids' favorite little "extras".

Because they spend so much time on it, I save it for the last activity of the day. 

I do the Picture Study, per Miss Mason's suggestions, and it really is a wonderfully simple, yet powerful, learning experience.

We cannot measure the influence that one or another artist has upon the child's sense of beauty, upon his power of seeing, as in a picture, the common sights of life; he is enriched more than we know in having really looked at even a single picture.
-CM, Vol 1: Home Education, p 309

My 8yo son's own depiction of Noli me tangere, by Fra Angelico

We attach a good deal of value to what we call picture talks, that is: - a reproduction of a suitable picture ... is put into the children's hands, and they study it by themselves. Then, children of from six to nine describe the picture, giving all the details and showing by a few lines on the blackboard where is such a tree or such a house; judging if they can the time of day; discovering the story if there be one. The older children add to this some study of the lines of composition, light and shade, the particular style of the master; and reproduce from memory certain details. The object of these lessons is that the pupils should learn how to appreciate rather than how to produce.

-CM, Vol 3: School Education, p 239

A study of the Resurrection of Christ and Women at the Tomb:

Although I don't require my children to draw and color a reproduction of these art pieces, they have an insatiable desire to try their hand at it. I do not discourage them because they really love it so much. Also I have not had them do the reproduction from memory (yet!). Reading through this particular quote above has reminded me of where I should be heading as our Picture Study continues to advance.

What we do:

• Look at the chosen work first, silently, for about 4-5 minutes together. 
• My younger one tells everything she remembers about it (actually quite remarkably well for a 6-year-old in her first term!)
• Afterwards, my 8-year-old does his telling, adding to what was already mentioned.
• Sometimes we have time to do a copy of the work immediately after the narration; other times it must wait until the following week.

Just recently, my artistic 8-year-old has begun not only copying the main portion of the painting. He has been adding in his own stylistic elements. (see top picture's drawing of Noli me tangere)

And now the Resurrection:

My daughter prefers to do hers more closely adhering to the original work:

How do you do artist study?

Is it an enjoyable addition to your week's educational studies?

{Handicrafts} :: Hand-stitched Cards

So in my search for new, and different, handicrafts for the New Year, I decided upon these wonderfully simple hand-stitched cards:

This is great handiwork for fine-motor skills and the beginning sewist ... or sewer.

OK, apparently sewer has two pronunciations: one describing the nasty gray water running through the pipes; the other meaning a person who sews. So in print, you must use context clues :-)

As for sewist there is evidently some discussion as to whether or not it is even a word. (My spell-check doesn't even recognize it and keeps wanting to change the word to sexist!) At any rate ... It is an evolution of our ever-changing language, combining "sew" with "artist." I personally kind of like the word sewist. And it definitely describes better the handiwork we are working on this week!

What we used:

blank greeting cards

additional cardstock for sewing design onto

embroidery floss

embroidery needle

push pin

free design templates (or create your own)

tape 

glue

This month there are birthdays a'plenty, so we are using them right away for gifting!

After printing the free templates, we started to work preparing the design:

Then we selected our floss from a wonderful assortment I happened upon at a garage sale!

And then the fun part began:

The finished products:

I'd love to know what you are doing this week!

{Nature} :: Weekend Days' Discoveries

This has been a gorgeous weekend to be out-of-doors!

I am always looking for ways my husband can be more involved in the kids' school subjects.

His strengths are in art and science & nature, so whenever we have an opportunity to go exploring or hiking with Daddy, 
I know we will all learn something we didn't know before...or notice something we wouldn't have otherwise.

This weekend Hubby took the kids out to a local state park for some hiking and exploring, 
as I was at a women's conference at our church. 

I don't personally have pictures of anything they saw; however, they did observe a beautiful
possumhaw holly
something akin to this one:

image property of www.watershedtexas.org

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Sunday afternoon was enjoyed down at the river with friends, 
exploring among the rocks...

and fishing...

Hubby caught the only catch that day, a 3-pound channel catfish.

Look away if you are squeamish!

We had an impromptu science lesson, as we discovered that this fish had previously eaten a shad and 2 or 3 crawfish 

(as their pinchers were still in its belly).

Also, my good friend (who also happens to love science) wanted to show her son the lens out of the fish's eye,

so Hubby popped it out...

Once dry, the lens bounces like a rubber ball!

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We finished the weekend with another outdoor expedition to the river,

just enjoying the beautiful 

warm weather,

tranquil waters,

rock islands,

mud,

fallen tree trunks,

a too-quick-for-the-camera-buried-himself-in-mud-underwater frog,

a red-headed woodpecker,

and a belted kingfisher.

Let them once get touch with Nature, and a habit is formed which will be a source of delight through life.

We were all meant to be naturalists, each in his degree, and it is inexcusable to live in a world so full of the marvels of plant and animal life and to care for none of these things.

-CM, Volume 1: Home Education, p 61

This post is linked up as a part of Nature Study Monday with Amy in Peru over at Fisher Academy International.

{Keeping} :: My Commonplace

After seeing repeated references to "my Commonplace" pop up throughout the AO Forum and various blog posts, 
I found myself perplexed. 

What in the world are they talking about?!?

I don't remember if I googled the term or if someone finally alluded to Laurie Bestvater's The Living Page, but eventually I was caught up to date with the rest of the Charlotte Mason society of homeschoolers.

I had heard many accolades for the book, and it was in my Just for Me wish list on Amazon for awhile. I eventually transferred it to my shopping cart and bought it, so now I am reading through the pages slowly and becoming more aware of how important keeping is, and how much it contributes to the learning process.

There are all sorts of options to choose from and add into a full education; however, I decided to start with the most general: 

the Commonplace.

So what in the world am I talking about?!?

A Commonplace book is basically an empty journal that you fill with striking thoughts, quotes, poems, Bible passages, etc.

 It is very general in its focus.

The definition of commonplace from an online dictionary:

• pertaining or belonging equally to an entire community, nation, or culture; public
• joint; united
• widespread; general; ordinary
• of frequent occurrence; usual; familiar

Pretty much whatever you come across in your daily life!

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So when a crafty friend of mine passed along a Pin on how to make and bind your own book, I thought, "Hey, perfect timing!" 

So I made my Commonplace book!

My first page's entries include quotes from David Hicks (Norms & Nobility), which I have never read; however, he is quoted in Laurie Bestvater's The Living Page; Charlotte Mason, and Laurie Bestvater herself.

David Hicks' words are my first quote of my Commonplace, and, I think, very appropriate to what education is:

The purpose of education is not the assimilation of facts or the retention of information,

 but the habituation of the mind and body to will and act in accordance with what one knows.

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Yesterday's entry is from Isaiah 50:10-11 ... a passage our pastor preached on. It really speaks to me in regards to walking by faith and surrendering our desire to control to the Lord, 

even when it seems our lives are taking routes away from where we feel God has called us.

Who among you fears the LORD
and obeys the word of his servant?
Let him who walks in the dark,
who has no light,
trust in the name of the LORD
and rely on his God.
But now, all you who light fires
and provide yourselves with flaming torches,
go, walk in the light of your fires
and of the torches you have set ablaze.
This is what you shall receive from my hand:
You will lie down in torment.

{Handicrafts} :: Weaving

My sweet girl got this hand-held weaving loom from her Nana awhile back.

passing the weaver's sword through the warp yarns

I decided to get it out for her this afternoon. (It seemed very Little House-ish, which we all just love).

After looking at the instructions and reading the handful of project options, she was so excited when "doll blanket" was mentioned.

That was all it took for her to take off into the world of weaving!

after separating the warp yarns, the shuttle is passed through
the shed with the colored yarn, or weft, wrapped around it.

after passing the shuttle through, the weaver's sword is flattened
again to push the woven yarn close together.
We don't have the beater (or special comb), but this works
just as well.

It really is super easy and she loves it.

She even wove during our read-aloud of On the Banks of Plum Creek. How fun!

So what sort of handicrafts are y'all working on?

Keeping Poetry :: Ferry Me Across the Water

Since beginning the new school year, I have been determined to add in more wonderful little "extras" to our school curriculum. 

Poetry memorization is one of these.

I think it is safe to say that we are all enjoying this.

Especially when it is a selection that can be acted out!

Ferry me across the water

by Christina Rossetti

Alice just recently started AOy1, and Royal is on to AOy3, we have been keeping pace with the AOy3 poetry selections (now William Blake, as we are just in Term 1).

As I did not want my sweet girl to miss out on some of the AOy1 poetry selections, I decided to incorporate them into our poetry memorization. They are pieces that both are enjoying, and they have been doing a great job of recitation!

After their "production", I am having them write the poem into their copybooks.

(I guess this would be a crude, rudimentary version of a poetry notebook.)

Royal has been learning cursive, so I am having him copy directly from the book.

He will also, over 3 days' time, copy the entire poem.

As for Alice, she is still trying to solidify her printing. 

She wanted to copy almost the entire poem; however, I had her just copy the first line.

today

Tomorrow perhaps we can continue?

"A certain sense of possession and delight may be added to this exercise if children are allowed to choose for transcription their favorite verse in one poem and another. This is better than to write a favorite poem, an exercise which stales on the little people before it is finished. But a book of their own, made up of their own chosen verses, should give them pleasure."

Home Education, p 238

 This is a Keeping Company::January Link-up with Celeste & friends over at Joyous Lessons.

Morning Nature Walk: A Jump-Start to the New Year

To jump-start, and ease into our first week back to school, I decided we should start our week with a nature walk (and today will be the warmest and most pleasant weather of the week!). Plus the nature walk can get pushed aside due to either a 4-day school week (because of other errands and activities) ... or mommy-laziness. ahem. 

At any rate, the kids love nature walks, so they were thrilled about this little excursion!

We have a creek behind our house and really enjoy exploring back there. Rock Creek, appropriately named, as you can see. 

We enjoyed a good bit of time just playing in the water and discovered layers of ice along the edges. 

After a while of extracting sheets of ice and shattering them on the rocks, we continued along the creek bed, and found some cool tracks and animal scat:

Can you see the trail of raccoon tracks that travel along the water's edge?

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Two hours later, we were home and hungry, so the entries into our nature notebooks were put on hold until our bellies were filled and the little guy went down for a nap.

These are seed pods we collected off a shrub of some sort along the rocky creek bed. Obviously dormant for the winter; however, we have seen them many times and so figured today was a good day to identify them!

They are bag pods, or bladder pods. More specifically: sesbania vesicaria (because there are numerous species of bladder pods!)

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And, so. I would say that our back-to-school week is off to a fantastic beginning!

What better way to begin, than with nature?

God writes the gospel not in the Bible alone, but on trees and flowers and clouds and stars.

~author unknown, commonly attributed to Martin Luther