The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, Part 2

Charlotte Mason & Special Needs Children

The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, Summer 2008, had a couple of articles that spoke directly to me. In their “Style” section they featured Charlotte Mason and her methods with: Charlotte Mason and Susan Schaeffer Macaulay – Mentors of the Modern Homeschool Movement, and Charlotte Mason: Our Heroine for Special Needs, and The Love and Lure of Nature Walking.

A couple of articles also addressed the needs of raising and educating special needs children: Charlotte Mason: Our Heroine for Special Needs, and 10 Reasons to Homeschool Your Child With Special Needs, and Rising to the Call to Care for a Special Child – an interview with Norm Wakefield.

It touched my heart when Norm Wakefield spoke about his daughter Amanda and said, “Although Amanda doesn’t have the capacity to know and understand many theological and spiritual truths, she isn’t as handicapped by many of the sins with which most “normal” people frequently struggle.” He then went on to “wonder if God often sees those of us who appear to have greater intellectual and physical abilities as more spiritually disabled or handicapped.” This made me think about my own son and his sweet, sensitive nature.

Criticisms of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine are few, and far between. What would be great, though, coming from someone who loves Interior Decorating, is a 4-page spread of trendy, efficient schoolrooms. That would make this magazine PERFECT!!

I was so glad my homeschooling magazine came this week. I was unsure what to expect, but was happily surprised by the high-end look of the magazine and its articles. The Old Schoolhouse Magazine – Right on target for homeschooling families.

See Part 1 for beginning of blog on The Old Schoolhouse Magazine

The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, Part 1

Right on Target

The Old Schoolhouse Magazine just arrived at my house this week, and I’ve been thoroughly enjoying it. I was impressed with the great-looking, thick publication and numerous, up-to-date articles on the homeschool community. Quite a few were of interest to me personally and full of relevant information that directly applied to my homeschool situation. I've been smiling from ear to ear since I've received it.

Full of abundant and pertinent information, The Old Schoolhouse Magazine was equally perfect for those ‘brand new’ to homeschooling as well as “seasoned” veterans. It was chock-full of in-depth articles - not simply cursory examinations of the topics.

A “Real Science” section in the Summer 2008 issue, included: Theistic Evolution, Intelligent Design, and an article about Darwin.

The “Homeschool Units” section abounded with: Men and their Flying Machines, Take Flight with Science, and Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!

Teaching gifted children, raising and educating special needs children, personal homeschool stories, and legal aspects of a home education were just a few of the other topics covered. Too many to mention - all interesting.

The look of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine impressed me greatly! Conveniently, this wealth of information was delivered all online, in digital format. Navigating through it was so simple, and there was a particularly useful, built-in magnification option. The pages were laid out well, and easy to read.

Homeschool product ads were positioned throughout, supplying ample opportunities to get to know what’s available out there for the homeschooler. The online magazine was a joy to look through from beginning to end.

Criticisms of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine are few, and far between. What would be great, though, coming from someone who loves Interior Decorating, is a 4-page spread of trendy, efficient schoolrooms. That would make this magazine PERFECT!!

I was so glad my homeschooling magazine came this week. I was unsure what to expect, but was happily surprised by the high-end look of the magazine and its articles. The Old Schoolhouse Magazine – Right on target for homeschooling families.

See Part 2 for rest of blog on Charlotte Mason & Special Needs Children

Ambleside Online takes Charlotte Mason into the 21st Century

“But Beauty is everywhere – in white clouds against the blue, in the gray bole of the beech, the play of a kitten, the lovely flight and beautiful colouring of birds, in the hills and the valleys and the streams, in the wind-flower and the blossom of her broom.”

These words, written by Charlotte Mason, speak to her appreciation for the world God made, and the beauty in it. She taught that children should learn to love and appreciate the natural world around them. Seeking to teach these values to the children, she founded many schools in England using her unique teaching methods.

A living wealth of information, Ambleside Online homeschool curriculum takes Charlotte Mason’s teaching methods from the turn of the century and brings them into the 21st century, while keeping all of her philosophies, thoughts, and ideas alive. An appreciation for fine works and things “above the ordinary” is one of Miss Mason and Ambleside’s goals.

Learning of history and science is done through biographies, autobiographies, living history books, and outdoor nature study - hoping to create within the student a relationship and an intimate connection with the study.

The Ambleside Online advisory investigates, reads and researches literally 100’s of books, speeches and essays in order to stay true to Miss Mason’s standards for twaddle-free living books. The simplicity of nature study, the enjoyment of living books, the practice of narration – all are encouraged and taught in the curriculum. Essays, articles, schedules, and books written by Charlotte Mason and her school instructors are greatly encouraged reading for parents.

Amazingly, this great resource is FREE! The Ambleside Online curriculum is available completely free of charge at amblesideonline.org. Understand, it consists of literature available online or through the library, used-book stores, Project Gutenberg, Amazon.com, etc.

Simple and well thought out, the web site has easy to follow guides and simple navigation. It’s divided into 12 years, with booklists and schedules for each grade. Ambleside Online is an advanced curriculum – some students will work well in their grade level, others will need to work one or two years below. If just beginning to home school a 6th grader from public school, Ambleside’s Year 4 or Year 5 will, most likely, be the right level.

There’s so much more to this curriculum. Visit their web site; peruse their booklists and schedules; read some of Charlotte Mason’s articles, and learn about nature study.

Charlotte Mason’s methods and Ambleside Online will inspire and breathe life into any home school program.