Saturday, September 26, 2009

Long time, no see

I apologize to anyone stopping by lately (if anyone has) to see if I’ve posted anything, only to be disappointed with no news since last August. I stopped writing not because I lost interest, but because I started wondering, What is my purpose with this blog? Who the heck is interested in any of this, anyway, for goodness sake? I mean, other than me, of course. So while I was wondering what I even want to accomplish with the blog, I just got discouraged that I really didn't have any real good reason for putting the time into it, and I stopped writing until I could come up with a purpose statement.

I still don't have one, to be honest, but I see a few new followers (who are probably just following out of kindness, but I’ll take what I can get), so I guess I figure if 10 people (9 really, because I’m one of the 10) are willing to follow a homeschool blog on some absolutely inane subject like 19th century school-teaching, then I should be willing to continue writing for it.

Therefore, I will finish up with the last 2 or 3 posts on what a recitation was, and then, what I had in mind, was to take photos and video (if I can figure out how to upload the videos to Youtube) on some kind of regular basis, and between that and daily written observations and commentary, let readers follow along as I put all this into action here at home. I’m trying to lose 50 pounds in the next few days so I’ll look good, but if I’m not successful on that front, at least you’ll know the intention was there. :)

My next post, then, will be on the other two or three methods of testing knowledge retention. One of these methods was made famous by 19th century British school teacher, normal school founder, and education reformer, Charlotte Mason. You homeschoolers out there know who I’m talking about. She’s very in vogue now in homeschooling circles, although her methods never really caught on here in the United States until recently – and only among homeschoolers.

I’ll get on those posts right away, and after that, hopefully within the next few days, I’ll be ready with at least some photos, if not videos, as well as some first-hand observations of how we’re doing this here at home – what’s working, what hasn’t worked, and what my kids think of it (it’s not unanimous, believe me).

Hasta pronto,
Susan

6 comments:

Mike said...

Me alegro, Susan. Bien hecho ;-)

Susan said...

Hey, Mike, thanks for the encouragement. Hey, why no more comment section on your blog? (Also, I sent you and some other friends (LL, you too!) a private e-mail on our trip to Wash D.C. on 9/12. Just thought I'd mention it here, because I wasn't sure you'd recognize who it was from.) Thanks again.

Anonymous said...

I think your blog has a great theme and well defined goals.
I look forward to seeing how the Mason Method works. ANYTHING is better than the Mennonite Life Packs! ha ha remember?
Good luck Mom

Susan said...

VL, we did the Mason Method for a while, I just didn't call it that. It's when we did nature study and kept nature notebooks, did testing through narration, and used timelines and "living books" (primary sources, auto/biographies, historical fiction, etc.) for history and literature. Remember that?

And the LifePacs, which you both hated, served a purpose when I was busy with newborns, since you did all the work independently. Although it was funny how David would go to the end of each unit FIRST, without ever having read the text, read the comprehension questions, go back and fish the answers out of the text, then go back and fill in the answers. He did a whole series of Pacs like that before I caught on that he had NEVER READ any the texts! I still think that's funny. Had to put a stop to it, but it was funny.

Mom

home making said...

I think home schooling is a great idea, but am not sure how it works, that is why I wanted to be a follower so I could understand it a little better. I don't have any young children but I have grandchildren and my daughter has mentioned wanting to try it.

smith said...

This bespoke bonus recreation was developed by Caxino’s creators to provide back extra to 카지노사이트 gamers