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The One Room Schoolhouse and Family-Style Learning with Donna Goff

Podcast

The One Room Schoolhouse and Family-Style Learning with Donna Goff

Episode #20 | The One Room Schoolhouse and Family-Style Learning with Donna Goff One-room schoolhouses are extinct, but it’s not because they were ineffective. On the contrary, one-room schoolhouses were ...
by jessr90 • September 5, 2023September 5, 2023
Biscayne National Park | Study + Travel Guide

Booklists, Geography, National Parks

Biscayne National Park | Study + Travel Guide

This park is unique in that it  is the only national park that is mostly underwater! It must be explored by boat or by snorkeling. You can pay for a ...
by jessr90 • September 1, 2023September 2, 2023
Exploring the National Parks

Geography, National Parks

Exploring the National Parks

Early on in our marriage my husband and I decided that we wanted to prioritize traveling our own country before traveling internationally. We want our children to develop an intimate ...
by jessr90 • September 1, 2023September 2, 2023
Everglades National Park | Study + Travel Guide

Booklists, National Parks

Everglades National Park | Study + Travel Guide

In December 2021 my husband and I surprised our boys with an early Christmas gift: a weeklong trip to Florida, to visit Everglades National Park. We wrapped  a suitcase filled ...
by jessr90 • September 1, 2023September 20, 2023
Education is an Atmosphere (Relationship with the World)

Foundations, Podcast

Education is an Atmosphere (Relationship with the World)

Episode #19 | Education is an Atmosphere (Relationship with the World) “When we say that ‘education is an atmosphere,’ we do not mean that a child should be isolated in ...
by jessr90 • September 1, 2023September 1, 2023
Video Games and Play with Dr. Peter Gray

Podcast

Video Games and Play with Dr. Peter Gray

Episode #18 | Video Games and Play with Dr. Peter Gray This is part two of my conversation with Dr Peter Gray. In this episode we discuss what play is, ...
by jessr90 • September 1, 2023September 1, 2023
Real Life Learning with Dr. Peter Gray (Part 1)

Podcast

Real Life Learning with Dr. Peter Gray (Part 1)

Episode #17 | Real Life Learning with Dr. Peter Gray (Part 1) Charlotte Mason said that “When we say that ‘education is an atmosphere,’ we do not mean that a ...
by jessr90 • September 1, 2023September 1, 2023
Education is an Atmosphere (Relationships with People)

Foundations, Podcast

Education is an Atmosphere (Relationships with People)

Episode #16 | Education is an Atmosphere (Relationships with People) Charlotte Mason famously stated that parents and teachers have three instruments available to educate children: atmosphere, discipline, and life. What ...
by jessr90 • September 1, 2023September 1, 2023
A Simple Method to Plan Your Homeschool

Foundations

A Simple Method to Plan Your Homeschool

This post is a compilation of what I’ve learned from planning my family’s education over the past six years, plus my time as a homeschool student myself. It’s a simple, ...
by jessr90 • August 16, 2023August 16, 2023
Punished by Rewards with Alfie Kohn

Podcast

Punished by Rewards with Alfie Kohn

Episode #14 | Punished by Rewards with Alfie Kohn Charlotte Mason advised that we shouldn’t use external motivators  to make children learn. She said “, prizes, places, rewards, punishments, praise, ...
by jessr90 • July 11, 2023July 11, 2023
Rewards, Praise, and Punishments

Podcast

Rewards, Praise, and Punishments

Episode #13 | Rewards, Praise, and Punishment We can’t discuss the big idea of authority without addressing rewards and punishments. Do they actually contribute to our goal of developing moral, ...
by jessr90 • July 11, 2023July 11, 2023
Authority and Docility

Podcast

Authority and Docility

Episode #12 | Authority and Docility In the last three episodes, I discussed the big ideas of attachment– what it is, why it’s important, and how we can nurture a ...
by jessr90 • June 20, 2023July 17, 2023
1700-1800 | American History | Booklist

American History, Booklists

1700-1800 | American History | Booklist

My family just spent the past year studying this time period in American History, and I want to share our favorite books we read this year, as well as a ...
by jessr90 • June 16, 2023June 16, 2023
Jesus’s Three Directives

Foundations

Jesus’s Three Directives

Let’s discuss some ways parents treat (or don’t treat) their children like people. And for this article I’m going to shift gears to a more spiritual source. To the man ...
by jessr90 • May 24, 2023May 24, 2023
Do I Consider My Child A Person?

Foundations

Do I Consider My Child A Person?

Charlotte Mason’s first principle seems so simple and obvious — of course I know my child is a person! But knowing your child is a human is different from seeing ...
by jessr90 • May 24, 2023May 24, 2023
An Introduction to Charlotte Mason

Foundations, Getting Started

An Introduction to Charlotte Mason

All of us contributing to Simple Wonders have been introduced to Charlotte Mason and her philosophy at different points in our lives, but one thing is common among us all: ...
by jessr90 • May 12, 2023May 12, 2023
A Quick-Start Guide For A Charlotte Mason Education

Getting Started

A Quick-Start Guide For A Charlotte Mason Education

You’ve heard all the wonderful things about a Charlotte Mason education, but have no idea where to start. Her six volumes on education are intimidating, and yo You’ll learn the ...
by jessr90 • May 12, 2023May 12, 2023

Podcast

Punished by Rewards w/ Alfie Kohn

Episode #14 | Punished by Rewards w/ Alfie Kohn [description] Episode Links

by jessr90 • May 5, 2023July 17, 2023
The Ideal Parenting Style

Podcast

The Ideal Parenting Style

Episode #15 | The Ideal Parenting Style I’ve spent the last couple months talking about the two foundational elements of parenting: love and authority. These elements may also be known ...
by jessr90 • May 5, 2023September 1, 2023
Creating an Atmosphere of Love and Learning w/ Dr. Russell Osguthorpe

Podcast

Creating an Atmosphere of Love and Learning w/ Dr. Russell Osguthorpe

Episode #11 | Creating an Atmosphere of Love and Learning As I’ve studied attachment and love, I’ve wondered how they affect children’s learning. So I asked Dr. Russell Osguthorpe, an ...
by jessr90 • March 3, 2023July 17, 2023
Love + Attachment (part 2)

Podcast

Love + Attachment (part 2)

Episode #9 | Love + Attachment (part 2) “Let your children feel and see and be quite sure that you love them…. dear mother, take your big schoolgirl in your ...
by jessr90 • February 15, 2023March 3, 2023
Love + Attachment (part 1)

Podcast

Love + Attachment (part 1)

Episode #9 | Love + Attachment (part 1) Why is it so difficult to teach my own children? It feels like my child is emotionally distant. How can I repair ...
by jessr90 • February 3, 2023February 4, 2023
Dr. Jack Beckman on Freedom Within Boundaries

Podcast

Dr. Jack Beckman on Freedom Within Boundaries

Episode #8 | Freedom Within Boundaries Although I’ve been studying Mason’s philosophy of education for a few years now I still had some unanswered questions about her first principle. I ...
by jessr90 • January 24, 2023March 3, 2023
Children are Born Persons

Podcast

Children are Born Persons

Episode #7 | Children Are Born Persons It’s important to understand principles, to have a framework, before we move on to applying Mason’s methods.  So for the rest of the ...
by jessr90 • January 6, 2023January 24, 2023
Teaching Children of All Abilities w/ Julie Christensen

Podcast

Teaching Children of All Abilities w/ Julie Christensen

Episode #6 | Teaching Children of All Abilities w/ Julie Christensen My child has a learning disability. Can I still apply Charlotte Mason’s methods?  I’m feeling like my child needs ...
by jessr90 • December 16, 2022December 16, 2022
The Connection Between Reading and Thinking w/ Natalie Wexler

Podcast

The Connection Between Reading and Thinking w/ Natalie Wexler

Episode #5 | The Connection Between Reading and Thinking We all want our children to receive a high-quality education – one that builds knowledge and teaches them how to think. ...
by jessr90 • December 9, 2022January 6, 2023
Narration + Discussion

Foundations, Tools

Narration + Discussion

“Children Narrate by Nature.––Narrating is an art, like poetry-making or painting, because it is there, in every child’s mind, waiting to be discovered, and is not the result of any ...
by jessr90 • December 2, 2022July 17, 2023
Questions

Foundations, Tools

Questions

The mind can know nothing save what it can produce in the form of an answer to a question put to the mind by itself.”  Charlotte Mason. Philosophy of Education,  ...
by jessr90 • December 2, 2022July 17, 2023
How to Encourage Inquiry

Foundations, Tools

How to Encourage Inquiry

How to Use Questions in Daily Lessons Before reading how to use questions in daily lessons, you need to understand the why — read my previous post “Questions” before continuing. ...
by jessr90 • December 2, 2022December 13, 2022
Real “Things”

Foundations, Tools

Real “Things”

Children Should Learn From Real Things “We older people, partly because of our mature intellect, partly because of our defective education, get most of our knowledge through the medium of ...
by jessr90 • November 30, 2022July 17, 2023
The “Best” Books

Foundations, Tools

The “Best” Books

A Charlotte Mason Education is heavily based on books. She boldly declared that “…no education seems to be worth the name which has not made children at home in the ...
by jessr90 • November 29, 2022November 29, 2022
Self-Education

Foundations

Self-Education

Episode #4 | Self-Education What makes Charlotte Mason’s philosophy and methods different from others? How do we nurture a love of learning in our children? What should parents look for ...
by jessr90 • November 23, 2022November 23, 2022

Uncategorized

Holiday Gift Guides

Christmas time can be a complicated time for mommas, especially if you’re trying to live a minimalist, intentional lifestyle. So what can we give a generation of children who has ...
by jessr90 • November 18, 2022December 10, 2022
Mothers Work Wonders w/ Cassie Shepherd

Podcast

Mothers Work Wonders w/ Cassie Shepherd

Episode #3 | Mothers Work Wonders Families, especially mothers, are devalued in our society. We’re told mothers are replaceable, that we need to modernize motherhood; but all the science says ...
by jessr90 • November 11, 2022July 17, 2023
Mothers Work Wonders

Foundations

Mothers Work Wonders

The relationship between mother and child is the most fascinating and beautiful of all human relationships. It’s inspired poets, artists, and authors since the beginning of time. For nine months ...
by jessr90 • November 11, 2022November 11, 2022
Gather Together

Foundations, Gather

Gather Together

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, as I said unto my disciples, where two or three are gathered together in my name, as touching one thing, behold, there will I ...
by jessr90 • November 2, 2022May 2, 2023
Artist Study

Artist Study, Subjects

Artist Study

“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 ...
by jessr90 • October 28, 2022July 17, 2023
Singing

Singing, Subjects

Singing

Songs can be some of the best tools for helping your homeschool day go more smoothly. Do your children struggle with transitions? Let a song be your cue to switch ...
by jessr90 • October 28, 2022July 17, 2023
Recitation

Recitation, Subjects

Recitation

Learning by Heart Learning by heart is also known as “recitation” in Charlotte Mason’s method. Recitation is more than memorizing: memorizing is committing information to memory, but not necessarily comprehending ...
by jessr90 • October 28, 2022July 17, 2023
Scripture Study

Scripture Study, Subjects

Scripture Study

“The knowledge of God is the principal knowledge, and therefore their Bible lessons are their chief lessons.” Charlotte Mason How Firm a Foundation There is a difference between ...
by jessr90 • October 27, 2022July 17, 2023
Home-Centered Learning

Podcast

Home-Centered Learning

Episode #2 | Home-Centered Learning What makes the home an ideal learning environment? What does a home-centered education look like? Why was public education started and why were orphanages shut ...
by jessr90 • October 24, 2022July 17, 2023
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