Simplicity is beautiful.
Besides the living books, I think it’s the simplicity of Charlotte Mason that draws me to her teaching style.
Composer study is simple.
Choose one composer and listen to his music for a term.
Artist study is simple.
Choose one artist and study his art, piece by piece through observing and narrating.
Poetry study is simple.
Read and narrate poems. Occasionally copy and memorize a few.
Nature study is simple.
Get outdoors and experience nature first hand. Then make notes or sketches in your nature journal.
But I tend to complicate things. I change the beauty of simplicity for something gaudy and tacky as I add layer after layer of extras, trying to embellish something that’s already practically perfect. It’s tiring to complicate things. It’s soothing to relax into a pattern of simplicity.
Sometimes I hear the lie that “simple is not enough” or “simple is boring.”
Done right, simple is enough. And simple leaves time for activities that are far from boring — hobbies, travel, and relationships.
So is your homeschool simple? Are you striving towards simplicity? Or do you believe simple is boring?
You are so right.
Well said!
.-= Makita´s last blog ..A Heartfelt Thank You :: Wordless Wednesday =-.
I needed to hear this!
I’ve you’re after more posts along the lines of Simplicity I have gathered several at my learning blog
http://sevenlittleaustralianslivinglearning.blogspot.com/2009/11/simple-and-practical.html
Thank you for those wise words!
Oh, I am such a complicator! And the result is that we almost never have free time! It’s terrible. But exciting at the same time. It’s exciting to run to the library or internet and extend knowledge, adding layer upon layer of connections and activity. Then, every so often, I step back and say, “This is crazy!”….information like this is so immediate and at hand now that is can become so consuming. I try to imagine life 200 years ago and just think that relaxing and living in the moment and being SATISFIED with what is at hand can be enough. And enjoyable. It is a constant battle here between gulping in the world and existing peacefully and calmly in the world.
Jimmie: What a wonderful post. I admit it: I tend to overthink things and over plan way too often.
Everything you said is so very, very true.
Simplicity really is a very beautiful thing.
.-= Rhonda@LivingWater´s last blog ..First Aid Unit Study =-.
Sometimes with all the simplicity of CM, I get to the end of a day and reflect on all the FUN we had. Sometimes I wonder if I did enough with the children (feel guilt). But once I reflect back, I realize we covered a lot. Sometimes it’s hard for me to get out of the brick and mortar school mentality. I have to remember we are not bound to a certain schedule or a certain number of worksheets or tests.
I am enslaved when I try to cling to the systems of the brick and mortar schools. But once I cut myself free and embrace CM’s methods, I experience freedom and truly enjoy learning (right alongside my children).
.-= Nikki´s last blog ..Look What I Won! =-.
So true! Simplicity is awesome, now if I can just learn to trust that :).
I like you tend to overcomplicate stuff. We are currently looking into A Thomas Jefferson Education and so far I think it is wonderful and simple. I try to constantly simplify our schooling because it don’t want it ever to become drudgery for myself or the children. I also want it simple because I don’t want to overthicken the lines between schooling and everyday life.
.-= BlessedMomma´s last blog ..This And That =-.
I also love the simplicity of CM. However, I often hear what everyone else is doing and feel that I must not be doing enough. The good thing is that with a large family it forces me to stay simple. It would be impractical for me to do ALL the extras, not that I don’t sometimes get caught up in the moment, but I can’t maintain it.
Excellent post, simplicity is beautiful and it also lends itself to one of our main goals of homeschooling – strong relationships!
.-= Kimberly @ Raising Olives´s last blog ..Titus 2: Finding the Time to Mentor =-.
I need to read this post every morning…to remind myself the beauty of simplicity. I definitely tend to complicate, over-analyze, add more and more and more until I and the child become overwhelmed and irritable. Thanks for this reminder. And congrats on your wonderful blog and the award. I check it regularly!
What I wonder is why keeping things simple can seem like such hard work. But I know that the answer is that I am in the habit of too much of a “good” thing.
I really needed this reminder. Thanks, Jimmie!
.-= Marsha´s last blog ..Pressing On =-.
Lovely, lovely post! I know what you mean EXACTLY. I think part of the difficulty is that as a society, we have made everything so complicated, that when we step out of that niche to homeschool, if we don’t make that complicated, then we’re seen as lacking. How can education possibly be so simple??
A very timely post for me. Yes, we need to keep it simple. Why is that such a hard task sometimes?
Blessings,
Dawn
.-= Dawn´s last blog ..A Glimpse Of Our Week…. =-.
Great reminder, Jimmie! Your post reminded me that we failed to do an art project with our Leonardo da Vinci picture study; I felt like it was incomplete. BUT… Elijah learned so much about Leonardo. He read 3-4 books without me prompting him. He was fascinated by Leonardo’s art and life…and I felt like a failure because I didn’t have anything concrete (notebook page, project to display, etc.) from the study. Sometimes homeschooling moms are CRAZY! 😉
.-= Ami´s last blog ..Preschool Basics =-.
A wonderful reminder to KISS = Keep It Simple Sweetie! 🙂 I often praise the Lord for homeschool days filled with pleasant times, fun, reading, short lessons, wide eyes of wonder in nature, hearing my girls singing as they do chores, telling dad (and showing him) something they found or did … and were all learning! CM methods really have all these elements built in.
Thanks for your inspiring reminders!
.-= Nadene´s last blog ..History Timeline – Our wallchart at the end of the year =-.
Simple is beautiful! But sometimes, embellishing is fun too.
.-= sarah in the woods´s last blog ..Braids and Beads =-.
I complicate things, too. Ugg. Thanks for the reminder that we don’t have to!
.-= { jamie }´s last blog ..New Charlotte Mason Carnival! =-.
Great reminder! I think that Sarah in the woods is also correct that embellishing is fun. The trick is keeping the balance, and remembering the difference between embellishing and complicating, or overloading.
I loved your squatty potty link, by the way. I really enjoyed looking around your blog a bit. I live so close to China, yet have never been farther in than Hong Kong. I look forward to learning from your blog!
.-= Sue´s last blog ..This and That =-.
This was fantastic. Thank you. I tend to look around me and see all the wonderful “extras” everyone is doing and feel like I’m failing as a homeschool mother. Simple is good enough. In fact, it’s great. And it’s fun. This will be my new mantra – I will wander around the house, muttering under my breath, “simple, simple, simple.” How freeing and forgiving!!!!
.-= Heather´s last blog ..Getting Kids to Clean =-.
I am all for simplicity. My boys love simplicity.
In the long run, keeping things simple make homeschooling so much better.
Thanks for the reminder.
Barb
.-= Barb-Harmony Art Mom´s last blog ..Field Notebook List -Last of the Autumn Series of Challenges =-.
This is so true. Knowing and doing are two different animals, however! Because I am now on bed rest, I have been forced to do things with simplicity. It has been a breath of fresh air to our family and I am seeing my son’s abilities with a clarity that I just didn’t have before.
This made me smile 🙂
Thanks. It’s just what I needed to hear.
Amber