Ambitious April

The Creative Process

I loved this image from murraythenut.com about the creative process...it is so true-brilliant!

Sure, I could send them to school...

I Could...

I could send her to school,
And from 8:00-3:00 have no clue.

How many times she laughed,

How many times she learned,

How many times she questioned,

How many times she understood,

How many times she wanted more information,

How many times she bounced in her chair from excitement,

How many times she was proud of something she did.

I could send her to school and she could get her exercise and sunshine,

In 20 minute doses, if she had on the right shoes, and no one
misbehaved and everyone was quiet.

I could send her to school

And let her eat the processed high fat, low nutrition fare they feed
millions of children a day,

if she had enough time to eat and didn't talk too loud and if no
one grabbed her food.

Or...

I could homeschool her.

by Karen Cagle
http://homeschoolgirls.net

Spring

I just LOVE Spring, don't you? It seems like the world just comes alive-literally. After a long winter of reflection and often drudgery, Spring inspires us to get moving and look at things in a new way. I know most people make resolutions in January during the new year. It always feels so unnatural to me. I have always seen April as my true New Year. Helps that it is also my name. Did you know the name April comes from the Latin aperire which means "to open"...like flowers? Well I think it can also mean to be open to change and new things,which I'm not always so fond of. Change can be hard. New things can be scary. I've learned in the last 10 years that sometimes change and new things can be very, very good especially if your open to them. The more you fight it the worst it can seem. God works in strange ways and often you feel like your life is spinning out of control when really if you'd just let go and let God-amazing things are in store for you.

Reader's Theater

A fabulous homeschooling mother in my area hosted a Reader's Theater activity for the local homeschoolers. It was held at a local library and we were asked to bring snacks to share. The only cost to the host was the copies of the scripts and her time and energy. This would be an extremely easy homeschool event to host for your local community.Suggestions:

ask that participants be independent readers
have parents bring dress up clothes and possible props
assign 1-2 older children to be leaders and lead group in practicing
try to have as little adult input as possible

Here are some resources for scripts:

Readers Theater Scripts and Plays
Readers Theater Editions of comedy stories
Whootie Owl's Reader's Theatre Play Scripts
Scripts from Storycart.com
Stretch-A-Book offers a whole book package with scripts, etc.

New Converts

Changing over to Charlotte Mason has been like a spiritual conversion. Many an 'ah ha!' moment accompany reading her ideas. Most of it you instinctual know is true, but you'd never had a name to call it before. Charlotte Mason herself seems to have been very in tune with the Spirit, her thoughts on the nature and nurture of children are very inspired and Christ-like. One becomes passionate and zealous about these new ideas for learning. Jokingly, I've begun to win over new converts. A few friends are also learning more about Charlotte and being inspired by her ideas and methods. Don't be surprised if there is some sort of Charlotte Mason revival stirring up in Idaho. Can't you just see it now? Book stores frantic just to keep classic books on their shelves. Every afternoon mothers and children out frolicking, sketch pads in tow, in yards, parks, and fields. In the immortal words of Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady " Oh! Wouldn't it be lovely."