The Dish: A Mother's Review #6

The Dish: 

A Mother's Review #6

Knowledge of God

"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season, we shall reap, if we faint not."
Galatians 6:9

This is gospel work, Mommas. This is discipleship. Nothing could be more worthy, and nothing could be more exhausting and consuming. Do not grow weary.... ensure that you don't by clinging to your purpose, ordering your days, filling your own cup sufficiently, saying "no" to distraction,  refusing to over schedule your life, leaving hours empty for exploration, and by returning daily to the source of your rest and renewal. There is no need for weariness, my dear sisters, because we will reap the fruit of our labor. His grace, indeed, is sufficient for you. He is, indeed, your strength and your shield. Diapers, ear infections, learning struggles, dirty dishes, mountains of laundry, lesson plans, bad attitudes, sibling rivalries, financial strain; all of those things, and every other, are within the control of the God of all the universe. This is gospel work. This is discipleship. Your labor has eternal results, and eternal reward. Don't grow weary, dear mother, because you will reap...when it is time. Make hay while the sun shines. Be faithful in what's small. Do the hard things. Give yourself grace. Have courage. Do what's right. Order your affections and your days to the glory of God. You are, without a doubt, cut out for this because you are enabled by the One who called you to it. He shall supply all your need, and you can rest, always, in Him.

Knowledge of the Universe

Water Science Roundup
Term 2 is quickly approaching in our homeschool, and our observational science stream for the term will be Water Science. I thought I would share the resources I will be using for the term, because a term observing water and how it works would be fun for all ages. 

A Drop of Water by Walter Wick 
This wonderful, beautiful book will be our spine. We will do one short lesson a week, feasting on the ideas and the incredible photographs, while completing some experiments to gain understanding. 

Raindrops Roll by April Sayre 
This is such a great book, filled with amazing photography displaying raindrops in their many forms and functions.  In the back is brief scientific information about the ideas presented on each page.

The Wonder in Water by Diane Swanson 
This is one of Swanson's many great, living science texts, in which she speaks in interesting language, directly to children instead of at them.  The short chapters cover: sweat, raindrops, puddles, marshes, lakes, rivers, and seas. 

Down Comes the Rain: A Read and Find Out Science Book
Let's Read and Find Out are the best elementary science books available, and this one about rain is no exception. Covering the water cycle and more, Down Comes the Rain is straightforward, but not dumbed down or oversimplified. 

Knowledge of Man

Tales Roundup 
We have been loving a few great resources for our Tales this term, along with some old classics. 

Through the Grapevine
This book has short cultural tales from all over the world, along with tips for telling those tales. We are enjoying both the readings and also the practice at telling tales, which is an integral skill. 

Eric Carle's Treasury 
We love anything illustrated by Eric Carle, and this collection of folk tales is no exception. 

The Book of Giant Stories
 We all enjoyed the lively and fun giant tales in this little book. We read them during Tea Time, and everyone laughed and discussed at length. 

We never tire of either St. George and the Dragon or Giant John. Just like all great tales, these never get old!
  

Food for the Mother's Soul

Have you seen Sarah McKenzie's new book The Read Aloud Family? I can't wait to read it! Here is a passage from it, to inspire and encourage you in your efforts to create a reading culture for your family. I know that you will want to run and get the book so that you can read the rest!


"Of all the tools in our parenting toolbox, discussion ends up being one of the most important. any time we're building a relationship, in fact, discussion is the primary way we get to know and connect with one another. We've all heard about how important it is for families to eat dinner together. Dr. Anne Fishel, co-founder of The Family Dinner Project, states that dinnertime conversations are important in order to 'relax, recharge, laugh, tell stories, and catch up on the day's ups and downs, while developing a sense of who we are as a family.'...When we engage in conversation with our child-when we ask him how his day went, what he's worried about, or what the best part of his week was-we communicate that we are interested in his life and that we have time for him. When we have a conversation with our child about books, then, we communicate that we are interested in what he's reading and thinking about. Without saying it outright, we tell him that it is a priority in our own lives to spend unhurried time with him. Books offer a unique entry into conversation because they contain the best ideas we can possible encounter. They are, in fact, a gateway to big issues, and we can often enter into a comfortable, leisurely conversation about some of life's hardest topics through the lens of a book. When we read with out kids and then open ourselves up for conversation, we have a unique opportunity to help them encounter great thoughts and ideas, think deeply about them, and allow those ideas and encounters to shape their lives."

Around the Table  

What is Happening in the Charlotte Mason World?

Again this month, I have to recommend an episode of The Mason Jar. The Spring Nature Study episode was so inspiring. It was a breath of fresh air for me, and I think it will be for you too. 

Here is this month's episode of The Mason Jar.

Something to Chew On

"Knowledge is not instruction, information, scholarship, a well-stored memory. It is passed, like the light of a torch, from mind to mind, and the flame can be kindled at original minds only." 

This wisdom from Mason is like a tether for me, as I plan and implement our living education. I am a lover of ideas, and I tend to want to try everything. I am constantly encountering things that other homeschoolers are doing, and things that we could do in ours. I have found that I must have a tether in order to keep from straying too far from my desired dynamic and atmosphere. There are many things that, while not harmful,are not activities that further our educational purpose. On the other hand, there are great activities that build upon the ideas and knowledge stored in my children's minds, like little grains of sand that aren't much on their own, but that, over time, add up to a life well educated. These ideas, this knowledge, must come from another mind, so my children must be in contact with minds in order to receive them. Because this is true, I must guard our precious hours from the addition of "what everyone else is doing" or the adorable thing I saw on pinterest...unless of course, it puts my children in contact with another great mind, in order that they may obtain knowledge. If an activity purely serves as instruction, information, scholarship, or memorization....then it isn't an activity worth our time. My tether reminds me of this, lest I wander too far from where I so desire to be.



May All Your Days Be Spent.....Delightfully Feasting
Crystin <3