CPQ June Newsletter
Two or three summers ago, I took on a new challenge to improve my pre-reading habits. I experienced the thrill of starting the school year with over 10 weeks of work and lessons ready to go. Since then, the end of the school year has marked the start of my favorite season—pre-reading season. Before the children have even finished school, I have boxes of books lined up along my dining room wall filled with the next year’s selections. I start the process filled with so much hope and momentum. Last year, we studied the modern time period, which is my favorite, and I pre-read everything. (Well, we won’t talk about the last 8 weeks of the year). It was a solid start to the school year. But, we crawled to the finish line—mostly due to non-school interruptions. Even so, we ended the school year a little later than I’d hoped. Additionally, we will be starting the next school year earlier than I’d like to accommodate a long family trip we’re planning in December. All that (plus three of my own weeks for planned personal travel) adds up to significantly less summer planning time than I would like. I want to say that I hit the ground running in anticipation of these conflicts, but the first couple of weeks I spent staring into the void of my blank spreadsheets, surrounded by stacks of books. I was overwhelmed. And tired. (It didn’t help that the time period we’re studying is also not my favorite). I just felt like I was running on empty. All along, I knew what I was missing. But I kept telling myself I didn’t have time. Until this weekend. I refused to pick up another schoolbook. Instead, I grabbed a book for myself. And not one for my mom’s discussion group or one I’ve had on my list because I’m supposed to read it. I read something just because it sounded good. I can’t remember the last time I’d done that (which sounds crazy to say as a Mason educator).
It was an easy read…I finished all 426 pages in one day. I laughed. I cried. I was a little haunted by the plot. It was a delicious feeling to be so taken with a book that I couldn’t put it down.
By the next day, it felt like my brain had gotten a jump-start. I hadn’t filled my tank with the most high-quality fuel, but I had given a little spark to ignite the motivation that was simmering below the surface. Now, I can go and look up some relevant Mason quotes to support my thoughts here…but I’m not going to (I’ve got to get back to pre-reading). But I will encourage you to find some time this summer to enjoy something for the delight it brings you. Maybe it’s reading a light book, planting some flowers, or getting crafty. Don’t feel guilty for taking time away from pre-reading and planning. You might find it’s just the spark you need to maintain your motivation through the summer.
Happy relaxing!
Sarah
On The CPQ Blog
Beyond the Upper Years - Part 2
Behind the Scenes
Personhood is in layout
Goodness articles are in copyedit
Book articles are being written to turn in next month
Things main article topics confirmed, and writers contacted
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More on the Upper Years
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Much Ado About Everything
We have a big giveaway coming up in August…
Books from Donna-Jean Breckenridge, Amber O’Neal Johnston, Cindy Rollins, Anne White, Sally Clarkson, Laurie Bestvater, and more!
Products from A Humble Place, Juniper Grove Journals, Common Place Quarterly, and more!
In the words of Beatrice, “Thou and I are too wise to woo peaceably.”
We’re excited to be able to gather amazing resources from the Charlotte Mason community to give away to our readership. Stay tuned!
Blast from the Past
From their earliest days they should get the habit of reading literature which they should take hold of for themselves, much or little, in their own way. As the object of every writer is to explain himself in his own book the child and the author must be trusted together, without the intervention of the middle-man. What his author does not tell him he must go without knowing for the present. No explanation will really help him, and explanations of words and phrases spoil the text and should not be attempted unless children ask, What does so and so mean? when other children in the class will probably tell (Vol. 6, p.192).
When you live with the reality of reading struggles in your homeschool, and in a more real sense, your everyday life, there is an absolute temptation to help your kids along to a place that is maybe more socially acceptable or maybe just not so scary to you as a teacher. There is also a temptation to take away hard things and make reading easier and easier for them by telling them what books mean or giving them books with less words and, therefore, less figuring out. But, Charlotte Mason, in this small paragraph sets some very clear, and therefore very freeing boundary lines when it comes to interfering with your children and books. She says don’t do it because you don’t need to make up for or add to your child’s mind. Children are capable of learning from authors without our interference.
-Cara Williams
Get To Know The Editors
What’s Cara…
Reading: Bullies and Saints as a preread for high school, The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, on a recommendation from Mariah. I just finished it this morning.
Listening to: the commentary before the presidential debate tonight
Eating: Cuban French toast
Watching: Instagram posts from my older kids’ summer camp
Making: a lot of chicken nuggets
Fixing: my fridge and freezer with the help of my good friend, YouTube
Writing: lesson plans and supply lists for the new school year
Thinking about: how much time everything requires and how to make the most of time
What’s Mariah…
Reading: Longitude, A Delusion of Satan, and The Vicor of Wakefield (prereading some new books for Year 9)
Creating: not a thing. I’ve painted half the basement, made some shelving for a nook, and helped my husband finish the deck extension and stained it. I am ready to sit on said deck and read for the next month.
Listening to: The Gospel is Rest by Elias Dummer.
Eating: chicken enchiladas tonight
Watching: videos the OT sent me about autism and helping my son with problem-solving skills.
Drinking: lots of water
Thinking about: adventures. We need a couple in July. I’d like to drive in any direction with a cooler in the truck and see where it takes us. No plans.
What’s Sarah…
Reading: The Women by Kristin Hannah and When Asia was the World by Stewart Gordon
Listening to: Still Waters (Psalm 23) by Leanna Crawford. Best song-remedy for anxiety.
Creating: Spreadsheets. I thought I’d be sewing this summer, but my sewing room is also the storage room for school supplies and the post-school-year disaster is apocalyptic. And I am avoiding it.
Thinking about: how easily death and tragedy can tear a family apart. My grandma recently passed away, and the months leading up to it were so stressful for her family. But I am so proud of them for the space they gave each other to grieve, process, and help in their own way. There were so many moments where it could’ve gone sideways, but it didn’t. I attribute it to the selfless devotion my grandma had for each of her children despite their vast differences. I am praying about nurturing that care in my own family so my children feel that way about their own siblings.
Eating: Vegan chocolate cupcakes for my birthday girl
Watching: My kids at the pool. Or eating all the food. Usually on the same day.
Drinking: Coffee again. I gave it up for a week. But tea just doesn’t satisfy the same way.