The Economist and The Week

Very helpful! Thank you! I'll add it to both the autumn and winter lists.

This was a favorite movie of a beloved aunt. I didn't realize there was a book. I need to add it to my list and read it before I watch the movie. Is there a dominant season in the book? Hmm...haunted seaside village... Trying to decide if it would be best to read in summer or autumn... Or maybe I'm off completely and it takes place in winter or spring... Thoughts?

These are many of the things that come to my mind too. The right mix of nature/nurture will be different for every student. We did a brief, shallow nod to Latin and decided it wasn't worth the time. No regrets for dropping it. (Well, no more than the wistful regret I have wishing we could do everything.) Other students have found Latin to be a huge help on tests and in life in general. For some students testing every year would be a bad idea. For other students it's a chance to develop coping mechanisms for stress. Yearly testing might even begin to dull test anxiety because of repeated exposure. There is no one right formula. There is no path that guarantees every student will obtain a high score. Nature will always have a say.

Will there be those little cake things with pink sugar icing?

This is what I do as well.

No experience with Mandarin, but we had mixed experiences with CTY. At that price, excellence should be a given. Unfortunately it's not. It all boils down to the teacher. If you get a good recommendation for a provider, be sure to get the teacher's name as well.

Thanks! I'll put it on my list for this summer.

I just make tentative plans and backup plans. Last year I had everything perfectly organized based on the current year's class schedules. Then schedules were released and every school we were using changed the classes offered and/or meeting times, so I had to start over. Unfortunately everything wasn't as neat and tidy after the changes... It's good to be somewhat prepared because some classes fill quickly, but it's difficult when the providers announce schedules at varying times.

Does anyone remember the seasonal setting And Then There Were None? I try to read books by season, which is why I read Hallowe'en Party when I did. That's also why I waited until summer to read The Elementals, instead of reading it last October. I tried to flip through the book and Google, but I kept seeing potential spoilers, so I thought I'd ask here.

double post in my Agatha Christie excitement...

Thanks! As fate would have it, I actually have And Then There Were None on my shelves. I picked it up at a library book sale years ago, but never read it. Given that it's been mentioned at least a couple times on this thread (and because it was written in the 1930s), I think I might try it next. I'll make note of the others mentioned in the thread in case I need to give AC a third chance or in case I am her newest fan. Thanks again!

:seeya: Here!

:svengo:

Thank you both! This is quite a relief. While reading the book I often wondered why on earth she is one of the most beloved authors of all times. It wasn't terrible, so I'm willing to try another one. Thanks so much for the insights!

I finished Hallowe'en Party by Agatha Christie. It was my first Agatha Christie. :leaving: Does anyone have thoughts on how it compares to her other books? Are they best read in order or groupings of certain characters?

I vote for Spooky October year 'round. ;) We can safely make it through Christmas at least. That was traditional ghost story telling time...

Which is a valid point. Mothers are born persons too. ;) Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. BFSU might not be ideal in general, but it might be pretty darn close to ideal in some homes. Although it's obviously not my first (or second or third ;) ) choice, if BFSU is what it takes for the mother to feel like she can properly engage and model excitement for learning, so be it. Whatever it takes. (For the record, I still don't like the recommendation as a first choice. ;) ) LMD, so glad you found something that worked for your family. Thanks for adding your perspective.

A Charlotte Mason resource people might not be aware of is Kfamily's A Mind in the Light. Such a lovely blend of CM philosophy and details! Well done in so many ways...

I hope the idea of "inculcating wonder and joy in the natural world in our kids" becomes more evident as they further develop the educational plan and website. Thus far, it doesn't have that feel. (On a side note: I'm not sure *inculcating* is a word I would connect with wonder and joy....)

So maybe using it more as a parental resource? That makes more sense to me. Always good to have various tools in the toolbox and a variety of books on the shelves.

I think evaluating a new program does several things beyond helping us decide whether or not it's a good it for our family. Sometimes in learning about other approaches, we are given a chance to see our own approach in a new light. Also, hearing other people's thoughts about a program can help us make an informed decision. Further, sometimes the best way to make a decision about a program is to try to find all the faults, in addition to finding all the strengths. I say this in case anyone thinks we are being overly critical. Thinking critically and skeptically is something I hope a solid, secular, Charlotte Mason-inspired education would promote. Science is built on trying to prove itself wrong.

Do you mean making short lessons? Does that make it more CM? (ETA: CM is so much more than short lessons, thus the question. I was trying to determine how chopping it up makes it more CM.)

:001_wub:

I've always seen CM as having two sides -- the principles and the details. I have always focused more on the principles. This program seems to be more focused on the details.