This month, I am teaching my children about the calendar. I could simply, show them a calendar and memorize the days of the week or months of the year. Or even sorting the words every day until they can recite them. But that sounds boring…for me. Also, that is focusing on facts instead of ideas. Charlotte Mason said,
“…any teaching which does not leave him possessed of a new mental image has…missed its mark.” –from Home Education.
As often as I can, I want my lessons to my children to leave a mental image behind, something they can hold on to and build upon.
What Are the Ideas Behind the Calendar?
When thinking about a year, what are the ideas that children could hold onto? Two things stuck out to me: change and activities. The days getting longer and brighter or shorter and darker is an example of change. The holidays and pastimes that anchor and delight is what I mean by activities.
With these two ideas in mind, I wrote a children’s book. It is a collection of my memories of childhood. Sort of like a snapshot for each month. It is written in narrative form and I hope will give my child (and yours) some ideas to hold on to and build from.
At the end of the book is a page of suggested activities to go with the book.
If you enjoy the book, or know someone who will, please share! Every share helps this blog tremendously and encourages me to continue to make more for you!