2020 Pre-Retreat Immersion & Main Sessions Featured Speaker, Nancy Kelly
Pre-Retreat Immersion: Multi-Age Immersion In an immersion group session, Nancy will demonstrate a morning in a multi-age homeschool using Mason’s methods. Despite the large age range in many homeschools, adherence to the principles and practices in every area can make this rich education possible. The focus will be on subjects that can successfully be combined with multiple ages. Subject areas that may be presented will include Bible, dictation, citizenship, Shakespeare, Plutarch, hymn, folksong, copywork, picture study, composer study, natural history, literature, nature study and geography. Attendees experience being the student, practicing different forms of narration, and sampling the banquet of ideas which brings a fuller understanding of the method. This session is 3 hours long and a 1.5 hour question and answer session will follow.
Session 1: Simplicity “The parent who would educate his children, in any large sense of the word, must lay himself out for high thinking and lowly living; the highest thinking indeed possible to the human mind and the simplest, directest living.” – Charlotte Mason Simplicity is a topic near and dear to Charlotte Mason’s heart and completely relevant in today’s complicated and consumeristic culture. She said that the quality of simplicity is “the first condition of all successful work with children.” What did she mean by that? Through Scripture, poetry, art, and lanterns, we will examine the nature of simplicity and uncover what hinders us from living simple lives and doing the deep work required of us as parents.
Session 2: Getting Rid of Weeds and Fostering Flowers: The Vital Role of Habits This talk will examine the important and balanced emphasis of habits in a relational education. Charlotte Mason elaborates on the role of the parent when helping our children develop the type of habits that form fine character while weeding out the habits that will do them harm. As always, her advice is based on the whole child, not just outward expressions. We will look at the types of habits in a child’s life and Mason’s wise, commonsense approach to fostering the good.
Session 3: Importance of Peace “He is happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds peace in his home.” – Goethe The Charlotte Mason philosophy and method of education has a unique source that encourages shalom in the home. This talk will explore the meaning of peace, how a CM education helps develop peace, and why parents are called to be peacemakers. Nancy will share insights from her own experience as well as some extremely helpful direction from Mason and other solid PNEU teachers on peace in our homes, schools, and lives.