The New Mason Jar with Cindy Rollins
The New Mason Jar with Cindy Rollins explores the application of Charlotte Mason’s philosophy to the atmosphere, discipline, and life of our homes and schools. We cover Charlotte’s timeless principles as they work themselves out in our real and modern lives. Interviewing seasoned moms who have cherished Charlotte’s works while raising real children in real families, we endeavor to lay a foundation of hope and possibility for our listeners. However imperfectly.
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S6E82: Morning Time for Moms (and Dads!), Part 2, with Summer and Mike Smith
04/25/2024
S6E82: Morning Time for Moms (and Dads!), Part 2, with Summer and Mike Smith
Every plant bears fruit, ‘fruit and seed after his kind.’ All this is stale knowledge to older people, but one of the secrets of the educator is to present nothing as stale knowledge, but to put himself in the position of the child, and wonder and admire with him; for every common miracle which the child sees with his own eyes makes of him for the moment another Newton. Charlotte Mason, Home Education, p. 54 Show Summary: On The New Mason Jar this week, Cindy and Dawn continue their Morning Time for Moms series with guests Summer and Mike Smith How Summer and Mike first learned about Charlotte Mason and her philosophy Mike’s early love for books and Summer’s own life of reading How Mike and Summer continued to enjoy reading and self-education after formal schooling Some thoughts on the college experience How Summer keeps up her own education while homeschooling How Mike and Summer help their children see ministry opportunities in their community Books and Links Mentioned: by Karen Glass by Marie McSwigan by Lois Lowry by Matt Christopher by Matt Christopher by Marguerite Henry by Jolly Roger Bradfield by Laura Ingalls Wilder by L. M. Montgomery by Johanna Reiss by Bette Greene by Anne Frank by Gwen Bristow by Gwen Bristow by Gwen Bristow by Lois Lenski by Carolyn Keene by John Jakes by David Epstein by Robert Farrar Capon by Cindy Rollins by John Milton by Homer by Virgil by Dorothy Canfield Fisher by Thomas Hardy by Thomas Hardy by Torquato Tasso by Wilfred Thesiger by Diana Pavlac Glyer by Homer by Pat Barr by Bruce Shelley ed. and trans. by Martin Moynihan Find Cindy and Dawn: We should allow no separation to grow up between the intellectual and the ‘spiritual’ life of children; but should teach them that the divine Spirit has constant access to their spirits, and is their continual helper in all the interests, duties, and joys of life. Charlotte Mason, Principle 18
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S6E81: “Joy in the Morning” Summer Discipleship
04/18/2024
S6E81: “Joy in the Morning” Summer Discipleship
If mankind had not been organized into families, it would never have had the organic power to be organized into commonwealths. Human culture is handed down in the customs of countless households. It is the only way in which human culture can remain human. G. K. Chesterton, Marriage and the Modern Mind Show Summary: For this week’s episode of The New Mason Jar, Cindy and Dawn share about this year’s summer discipleship course, Gretchen Neisler tells about her own experience with past summer discipleship and why she keeps coming back for more What you can expect from this year’s Morning Time for Moms content and schedule Other ways you can benefit from Cindy’s wisdom and interact with other moms (Scroll down to the “Find Cindy” section for all the links) Books Mentioned: by Bess Streeter Aldrich by Bess Streeter Aldrich by Karen Glass by Anne White by Cindy Rollins by Rod Dreher by Deani Van Pelt and Camille Malucci by P. G. Wodehouse by William Shakespeare by David Hicks Find Cindy: Subscribe: Those who believe in the dignity of the domestic tradition, who happen to be the overwhelming majority of mankind, regard the home as a sphere of vast social importance and supreme spiritual significance, and to talk of being “confined” to it is like talking of being chained to a throne or set in the seat of judgment as if it were the stocks. G. K. Chesterton, “The Dignity of Domesticity,” The Illustrated London News, 1929
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S6E80: Spring Nature Study with Jeannette Tulis
04/11/2024
S6E80: Spring Nature Study with Jeannette Tulis
They notice for themselves, and the teacher gives a name and other information as it is asked for… In this way they lay up that store of “common information”… and what is more important, they learn to know and delight in natural objects as in the familiar faces of friends. Charlotte Mason, School Education, p. 237 Show Summary: On The New Mason Jar this week, we bring you a conversation all about spring nature study with Cindy, Dawn and Cindy’s friend Jeannette Tulis, who has been a previous guest on the podcast How can moms begin nature study when they have never done it before? How to find spring ephemeral wildflowers, and other things to look for at this time of year Ideas for stepping up your nature study game What are some tips for nature journaling? Books and Links Mentioned: by George Symonds by Anne Ophelia Dowden by Barbara Beck Find Cindy: Let them once get in touch with Nature, and a habit is formed which will be a source of delight through life. We were all meant to be naturalists, each in his degree, and it is inexcusable to live in a world so full of the marvels of plant and animal life and to care for none of these things. Charlotte Mason, Home Education, p. 61
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S6E79: “A Bit of the World’s Work” with Anne White
03/28/2024
S6E79: “A Bit of the World’s Work” with Anne White
Ourselves, our Souls and Bodies is much used in the P.U.S., as I know of no other attempt to present such a ground plan of human nature as should enable the young student to know where he is in his efforts to ‘be good’ as the children say. The point of view taken in this volume is, that all beautiful and noble possibilities are present in every one; but that each person is subject to assaults and hindrances in various ways of which he should be aware in order that he may watch and pray. Hortatory teaching is apt to bore both young people and their elders; but an ordered presentation of the possibilities and powers that lie in human nature and of the risks that attend these, can hardly fail to have an enlightening and stimulating effect. Charlotte Mason, Towards a Philosophy of Education Show Summary: On the New Mason Jar today we welcome back Anne White, veteran homeschool mom, author, and member of the Advisory How Anne first discovered Charlotte Mason About Anne’s new book title and how she came to write this work Is this book for homeschoolers? How can we understand and apply “justice” in the way that Charlotte meant here? Why children need time and space to think and let ideas work in them What do you mean by the statement that “there is is only sacred, sanctified education, or desecrated education”? How Anne tied the magic of narration into the ideas in this book Books and Links Mentioned: by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay by Anne White by Anne White by Anne White by Charlotte Mason Find Cindy and Anne: The worth of any calling depends upon its being of use; and no day need go by without giving us practice in usefulness. Each one is wanted for the special bit of work he is fit for; and, of each, it is true that– “Thou cam’st not to thy place by accident: It is the very place God meant for thee.” Charlotte Mason, Ourselves, Bk. 1, pp. 209-210
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S6E78: Morning Time for Moms, Part 1, with Jami Marstall
03/14/2024
S6E78: Morning Time for Moms, Part 1, with Jami Marstall
The mind is a spiritual octopus, reaching out limbs in every direction to draw in enormous rations of that which under the actions of the mind itself becomes knowledge. Nothing can stale its infinite variety; the heavens and the earth, the past, the present, and future, things great and things minute, nations and men, the universe, all are within the scope of the human intelligence. Charlotte Mason, Toward a Philosophy of Education, p. 330 Show Summary: On The New Mason Jar this week, Cindy and Dawn kick off a new series of the podcast, Morning Time for Moms, with our first guest in the series, Jami Marstall How Jami first came to hear about Charlotte Mason How much of AmblesideOnline’s curriculum Jami has personally read as the mother and teacher What practices Jami put in place to ensure she was growing in knowledge How the mother-teacher is the guide, philosopher, and friend What is the significance of the “spiritual octopus” quote from the intro? How can moms build a reading life in the busy seasons of life? What Jami is reading now and what some of her other activities are Books and Links Mentioned: by Cindy Rollins by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay by Charlotte Mason by Gordon S. Wood by David McCullough by James Sire by Alexander Dumas by T. H. White Find Cindy and Dawn: What we are concerned with is the fact that we personally have relations with all that there is in the present, all that there has been in the past, and all that there will be in the future––with all above us and all about us––and that fullness of living, expansion, expression, and serviceableness, for each of us, depend upon how far we apprehend these relationships and how many of them we lay hold of…. Every [mother] is heir to an enormous patrimony, heir to all the ages, inheritor of all the present. The question is, what are the [educational] formalities necessary to put [her] in possession of that which is [hers]? paraphrase of Charlotte Mason from School Education, pg. 186
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S6E77: Seeing the Big Picture with Heather Martin
02/29/2024
S6E77: Seeing the Big Picture with Heather Martin
Three Questions for the Mother…She must ask herself Why must the children learn at all? What should they learn? And, How should they learn it? If she takes the trouble to find a definite and thoughtful answer to each of these three queries, she will be in a position to direct her children’s studies; and will, at the same time, be surprised to find that three-fourths of the time and labour ordinarily spent by the child at his lessons is lost time and wasted energy. Charlotte Mason, Home Education, p. 171 Show Summary: On this week’s episode of The New Mason Jar, Cindy and Dawn sit down to chat with veteran homeschool mom, Heather Martin about a wide variety of topics How and when Heather actually learned about Charlotte Mason after organically using many of her methods all along How getting a teaching certificate actually ensured Heather would choose to home educate instead Were there challenges specific to having only boys? What were some of the intentional things you did in your home to build your family culture? Some encouragement for moms regarding mathematics How Heather started local recitation gatherings with other homeschoolers Books and Links Mentioned: by Cindy Rollins by David Epstein by Karen Glass Find Cindy:
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S6E76: “Beyond Mere Motherhood” with Cindy and Dawn
02/15/2024
S6E76: “Beyond Mere Motherhood” with Cindy and Dawn
No one knoweth the things of a man but the spirit of a man which is in him; therefore, there is no education but self-education… Charlotte Mason, Toward a Philosophy of Education, p. 26 Show Summary: On The New Mason Jar this week, Cindy and Dawn sit down to chat about Cindy’s newest book, Beyond Mere Motherhood How this book came to be What Cindy hopes this book to be and who it is for What you can expect from each chapter of the book How this book is helping launch a new podcast series coming soon! Books and Links Mentioned: by Charlotte Mason by Cindy Rollins by Edith Schaeffer by Lynn Bruce Find Cindy and Dawn: We allow no separation to grow up between the intellectual and spiritual life of mothers, but teach them that the Divine Spirit has constant access to their spirit and is their continue Helper in all the interests, duties, and joys of life. paraphrase of Charlotte Mason’s 20th Principle
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S6E75: A Sacred Sacrifice with Hannah Paris and Amy Edwards
02/01/2024
S6E75: A Sacred Sacrifice with Hannah Paris and Amy Edwards
Like all music, the figured bass should have no other end and aim than the glory of God and the recreation of the soul; where this is not kept in mind there is no true music, but only an infernal clamour and ranting. Johann Sebastian Bach Show Summary: Today on The New Mason Jar, Cindy talks with Hannah Paris and Amy Edwards about the new Lenten companion book to , How this book came to be through the years Some thoughts on why St. Matthew’s Passion is such an appropriate piece for Lent How the book is laid out for families to use Some thoughts on approaching Lent if it isn’t a normal part of your church tradition Books and Links Mentioned: by Hannah Paris by Essex Cholmondeley by Lanaya Gore Truly parents are happy people, to have God’s children lent to them… Charlotte Mason, from a letter quoted in The Story of Charlotte Mason Find Cindy:
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S6E74: The Lives of Charlotte Mason Moms and Military Wives
01/18/2024
S6E74: The Lives of Charlotte Mason Moms and Military Wives
As a matter of fact, we do not realise children, we under-estimate them; in the divine words, we “despise” them, with the best intentions in the world, because we confound the immaturity of their frames, and their absolute ignorance as to the relations of things, with spiritual impotence: whereas the fact probably is, that never is intellectual power so keen, the moral sense so strong, spiritual perception so piercing, as in those days of childhood which we regard with a supercilious, if kindly, smile. Charlotte Mason, Parents and Children, p. 260 Show Summary: Today on The New Mason Jar, Cindy and Dawn chat with guests Elizabeth and Stacy about the challenges (and benefits!) of homeschooling while serving in the military How Elizabeth and Stacy each first learned about Charlotte Mason What are some of the challenges of military life and frequent relocation? How have you found homeschooling community and friends when changing duty stations? What are some of the benefits your family has experienced because of military life? Are there any homeschooling resources available to military families? How do you adapt your homeschool schedule during the year to stay flexible to change? Books and Links Mentioned: by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay by Karen Andreola Find Cindy and Dawn: Every look of gentleness and tone of reverence, every word of kindness and act of help, passes into the thought-environment, the very atmosphere which the child breathes; he does not think of these things, may never think of them, but all his life long they excite that ‘vague appetency towards something’ out of which most of his actions spring. Charlotte Mason, Parents and Children, p. 36
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S6E73: Music and Group Singing with Bethany Stuard
01/04/2024
S6E73: Music and Group Singing with Bethany Stuard
Few things could be more disastrous (as, alas, few are more imminent) than a sudden break with the traditions of the past; wherefore, let us gently knit the bonds that bind us to the generation all too rapidly dying out. It is well that we gather up, with tender reverence, such fragments of their insight and experience as come in our way; for we would fain, each, be as an householder, bringing forth out of his treasures things new and old. Charlotte Mason, Formation of Character, p. 156-157 Show Summary: On The New Mason Jar this week, Cindy talks with Bethany Stuard, homeschooling mom of 3, about incorporating group singing into the homeschool day How Bethany came to know about Charlotte Mason as a second-generation homeschooler How choral music connected Bethany with poetry, the liturgy, other cultures and more Practical tips for helping children sing confidently at home How folk songs help connect us to other cultures and our own history Tips for finding a choir for a child to join Tips for making the most of composer study Books and Links Mentioned: by Kim John Payne by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay Find Cindy and Bethany: ...a classical education does more, turns out men with intellects cultivated and trained, who are awake to every refinement of thought, and yet ready for action. But the press and hurry of our times and the clamour for useful knowledge are driving classical culture out of the field; and parents will have to make up their minds, not only that they must supplement the moral training of the school, but must supply the intellectual culture, without which knowledge may be power, but is not pleasure, nor the means of pleasure. Charlotte Mason, Formation of Character, p. 213
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S5E72: “Six Voices, One Story” with Donna-Jean Breckenridge
12/21/2023
S5E72: “Six Voices, One Story” with Donna-Jean Breckenridge
It is not the friends of our election who have exclusive claims upon us; the friends brought to us here and there by the circumstances of life all claim our loyalty, and from these we get…kindness for kindness, service for service, loyalty for loyalty, full measure, heaped together and running over. Charlotte Mason, Ourselves, Book 2, p. 32 Show Summary: Today on The New Mason Jar, Cindy and Dawn welcome back Donna-Jean Breckenridge, veteran homeschool mom, grandmother and member of the Advisory Donna-Jean shares a little about how the Advisory met and went on to work together to create AmblesideOnline and a grew to have deep friendships along the way Donna-Jean talk about how this book came to be and some of the challenges along the way What do you see as the future of the Advisory and AO? Books and Links Mentioned: by the AmblesideOnline Advisory Find Cindy and Donna-Jean:
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S5E71: Reprise of "Christmas Memories with Lynn and Donna-Jean", Ep. 47
12/07/2023
S5E71: Reprise of "Christmas Memories with Lynn and Donna-Jean", Ep. 47
Our flesh the Word became, and dwelt with us, And we beheld His glory, as, of God, The only-begotten Son: we who believed Knew glory when we saw it, by the signs— Not of the pomp and majesty of Kings— But Grace, the touch of God, showed sweet in Him; And Truth, discerning all things, made Him simple, His glory saw we—full of grace and truth. Charlotte Mason, from “Savior of the World,” Prologue to the Gospel according to St. John Show Summary: On this episode of The New Mason Jar, we bring you a replay of a special episode with Cindy’s friends Donna-Jean Breckenridge and Lynn Bruce, who has now gone to be with the Lord. What did homeschooling look like around the Christmas holidays? Why it is okay to take time off from your normal school work for Christmas celebrations Why traditions are so important, possibly even more so as children grow older What are some traditions that your family keeps from previous generations? Handling changes and trauma as the years go by and still keep Christmas with courage What are some Christmas “fails” that happened in your family? Books and Links Mentioned: by Charlotte Mason by Donna-Jean Breckenridge by Cindy Rollins by Barbara Robinson by Jostein Gaarder Find Cindyand Donna-Jean:
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S5E70: A Casual Chat with Cindy and Dawn
11/23/2023
S5E70: A Casual Chat with Cindy and Dawn
Education is a life. That life is sustained on ideas. Ideas are of spiritual origin, and God has made us so that we get them chiefly as we convey them to one another, whether by word of mouth, written page, Scripture word, musical symphony; but we must sustain a child’s inner life with ideas as we sustain his body with food. Charlotte Mason, Toward a Philosophy of Education Show Summary: Cindy and Dawn take some time for a more informal chat about some ideas that have been on their minds and hearts lately The danger of “windows and mirrors” and trying to see ourselves instead of looking to God Some thoughts on narration and attention The value of listening to the experience of older homeschool moms Books and Links Mentioned: by Michael J. Glodo by the Ambleside Education Foundation Education, like faith, is “the evidence of things not seen.” Charlotte Mason, from Toward a Philosophy of Education Find Cindy and Dawn:
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S5E69: A Question of Culture with Erin Kunkle
11/09/2023
S5E69: A Question of Culture with Erin Kunkle
Mentally he must be developed so that as he grows older he may have the capacity to grasp the true meaning of social and political questions of the day. His mind should be so trained that he will be able to detect and reject fallacious statements, and quick to discover the claptrap of which our newspapers are so full. E. A. Smith, “Citizenship: Our Responsibility as Teachers”, Show Summary: Today’s guest on The New Mason Jar is Erin Kunkle, a veteran homeschool mom, speaker and co-host of the MAVEN parent podcast How Erin first heard about Charlotte Mason What is all about? What do we mean when we say “culture” and why it is important to stay engaged with it? Does teaching apologetics and Christian worldview align with a Charlotte Mason education? How can we talk about cultural issues in a way that encourages kids to learn to think for themselves? Erin’s advice for talking with kids about difficult topics Books and Links Mentioned: Affiliate links are included below. by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay by Andy Crouch by Josh MacDowell with Sean MacDowell by Brett Kunkle and John Stonestreet by Jonathan Morrow by Greg Koukl [We] must listen and consider, being sure that one of the purposes we are in the world for is, to form right opinions about all matters that come in our way. Charlotte Mason, Ourselves Find Cindy and Erin:
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S5E68: The Beauty of Mathematics with Melissa Bair
10/19/2023
S5E68: The Beauty of Mathematics with Melissa Bair
We take strong ground when we appeal to the beauty and truth of Mathematics; that, as Ruskin points out, two and two make four and cannot conceivably make five, is an inevitable law. It is a great thing to be brought into the presence of a law, of a whole system of laws, that exist without our concurrence,––that two straight lines cannot enclose a space is a fact which we can perceive, state, and act upon but cannot in any wise alter, should give to children the sense of limitation which is wholesome for all of us, and inspire that sursum corda which we should hear in all natural law. Charlotte Mason, Philosophy of Education, p. 230-231 Show Summary: Today’s guest on The New Mason Jar is Melissa Bair, a homeschooling mother of 4 who loves math and has degrees in mathematics and computer sciences How Melissa first discovered Charlotte Mason’s philosophy How Melissa came to love mathematics and what impact her teachers had on her What kinds of activities and materials Melissa uses to teach math in a more beautiful way The building blocks of math: notice, wonder, and discover Is math a language or an art? Does seeking to find the beauty in math put too much pressure on homeschool parents? Books and Links Mentioned: Affiliate links are included below. by James Taylor by Josef Pieper by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay by Elizabeth Voss by Paul Lockhart by Sunil Singh In a word our point is that Mathematics are to be studied for their own sake and not as they make for general intelligence and grasp of mind. Charlotte Mason, Towards a Philosophy of Education Find Cindy:
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S5E67: Science in the Charlotte Mason Homeschool with Jeanne Webb
10/05/2023
S5E67: Science in the Charlotte Mason Homeschool with Jeanne Webb
Again, we have made a rather strange discovery, that the mind refuses to know anything except what reaches it in more or less literary form. Persons can ‘get up’ the driest of pulverised text-books and enough mathematics for some public examination; but these attainments do not appear to touch the region of mind. Of Natural Science, too, we have to learn that the way into the secrets of nature is not through the barbed wire entanglements of science as she is taught but through field work or other immediate channel, illustrated and illuminated by books of literary value. Charlotte Mason, Philosophy of Education Show Summary: Today’s guest on The New Mason Jar is Jeanne Webb, veteran homeschool of one daughter and former member of the Auxilliary, and her whole family are involved in the sciences How Jeanne first heard about the Charlotte Mason philosophy What make Charlotte Mason’s approach to science different from that of typical American science education? What is the relationship of nature study to other areas of scientific study? How do nature study and nature lore prepare children for the more formal study of science? What Jeanne and her family did for nature study Does a Charlotte Mason approach to science do enough to prepare students for higher education? Books and Links Mentioned: by Charles Dickens by Thornton W. Burgess by Penny Le Couteur and Jay Burreson by Sam Kean by Mary Roach by Lawrence O. Richards by Rachel Carson by Michael Behe by Benjamin Wiker and Jonathan Witt by Sigmund Brouwer by Francis Collins But the object of the Parents’ Review School is not merely to raise the standard of work in the home schoolroom. Our chief wish is that the pupils of the School should find knowledge delightful in itself and for its own sake, without thought of marks, place, prize or other reward; that they should develop an intelligent curiosity about whatever is on the earth or in the heavens, about the past and the present. The children respond and take to their lessons with keen pleasure, if they get even tolerably good teaching, and the want of marks, companionship, or other stimulus is not felt in those home schoolrooms where the interest of knowledge is allowed free play. attributed to Charlotte Mason, from Find Cindy:
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S5E66: Q&A No. 7, On the Building Blocks of Story
09/21/2023
S5E66: Q&A No. 7, On the Building Blocks of Story
“There can be no great art without great fable. Great art can only exist where great men brood intensely on something upon which all men brood a little. Without a popular body of fable there can be no unselfish art in any country. Shakespeare’s art was selfish till he turned to the great tales in the four most popular books of his time…” James Masefield, as Quoted by Charlotte Mason, Vol. 6, Toward a Philosophy of Education Show Summary: Today on the New Mason Jar, Cindy and Dawn welcome back previous guests Angelina Stanford and Timilyn Downey to cover some questions listeners had about Is there an objective answer to the question “What is art?” What do we mean when we say literature is art? Why do we say fairy tales are the building blocks of story? What is the danger of not giving children a foundation in myths, fairy tales and the Bible? Is it ever too late to develop a taste for these stories? What is the difference between historical fiction and literature? How does a wide and varied literary education add to our understanding of story? Let us take it to ourselves that great character comes out of great thoughts, and that great thought must be initiated by great thinkers; then we shall have a definite aim in education. Thinking and not doing is the source of character. Charlotte Mason, Toward a Philosophy of Education Books Mentioned: by Roger Lancelyn Green by Paul Galdone trans. by Burton Raffel by H. E. Marshall Find Cindy, Angelina, and Timilyn:
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S5E65: Building a Home Library with Jeannette Tulis and Sherry Early
09/07/2023
S5E65: Building a Home Library with Jeannette Tulis and Sherry Early
As for Literature–to introduce children to literature is to install them in a very rich and glorious kingdom, to bring a continual holiday to their doors, to lay before them a feast exquisitely served. But they must learn to know literature by being familiar with it from the very first. A child’s intercourse must always be with good books, the best that we can find. Charlotte Mason, Vol. 6, Philosophy of Education, p. 51 Show Summary: Our guests on The New Mason Jar podcast today are Jeannette Tulis and Sherry Early How Sherry first heard about Charlotte Mason How Jeannette started her own home library that then turned into a lending library How did Sherry and Jeannette learn what books to collect and what not to bring home? Where are the best, budget-friendly places to look for good books to buy? How Sherry and Jeannette run their lending libraries What are a few of our guests’ favorite books? Books and Links Mentioned: by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay by Carolyn Hatcher by Christine Miller by Jan Bloom by Eve Titus from Purple House Press by Lynd Ward by Russell Hoban by Brinton Turkle by Brinton Turkle by Else Holmelund Minarik by Arnold Lobel by Arthur and Leonora Hornblow by Joyce Brisley by Paul Hutchens by Sarah Pennypacker by Cynthia Rylant by Dorothy L. Sayers by Jennifer Pepito by Robert Louis Stevenson by Alan Noble Find Cindy and Sherry: When I get a little money, I buy books, and if any is left, I buy food. My luggage is my library. My home is where my books are. Erasmus
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S5E64: A Charlotte Mason Sunday School with Emily Raible and Tracy Fast
08/17/2023
S5E64: A Charlotte Mason Sunday School with Emily Raible and Tracy Fast
All our teaching of children should be given reverently, with the humble sense that we are invited in this matter to co-operate with the Holy Spirit; but it should be given dutifully and diligently. Charlotte Mason, Vol. 2, Parents and Children Show Summary: Our guests on The New Mason Jar podcast this week are Emily Raible and Tracy Fast How Tracy was homeschooled and came to learn about Charlotte Mason How Emily first heard about Charlotte Mason How Tracy got started using Charlotte Mason’s principles in teaching Sunday school How Emily began creating a Sunday school curriculum using Miss Mason’s principles What differences have been noticeable since implementing the new methods? What a typical Sunday school class looks like in Tracy’s church What Emily’s Sunday school class typically looks like Some more benefits of a Charlotte Mason Sunday school Books and Links Mentioned: by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay by John and Kim Walton by Thornton W. Burgess Find Cindy: Above all, do not read the Bible at the child: do not let any words of the Scriptures be occasions for gibbeting his faults. It is the office of the Holy Ghost to convince of sin; and He is able to use the Word for this purpose, without risk of that hardening of the heart in which our clumsy dealings too often result. Charlotte Mason, Home Education
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S5E63: Singing in the Homeschool with Heather Bunting
08/03/2023
S5E63: Singing in the Homeschool with Heather Bunting
In teaching music, again, let him once perceive the beautiful laws of harmony, the personality, so to speak, of Music, looking out upon him from among the queer little black notes… Charlotte Mason, Vol. 2, Parents and Children, p. 278-279 Show Summary: On the New Mason Jar today, Cindy is joined by Heather Bunting, homeschooling mother of 4 and former public school music teacher How Heather first came to learn about Charlotte Mason and her philosophy What is solfege or solfa, and why it is helpful to learn? Why Heather started making videos teaching solfege on her channel Is there a benefit to singing a cappella as opposed to singing with accompaniment? Are there resources for implementing singing in the homeschool? How singing connects with a Charlotte Mason education Books and Links Mentioned: by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay Find Cindy: They are the earth and the wind and the home and the heather and all the gracious commonplaces of human life and circumstance. They are children of the open air. from The Joyous Book Singing games by John Hornby
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S5E62: The Role of a Homeschool Dad with Dan Bunting
07/20/2023
S5E62: The Role of a Homeschool Dad with Dan Bunting
Without knowledge, Reason carries a man into the wilderness and Rebellion joins company. The man is not to be blamed: it is a glorious thing to perceive your mind, your reasoning power, acting of its own accord as it were and producing argument after argument in support of any initial notion; how is a man to be persuaded, when he wakes up to this tremendous power he has of involuntary reasoning, that his conclusions are not necessarily right, but rather that he who reasons without knowledge is like a child playing with edged tools? Charlotte Mason, Vol. 6, Philosophy of Education, p. 315 Show Summary: On the New Mason Jar today, Cindy chats with Dan Bunting, a pastor and father of 4 homeschooled children How Dan first learned about Charlotte Mason’s philosophy Did you have any concerns about using a Charlotte Mason curriculum initially? What Dan saw about this educational philosophy that impressed him What Dan’s role is in his family’s homeschool journey How Dan is continuing his own education as a father Do you think that a Charlotte Mason education is strong enough in STEM subjects? Dan’s best advice for fathers to support their homeschooling families Books and Links Mentioned: by David Epstein by Karen Glass Find Cindy: …habit is inevitable. If we fail to ease life by laying down habits of right thinking and right acting, habits of wrong thinking and wrong acting fix themselves of their own accord. Charlotte Mason, Vol. 6, Philosophy of Education, p. 101
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S5E61: The Great Recognition with Camille Malucci
07/06/2023
S5E61: The Great Recognition with Camille Malucci
In the things of science, in the things of art, in the things of practical everyday life, his God doth instruct him and doth teach him, her God doth instruct her and doth teach her. Let this be the mother’s key to the whole of the education of each boy and each girl; not of her children; the Divine Spirit does not work with nouns of multitude, but with each single child. Because He is infinite, the whole world is not too great a school for this indefatigable Teacher, and because He is infinite, He is able to give the whole of his infinite attention for the whole time to each one of his multitudinous pupils. We do not sufficiently rejoice in the wealth that the infinite nature of our God brings to each of us. Charlotte Mason, Vol. 2, Parents and Children Show Summary: Today on the New Mason Jar, Camille Malucci is back on the podcast to talk with Cindy about a painting that had a great effect on Charlotte Mason How did Charlotte Mason come to view these frescoes? What are some of the scenes depicted in the ? What was it about this painting that so impacted Miss Mason? Why is it so hard for us to grasp the concept of “the Great Recognition” that Mason talks about? How did Charlotte Mason see this recognition as helpful to resolving some of the discord in modernity? Books and Links Mentioned: by Charlotte Mason by John Ruskin by Essex Cholmondeley Find Cindy: We must think, we must know, we must rejoice in and create the beautiful. And if all the burning thoughts that stir in the minds of men, all the beautiful conceptions they give birth to, are things apart from God, then we too must have a separate life, a life apart from God, a division of ourselves into secular and religious––discord and unrest. We believe that this is the fertile source of the unfaith of the day, especially in young and ardent minds…and the young man or woman, full of promise and power, becomes a free-thinker, an agnostic, what you will. But once the intimate relation, the relation of Teacher and taught in all things of the mind and spirit, be fully recognised, our feet are set in a large room; there is space for free development in all directions, and this free and joyous development, whether of intellect or heart, is recognised as a Godward movement. Charlotte Mason, Parents and Children
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S4E60: The Building Blocks of Story with Angelina Stanford and Timilyn Downey
06/22/2023
S4E60: The Building Blocks of Story with Angelina Stanford and Timilyn Downey
Commonplace Tales: Tales of Imagination––Stories, again, of the Christmas holidays, of George and Lucy, of the amusements, foibles, and virtues of children in their own condition of life, leave nothing to the imagination. The children know all about everything so well that it never occurs to them to play at the situations in any one of these tales, or even to read it twice over. But let them have tales of the imagination, scenes laid in other lands and other times, heroic adventures, hairbreadth escapes, delicious fairy tales in which they are never roughly pulled up by the impossible––even where all is impossible, and they know it, and yet believe. Charlotte Mason, Vol. 1, Show Summary: Today on the New Mason Jar, Cindy and Dawn chat with friends Angelina Stanford and Timilyn Downey about the building blocks of stories in relation to a Charlotte Mason education How Angelina came to learn about Charlotte Mason Why Timilyn values the building blocks of story so much What are stories versus literature? What is the difference between how modernity sees art and stories and how the medievals saw them? What is wrong with the idea of literature as a mirror or a window? Some metaphors for approaching story Why are unit studies problematic in approaching a Charlotte Mason education? How can you learn the language of literature so that you can teach your children? Last but not least, the fact that the story does not turn on children, and does not foster that self-consciousness, the dawn of which in the child is, perhaps, the individual “Fall of Man.” Charlotte Mason, Formation of Character Books Mentioned: by C. S. Lewis illus. by Jerry Pinkney illus. by Kadir Nelson Find Cindy, Angelina, and Timilyn:
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S4E59: A Reasoned Patriotism with Dawn Duran
06/08/2023
S4E59: A Reasoned Patriotism with Dawn Duran
The honor due to our country…is not to be confounded with the ignorant and impertinent attitude of the Englishman or the Chinese who believes that to be born an Englishman or a Chinese puts him on a higher level than the people of all other countries; that his own country and his own government are right in all circumstances, and other countries and other governments always wrong. But, on the other hand, still more to be guarded against, is the caitiff spirit of him who holds his own country and his own government always in the wrong and always the worse, and exalts other nations unduly for the sake of depreciating his own. Charlotte Mason, Vol. 4, Ourselves, Book 1 Show Summary: Today on the New Mason Jar, Dawn Duran is here to share about her new book How did this book come about? What did Charlotte Mason have to say about patriotism and the teaching of a country’s history? What is the difference between patriotism and nationalism? What does this book include? How can mothers help develop this reasoned patriotism in the home? What does Dawn mean when she talks about critical thinking? But before we teach children to criticise the institutions of their country, before we teach them to be critical of what is bad, let us teach them to recognize and admire what is good. Charlotte Mason, Philosophy of Education, pg. 126 Books and Links Mentioned: by Charlotte Mason by Dawn Duran Find Cindy and Dawn: It is good, doubtless, to be cosmopolitan in our tastes, liberal and unprejudiced in our judgments; but he who would love all the world must begin with the brother whom he has seen, and enlightened sympathy with other nations can coexist only with profound and instructed patriotism. Charlotte mason, Formation of Character
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Bonus Episode: The Uphill Road – Summer Discipleship with Cindy and Friends
05/19/2023
Bonus Episode: The Uphill Road – Summer Discipleship with Cindy and Friends
After all, what is the chief sign of growing old? Is it not the feeling that we know all there is to be known? It is not years which make people old; it is ruts, and a limitation of interests. When we no longer care about anything except our own interests, we are then old, it matters not whether our years be twenty of eighty. Anna Botsford Comstock, The Handbook of Nature Study Show Summary: Cindy and Dawn share a little about the upcoming 2023 discipleship course at Dawn asks Cindy how the summer discipleship course started several years ago They share a few highlights of what moms can expect and some of their favorite features of this time together Books and Links Mentioned: by Anna Botsford Comstock by Diana Pavlac Glyer by Mystie Winckler Find Cindy and Dawn: …what if the devitalization we notice in so many of our young people, keen about games but dead to things of the mind, is due to the processes carried on in our schools, to our plausible and pleasant ways of picturing, eliciting, demonstrating, illustrating, summarising, doing all those things for children which they are born with the potency to do for themselves? No doubt we do give intellectual food, but too little of it; let us have courage and we shall be surprised, as we are now and then, at the amount of intellectual strong meat almost and child [or mother] will take at a meal and digest at his leisure. Charlotte Mason,
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S4E58: An Orthodox Jewish Approach to Charlotte Mason with Bethany Mandel
05/18/2023
S4E58: An Orthodox Jewish Approach to Charlotte Mason with Bethany Mandel
Of the three sorts of knowledge proper to a child,–the knowledge of God, of man, and of the universe,–the knowledge of God ranks first in importance, is indispensable, and most happy-making. Charlotte Mason, Towards a Philosophy of Education Show Summary: Today’s guest is Bethany Mandel, Orthodox Jewish homeschooling mother of 6, co-author of the new book Stolen Youth, and conservative political commentator How Bethany first heard of Charlotte Mason education How Bethany juggled home educating and writing a book at the same time What a typical day looks like in Bethany’s homeschool How Bethany navigates the challenges of finding CM-friendly Jewish homeschool resources How do you see Charlotte Mason lining up with Judaism? Why reading stories from the past perspectives is so important today What Bethany and Karol’s book is all about Are these problematic ideas infiltrating the homeschool community? Books and Links Mentioned: by Charlotte Mason by Bethany Mandel and Karol Markowicz edited by Bethany Mandel by Isaac Bashevis Singer trans. by Miriam Udel by Jeanne Birdsall by Sydney Taylor Find Cindy and Bethany:
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S4E57: The Mater Amabilis Curriculum with Ella Rice
05/04/2023
S4E57: The Mater Amabilis Curriculum with Ella Rice
But the educator has to deal with a self-acting, self-developing being, and his business is to guide, and assist in, the production of the latent good in that being, the dissipation of the latent evil, the preparation of the child to take his place in the world at his best… Charlotte Mason, Home Education Show Summary: This week’s guest on The New Mason Jar is Ella Rice, is a homeschooling mom of 5 who uses the curriculum with her children How Ella first learned about Charlotte Mason Is Mater Amabilis only for Catholics? What made you choose to use Mater Amabilis over other curriculum choices? What are some of your favorite part of the curriculum? How does Mater Amabilis handle the sciences? Are there any possible pitfalls for parents using this curriculum? Books and Links Mentioned: by Elizabeth Foss (this is the updated edition of the book Real Learning: Education in the Heart of the Home Ella mentioned) Find Cindy and Dawn: Children are made readers on the laps of their parents. Emily Buchwald
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S4E56: Prioritizing Principles Over Practices with Alanna Hendon
04/20/2023
S4E56: Prioritizing Principles Over Practices with Alanna Hendon
The parent who sees his way––that is, the exact force of method––to educate his child, will make use of every circumstance of the child’s life almost without intention on his own part, so easy and spontaneous is a method of education based upon Natural Law. Does the child eat or drink, does he come, or go, or play––all the time he is being educated, though he is as little aware of it as he is of the act of breathing. Charlotte Mason, Home Education Show Summary: Today on The New Mason Jar, Alanna Hendon returns to discuss more about using Charlotte Mason’s ideas in the homeschool How Alanna came to Charlotte Mason and learned more about her principles in-depth The gift of the unplanned and prioritizing principles over practices How do you see Charlotte Mason’s philosophy playing out with individual children versus the group? What a typical day looks like in Alanna’s homeschool Books and Links Mentioned: by Charlotte Mason by James Mayhew Find Cindy and Alanna:
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S4E55: Q & A No. 6 with Cindy and Dawn
04/06/2023
S4E55: Q & A No. 6 with Cindy and Dawn
…of all the joyous motives of school life, the love of knowledge is the only abiding one; the only one which determines the scale, so to speak, upon which the person will hereafter live. Charlotte Mason, School Education, Volume 3 Show Summary: Cindy and Dawn tackle another round of listener questions on this episode of The New Mason Jar How can a mom of several school age children keep up with pre-reading? How do you implement use of a Book of Centuries? What can be done about children complaining about morning time? Books and Links Mentioned: by Charlotte Mason Find Cindy and Dawn:
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S4E54: Lent, Easter, and “Ourselves” with Anne White
03/30/2023
S4E54: Lent, Easter, and “Ourselves” with Anne White
...to be born a human being is like coming into a very great estate; so much in the way of goodness, greatness, heroism, wisdom, and knowledge, is possible to us all. Charlotte Mason, Ourselves, Book 1 Show Summary: Today’s returning guest is Anne White, veteran homeschool mom, author, and member of the Advisory Anne’s history with Lent and how she and her family started observing the seasons of the church year What is different about Charlotte Mason’s book Ourselves than her other volumes? How might Ourselves be used in the homeschool? How Anne went on her own journey in writing Offering Ourselves What are some of Anne’s family traditions for Lent and Easter? How the AmblesideOnline Advisory created a new resource page for the Easter season Books and Links Mentioned: by Anne White by Anne White by Laurie Bestvater by Charlotte Mason by Essex Cholmondeley by Anne White by Anne White Find Cindy and Anne:
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