Riffle Run – Planning Post

Some mornings I take off jogging over to Island Park where you enter under a gateway that states, “Where Friends Meet”. Alas, no friends are meeting there at 6:00 a.m. The park is bordered by the Des Moines River.  A few years ago, a dam was removed and replaced with 2 sets of riffles, rocks that slow the shallow water and gradually terrace the flow (a surprisingly controversial move and the subject of my son’s master’s thesis.) The riffles are beautiful and soothing and once I reach them on my run, I sit down on the bench to rest, think, and pray. That is, that’s what I usually do.  Recently, our little town has been flooded and the water has risen so high that the park and ball fields are flooded and you can no longer see the riffles.

This got me thinking about our wonderful information age where we can find out anything we want to know plus more with the click of a mouse. I am thankful for all the new findings and amazing research that continues to come to light for those of us studying and implementing the Charlotte Mason philosophy of education. But like the flow of a swollen river,  I’ve seen it quickly become too much information, overwhelming the newcomer as well as the veteran homeschool mom. On top of that, one source often contradicts another – what to do? Analysis paralysis sets in and one feels adrift.

I have some simple ideas to help with this. First, make reading Mason’s volumes be the main way you learn about the method. Second, ask the Holy Spirit to lead you to the sources that you should spend a little more time with. But even then, too much of even a good thing can be…too much. And finally, track your online time or limit it up front to only so many minutes a day – be an example to your family.

So, this is what I call a “planning post” but I just talked about being overwhelmed by too much information – the irony is not lost on me.  What I want to share with you is just a little article found in an L’Umile Pianta that I keep coming back to as it holds a few wonderful nuggets for your upcoming school year.  The topic at hand was “What Subjects to Leave Out of Class II When Time is Limited”.  Miss Kitching introduced the subject with the following points:

(1) That the P.U.S. time-table is intended to serve simply as a guide to the teacher in making her own, for it stands to reason that no two schoolrooms are identical as regards the work done, or the time allotted it.

(2) That in making her own time-table the teacher must be careful that no two lessons requiring the same mental effort, follow one another in close proximity.

(3) That it is better to leave the term’s work unfinished, than to rush the pupils through for the sake of having finished the work set.

The general outcome of the discussion was to the effect that some modification of the programme and time-table is absolutely necessary, each teacher using her own discretion in the matter.  Somebody very wisely remarked that Miss Mason intends the programme to fit the child, and not, as some wildly imagine, the child to fit the programme.

Now here we have some basic principles to keep in mind for the upcoming school year that everyone can apply.  My favorite is “Miss Mason intends the programme to fit the child, and not, as some wildly imagine, the child to fit the programme.” YES.

It’s been a few weeks now and the Des Moines river is slowly going down, leaving the outline of one set of riffles. The river is coming back to a healthy stage and the definition is returning. Rivers are supposed to flow and we are encouraged to have “peace like a river”, but an overabundance of information washing over us brings stress and strain, not hope and peace.

How will you make this school year more peaceful?

Teaching from peace,

Nancy

Here are a few more planning posts that might encourage you:

-Recipe vs. Thought

-Planning Post 2016!  Should you have your child reread books?

–Fall Planning

–The Thing is the Thing 

–Our Schedule, Our Atmosphere

–Avoid the Grooves

–Time, Peace, and Creativity