"The Psalm of Life" and Latin/Greek Stems List 3

“La récolte des pommes à Éragny” -Apple Harvest by Camille Pissarro, 1888

Happy Friday! This weekly subscriber special is intended to support and encourage parents to participate in their child’s education, whether it be in homeschooling, or by taking an active part in their learning as they attend private or public schooling. Each week will include a new list of Latin / Greek stem study and may at times include a reading recommendation, additional resources, or reflections.

Enjoy :)

Education is an atmosphere, a discipline, a life.

-Charlotte Mason

When I first started out on my homeschooling journey, a well-seasoned, experienced, and generous homeschool mom met with me at a local park to tell me about her experience (she also brought along a bag full of resources that she freely bestowed on me!). She stated that there are three books that she returns to at the beginning of every school year for guidance and encouragement. I have kept these three books¹ by my side over the last ten years as well, and yes, they provide me with renewed direction and affirmation of this educational choice whenever I turn to them at the end of summer. I’ll first recommend the one that I feel provides a solid grounding in the “why” of taking an active part in your child’s education: For the Children’s Sake by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay.

Susan Schaeffer Macauley² is the daughter of well known theologian Francis Schaeffer, who was an American missionary in Switzerland and co-founded the l’Abri community together with his wife. In this simple volume she relates Charlotte Mason’s basic educational approach:

“This broad view of true education as the sum of all of life meant that Charlotte Mason first turned her attention to the parents. She believed that they had the most interesting and valuable vocation that exists amongst mankind. Into their love, care, and responsibility this person is placed. Charlotte Mason never spoke of education as merely taking place behind the walls of the schoolroom. She saw the home as the basic educational environment.”

A highly recommended read if you are considering home education, or are in need of some renewed encouragement.