Charlotte Mason Homeschooling, Part 3: Enrichment Studies

This is part 3 of my Charlotte Mason Homeschooling blog series. Click below to read the other parts!

Day 1: The Early Years
Day 2: Multiple Ages
Day 3: Enrichment Studies

When I first started really researching the Charlotte Mason method, Enrichment Studies were my biggest doubts. After all, I don't know much about famous artists and composers and poets. I never learned that in public school. How could I teach my kids this if I didn't know anything about it? Sure, I had heard the names before - Michelangelo, Monet, Mozart, Dickenson - but I had no real knowledge.

I decided just to dive in with living books and learn alongside my children. And you know what? It's been wonderful. The kids love when I'm reading a book aloud, and I exclaim, "I never knew that!" They think it's funny that even Mom learns things everyday.

My tips for teaching Enrichment Studies:

• Living books! I know, that's no surprise! But living books are the best way to learn things. Here are some of our favorite living books for artist, poet, and composer studies:

 

• Cycle {or loop} through the enrichment studies! Study a great artist for two weeks, then a famous composer for two weeks, and then the poems and life a classic poet for two weeks. If you do this for 36 weeks, you will study 6 famous artists, 6 famous composers, and 6 famous poets! Seeing the big picture helps me.
• Study paintings! Simply Charlotte Mason sells these artist portfolios for around $16, with 8 full color copies of paintings by famous artists. Have your children look at them, describe how it makes them feel, and try to replicate the painting.
• Listen to classical music! Play some Mozart or Beethoven quietly while your child is working on a handicraft. Listen to classical music in the car.
• Read classical poetry! Get a few books with some great poems by Emily Dickenson, Lewis Carrol, or Robert Stevenson. Read one poem every day for a week. Have your child memorize a few lines or an entire poem! Talk about the style of poetry, point out the rhyming {and non-rhyming} words, and try to write your own poetry.
• Start small - a chapter a day from a living biography, five minutes of picture study, ten minutes of listening to classical music, or reading a poem once daily will have a big impact!
• Involve everyone! Even your youngest children will enjoy listening to poetry. I know my two little boys love rhymes and poems!
• Have a poetry and tea time! If your kids don't like tea, have poetry and snacks! Fancy cookies, finger sandwiches, and sparkling lemonade will make poetry time special.
• Display famous art pieces around your home! If you can't afford a painting, buy a poster and frame it! You could even buy a postcard and frame it or hang it on your refrigerator. {This is a tip I need to do!}
• Learn the hymns that are sung at your church! My kids love "Holy, Holy, Holy", "The Doxology", "Amazing Grace", and "What a Friend We Have in Jesus". Learn the stories behind the songs - who wrote them, why, and when.

I hope these simple tips have given you motivation to start Enrichment Studies in your homeschool! And I hope you have enjoyed my 3-part series on Charlotte Mason Homeschooling Tips!

Don't forget to visit other participating Crew members for some more great tips for homeschool parents!

Jeniffer @ Thou Shall Not Whine

Jennifer @ A Peace of Mind

Jennifer @ Faithful Homestead

Joelle @ homeschooling for His Glory

Joesette @ Learning Curve

Kari @ Random Acts of Boyhood

Katie @ Katie's Daily Life

Kemi @ Homemaking Organized

Kim @ Homestead Acres

Kylie @ Our Worldwide Classroom