Parent Support

Our goal is to help you as parents have confidence for educating your children using Charlotte Mason’s philosophies. In the local programs we teach, we consider our teachers to simply be assisting you, the parent. You are the authority in your children’s lives and as you are an integral part of your child’s growth, we want to support you. Our support group meetings are FREE to all current Loft & Field members.


For the Children’s Sake Study

In order to understand and support our philosophy of education at Loft & Field, we encourage all parents to read “For the Children’s Sake” by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay. We will host an optional discussion group to help process the book and answer any questions you have. You can attend our discussion group in-person (or via Zoom if available). This class is free with a membership, let us know if you’d like to join via email.

Schedule:

SAT Aug. 13thWhat is Education?
Children Are Born Persons
Authority and Freedom
Read Introduction – Chapter 3
SAT Aug. 20thA New Perspective (CM Philosophy)
Education: A Science of Relationships
The Way of the Will, Reason, & the Unity of the Whole, Parental Liberty in Education
Read Chapters 4-6 and the Appendix

The Early Years – Parent Preschool Support Group

Parents of Seeds students are invited to study “The Early Years: A Charlotte Mason Preschool Handbook” by Karen Smith & Sonya Shafer. We will meet for 30 minutes after morning announcements while your Seeds are in class. We will use the chapter topics to guide our chats but will also heavily focus on the questions and concerns of those who attend. This class is free with a membership, let us know if you’d like to join via email. Purchase your own copy here, or we have a few copies in the library as available.

Schedule:

Art Day Sept. 9th  or 
Sci Day Sept. 16th
Planning your Preschool Year, Part 1Handouts
Art Day Sept. 23rd or 
Sci Day Sept. 30th
Planning your Preschool Year, Part 2 Handouts
Art Day Oct. 7th    or 
Sci Day Oct. 14th
Parent’s Chief Duty
A Quality Education
Children are born persons
Intro & Ch. 1: A Parent’s Chief Duty
Art Day Oct. 21st   or 
Sci Day Oct. 28th
Experience and Senses in Educating
Spending the Day Outdoors
Appendix: Charlotte’s Thoughts on Kindergarten
Art Day Nov. 4th    or 
Sci Day Nov. 11th
Upcoming Subjects
Slowing Down
How to Teach
Appendix: Beginning Reading, Math Concepts, Handwriting
Art Day Nov. 18th   or 
Sci Day Dec. 2nd
Fitting Everything into a DayChapter 2: Proper Physical Care
Art Day Dec. 9th   or 
Sci Day Dec. 16th
Habit Training in the Early YearsChapter 3: Habit Training
Art Day Jan. 6th    or 
Sci Day Jan. 13th
Experience and Senses in EducatingChapter 4: Using the Senses
Art Day Jan. 20th   or 
Sci Day Jan. 27th
Spending the Day OutdoorsChapter 5: Outdoor Life
Art Day Feb. 3rd    or 
Sci Day Feb. 10th
Nature is ScienceChapter 6: Personal Acquaintance with Nature
Art Day Feb. 17th   or 
Sci Day Feb. 24th
Play is the Work of ChildhoodChapter 7: Play
Art Day Mar. 3rd   or 
Sci Day Mar. 17th
Books & Stories, Living BooksChapter 8: Books & Stories
Art Day Mar. 24th   or 
Sci Day Mar. 31st
LanguageChapter 9: Language
Art Day Apr. 7th    or 
Sci Day Apr. 14th
Music & Art in the Morning BasketChapter 10: Music & Art
Art Day Apr. 21st   or 
Sci Day Apr. 28th
Spiritual LifeChapter 11: Spiritual Life
Art Day May 5th    or 
Sci Day May 12th
The Alphabet
Chapter 12: The Alphabet
Art Day May 19th   or 
Sci Day May 26th
Gifts Chapter 13: A Gifted Child
Art Day Jun. 2nd   or 
Sci Day Jun. 9th
Looking Back, Looking AheadWhat went well this year? What do you want to do next year?

Parent Support Luncheon

The aim of this group is to treat homeschooling like a profession and to provide support for one another. Our agenda will be topical teaching (30 min.), Q&A on the given topic (30 min.), personalized guidance and support (30 minutes), social time (30 minutes). Bring a bag lunch. Some childcare is available (donations for our teens are appreciated!). This class is free with a membership, let us know if you’d like to join via email.

Schedule:

TUE Sep. 27thMother Culture –  The Courage to Explore Interests
TUE Oct. 25thWhat is a Charlotte Mason Education? 
The Child is a Person, The Four Pillars of a CM Education, Teaching and Planning through Life Stages
TUE Nov. 22ndThe Rhythm of Home – Teaching from Rest & Masterly Inactivity
Dec. NO PARENT SUPPORT LUNCHEON IN DECEMBER
TUE Jan. 10thPutting it All Together – A Subject by Subject Look at a Charlotte Mason Education
TUE Feb. 7thWhen Homeschooling is Hard – Finding a Centered Home (Learning Challenges, Homemaking, Marriage, Sickness)
TUE Mar. 14thViewing Creation As Art – Knowing God through Nature Study
TUE Apr. 11thA Lifetime of Wonder and Curiosity – How to Safeguard the Love of Learning
TUE May 9thSmooth & Easy Days – Habit & Character Training
TUE Jun. 6thEducation is Remembering  – The Art of Narration