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. 13th | What is Education? Children Are Born Persons Authority and Freedom | Read Introduction – Chapter 3 |
| SAT Aug. 20th | A 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 1 | Handouts |
| 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 Day | Chapter 2: Proper Physical Care |
| Art Day Dec. 9th or Sci Day Dec. 16th | Habit Training in the Early Years | Chapter 3: Habit Training |
| Art Day Jan. 6th or Sci Day Jan. 13th | Experience and Senses in Educating | Chapter 4: Using the Senses |
| Art Day Jan. 20th or Sci Day Jan. 27th | Spending the Day Outdoors | Chapter 5: Outdoor Life |
| Art Day Feb. 3rd or Sci Day Feb. 10th | Nature is Science | Chapter 6: Personal Acquaintance with Nature |
| Art Day Feb. 17th or Sci Day Feb. 24th | Play is the Work of Childhood | Chapter 7: Play |
| Art Day Mar. 3rd or Sci Day Mar. 17th | Books & Stories, Living Books | Chapter 8: Books & Stories |
| Art Day Mar. 24th or Sci Day Mar. 31st | Language | Chapter 9: Language |
| Art Day Apr. 7th or Sci Day Apr. 14th | Music & Art in the Morning Basket | Chapter 10: Music & Art |
| Art Day Apr. 21st or Sci Day Apr. 28th | Spiritual Life | Chapter 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 Ahead | What 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. 27th | Mother Culture – The Courage to Explore Interests |
| TUE Oct. 25th | What 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. 22nd | The Rhythm of Home – Teaching from Rest & Masterly Inactivity |
| Dec. | NO PARENT SUPPORT LUNCHEON IN DECEMBER |
| TUE Jan. 10th | Putting it All Together – A Subject by Subject Look at a Charlotte Mason Education |
| TUE Feb. 7th | When Homeschooling is Hard – Finding a Centered Home (Learning Challenges, Homemaking, Marriage, Sickness) |
| TUE Mar. 14th | Viewing Creation As Art – Knowing God through Nature Study |
| TUE Apr. 11th | A Lifetime of Wonder and Curiosity – How to Safeguard the Love of Learning |
| TUE May 9th | Smooth & Easy Days – Habit & Character Training |
| TUE Jun. 6th | Education is Remembering – The Art of Narration |