Archives for September 2018

September 28, 2018 by Dawn Rhymer 2 Comments

1922 Time Table

I would like to introduce a “new” time table to the community. You can find it here. I made it in the style of the transcribed 1908 Time Table for easy comparison. I do not share this table as something for us to copy in detail in our homes but simply as a tool to help us. While studying this table has helped me to make decisions in my home, our actual tables are quite different.

I think this time table is significant for two reasons. First, if my assumptions are correct, it is the last time table we know of from Charlotte Mason’s life. She died in January 1923, and I believe this time table corresponds to Programme 94 which was used in British schools from September to December 1922. Second, it provides a lot of information that is not as easily discerned in the 1908 Time Table. [Read more…] about 1922 Time Table

Dawn Rhymer

You may learn more about Dawn on the CMER speaker page.

September 25, 2018 by Dawn Rhymer 1 Comment

Clay Modeling II: The Clay

This blog is the 2nd in series on clay modeling.

The Clay

With our manual in hand, it was now time to choose clay. I had a few factors which greatly influenced my decision.

Cost. We have over 20 children in our learning community, so cost was definitely a factor.
Curing method. We did not have easy access to a kiln, so air dry or home oven dry were our only choices.
Quantity. Over the course of the year, it was clear each child (depending on which models families chose to keep) could need as much as 5 lbs of clay.
Appearance. We want our models to be beautiful.

I was also guided by this paragraph on p. 12 in the A Manual of Clay-Modelling:

21. Terra-cotta clay is the best material for the work. The red clay has the advantage of pleasant colour, and it is also, if properly prepared, smooth and free from grit.

I settled on the 10-pound box of terra cotta AMACO Air Dry Modeling Clay. [Read more…] about Clay Modeling II: The Clay

Dawn Rhymer

You may learn more about Dawn on the CMER speaker page.

September 20, 2018 by Dawn Rhymer 1 Comment

CMER Growth

I’m excited to announce that our registration is half full. That is mind boggling, humbling and causes me to reflect back on our growth over the past four years; I praise the Lord for the work he has done in the lives of families.

2016

We started in 2016 at The Hideaway, and we were only CME (Community*Motivation*Education). We contracted for half the building, our main meeting room being one we now use for break out sessions. 27 women from four states attended, and there were no men. Every session was a plenary; there were no break-outs. Jennifer talked me out of buying microwave popcorn. Almost everyone showed up for Karen’s nature walk, and Sarah L. started our beautiful name tag tradition. Silvia endlessly helped with the website and created our beautiful CMER logo from Heather’s water color of Garden of the Gods. I planned to print everything at home, but I woke up the morning of the retreat to the blue screen of death. A neighbor’s laptop and Tri Lakes Printing came to the rescue.

Charlotte Mason Educational Retreat — 2016

2017

In 2017, in an effort to save money and reduce registration fees, we moved to the Ponderosa. We became CMER (Community*Motivation*Education*Reflection). 28 guests, among them one spouse, attended from four different states. We had our first spouses’ evening with a dads’ panel and dancing, and we had our first book sale. Christy took over hospitality, which was a great blessing, and Misty joined us as a speaker, figuring out how to do so with her young twins. While the Ponderosa was beautiful, it didn’t foster well our mission, and we made the decision to return to The Hideaway.

2018

In 2018, we contracted all of The Hideaway. This was a big step, as it meant we needed to double our numbers. We praised God as we had 62 guests (including 12 spouses) from 12 different states. For the first time we invited a speaker from outside the team, and Nancy Kelly shared much wisdom, laughter (her workshop on imagination will never be the same), and tears. Sarah J. took over hospitality, continuing to fend off the microwave popcorn, and Rebecca took over all the handouts. Teens volunteered, helping with registration, finding rooms, and carrying luggage.

2019

We are now preparing for 2019. Jason and Amy Fiedler graciously accepted our invitation to speak. Rebecca completely redesigned our website, Sarah J. is taking on hospitality again, and Katrina is joining us as our teen volunteer coordinator. What will we learn? What stories will we have to share? We come with so many hopes and expectations. We look forward to what the Lord has in store for us.

Dawn Rhymer

You may learn more about Dawn on the CMER speaker page.

September 17, 2018 by Dawn Rhymer Leave a Comment

Clay Modeling I: The Manual

A Year of Clay Modeling

I will be spending the next year in our local cooperative community guiding the handicraft of clay modeling. I thought it would be interesting to journal our experiences and all those things we learn along the way. Hopefully, this record will help others as they try the handicraft of clay modeling. You can find the other posts in this series here.

The Manual

We will be using A Manual of Clay Modelling for Teachers and Scholars by Mary Louisa Hermione Unwin. I was led to this manual through the Alveary booklist and upon further research, I learned that it actually appeared on the PNEU programmes. This in and of itself didn’t mean that we needed to use the manual, but after I took a look at it and then researching other books, I couldn’t find anything comparable. This left me very comfortable proceeding with Unwin’s manual. [Read more…] about Clay Modeling I: The Manual

Dawn Rhymer

You may learn more about Dawn on the CMER speaker page.