Book Review: Lessons at Blackberry Inn and Pocketful of Pinecones
When I was first starting my homeschool journey as a teacher and not a student, my mom gave me a book by Karen Andreola entitled A Charlotte Mason Companion. Basically, it's a summary of the methods used by Charlotte Mason, an educator who taught in a formal schoolroom, but whose ideas are very applicable in a homeschool setting. Many of Miss Mason's ideas made so much sense to me, and reading this book about her methods profoundly affected the way that I teach my children.
Charlotte Mason was a big proponent of using real books instead of textbooks, and she was not at all a fan of workbooks as a method of teaching (she felt that textbooks and workbooks were boring, relatively ineffective, and sucked the joy out of learning).
I don't do a strict Charlotte Mason type of homeschooling, but I do use her ideas for a number of subjects that we study. For instance, the way I do art studies with my children is heavily influenced by Charlotte Mason.
When Charlotte Mason taught her students about nature, she helped each of them make what she called a Nature Notebook. The children filled these books with drawings and information about the plants and animals that her students observed when they went on Nature Walks (which are basically just observant treks through the outdoors). The children do the drawing and the writing of the books, which helps them to be observant (you can't draw something without looking at it carefully!) and helps them to remember what they're learning (writing something in your own words is much more effective than filling in blanks in a workbook).
Andreola and her husband have devoted themselves to spreading the word about Miss Mason's teaching ideas, and to that end, she has written several more books.
Her latest book, Lessons at BlackBerry Inn, and its predecessor, Pocketful of Pinecones, are fictional stories about a family from the 1930s who homeschools. The books are written as a peek into the mother's journal and are meant to be an enjoyable way to learn about the way that Nature Notebooks and Nature Walks can be incorporated into a homeschool environment.
Though I read about Nature Walks and Nature Notebooks when I read the Charlotte Mason Companion, I haven't actually managed to include them in our homeschooling experience (it's much simpler to go the textbook/workbook route!). After reading these books, though, I am newly inspired. My children always enjoy learning in the Charlotte Mason style, so I'm quite sure that they (especially Joshua) will have fun making Nature Notebooks.
These books gave me the kick in the pants that I needed, and I am determined to make the time to include Nature Walks and Nature Notebooks in our homeschooling year. I'll try to update you all on how that goes since I think this could be a very frugal and effective idea!
A couple of caveats:
- These books are written by a Christian author, so they'll probably be most enjoyed by a Christian reader. However, the ideas relating to Nature Notebooks and Nature Walks are certainly as useful for a secular educator as they are for a Christian educator.
- I wouldn't say that these books are riveting fictional literature, but that doesn't seem to be what they were written for. I look at them as a practical, real-life guide to using Charlotte Mason's principles, and they fill that purpose very well. They're easy to read, are composed of short chapters (which is good for a busy homeschooling mom who has little time to read), and will definitely help Charlotte Mason newbies understand how to put her ideas into practice.
- Along those same lines, I found some of the chapters to be a lot longer than a normal handwritten journal entry would be (which makes the journal format a little bit unbelievable at points), and I also found it a little odd to read about a homeschooling family from the 1930s (homeschooling was very unusual back when I was in 1st grade so I can only imagine how unusual it would have been back in the 30s!). Again, though, these things don't bother me when I think of the books as a teaching tool rather than a work of fiction.
I received a copy of both Lessons from Blackberry Inn and Pocketful of Pinecones for review purposes and now that I'm done reading them, I'd like to pass them along to one of you! So, we're going to do a quickie giveaway.
If you'd like to win these books, simply leave a comment saying so, and I'll randomly choose a winner 24 hours from now. I'll email the winner right away, and will ship these books tomorrow afternoon (so make sure that the email address you leave in the comment form is accurate).
I love your blogs, and would dearly love to win these books as well!
Yes please! enter me!
As I read your post, I felt like I had struck a pile of gold. I have been extremely interested in the thought of homeschooling, and though I know there are tons of resources out there, I haven't been motivated to get out there and find them. And you are just giving them away...what a great way to start my research! 🙂 I figure that if I just begin reading some, then I'll have a better understanding of exactly what I'm looking for and search for more. I came away from your blog this morning with three great book ideas. YAY!!!
Enter me too, please!
Please enter me! I've always wanted to read Pocketful of Pinecones but my library doesn't have it and I didn't know she had a new book out.
I'm not a homeschool mom but it looks interesting enough to search my local library for Charlotte Mason (IF I don't win... lol...). Thanks for sharing!
I've had one of those on my 'wish-list' for a while now.
Please throw my name in the virtual hat!
Thanks!
Starting our homeschool journey this year, enter me please!
Please include me. I'm always looking for ways to make learning more interesting.
Oh, they sound like something I'd enjoy reading! When I finish, I'd pass them along to one of the zillion home school families I know. Thanks!
Please add my name to the drawing, too... I read Andreola's "Companion" a few years ago when we first started homeschooling and found it a tad overwhelming, as in "this sounds great but there's just no way I can do allll this!" Perhaps a bit of experience will have changed my perception of what is possible!
i'd love to be entered! as a homeschooling christian mom, these sound right up my alley!
Please include me in the draw - I did some reading about Mason's method of teaching a few years ago and have tried to incorporate it into our activities. While we do like to go for walks, we have never included the idea of Nature notebooks. I can see how this would incorporate so many aspects of education - observation, concentration, fine motor skills in drawing and writing, creativity and imagination etc. I would love to read these books to get started and then pass them on again to someone else who could make use of them.
I would love to be entered. Just found out my wife is expecting our first 😀
Kristen, I sure would love to be put in the running to win these books! I so appreciate Charlotte Mason! Last year I really tried to implement her teachings into our homeschool. I think it is a blessing! Education Is an Atmosphere, a Discipline, a Life! I do not have these books, so they would be a lovely addition to my C.M. books! 🙂
I would love to read these books! As a teacher and mom of 3, I would love to learn more about Charlotte Mason's approach - sounds sensible, yet fun!
Sure, why not? Include me too, please!
I would love to read these books!
Thank you! We homeschool our 3 oldest children and would love to read these books!
Please include me. Thanks.
I'de like to read these books. I am encouraged by Charolette Mason's desire to cultivate the love of learning.
I have been trying to incorporate more of Charlotte Mason's style into our homeschooling. I would love an opportunity to get more ideas!
I would love to be entered in your draw.
Please enter me! I'm always looking for good ways to keep my children learning!
i would love to know more about charlotte mason's philosophy!
With us having four kids these books would be a great addition to their library!
i would love to share these books! thank you.
I am not a homeschooling or any other kind of mom (yet!), but I love reading about different ways that I can teach my future kids. I checked and my local library has these books so I don't need to be entered : )
I came across some tapes I had when I was younger, from the Classical Kids series...have you heard of them? I'm sure someone has mentioned them before, but I wanted to link to my favorite one. I listened to this one all the time, and it reminded me of the book you reviewed - using fiction to teach!
http://www.amazon.com/Vivaldis-Ring-Mystery-Classical-Kids/dp/1895404770
I'd love to read these books! Please include me. Thanks!
I just started homeschooling my seven-year-old twin boys this year for second grade. It's only been four weeks, but so far it's going really well - better than I expected, in fact. I chose My Father's World as the curriculum, which uses a lot of Charlotte Mason's methods, including a nature walk every Friday. My boys love this! I love it as well because it incorporates several different subjects: Bible (God's creation), science (observation), art (drawing and coloring) and handwriting (I have them write 2-3 sentences about an object of their choosing). As a complete newbie to homeschooling, I would love to read those books and learn - even from a historical fiction standpoint - how another mom educates her children day by day.
I'd love to win these books. I'm just starting to homeschool my children this year for Kindergarten and am still exploring what curriculum we will use once grade 1 starts. I'm a Canadian address so I understand if you don't take Canadian entries. I love your blog.
We have started homeschooling this year. I am taking an eclectic approach and just started looking into Charlotte Mason. I found her style to be similar to how I would like to teach my boys as well it being a good match for their learning styles. Yesterday we went on an "expedition", as my 5yo likes to call them, and loved it. May I also recommend "Nature's Playground" by Fiona Danks and Jo Schofield. Some fun ideas for outside play throughout the year.
Thank you for this opportunity to have these books. I would very much like to be entered. Have a great day!!!
Would love to be entered. I have a 1 year old that I plan on homeschooling and hopefully we'll have more!
I would love to win these books. Maybe there is a first for winning something!
I will be beginning my homeschool journey next school year with a 3rd grader and a pre-k and I am overwhelmed with the choices to make.
We are knee deep in homeschooling research and preparations now that we have a 4yo. I am always looking for new titles for inspiration and haven't yet heard of these. I'd be thrilled to win and will head to the library if I don't 🙂 Thank you!
i would LOVE to win these books! thanks for the opportunity and thank you for all you share with us on a day to day basis. i always get excited when my "frugal girl" email makes its way to my inbox.
Please include me in the drawing. Thank you!
I was just hearing about this method from another woman recently and the husband and I were discussing looking into it more for the future. Would love to read these!
I would love to win these books! I have never before been interested in homeschooling but your insightful posts about homeschooling has made me think more seriously about it. I would love to read any books concerning this. I HOPE I WIN! 🙂
I am a HUGE fan of your blog FrugalGirl.
I would like to enter and thank you so much for the chance to win. I love your posts on how you home school your children. You make it seem less intmidating.
Please add me to the list--they sound very inspiring and I love reading about encouraging kids to learn and explore instead of lecturing them!
how fun! would love to be inspired by these books and the Mason way:)
Would love a chance to read these as I am contemplating homeschooling my little ones as well. Consider me 'entered'!
Thanks for the giveaway! I would love to win these books. We homeschool with textbooks and workbooks, but I've heard a lot about Charlotte Mason and would love to read more.
Please include me in the drawing. Those sound amazing. I will have to add those to my reading list. Before I got married I was reading tons of books on marriage I told my soon to be husband, "people study for some many things, why not study for the most imporatant event of your life, your marriage". Now that I am married I feel the same way about raising kids and homeschooling. I think you should try to learn as much as possible before you actually have to do something. I hope I win, but if I don't, I will definitely be buying those.
SO
my 1st is 4 and i'm currently looking into homeschooling.
This is really neat - I'd love to share the ideas with friends!
This post inspired me to take my homeschooled girls to one of our favorite trails to do some outdoor art. (Better do it today before the snow starts flying!) Thanks for passing along the books and entering me in the drawing.
I would dearly love these books! I hope you pick me! 🙂
I would love to take a look at these! We're planning to homeschool our children, and even though our daughter's only 16 months, I'm already trying to feel out what type of curriculum would be best for us.
I plan on looking for these books at half.com if I am not the lucky one. 🙂 I am new to homeschooling my 3 children this year; prek, 3rd and 7th grades. Loving it! My kids are happy too. I have not heard of Charlotte Mason, I am very interested in reading these books! As always, I enjoy reading your blog for all the helpful information you share! Thank you for the inspiration!
I would love to know more! This is our first year homeschooling with a 7th, 5th, and 2nd grader. VERY overwhelmed with the choices in curriculum! This sounds like the approach we would prefer to take!
I think these would be quite intriguing. We homeschool our two boys.
I haven't read any Charlotte Mason honestly. But they sound very interesting.
Hi! As homeschoolers always looking for new and creative ideas, we would love to be entered, as well. Thank you for all of the inspiration you consistently post! I look forward to it everyday!
Thanks for the opportunity to win and for all the effort you put into this blog!
I'd love to win the copies of Lessons from Blackberry Inn and Pocketful of Pinecones.
You've been a big inspiration for my starting homeschool pre-school for my 4yo daughter, and my plan to continue on next year. Thank you for sharing your insights and experience! I would love to add these books to my repertoire!
Jenny N.
I'm interested! Thanks!
Fun! I'd love to win these books! My husband and I don't have children yet, but when we do we plan on homeschooling them. All my husband's siblings homeschool their kids, so if I won the books I'd probably loan them out to one of them with the understanding that I would get them back once I started having kids!
I'd love to win these books. I've been pondering the idea of homeschooling for a while but am nervous to jump in. Perhaps these books would give me some ideas that would make the whole prospect less intimidating.
I would love to win these books.
I'm halfway through my homeschooling journey, 13 years down, 13 more to go! I'd really enjoy some inspiration, so add me to the drawing.
I am planning on having our first child in the next year and look forward to homeschooling! I would love to read these insightful books!!!
Please include me too! Thank you for the book review and the drawing!
Thanks for passing these along. My daughter is just a year old, but I am already thinking about homeschooling. My husband needs a little encouragement with the idea. These would be educational for us. Thank you.
Please include me in the drawing. I am a future homeschool mom and would love to read these books as my husband and I form our ideas. Thanks!
These sound so fascinating!
And in regards to it unusual to homeschool in 1930, there's a possibility it would have been less unusual in 1930 than it was for you. My grandfather was born in the 20s in rural Illinois and went to a one-room schoolhouse, and his description of his school is remarkably similar to that in the Little House books. I imagine for farm communities like his, home schooling would have been more commonplace - I know he learned so much out of school at home through their work (my great-grandfather owned a general store in addition to the farmland) that he progressed through school faster than he should have and moved to a different town so he could go to a high school suitable for his educational level. He did have friends that were homeschooled, though he called it "educated at home" rather than homeschooling.
I would love these! We are relatively new homeschoolers and I am getting into the Charlotte Mason philosophy so this would be AWESOME. Thanks!
Please enter me in the drawing. I've just started my homeschool journey.
Please enter me in the drawing. I have been reading about Charlotte Mason's methods recently and am hoping to incorporate more of her ideas in homeschooling this year! Thanks for this helpful discussion of the Mason approach!
Sounds like these books would fit in perfectly with my unschooling method of homeschooling! Thanks for the opportunity!
I also love the Charlotte Mason principles but seem to gravitate towards Sonlight for the lesson plans! Our older kids are doing 8th and 6th grade work while I have a 3 year old in tow. My three year old seems to really respond to the CM nature walks and gathering "nature" to put in our baskets and pulling out to look at and talk about. These books aren't at my library. I'd love to read both!
Yes! I checked the libraries and these books are not available at any of the local ones I frequent.
I've been waiting for weeks for our library to get Pocketful back. So far no luck. 🙁
we're looking to homeschool next fall, so i am spending this fall trying to look at curriculum & find options.....so far, i know very little except that i like the sonlight option because of it's literature base. i'm not a fan of textbooky stuff, so i am very curious about charlotte mason - think that's where i'll head next to explore ideas.....much looking & praying to do!! thanks for all your helpful thoughts!
I would LOVE these books. We just cut out nature pictures out of magazines this week and decoupaged them to the front of "nature notebooks". I'm looking forward to getting out and using them. I've decided we are each going to carry a nature bag with a camera, colored pencils, watercolers, pens, ziploc bags for collecting things, and tape when we go out to observe. My aunt gave one of my daughters her older digital camera and I passed my older one down to my other daughter, so it's cool that I'll be able to introduce nature to them through the lens.
Thank you so much for posting this today. I haven't had time to keep up with your blog much lately, but decided today I was going to take some time to sit down and read it. You spoke to me, because I've been having a hard time with all the styles and methods, etc. It's my first year, so it gets overwhelming when you hear about all of it. I'm glad to know you are using some workbooks and some Mason style and it's working for you.
I would love to win the books! I have a 3-month old and would like to homeschool him one day, but it is a daunting thought. Any direction as to how to get started would be wonderful!
I would very much love to read this, thank you for the informative post
How generous! I have already read A Pocketful of Pinecones, so if I win I will pass it on to another mom. I've met so many new homeschooling moms this year...it's incredible!
My older children are/were in the public school system and to be honest I'm a little bit nervous sending my youngest off to school next year. She really is a momma's girl and very sensitive and I think at this point in time she'd really benefit from at least a year or two and maybe more of homeschooling and I don't even know where to start. Your blog is such an inspiration to me and is taking away much of my fear. Please, please enter me in your give away.I would love to read these books. Thanks.
I was nervous about homeschooling at first, but after researching and reading blogs and message boards, I realized how very possible it would be for us. We have been in the public school system for many years (my oldest just graduated last year), and homeschooling is by far SO much better. Life is so much simpler and calmer. I can't begin to describe what a difference it's made in our household. On top of that, my kids are starting to get excited about learning and actually look for the learning oppurtunities in real life. I recommend you research lapbooks, notebooking, homeschooling styles, homeschooling curriculums, the homeschool websites, lurk in some of the message boards, and look for support groups and playgroups in your area. You will be beyond amazed at the resources there are our there! Good luck!!
I will be homeschooling next year. Please enter me in the drawing. Thanks!
These books sound intresting.
Seeing as I intend to homeschool my children, starting in a couple years, I would love to read these books! Thanks for the review!
have a couple of homeschooling mom friends who would really appreciate these!
I'd really like to read these books. I'm interested in homeschooling, but am overwhelmed figuring out where to start.
I would love a copy to pass on to my daughter. Thank you for always being so generous and for all that you put into your blog.
I would love to win these books in order to know more about the Charlotte Mason style of teaching. : )
I just started homeschooling my two sons, and I would love to read these books!
I'd like to win!
Would definitely enjoy to use the ideas for my grand kids and Sunday School kids.
I have been dabbling with charlotte mason ideas for about 18 months now. I love her ideas but nature study is hard for me. These books would be a great help. I look forward to reading more on your blog.
my husband and i are currently weighing the options of public school v. homeschool for our 4 year old and eventually our other two children, i would love to have some insight into the world of homeschooling and nature, considering we live "next door" to 11,000 acres of state game lands!
Oh, it'd be great to win these! Thanks!! 🙂
My oldest daughter is about to start student teaching to be a primary grade teacher, so I think these books would be inspiring for her. I love your blogs and photos each day! Thanks for sharing your frugal life!!
Our grandchildren are homeschooled and DIL and son are using Charlotte Mason techniques. These books would be of benefit to them. I love your blog, very helpful. Thanks so much for sharing your heart.
I would love to read these books!!!
I would love to win, especially b/c I am in the middle of switching programs, and would really love to incorporate CM into our schedule.
I am into my 3rd week of homeschooling my Kindergardener and when researching methods, I absolutely fell in love with Charlotte Mason's methods. Art, reading, nature - all of my favorite things!!
Please pick me, so I don't have to track these books down! I've been meaning to read them!
Thanks, Kristen!
Thank you for the post, would love to win and if not will reserve the books at the library!
I would so enjoy some of Charlotte Mason's work. We are beginning the home school journey and she has been highly recommended to help us get started.
I'm not a home schooler but I do assist the 4th grade teacher at the public school near my home. We regularly take walks in the park and I think I could get some good ideas from the book. so enter me too.
I would love to learn more about these books!
I'd like these books. I'm a first year homeschooler with a public school background. I'm trying to figure out how those two things go together.
Hi Kristen,
I can not believe that I found your blog by accident. I began using Charlotte Mason's technique in June. My son was going into the sixth grade in public school, we had so many doubts about middle school. Our solution was to give homeschooling a try during the summer and we chose Charlotte's progam. It worked perfectly, all of the nature and no text book format gave my son more confidence, he was so interested in the study's and I found it to be easy and I also learned many new things. He is no longer enrolled in public school and much happier, as are we. I would love to win these books because I have read everything I can get my hands on about her methods and these would help me continue with my journey. Thank you, have a blessed day.
P.S. Love your frugal ideas!!!
Wow. Serendipity. I've been looking for a "dip my toe into homeschooling" book to show me what it might be like in real life. A kinda-journal format sounds like just the ticket. Please enter me in. Thank you:)
I love your blog, and I love you as a Christian sister. I am planning to homeschool my granddaughter, so these books would be a real blessing. I am receiving unemployment and supporting 4 people on it (around a thousand a month), so receiving free books would be an awesome gift.
Would love to win! Use CM methods myself, and love them!
We'd really lieke to win these, also! Thank you for entering us. 🙂
Would love to have these books!