Charlotte Mason Home Education Cover Reattachment: Just one of several options

Here is the video that likely most of my CM mom friends are going to enjoy. This is one of several ways to safely, archivally reattach covers to your paperback Charlotte Mason (or other) books without resorting to elmer's glue or awful tape.

Hope this helps, and Ciao for now!


Javamom

Protective Covers for Vintage Books

Here is the link for your options for Brodart Mylar fold-on, archival book covers.

There are videos on YouTube uploaded by Brodart. I don't recommend everything they have in their instruction videos from an aesthetic and archival perspective for my personal library, but I do like the instructions on cutting mylar rolls, using their mylar pre-sized covers (both paper-lined and not), and how to fold them and apply them.

Let me know if you have any questions in the comments here!


Sincerely,

Javamom

Here is an example of a mylar, folded cover that I have on one of my vintage books that a friend gave to me years ago.

Introduction to simple paperback book repairs

This is my first simple book repair video, and I apologize for its graininess. I love natural light, but my older camera doesn't have auto zoom. Having said that, this is also one of my first efforts at recording lessons. I've done one or two for my Spanish students who didn't make it to class because of illness or debate trips, so please bear with me as I work at getting better at working with the technology!

As a postscript to the video, I have been a Charlotte Mason mom for decades. I've been an AO mom since even before it first officially began. Some of the old timer-CM moms conversed and shared ideas and did studies together through e-groups, which later became yahoogroups. Then, an experimental group of the CM moms jumped in to see if CM in a box idea would work, so Leslie Laurio, Donna-Jean, Lynn, and many of the other current Advisory Board ladies started putting things together and sharing with us on that old list. It was an exciting time! Anyway, that is why I say I have been an AO mom for decades ;-). I joined the internet in about 1996 or 97, and the CM e-mail group started quickly. If I ever "KonMari" my attic, I will find a filebox full of categorized e-mails from those early years and share it with you all (via photos). Just call me a "historian" instead of a packrat. Hahaha!

Ciao for now! I'll post another video soon. I am still waiting for some Cambric tape to be delivered to the house, and it should arrive any minute.

Enjoy!

Javamom

p.s. At the end, when I am talking about archival details, I mention that you want pvc free clear covers, but then I confuse the product by not naming the proper product! I cover that (ha, pun intended) in another video. Those clear coverings are made of mylar! More information and links to resources in the next video.

Another fabulous Spanish Class Today

Today's lesson had to do with where things are located :-)

I started out by saying my prepared sentences aloud in a conversational manner, then I directed the students' attention not only to the items about which I was speaking, but also to the notecards with the new vocabulary words for the week. :-)

I think the students loved it!


Javamom

Spanish Bible verse copywork

Today I am looking at last week's homework assignment for my Spanish I high school class.

I think I will assign this for studied dictation next!

It's really nice to have a full class filled with Charlotte Mason students only.

I still follow the basic scope and sequence that a typical high school follows, because I want these students to be prepared for CLEP testing to receive college credit for their high school endeavors.

BUT

I adjust those lessons to a very CM approach, as the students gain more words and phrases each week.

It is so very refreshing to have the freedom to give "assignments" like this.

How are YOU doing in your foreign language classes?


Until next time,

Javamom

¡Feliz Año Nuevo!

This is one of my favorite times of year in Spanish Class, because we have learned enough of the language to begin reading mini-novels. This was the book my class chose this year:

I love this, because the students realize how much of the reading and of the story that they can understand. We all read it aloud together, taking turns, And my goal is to get the students very comfortable with narrating back to me. I didn't have them do narrations today, just asked them questions in Spanish about the basic facts in the set-up of the plot and the descriptions of the characters. I plan to have them narrate in the next session or two, as they become more comfortable with discussing the story together in Spanish. :-)

Students tend to take a huge leap through this addition into the curriculum, and it is such a joy to observe and participate with the kids in this process! I am proud of these kids!


Take time to enjoy your students,

Javamom

Working on Recitation for an end-of-term program for parents

I wanted to share a few photos and brief descriptions of one of my classes in 

Poetry Recitation for an end of year program 

Rehearsal 

Performance day

For this performance, from a later term, the class chose "The Retired Cat" by

William Cowper

We staged a bit of a skit for the recitation of this one. 

Take time to memorize some poetry!

 It will stay with you - very likely sink down deep into your soul - for a very long time.

Javamom

An Iliad - Retelling of the Trojan War

So proud all over again tonight. Our daughter's husband was just selected Omaha's best actor for his role in AN ILIAD!!! Way to go Daniel!

We saw it last Thanksgiving, and it was both wonderful and overwhelming. He played the role perfectly. It is a dark and heavy, given the subject. It is a two-person play...a world-weary poet and his upright-bass-playing muse. Fifty-three pages of lines!

It is well worth seeing, if you ever get the chance - especially if Daniel acts! Emoticón smile



This is not Daniel's career (anymore). He is a techie by day. This is his third time to win this award, though, and I think that makes his award even more special, because he is not involved in theater as much as he used to be.

Those of you who know me or have followed this blog at all know how important Hubs and I think a Liberal Arts education and lifelong learning are. I am glad our grown children are still getting to be involved with the Arts. Makes this momma proud.

Play Review: An acting tour de force in retelling of Trojan War

An Iliad

Until next time,

Javamom

Putting on Shakespeare Plays ~ CM Education

These photos are a couple of years or more old, but...

I want to affirm that both younger and older students can handle reading and performing Shakespeare. They just need to be given the permission of plenty of time to read it (in a class setting is more fun!) and narrate it over a term or two! Here are just a few examples from rehearsals for various Shakespeare plays in our CM co-op! I wanted to put these in one post, for easier reference.

Our Narrators ~ "All the world's a stage!"

Orlando (my son) and Oliver

Celia and Rosalind aka Ganymede

Orlando and Oliver in "As You Like It"

Orlando (my son :-) and his love letter from Rosalind

~ HAMLET ~

Hamlet and Laertes

Very intense moment between Hamlet and Laertes (and excellent acting by our cast)

The younger students are rehearsing for "The Tempest"

and they are doing a knock-out job

Do not be afraid to give Shakespeare a try with a few friends! Our group (the youngers) even performed for us in the backyard of one of our family's homes for an end-of-year picnic.

Take time to try some Shakespeare!

Javamom

One of my favorite quotes ~

 I have been retired* from (official) homeschooling for over two years, but I am sharing one of my

favorite quotes because THIS is one of the main points of lifelong learning. I always keep it posted here at the cottage.

Take time to hear or see something beautiful

Javamom

* though I still tutor and have been implored to continue teaching Spanish just a bit longer