Episode 301: Season 10 Closing Ceremonies
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Before we get started today, I want to thank our season-long sponsor, Living Book Press, for their generous support of our podcast, Making the Season Possible.

Anthony at Living Book Press has done a fantastic job reprinting Charlotte Mason's own six-volume home education series that you can get them in paperback in two different styles. This is what I got for my husband when he was doing the Men's Idol Challenge because all of the other versions were pink or had flowers on them. And Anthony has some very innocuous or masculine-leaning additions. So you can choose from different styles. There are

some that have flowers on them. You can also get them in hardcover in your choice of color even. And recently he commissioned a professional voice actress to record, and she's British by the way, record Charlotte Mason's entire series on audio. And those are also available. Please visit livingbookpress.com slash delectable to receive 10% off your order.

Welcome to A Delectable Education, the podcast that spreads the feast of the Charlotte Mason Method. I'm Emily Kaiser, and I'm here with Nicole Williams and Liz Cattrall. Y'all, where do the years go?

Everyone speeds past, it seems to me, faster and faster. So we are wrapping up today our 10th season of podcasting. And we hope as we take a summer break that you can use some of your time to listen to episodes that maybe you've missed this year or even old ones to help you prepare for things that are going to be new next year. Maybe you have a child moving into a whole new form. We have all kinds of information for you. So

Take advantage of this time to refresh and improve yourself and your knowledge for next year's season. But for now, let's pause and just reflect a little bit. We'll be taking a breather.

From posting the episodes, but not from doing them. But Emily, what have we done so far this season? I just want to take a minute to reflect backward. Yes, well, season 10 has been all about finding balance. And so we have talked about every aspect of balance.

and homeschooling where we can fall easily out of balance. And so we hope those episodes, I mean, it's a bigger picture than what we have normally done, but I think it's a really important conversation. And most of those don't have definitive answers because everybody's balance is going to be something they have to navigate for themselves. But we try to give you, like, we can fall off on this side, we can fall off on this side, but here's how we stay in the middle.

of the Charlotte Mason method. And as we know, we love Charlotte Mason because it doesn't just talk about the school subjects. It really is about the whole person, and that includes us, the parent and teacher.

We have also interviewed six moms this year who do a lot of things and how they have managed to find a balance to enable them to homeschool and work on a farm or be in full-time ministry or you name it.

We have tried to cover the whole gamut with those and to give you a fuller perspective than the three of us can offer. We have also had another successful ADE at home. Yes. And the

time for the that to be online has just ended but it was wonderful so if you weren't able to join us mark your calendar for next year I know might be encroaching on what we're coming to next but we will do another one February 6th and 7th of 2026 and we always open registration for that on Black Friday the day after Thanksgiving

So lots to look forward to for next year. And as we head into another decade of podcasting, you think we could do 10 more years, you guys? We want to share just a little bit. Nicole's eyes start twitching.

We just want to share a little bit about what you can expect and look forward to because there are going to be some changes that take place around here. We've decided for our next step down the road. While you're all on vacation from teaching this summer, we will not be on vacation. We are going to be recording. We do most of our recording during the summers when we have time and are not teaching ourselves.

because we want to continue to bring you quality information that is going to equip and encourage you for the coming year. So 10 years ago, we began and

I kind of have a mixed metaphor here. I guess I was going to say brick by brick, but maybe dish by dish. We put the ingredients for the feast out there to try to cover the basic principles of Charlotte Mason. And it took us a couple of years just to get through the subjects. And then we covered all kinds of related concerns for Charlotte Mason parents and teachers.

We spent time unpacking her synopsis and many other things we've done over the last 10 years. And that content is still available to you. And if you go to our ADE website, you can see all the listings and even some of them have been categorized for what you might need. But next year, we're going back.

to the basics because it dawns on us that a whole new generation of Charlotte Mason parents and families are coming into this method for the very first time. And even though they could go back and listen to all the old episodes, we have 10 more years experience ourselves that has given us a lot of fresh perspective and insight and wisdom that we just want to share with you. So

So our plan is to follow Charlotte Mason's path in Volume 6, Philosophy of Education. Chapter 10 is called The Curriculum. Can I have a drum roll here, you guys? So our aim is for shorter episodes next year.

And we are also going to be returning to weekly episodes. So not just twice a month. We're going to be providing a short episode every single week. And what else, Nicole? We've got another surprise because we're moving to a different format a little bit too. Yeah, so...

You guys have been listening to us for all these 10 years and we hear a lot of feedback that you want to know, you know, what water bottle we're using and things like that. Just odd things.

So we're going to give you a peek. We're going to try to move this thing to YouTube. And not move, but just additionally. We will not go anywhere from your podcast feeds or if you listen on the website. That will still be available. We're just adding another layer. A new layer. Yeah, I like it that way. I like to think about it like that.

So we're testing things out. I don't because now I have to have my hair combed every time. You always look great. So we're testing everything out. We're kind of getting our ducks in a row, preparing for that now. And if all goes well, you can watch us on YouTube or you can listen to us on your favorite podcast platform, whatever suits you best. Yep.

And we are not professional videographers, so this might be a learning curve. Hey, we weren't professional audiographers either. But we have learned a whole lot in 10 years, I will tell you. Yes, for sure. So speaking of reflections...

Yeah, so we talk about this each year, just the benefit and the value of sitting for a little bit and taking down some of your personal reflections on the school year. When I first ever did this, it was when I was homeschooling very early on and I had homeschooled my siblings for the first year. And

I realized, I wonder if it would be helpful if everybody understood what we did this year. Because, you know, starting Charlotte Mason, it felt like

It's like when you think of language arts and you're like, wait, do we do language arts? Oh, yeah, we do. We do dictation. We read literature, copy work, grammar. We got all these things. And that's how I felt about our education. And so I wrote down every book we had read, every field trip we had gone on, all of the seemingly extracurriculars, which I still was calling them at those days, and everything

I was shocked at how much we had accomplished. I did not continue to do that because that became routine to me. It wasn't, you know, once you do Charlotte Mason for a few years, that's just the norm. But it was really valuable at first for me to look and go, oh, that's what we've been doing.

Since then, I've changed to more of a journal style, looking back over the seasons and what we did and how things went and stuff like that. But Charlotte Mason, she advised us to do this. And her point for us to write in there was to keep track of the progress of the children's

moral character. Like this is what she thought was the important thing for us to note about our children as we completed out another year. So however you do this, I think it would be valuable if you took a few minutes to write a little something about each of the kids, about your school year, what went well, what

Would you like to do different next year? And just take some time to reflect on it. And if you've been doing this process along with us, we have been reminding you to do so for, I think, the last three years. This is our fourth year doing this. Look back at those last year, especially with your character notes about your children and see, have they been growing? Because sometimes we just get so discouraged by the fact that we're still dealing with

X, Y, Z, or maybe it's a whole new problem. But to look back and go, oh, they actually have main strides in this one area. Sometimes we lose sight of those. So I think it's super valuable. And to that end, mom wrote a bunch of reflection questions for you to kind of ponder over. And we will throw a link to those in the show notes. Right. Because some of you, this might be the first time you've heard of this idea. But, you know, just get your favorite...

cup of whatever and find a quiet corner for a few minutes and just reflect back on the year. What went well? I had a mom just the other day that told me she has been doing this for all these years, which was really encouraging. And she said she always makes sure that she puts in the funniest thing that happened in school this year or the wackiest morning we ever had and that her kids loved

this to know, you know, and remember these things. So I also see that Charlotte Mason, when, when you submitted exams, you would write if something had happened, you know, a child had an extended illness or something like that. I think these are valuable notes to make in there too. Yeah. It'll help you evaluate next year too. You'll see the progress, you know, because you've made some notes about things and you can look back and say, Hey,

Yes, Tommy is still a bully, but you know what? This is not disrupted school this year. So I don't think any of your children are bullies. Of course, I was trying to grab some extraneous thing out of the air.

Anything else before we wrap up for the season from either of you? I guess just thank you for coming alongside of us. Oh, my goodness. It is such a blessing. We look back every year as we plan to do the next season. The first thing we look at is who's out there? Are people still listening? And...

we're always just so surprised by the numbers we see and we're just thankful for you that you're here. Amen. And we love serving you. And we also are so grateful for the feedback so many of you send us and that's just really encouraging. And we do take your

ideas seriously. We have made many little, turned many different corners because we've sensed a need. And this new venture into video is a direct result of thinking of some of you all. Well, I just have a couple of closing thoughts. We like to end with a little devotional thought at the end of every season. I want to talk a little bit about finishing.

of finishing the school year. Do you remember that absolutely ecstatic exhilaration of the last day of school when you were a child? I loved it. I love school and I love being done with it. And now we who teach our children have this huge sense of relief that another year is finished. Persons are not made for perpetual motion. So to never call a halt or take a break or say done is

not healthy. Enough is enough for now. So whether we are finishing a year of great or small progress, whether we had a smooth year or a rough year, we just need to stop. We need a break and we need to rest. Are some of you worried that you did not finish everything that you hoped to or everything that you started?

I have a secret for you. It's not really a secret. Charlotte Mason said, education is never finished. Learning is a never ending thing. But just as each day comes to an end, the school year must also end. So close the books and put away the timer. This year is over. Seasons change. And I think, you know, every gardener knows that we can prepare the soil and plant and water and cultivate and weed and prune. But harvest season does come.

And some years are bountiful and some years are plagued with problems, conditions and pests. But there will be another year for improving the soil and for new seeds and better techniques and watching for signs of growth. But today it's time to put away the tools and put the garden to bed, so to speak.

For now, let us be thankful for this year's gains and be content with what we did get finished. To let all those new ideas soak in their minds and let them have a rest from new school lessons constantly. Think about how much grace was given you in this past year. There will be even more in the year to come.

because the divine helper who was present to teach our children this past year is never weary and he is going to continue to work in them again. So whatever you plan to improve or change next year, I want to encourage you

Not to just plan better, to determine to be more diligent and to work even harder, though all that is good and wonderful. But add to it to make your goal to be more dependent upon that divine helper for yourself. The teacher of all mankind. Our source of wisdom and strength in teaching comes from him.

He knows best how to fertilize the soil and which seeds will benefit your students and how much weeding and watering is needed. God knows how much progress is possible. Far better than you. He knows the plans he has for your children and for what is needed to accomplish his purpose for them because they are his, they belong to him. And so do you.

We are his workmanship, Paul says in Ephesians 2.10, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. So our place as teachers is to cooperate with him. I often write in graduation cards this time of year, Psalm 138.8.

The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me. Your steadfast love endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands. So don't be anxious for next year. Rest in these promises and simply pray, Lord, establish the work of our hands. We are not working to meet certain standards or impress others with our children's progress or to create perfect children.

But we do need to allow God to do his work in them. He is very good at that work. And our part, James tells us in chapter 5 verse 7, is to be patient. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it until it receives the early and the late rains. You also be patient, he says.

The question as we finish this school season is, can we trust him for next year's strength and wisdom to be given as it's needed? Can we say thank you for this past year? And throughout our season of rest right now, remember these great promises for the coming year.

The God who is perfect in knowledge is with you. And he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. God gives rest. He is never weary. He's always working and he's always finishing what he begins. Go in peace.

Do you need help planning your homeschool year? Lessons for handwriting, reading, Swedish drill, and folk dancing? Are you looking for ways to save time with forecasting your lessons? Would you prefer to have ready-made map questions for your geography readers? We at A Delectable Education have you covered. Visit www.adelectableeducation.com and click on Teacher Helps under the Teacher Tools tab.

Thank you for joining us today on the podcast. We hope our discussion serves to equip and encourage you as we seek to explain the Charlotte Mason Method.

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