Shakespeare for Next Year... Maybe

William Shakespeare is one area of study that is recommended highly in a Charlotte Mason education.  I was excited that my local library had one of the books listed for study.  However, after looking at the book, I think a study like this will be a long thing.  I have a library book, and I don't want to renew it every two weeks for a year, even if they would let me.  So, it will be one to purchase for next semester or next year.  I am thinking more about it being a next year study because of the content in Shakespeare.

Instead, as I get my bearings and slowly put into practice Charlotte Mason's methods into our lives, we are going to focus on other areas this year.  Laura is going to read a lot of biographies.  She is going to begin to do handicrafts and learn some lifeskills.  Mostly, we are going to take the time to focus on some habit training.  From orderliness to attitude, one at a time, we are going to focus on setting down new "rails" or new habits.

One of things I am falling in love with as I read Charlotte Mason's Home Education (and I'm still only on Volume 1) is the focus on the whole child as an individual.  There's a focus on habits and creativity and having great thoughts put in front of them.  There's wonderful heroes for my children as they read the Bible and about amazing people throughout history.  I truly believe the Sower series is going to be amazing.  I can implement things like this with Charlotte Mason without it being overkill.

I see the importance of Shakespeare, but I might not include him until later.  We may focus on other areas first, especially since this in new to us.  It's hard not to want to make a huge leap into everything Charlotte Mason.  Everything I am reading is so refreshing and exciting.  However, slow transitions work best.  I don't want to run into the same problems we ran into before... jumping in and then feeling doubts and wondering if it is really working within a few weeks.  Shakespeare can wait... for now.