The Foyer, 2019-2020, 01

Welcome to Harvest!

    This year we’re launching The Foyer—our way to share with you a bit about our school. Students at Harvest thrive when their minds awaken to fresh ideas. Some are more talkative and observant. Others start to enjoy reading, drawing and writing, and making things with their hands. They are more open to going outside, spending time with their grandparents, and doing chores.

    During the year, we will share our insight so your family can reap the rich fruit of Harvest. This post starts you on that journey of discovering delight in learning. We hope that weekly snippets will whet your appetite to know more. The first step is to understand our mission. We hope that every child at Harvest eagerly seeks to learn about God, themselves, and their world.

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Our desire is to glorify God by training up children to delight in the Lord Jesus Christ,
to develop virtuous habits, and to discover joy in learning by the power of the Holy Spirit.

   Our approach is described here in less than a hundred words.

A Charlotte Mason education respects the child's dignity as an individual made in God's image.
His education connects him to the world around him, building relationships with God and
people from various places and times, and emphasizing outdoor life. Focused attention
at short, varied lessons keeps the mind fresh and leaves free time for personal interests.
Living books put the child in touch with vital ideas, and narration teaches him to
process those ideas. Copywork, dictation, and free-form notebooks replace worksheets.
​The teacher directs the course of study, but the student has the responsibility to learn.

   Harvest offers a wonder-filled experience for the whole family. Hours spent driving children to do homework can be devoted to doing what you value. Parents wonder why they see so much growth when we require so little homework. You can experience first hand by coming to The Tuesday and Thursday Feast for the riches. Classes combine to study art, music, and hand work. You may enjoy driving students on our weekly trip to the nursing home and see the love of God shared with people who don’t get many visitors. You might get to watch a lizard molting, sample sweet honeysuckle, or hear two chickadees calling to each other on our weekly nature walk. If you want to know more, come to the monthly large room meeting to be immersed in an element of your child’s day.

   If you are eager to dig more deeply now, you may want to read For the Children’s Sake by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay. This book inspired teachers to launch Charlotte Mason schools in the Southeast thirty years ago. Know and Tell: The Art of Narration by Karen Glass addresses narration which taps into our natural desire to tell each other what is on our mind. The author interviewed our staff for her material on how narration looks in a classroom.

   If you have questions, feel free to contact the founders, Angie Bruner (our headmaster) or Tammy Glaser (our curriculum coordinator).