Timelines

I first encountered the idea of timelines in the Konos Character curriculum. (Those books were so appealing, but I could never afford one!) But I could make my own timeline. The only wall in our home that was long enough was on the stairway, so it was a slanted timeline. And the children made the most elaborate people for it. We were learning about medieval Europe at the time, so there were some colorful characters to work with.

Right away I learned something that most timeline makers get wrong: MAKE ALL OF THE CENTURIES THE SAME LENGTH! I figure that the purpose of a timeline is to give us a sense of where people and events are in the grand scheme of things. To show how short a time this century is compared to the whole history of the earth. To show how the years I have lived are only a fraction of the years Methuselah lived. So make the 20th century the same length as the 1st century—even though there is a lot more stuff to fit in.

When I discovered Charlotte Mason, I discovered century books—timelines in a binder. Thus began our tradition that the “little kids” make the timeline on the wall, while the older kids have their own century books (one century per two-page spread). Receiving a century book at age 12 became one of our family’s rites of passage. By that age, the child is old enough to make a beautiful book so that he doesn’t feel the need to “do it over” as his skills increase. And the remaining years before graduation allow him to have at least something on every page.

Occasionally—when we move, or when we need to paint the wall—we get a new timeline and the younger kids get a fresh start. The older ones can keep their century books for as long as they want.

What does Daddy Do?

My husband is a school teacher, so people assume he contributes a lot to the academics of our homeschool. Well, not really. He doesn't even need to handle the math or science, as many dads do, because those subjects are my strengths.

While he doesn't contribute to the actual lessons, however, Dad helps to create an atmosphere of learning in our home--probably one of the most important aspects of our children's education. He is always learning himself, and he shares his discoveries. He creates little contests and trivia games. ("The one who wins this classical music identification games doesn't have to pay for car insurance this month.") He speaks multiple languages at the dinner table, and encourages others to do the same. He plans amazing road trips. Yes, he helps . . . though not in ways one might expect. And don't forget that his work outside our home enables me to stay in our home with the kids. I know our homeschool wouldn't be nearly as successful without him.