Picture Study & Attention
Last week I talked about the way Charlotte Mason’s method of picture study helps us build a relationship with the painting and the artist. As children spend time looking intently at a painting and noticing the colors, the shapes, the shadows, and the story being told, they are developing their sense of beauty. Mason states,
“We cannot measure the influence that one or another artist has upon the child’s sense of beauty, upon his power of seeing, as in a picture, the common sights of life; he is enriched more than we know in having really looked at even a single picture” (Home Education, p. 309).
Another benefit of picture study is the way it cultivates one’s habit of attention. Think about the other areas of Mason’s methods that cultivate this habit—narrating after one reading, exams without studying, copywork using whole words or phrases, and nature journaling. The habit of attention is one that will benefit children for the rest of their lives. It is also a skill that seems to be lacking in many adults and is hindering many people in their profession.
In the last several years, I have come across several articles that speak of the way observing artwork has been used to develop the observational skills of nursing students, medical students, and police officers. Observing paintings and describing in detail what one sees has benefitted people in various ways and helped them to hone their skill of diagnosing patients or catching a criminal. It is always encouraging to see the way Mason’s methods have stood the test of time because she respects the child as a person and allows them to engage in self-education. This allows them to develop the habit of attention that will not only benefit their own life but benefit the lives of others. I would love to hear about the ways you have seen your students grow in that habit. Head on over to the Hive and leave your comments.
Notes
1. Natural History Clubs: CMI’s Natural History Club initiative is now live! These clubs provide a fun and accessible way for you to practice a relational education with others and deepen your experience of creation. 20% off with code: ALVEARYNHC.
2. Office Hours: Here is the video from last week’s Office Hours on bookbinding and picture study with Erin Day.
3. Upcoming Office Hours: Join Erin Day on September 13 as she talks about Art Instruction. Please submit your questions by noon on Tuesday. *Note the time for this week: 2:00 p.m. EDT.
4. Monographs: Use the code MONOGRAPH to get $5 off the Centenary Series Bundle or to download A Feast of Living Ideas in a World of Bytes for FREE!
5. Out-of-Print Books: A PDF of In Flanders Fields (World History Grades 4-6) by Linda Granfield is available for purchase exclusively for Alveary members.
6. Out-of-Print Books: A PDF of Where Poppies Grow (World History Grades 7-9) by Linda Granfield is available for purchase exclusively for Alveary members.
Query
1. Ancient History: My students are getting bogged down under the esoteric language and the density of ideas in Augustine’s Confessions, and they don’t seem to have enough time to reflect on all of it. Do you have any suggestions?
The point of the Augustine readings is to give you a flavor of Augustine and his valuable thoughts from Book 1. The next two terms will give an overview of the Ancient History time period. Augustine’s Confessions is a key work of literature, theology, and philosophy from the 4th century. It is OK if the student does not finish all of it during the term. They may want to finish the book on their own time. They may also find that the reading goes a bit faster as the writing style gets more familiar over the term. As the lesson plan instructs, the student should read at their own pace. Leave 5 minutes in each lesson to reflect and jot down the main ideas. This might be only one or two bullet points for some readings. Like many other books, Confessions is not just helpful for one reading when we are 15 but may prove helpful at 35, 55, and 75! So, it is OK for the student to get what they can and move forward. Make sure that they are adding quotes to their commonplace book when something stands out to them. This is another way for them to reflect on ideas in the book.
