One of the best ways to learn is by observing.

But there is a difference between observing and simply looking.

Observing includes using all of your senses and focusing closely and carefully on something.

Whether through looking, listening, touching, smelling, or tasting, you can learn a lot by intentional observing.

If we want our students to be able to learn for themselves, this is one of the first tools

that we should give them practice in using.

Here's how.

I'm Sonia Shafer. Welcome to the Simply Charlotte Mason podcast. Make sure you've subscribed. We bring you new encouragement and Charlotte Mason training for homeschool parents every week. At first glance, it can seem like the Charlotte Mason approach has a lot of different methods for different subjects.

But when you boil it all down, this approach really centers around six tools.

Observe, read, tell, record, memorize, and create. These are the tools that will equip

your student to learn for herself and continue that learning

throughout a lifetime.

We introduced the six tools last time.

If you missed that episode, check the description for a link.

Today, we want to talk about giving your student the tool of observing.

Now, as I mentioned, there's a difference between seeing and observing, intentionally observing,

and casual looking.

Whenever I think about that difference, a scene from a book flashes across my mind.

Most of you are familiar with the illustrious

fictional detective Sherlock Holmes. He is famous for solving mysteries by paying close attention

to details, by observing, not just looking. Well, in this scene, Holmes explains the secret of his

success to his assistant Watson.

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