Much May Be Done with Sparrows

by Karen Glass

Charlotte Mason sprinkled little gems of wisdom throughout her work. These essays gather up a few of them and bring a new perspective to things we probably already know. They offer renewed hope and fresh vision for the sacred task of education. Just like our children, homeschooling parents and teachers need to be nourished with food for the mind and soul. The ideas in this little book will renew our spirits for the important work that we have to do.

Genres: Education, Parenting, Essays, Nonfiction

76 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 14, 2024

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Cindy Rollins]

This may be my new favorite Karen Glass book! I loved it from start to finish and consider it a must read for all persons even if you don’t think of yourself as a Charlotte Mason adherent. Much wisdom in this short volume.

[Heather Tully]

EXCELLENT! short essays that leave much to ponder. every parent should read!

[Mariah Dawn]

This was an excellent little book. Lots of big ideas to chew on.

[Elaine]

So encouraging, especially as I prepare to start our new school year after Epiphany.

[Courtney]

I have loved everything that Karen has written but this book is an absolute gem! Short and encouraging and a delight to read.

[Brittany Parker]

I enjoyed having little snippets of Charlotte Mason to start my day with over the past few weeks. Karen Glass did a great job pulling out interesting nuggets from Mason’s works and expounding on them in these thought-provoking essays.

[Shawna]

Perfect winter break reading to reinvigorate me for school starting again after Christmas.

[Jennifer]

Lovely essays on parenting and Charlotte Mason ideas. Easy to ready and each essay stands on its own. Good for any parents of any ages.

[Kelsie Hall]

Loved this. Each essay is practical and encouraging.

[Lauren Fee]

So much wisdom packed into such a delightfully small book. An encouraging must read for all Charlotte Mason educators.

[Kristin Wahls]

A delightful little book meditating on some of Charlotte Mason’s lesser-known passages beyond her main principles. A lovely blend of helpful reminders and gentle encouragement.

[Adayla]

Packs a lot of inspiring thoughts into a little book. This was a breath of fresh air.

[Laura]

Education is the science of relations.
It is not our job to teach children everything about a subject but simply to initiate the relationship.
C. M.

[Bobbiann Markle]

“If we think about it, we will realize that education can never be completed, but it can be ensured. It is ensured when we have given our children a glimpse both of what is possible for them to explore and a reason that they might want to do so.”

I loved this book. It’s not long, but full of wisdom. Karen expands on some of Charlotte Mason’s writings with encouragement for homeschooling parents.

[Leah]

Charlotte Mason + Karen Glass: can that be beat? Karen Glass jotted down memorable phrases from CM’s work, and this book is a collection of essays on those phrases and the ideas of Charlotte. It is readable, but it is dense. I loved that I could take a small essay at a time and then feast on such deep ideas about education and a flourishing life!

On a side note, as I read these quotes, I was struck by how little attention I really pay while I read since many came from the volume I just read over two years. I have a lot of room to grow as a reader.

[Angie Mouer]

Every summer I read a Charlotte Mason themed book to remind myself why I fell in love with this educational philosophy and to encourage myself for another school year.

This book may be one I read over and over again because of the beautiful way it brings a fresh light to the Mason philosophy and brings “renewed hope and fresh vision for the sacred task of eduction” (Karen Glass).

[Luci]

A simple, profound read. Perfect for my winter break continuing Ed. 😍

[Erica Fitzgerald]

What a gem! This is a little book that I am sure I will reread many times. I love Karen Glass, and as always she gave me much to think about.

[Melissa Grice]

Each of the 7 essays in this little volume centers around a short excerpt or phrase from Charlotte Mason’s writings. This is not a how-to manual for CM homeschooling, but rather a vision. Glass beautifully illustrates the atmosphere of an education designed according to CM’s philosophy, while freeing the homeschooling parent from the burden of perfection. I’d gladly give this book to anyone just starting out on their CM journey.

[Hadassah Buie]

This book seemed to celebrate education and children. There is a huge emphasis on character, imagination, and cultivating the desire to learn. My favorite quote was, "Utility takes a distant backseat to truth, beauty, and goodness."

[Jennie]

This little book is best to be savored slowly. I try to read something each summer to encourage and guide me as I plan for the next year of home education and this was incredibly encouraging especially for those following a Charlotte Mason education model.

[Andrea Anderson]

A short, very sweet read that will motivate you and uplift you as a mother. Karen talks about how we can do a lot with the little crumbs that we have been given and what we can teach our kids about God and his personality and how much he loves us. She also talks about The beauty of curiosity and wonder in our lives. On page 20 she says "we have quieted our souls for that little space of time, we noticed, we wondered." One chapter is about how to honor that our children are born a whole person and how to not offer them. Any crutches or excuses but to let them go on their own power. I really loved chapter 6. She talks about sowing seeds and she uses corn and hemlock as her examples. But this chapter is lovely for parents because it talks about what happens when we accidentally so bad seeds even when we try not to and what happens when we sow good seeds. It's another wonderful book by Glass!!

[Shanna]

Thoughtful, inspiring meditations on various ideas from Charlotte Mason. A couple that are sitting with me as I finish:

We are always sowing seeds, be they brambles or roses, every moment, every decision, every look of the eye or tone of voice.

Reading books is how we catch glimpses of glory and widen our rooms.

Despising a child can take many forms, including in too much prodding or in not letting the child himself make the connection, do the task.

It is always more joyful to look at what we have than what we have not. And we have a lot. I do.

[Jeannette]

another brilliant offering from Karen Glass. The ideas in this one are accessible to all. I found it inspiring, challenging and encouraging. Each short chapter takes a phrase in CM's writings and highlights its brilliance using real world situations, being a parent, being a person, respecting one's child as a person. I am encouraging all the moms I know to read this one, whether your children are young or already grown. Thank you Karen for this gift of a book!

[Linda Murphy]

I've finished my homeschooling journey, but this book and the truth it shares is for all of life...not only for home educating moms! I've been reminded to slow down and take pleasure in small things, to remember that there is SO much I still do not know, to think often on how lavishly God loves His children, to give heed to my words and attitude. Much, much food for thought packed into such a small volume!

[Melissa]

A very short book of essays, likely more for the homeschooling parent than for others. It reads rather like high-quality devotional literature at times.

Karen Glass ascribes to Charlotte Mason's educational philosophy and thus, there is a lot of wisdom packed into this tiny book.

I especially liked the first essay that shares the book title, and "Seeds of Corn and Hemlock". They both had fresh truth I needed for my situation.

I recommend this one for any of my homeschool mom friends!

[Christy]

Excellent. Inspiring, gently convicting, quite encouraging. This is a wonderful and easy little book to read which took me along a path of thinking how and why I do what I do with my children; offering little nudges here and there of how things could potentially be in my children’s, and my own, education. Karen has a gift for writing- looking forward to volume II.

[Courtney]

So good that I might just go ahead and read it again. So many nuggets of wisdom in this book. This book helped revive areas in my life and homeschool that needed revived. Short easy read that could be finished in a day. This is one of those books that I see myself reading every year.

[Samantha Shroyer]

Delightful little book which is a quick but powerful read. Great truthful reminders in here - do what you can with what you have, let the child go in his own power and open up the keys of learning so that it continues long after school is “done.”

[Valerie Henderson]

This book was so encouraging. Short, simple, straight to the point. She doesn’t beat around the bush but she’s so very encouraging to us moms. I’m so thankful for the wisdom of Karen Glass in this book.