Charlotte Mason was an educator in the 19th century. She began sharing her educational ideas in 1892 at parent-led schools located in the idyllic English Lake District at Ambleside.
"It is far from London, " she wrote at the time, "but in view of that fact there is much to be said in it's favour. Students will be impressed with with the great natural beauty around them, will find a country rich in flowers, mosses and ferns. They will learn to know and love the individuality of great natural features mountain pass, valley, lake and waterfall." Charlotte Mason
Charlotte saw children as thinking, feeling human beings, and not just vessels to be filled. She believed every child should be given the opportunity for a liberal education that included good literature and the fine arts. These were very radical thoughts in her day, especially when society thought of children as nuisances. At the same time that Charlotte was sharing her ideals about what childhood could be, authors like Charles Dickens wrote stories, like Oliver Twist, that showcased the difficulties many children faced during this time.
There are a few 'buzz words' often thrown around in Charlotte Mason circles. These foundational basics are really the backbone of a Charlotte Mason Education.
:: Living Books
This might be one of the most defining differences between a CM education and most others. Charlotte believed that Living Books are "living in the sense that they are written by a single author who shares personally his favorite subject with us, and we pick up his enthusiasm. Textbooks, are generally compiled by a committee that are usually dry and uninteresting. This causes a child's imagination to to deaden, and retention to decrease.
In our own family we choose living books whenever we can, but there are times that we utilize textbooks, especially in the upper grades. Teaching Textbooks for math and Apologia for Science, to name a few.
:: No Homework
:: Short Lessons
Short lessons can help discourage that 'pulling teeth' feeling you get when sitting in front of your child as they try to complete that umpteenth worksheet. A little, done consistently, with attention to detail and a good spirit can go a long way. This method encourages children to maintain their love of learning and help them retain their natural born curiosity. It can also keep a parent from becoming overly frustrated.
:: Narration
Instead of a list of reading comprehension questions, CM would encourage children to 'tell back' what the story or passage was about. Start off with a small story and work up to longer passages.
:: Free Afternoons
Traditionally formal lessons would have been completed by about one P.M. or earlier. High school students will probably need some afternoon lessons. The idea behind this, is that afternoons should be spent leisurely. An opportunity to run, play, and enjoy handwork and hobbies. This is also a wonderful time to incorporate Nature Study.
:: Discipline
It is hard to teach our children when there is no discipline in the home. She was not referring here to corporal punishment, but the discipline of good habits. Instilling good habits in your home allows for teachable children. A home that is chaotic, unscheduled and lacking in daily habits can make it hard for lessons and the days activities to run smoothly.
"The mother needs to acquire her own habit of training her children so that, by and by, it is not troublesome to her, but a pleasure. She devotes herself to the formation of one habit in her children at a time, doing no more that watch over those already formed."
Charlotte Mason
:: Culture and Liberal Arts
CM education includes learning about famous composers and artists, appreciating classical music, and plenty of handwork like knitting, painting, and drawing. She encouraged good literature and advised steering clear of 'twaddle.' This would include literature and anything that is silly with very little meaning or intellectual basis.
I feel that determining 'twaddle' is a personal decision. What I may consider a waste of time, you may give your child a green light to read. Each family has their own standards, and that is what you should follow.
You might be thinking, I love this! I want this in my home. Where do I sign up? What do I buy?
A Charlotte Mason education is incredibly doable without a 'box' curriculum. In the early years read, read, read to your children. Fiction, non-fiction, classics, poetry... Keep lessons simple and short. Allow for a lot of free play, especially time in nature. Keep your child's world simple.
Once again, take these ideas and implement them in where it makes sense for you. Incorporate a poetry tea time on Thursday afternoons. Take a nature walk a few times a week, and if you feel so inclined bring along a field guide or a journal for sketching. Have your child narrate a story you read to him as he builds with Legos.
Here are a few Charlotte Mason inspired curriculum:
Brave Writer
Beautiful Feet Books :: History Through Literature
Simply Charlotte Mason
My Father's World
Queen Homeschooling
Three books I would highly recommend are A Charlotte Mason Companion, Lessons From Blackberry Inn, and A Pocketful of Pinecones... all written by Karen Andreola.
I love her books! She lays out a CM education in such a beautiful way. They always reset my frazzled brain when I have over-scheduled or I feel like I am on a hamster wheel. She reminds me that it is about the journey, not the idealized quest for perfection.
If you happen to be in the Western Suburbs of Chicago leave me a comment to join our Summer Book Study on A Charlotte Mason Companion. If you aren't in the area, no worries. I will be sharing notes from our study with you here on my blog. Make sure you sign up with your email to receive all of my new posts in your inbox.
Channon
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