Homeschooling the Charlotte Mason Way
Homeschooling used to consist of four or five children sitting around a table scribbling away in a pile of workbooks, while a stern parent stood over them and lectured. With the help of innovative teachers like Charlotte Mason, homeschooling has come a long way. Today, there are many different methods of homeschooling. The Charlotte Mason method has become quite popular with homeschooling parents today. If you’re thinking about homeschooling, you should definitely consider the different practices out there and see which will suit your children and family best. In this article, I will introduce you to Charlotte Mason method of homeschooling.
More and more parents today and choosing the Charlotte Mason method to homeschool their children. Charlotte Mason founded the homeschooling movement in the early 1900’s (1842-1923). Her enthusiasm and commitment to the education of children paved the way for a comprehensive and adaptable program. The foundation of the Charlotte Mason method of homeschooling is a focus on core subjects with an emphasis on classical music, fine arts and literature. Charlotte Mason dedicated her life to creating an effective educational program that would engage children and provide them with quality and lasting educational experiences.
One of the corner stones of the Charlotte Mason method is the use of what she calls “living books.” These types of books are to replace dry factual textbooks that school children often dread. A “living book” must be authored by someone not only knowledgeable but passionate about a subject. The author’s enthusiasm must shine through the language of the text. Mason believes this enthusiasm would then be mirrored by the students. “Living books” must also be written in conversational or narrative style. Mason looks down upon “twaddle” which she defines as books that are dumbed down for children. These types of books, she argues, not only insult a child’s intelligence but put out any passion the child may have felt for the subject.
When it comes to reading, Mason believes that children must not only read a wide variety of literature but also learn to narrate what they have read in their own words. Children may narrate orally, in written form or even express the ideas they have read through art projects or drawings. This type of post reading narration ensures comprehension and digestion of the large amounts of information children are exposed to. Mason states that younger children may begin with drawings and oral narration but by the age of ten children should be able to incorporate some written narration into the program.
Another cornerstone of the Charlotte Mason method of homeschooling is nature diaries. Teachers should often conduct quick and catchy lessons outdoors and then ask children to conduct their own observations of nature and draw what they see. Mason believes that the consistent study of nature paves the way for the meaningful instruction of scientific topics. Spending a significant amount of time outdoors helps children create a bond with mother nature and a sincere respect for the environment. If you would like to incorporate the Charlotte Mason method into your homeschooling program, a great first step would be to ask your children to keep a nature diary which can include prose, poetry and pictures.
Mason held strongly to her belief that the development of good character and behavior was essential to the complete development of a child’s personality. Children must learn how to govern and discipline themselves. Mason encouraged parents and teachers to instill good habit such as respect, punctuality, cleanliness and patience in their children. Children should spend four to six weeks working on a new trait or skill until it becomes a habit. These are the cornerstones of the Charlotte Mason method. Homeschooling parents can find many ways to incorporate these practices into their homeschooling routines.
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