Charlotte Mason Method

[Hellenic_Witch]

Does anyone else use the Charlotte Mason method? Or use it to supplement? I find her insights into education reflect my own especially the notion that we shouldn't "dumb things down" for kids. And since reading is as essential as breathing in our home, a literary education fits us perfectly. Using historical fiction is also such an effective way to teach kids about history and certain time periods. Much more palatable than dry text books. I've been visiting a lot of Charlotte mason websites and have even conversed with a few of them...but I feel a bit disingenuous considering all of the ones I've met are strict Catholics and would probably be apalled that I am a Hellenist. That's why I'm glad there is a homeschooling thread here!

We don't follow the Charlotte Mason method strictly. We're pretty eclectic and draw from a variety of sources, and among other things, my children are learning about the Latin and Greek roots of the English language.

:) Our homeschooling year has begun very well!

[Philosophia]

Very interesting! I've never heard of Charlotte Mason before.

[Hellenic_Witch]

Here's a link to info on her life:
http://www.infed.org/thinkers/et-mason.htm

In her own words, Charlotte Mason said "Education is an atmosphere, a discipline, a life." And that reflects the attitude my husband and I have towards learning. Learning never ends, and it should be an approach to life. I feel very sorry for those people who think their education ended after grade 12.

Learning permeates our home. This doesn't mean our home is dry and boring and obsessed with education, it just means we approach life with a zest and a drive for learning, that we freely admit that although we don't know it all,we actively try to better ourselves and maintain a curiousity about the world.

Editing to add: Charlotte Mason was a Victorian, so some of what she says should be adapted to a modern lifestyle, but not too much. She borrowed a fair amount of her ideas from Plato, or at least his influence is seen in her writings. But first and foremost, you can tell that she had a great love of children and understood how they learn.

Charlotte Mason quote:
"Children have a right to the best we possess; therefore their lesson books should be, as far as possible, our best books."

[JyuMuse]

*cracks up*
Sorry but when I first read the thread title I though it said, "Charles Manson Method". Hehe sorry sorry.

[blithespirit]

I recently bought Charlotte's original homeschool series. I've been working my way through it, and trying to adapt it to my own methods, which are mostly unschooling/child-led. Her theories are brilliant, and though she places a little too much emphasis on God for my tastes, those ideas are easily adaptable to a pagan/non-Christian household. Definitely worth looking into!

[Ceres]

I only found Charlotte Mason when my oldest was 10 (now 12) and what I read was amusing in that I was already doing a lot of her philosophy. I didnt mind the emphasis on god, just replacing the notion of the god I know she speaks of with my own ideas. I really liked the emphasis on nature and getting kids outside every day.

We unschool and I really dont like the push to get kids reading early on, but we do a lot of reading aloud, which is very CM too. Even though my oldest's dignity is offended by being asked to sit and listen to me read, she will often sneak in to listen of her own accord. Being read to IS appealing.

I know exactly what you mean, HW, about education permeating your home. Its hard to explain to someone not familiar with unschooling, that you dont stop or start schooling at a certain time of day or time of year; but that I never teach in the typical schooling sense either. It comes naturally as an extension of our parenting style.

[Hellenic_Witch]

I only found Charlotte Mason when my oldest was 10 (now 12) and what I read was amusing in that I was already doing a lot of her philosophy.

That's how I felt as well...that her philosopies mirrored my own.

I know exactly what you mean, HW, about education permeating your home. Its hard to explain to someone not familiar with unschooling, that you dont stop or start schooling at a certain time of day or time of year; but that I never teach in the typical schooling sense either. It comes naturally as an extension of our parenting style.

People are always asking me "how are you teacher one minute, and mom the next?" It's as if they think I'm switching roles all day.

[StephanieAine]

Does anyone else use the Charlotte Mason method? Or use it to supplement? I find her insights into education reflect my own especially the notion that we shouldn't "dumb things down" for kids. And since reading is as essential as breathing in our home, a literary education fits us perfectly. Using historical fiction is also such an effective way to teach kids about history and certain time periods. Much more palatable than dry text books. I've been visiting a lot of Charlotte mason websites and have even conversed with a few of them...but I feel a bit disingenuous considering all of the ones I've met are strict Catholics and would probably be apalled that I am a Hellenist. That's why I'm glad there is a homeschooling thread here!

We don't follow the Charlotte Mason method strictly. We're pretty eclectic and draw from a variety of sources, and among other things, my children are learning about the Latin and Greek roots of the English language.

:) Our homeschooling year has begun very well!


I posted in the homeschooling authors thread a while back about Charlotte Mason and also about classical education. You might want to take a look at that post; I put a link there to a site you may be interested in. (Well, I either posted a link or just the site's URL - I don't remember at the moment.) I'm not involved with home education anymore now that my daughter is 21, but I'm very pleased with the way things turned out by using the classical method. Had we started home education in my daughter's early years, I probably would have started with the Mason method and then switched to classical - but things were great doing the classical method on its own.

[moonmorgan]

An another message board I was recommended to look into Charlotte Mason and have. It looks like something I could generally follow when I start homeschooling (my daughters only 13 months.) However just as I'm an Eclectic Wiccan (maybe not even Wiccan, not sure still) I'm Eclectic with everything else so even if I do follow her, I won't follow to the letter. I mix and match.

I did notice in all the sites I visited that all are Christian as Charlotte was too. This does make it hard sometimes to find groups of people using her that I can talk to as most say Christian only.

If you or anyone wants the links I have on her, just let me know.