Getting Started with Charlotte Mason Homeschooling

The homeschool laws in your area will help form what your homeschool looks like, so it’s important to be familiar with them. Some states are stricter than others, but it’s always doable. I encourage you to connect with homeschool leaders in your community through their website or social media accounts for more details.

• Homeschool laws by state
• What is Charlotte Mason? Read more about the CM method and the lady behind it here.

Reading for Beginner Homeschooler Mamas

There are so many good education books out there, and unfortunately just as many bad ones. Homeschooling is a mindset shift from the traditional education system. We don’t have to do all of the same exact subjects or use the same curriculum as the local public schools. Our children aren’t chained to their desks for hours on end with little to no time for challenging their teaching or outside exploration.

We get to reinvent what education means for our children. Or some would say go back to its roots. Here are some resources that explain what a CM education can look like. Some of these are CM specific, while others have a broader view but fit in with the principles of CM.

• The Myth that Americans Were Poorly Educated Before Mass Government Schooling – Fee
• The New Preschool is Crushing Kids – The Atlantic
• The Importance of Being Little – Erika Christakis
• How Public Education Cripples our Kids – John Taylor Gatto
• Dumbing us Down: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling – John Taylor Gatto
• The Call of the Wild and Free – Ainsley Armont
• The Original Charlotte Mason Home Education Series – print version or read free online
• A Charlotte Mason Companion

CM Podcasts and Videos

These how-to videos and podcasts are good for both newbies and seasoned CM homeschoolers alike. They stay true to the original CM method and cover a wide variety of CM subjects and topics. I recommend starting with Simply Charlotte Mason and A Delectable Education if you’re brand new to CM.

• Simply Charlotte Mason videos
• A Delectable Education podcast
• The New Mason Jar podcast
• Charlotte Mason Says podcast
• Ambleside Flourish Podcast

Finding a Charlotte Mason Curriculum

You don’t have to have a made for you curriculum, but it’s especially nice for beginning homeschoolers. Here are my favorite CM curriculums, some free, some paid. Many of these curriculums combine certain subjects, like Bible, history, and literature for all your children so you’re not juggling a different schedule for every child.

“We hold that all education is divine, that every good gift of knowledge and insight comes from above.” – Charlotte Mason

• A Gentle Feast – Paid
• Wildwood – free and secular CM curriculum. Add in your own bible and religious studies.
• Ambleside Online – Free and Christian
• A Modern Charlotte Mason – Paid and Christian. This one incorporates more modern books, although the formatting isn’t my favorite.
• Simply Charlotte Mason – Paid and Christian.
• Alveary – Paid membership for the curriculum, teacher training, and resources.

Charlotte Mason Preschool

Miss Mason didn’t do the conventional preschool that we see today but instead encouraged more organic learning. This “quiet growing time” focused on developing foundational habits, immersive learning, and lots of time in nature. If you need a little more guidance and structure for your day, or your stay requires compulsory education before age 6, then here are some options.

• How to Homeschool During Preschool and Kindergarten With Charlotte Mason
• Idea Nest for the Early Years (preschool and Kindergarten)
• A Modern Charlotte Mason the Early Years Curriculum

Home Atmosphere

“Education is an atmosphere, a discipline, a life.”

“When we say that education is an atmosphere we do not mean that a child should be isolated in what may be called a ‘child environment’ specially adapted and prepared, but that we should take into account the educational value of his natural home atmosphere both as regards persons and things and should let him live freely among his proper conditions” – Charlotte Mason

The Charlotte Mason method is more than just a curriculum, it’s a lifestyle. The atmosphere in our home contributes just as much to training our children as their schoolbooks do. For us, that means cultivating respect, good habits, and a peaceful, happy, well-ordered home life. If I’m stressed, worn out, and anxious, my kids become that way too.

That doesn’t mean I don’t still have messy counters and unmade beds more often than I like, but these are the goals we have as a family. Here are some resources for how to cultivate the atmosphere of your home.

• Charlotte Mason toys and activities for kids of all ages
• Laying Down the Rails –  Handbook for habit training
• Screen time in a CM home

Are you new to homeschooling or new to Charlotte Mason? Have any questions? Leave a comment and let me know!

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Charlotte Mason Preschool

Mason called these early years a “quiet growing time.” If we look around at a lot of modern day preschools and kindergartens though, quiet is the last thing that comes to mind! Mason’s world of the 1800s is different in many ways from our own, but little minds and hearts still develop and learn with the same principles they did hundreds of years ago.

Why Children Don’t Need Preschool

Yes, really. I’m going to start off by making the case that a 3-5-year-old does not need a formal preschool. They don’t need to learn all of their letters, be able to count to 20, and know the difference between a square and a triangle. They don’t need to glue cotton balls onto construction paper.

The experts decided preschool and kindergarten are all about getting kids ready for school and the 8-hour school grind. But is that what’s really best for these tender little souls? Do they need to be stuffed with facts or fall behind before they even start?

The research is saying no.

The Case Against Preschool

By 3rd grade, children who attend rigorous preschool programs have worse test results, have more behavioral issues, and were more likely to have a learning disorder than students not in an academic preschool. Young children have high levels of chronic stress hormones just 2 months after starting kindergarten.

The United States Department of Health and Human Services conducted a massive survey to find out once and for all if government preschool programs worked. While graduation rates were higher and incarcerations were lower, it wasn’t really thanks to academics.

By functioning as a glorified child-care service, programs like Head Start helped give parents the time they needed to improve their family’s lives. The children however didn’t necessarily have better academic gains than their peers.

This is not to knock early education programs and the families that rely on them, but rather to highlight they may not be working the way we think they’re working.

A Better Approach to Preschool

So if little Susie doesn’t need rigorous academics, what does she need? Mason, like Maria Montessori and Rudolf Steiner, knew that young children learn best through play. They need experiences and toys that encourage open ended play and creativity.

By giving them access to organic interactions with their world they naturally thrive. We want to encourage and cultivate creativity and free thought, not stifle it. Mason delayed any formal academics until age 6 and instead focused on good habits, character building, and sparking the joy of learning.

What a Charlotte Mason preschool does NOT look like:

• No long periods of seatwork at a desk
• No worksheets
• No junky paper crafts that clutter the home
• No forcing learning or formal academics
• No memorizing lists of facts the children don’t understand
• No long days inside

A Golden Opportunity

We as parents have the unique privilege of helping cultivate our children’s minds and hearts. These early years are crucial to building the foundation of good habits and character that will last our children a lifetime. Academics are the first floor of the building, but it will ultimately sink and fail if they don’t have the foundation under them first.

The Ultimate Guide to a Charlotte Mason Preschool and Kindergarten

There are some very good resources out there to help parents implement Mason’s early years approach in their homes. My intention is not to give an exhaustive, step-by-step curriculum here, but to point you in the right direction. Consider this your roadmap to help you know where you’re going and why.

I’ll also add that I’ve spent a ridiculous amount of time researching Charlotte Mason preschools so you don’t have to. You don’t have to read a dozen full size books on early education, and even more scholarly articles or dig through everything Mason said about little students like I have.

This is my attempt at condensing all of that information for you. I’ve included a list of references at the bottom though in case you’re a total research nerd like me and want to dig further. Let’s get started!

“Education is an atmosphere, a discipline, a life.” Charlotte Mason

The Prime Directive

Star Trek fans will know that the prime directive of Star Fleet is to never interfere with the natural development of a foreign people. Homeschool parents have a similar goal. We want to cultivate natural development, not step in and take it over.

Our true prime directive however is much more important. If our children never know and come to love their creator, then all of this means nothing. By helping them see who God is, that He loves them and has a plan for them, we’ll have done the most important thing.

Habit Training in a Charlotte Mason Preschool

I’ve already touched on this, but developing good habits in our children is one of the first priorities as a parent. When they’ve learned the habits of paying attention and listening to their parents, everything that follows will come so much easier.

Teach by example and don’t overwhelm them. Focus on one good habit at a time, be consistent, and model it for them. Laying Down the Rails is an excellent resource for all the nitty gritty details of how to do habit training.

Don’t Insult Them

Some educational programs focus on creating a child like environment for the student to live in. Everything is cute, little, and merely an adaptation of the real world. Mason disagreed with this approach.

“When we say that ‘education is an atmosphere,’ we do not mean that a child should be isolated in what may be called a ‘child-environment’ especially adapted and prepared, but that we should take into account the educational value of his natural home atmosphere, both as regards persons and things, and should let him live freely among his proper conditions. It stultifies a child to bring down his world to the ‘child’s’ level” (Mason Vol. 6).

This doesn’t mean we need to expose our preschoolers to the hard facts of life from day one. Rather it means that we let them live and learn beside us and with us, not sheltered in their own world.

Preschool and Kindergarten Nature Time

Time in nature is one of the cornerstones of a Charlotte Mason education. Mason had lofty ideals and recommended children spend at least 4-6 hours a day outside. Is it practical? No. Is it what’s best for them? Probably.

Most of us aren’t going to get anywhere near 6 hours of outside time a day, but the idea is to have as much as possible. Play outside, eat outside, learn outside. And once they’re worn out, Mason said they can nap outside!

Not only will little ones learn exploration and feed their curiosity, but they can learn about the weather, animals, which way is north, where does the sunset, which way is grandma’s house?

Have sensory experiences. Encourage them to touch, hear, smell, and listen to everything they can. Knowing when to use what sense is just as important as using them. Feeling a leaf or holding a frog from nature is a good thing, but trying to chase down a skunk is another experience entirely.

• Spend lots of time outside exploring nature, but don’t push a bunch of facts on young minds.
• Don’t freak out if they find a toad or a slimy worm, get excited with them.
• Teacher and student can both record their findings in a nature notebook and a calendar of firsts.

Learn a Foreign Language

Think about how babies learn to speak. First, they hear the words from you and see how they connect to real life objects and experiences. It isn’t until they have a good grasp on speaking the language that they start to learn to read it. Learning a foreign language is the same.

• Listen to and sing foreign language songs together
• Listen to audiobooks or videos (without subtitles!) in the language
• If you’re fluent enough in the language, read books to your children, but don’t point out the words.

Read Living Books

Quality over quantity is what’s important here. Choose beautiful stories and picture books that teach character traits, stimulate curiosity and an appreciation for the world. You can read more about how to find the best books here. These books are some of my favorites for little ones:

• Winnie the Pooh – A.A. Milne
• Peter Rabbit – Beatrix Potter
• Old Mother West Wind – Thornton Burgess
• Hans Christian Andersen’s Complete fairy tales
• Mother Goose nursery rhymes

Teaching Letters and Numbers

It’s not that we ignore the alphabet and counting, we’re just making in a fuller sensory experience. Instead of abstract concepts on worksheets, count the plates on the dinner table together. Count up your graham crackers at snack time.

Use magnetic letters they can touch and manipulate. Draw letters in a tray of sand or in the dirt outside. Make a game of it.

“When should he begin? Whenever his box of letters begins to interest him. The baby of two will often be able to name half a dozen letters; and there is nothing against it so long as the finding and naming of letters is a game to him” (Mason, Vol. 1).

Art Appreciation

Let your little ones see good artwork. They may not appreciate a museum just yet, but point out beautiful pieces in large art books. I love these board picture books featuring famous artists. Help them create with fingerpaints, crayons, and sculpt with playdough.

This is also a good time to develop an appreciation of music. Play Bach and Beethoven in the background or turn it up and dance together. Sing them songs, hymns, and folk songs and help them learn to sing along.

More Charlotte Mason Preschool Ideas

• Play singing games like London Bridge, and the Farmer in the Dell.
• Play memory games, like this matching animals one
• Jump rope, play ball, make snowballs. Make and move together!
• Tell them stories and fairy tales from memory. Use your voice and movements to make the story come to life.
• Start learning easy handicrafts, like sewing cards and finger knitting

Charlotte Mason Preschool Curriculum

While a curriculum isn’t necessary, some moms want one to help guide their preschool journey. Some states and countries require Kindergarten. Keep in mind that there are many “Charlotte Mason inspired” curriculums, but they deviate (sometimes a lot), from the intended method. If you prefer to have a true CM curriculum, here are some of my favorite options. Most are either free or low cost.

• Our Preschool Life – Simply Charlotte Mason
• Early Years Curriculum – A Modern Charlotte Mason
• The Idea Nest – My Little Robins
• Ambleside Year 0 (suitable for Kindergarten but needs adjusted for preschool)
• A Quiet Growing Time – Wildwood

What activities does your little one love to do? Leave a comment and be sure to share with a friend!

Sources:

• Christakis, E. (2017). The Importance of Being Little: What Young Children Really Need from Grownups. Penguin Books.
• Gray, P. (2021, May 24). The Case Against Universal Preschool. Psychology Today.
• Piper, K. (2018). Early childhood education yields big benefits — just not the ones you think
  Any academic boost from preschool fades out after a few years. Surprisingly, it still has lifelong effects. Vox.
• Shafer, S., Smith, K. (2009). The Early Years: A Charlotte Mason Preschool Handbook.

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Bird Nature Study

Nature study isn’t my thing. As much as I love nature, actually getting hands on experience with it can prove difficult sometimes. Add in winter weather and little kids… and getting outside can be even trickier.

Whether you’re a nature study newbie or it’s old hat, I’ve found that having some direction before stepping outside is key.

Winter Nature Study

Birds are around most of the year, but there are special considerations for each season. Depending on where you live, going outside for a long nature walk in winter may not be possible, no matter how warm your kid’s clothing.

We try to get outside for about 10-15 minutes if the weather is really nippy. Longer 20-30 minute sessions are ideal, weather permitting. I’ve included options for bird nature study ideas both inside and outside. Try to make time for outside, but it’s also ok to cuddle up with a good living book on the couch, hot chocolate in hand.

Bird Nature Walk

The best way to study birds it to study real birds. It may seem like a no brainer, but it’s important to pair  our living books with real life experience. We also can’t treat nature study like a checklist. As in, go outside, see a bird, mark it off our list, and we’re done for the day.

Education is the science of relations – Charlotte Mason

Nature, like people, works in concert together. It takes time to recognize and understand these connections. Now that we’ve found a bird we can consdier:

• What is it doing?
• What does it’s call sound like?
• Does it interact with other birds or animals around it?
• What color/shape are its feathers/beak/body?
• How does it fly? Does it soar and dip, or is it a flapper?

Grab some binoculars and take your time to observe! Watching quietly can be hard for little ones, but try to help them focus on the subject at hand. Over time their attention spans will grow.

What You Need for Bird Nature Study

At its simplest, we need our five senses and time in nature. Here are some helpful tools I’d recommend to make the most of the learning experience.

• Bird watching binoculars. A regular pair will work, but according to the Audobon Society, certain binoculars help us see their quick small movements even better. You can find  reasonably priced but still high quality binoculars for bird watching here.
• A blank sketchbook. We want space to draw and lined notebooks aren’t the best option here. An artist sketchbook holds nature drawings and any notes.
• Paints and Pencils. Watercolor pan set, drawing pencils, and/or colored pencils to draw and write in the nature notebook.
• Field guides. It’s nice to take a small one outside to look things up on the spot. I prefer to save the big, heavy field guides with detailed information (or the internet) for inside use after our outside time. Peterson’s Backyard Birds is good for kids, and the Audubon Field Guides are very thorough.

Make it Stick

Spend time in nature observing, record notes and questions, then draw what you find.

It’s important to help kids draw what they actually see, not what they think they see. We tend to have an image of what a bird (or other object) looks like in our head and we go off of that. Help them observe the subject and record it accurately for their age.

Drawing Birds For Kids

Free hand drawing and painting takes some guidance and lots of practice. Here are some good books that help kids draw realistic looking birds. I like that the drawings are not cartoonish, but the instructions are detailed and simple enough even for little ones to follow.

How to Draw Bird Books for Kids

How to Draw Birds in Simple Steps

How to Draw Birds 

Winter Nature Study Ideas for Birds

If it’s especially cold out, here are a few ideas to keep your toes from freezing.

• After observing some birds, go inside and draw or paint in the sketchbook from a field guide.
• Observe birds through a window with binoculars
• Put a bird feeder in the yard for bird watching (and you’ll see plenty of squirrels too).
• Watch some videos about birds in their natural habitats
• Read a living book about birds and study the pictures
• Use a magnifying glass to examine bird feathers or bones. Dissection isn’t necessary or encouraged for little ones. Mason felt it was important they learn to appreciate nature first, not tear it apart.

Bird Science Activities and Experiments

Observing birds in nature is important, but we can delve a little deeper to understand how they work.  This year my family is learning about the Wright brothers and airplanes. Since airplanes are inspired by bird’s flight, it’s a good fit with a bird nature study focus.

Your family can make comparisons between flying machines and flying birds. There’s also plenty of simple experiments to do that help kids understand bird’s the inner workings.

Experiment: Drag and Lift

Discuss drag, lift and how birds wings catch the air. Point out how some birds fly in a V formation and ask why they think that is? Prompt the students to bring up relevant questions.

Hand each student a strip of paper, about 1 inch wide and at least 6 inches long.

What happens when we hold the paper to our lips and blow a hard, thin stream of air right below the paper? What happens when we blow right on top of the paper? Discuss why you think that happened and the differences between the two experiments.

Talk about how birds leverage drag and lift to fly.

Experiment: Why Do Birds Fly in a V Formation?

1. Observe birds flying in a V formation if possible, preferably outside but a video will work.
2. Discuss why they think birds fly that way.
3. Take a strip of paper about 1-2 inches wide and at least 6 inches long and fold it in half to make a V shape.
4. Hold the center fold of the paper and put the paper in front of a fan. Discuss how the wind moves across the “wings.” What happens if we open the paper strip up so it’s flat against the wind?

What Does it Mean?

Talk about how birds fly in a V formation because it reduces wind resistance and conserves their energy.

It’s important to not just recite a bunch of facts to your students. Help them to see, discover, discuss, and come to their own conclusions. When our kids can discover an idea for themselves instead of listening to a lecture, information it sticks better!

Living Books about Birds

There are a lot of options out there, but here are some of my top picks for living books about birds. You can get hard copies, but some are also available free online.

• Burgess Bird Book for Children OR  (free ebook version)
• Everything You Never Learned About Birds (includes experiments)
• Birds: Nature’s Magnificent Flying machines
• For the Birds: The Life of Roger Tory Peterson
• The Travels of Birds: Our birds and their journey’s to strange lands.  (free ebook version)
• Urban Roosts: Where birds nest in the city
• The Audubon Journals (free ebook version)
• About Birds: A guide for children

Enjoying Nature

Nature study doesn’t have to be perfect. It’s as simple as getting outside and helping our kids develop relationships with their environment.

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Christmas Playdough

My kids and I make a batch of playdough every so often. It’s a great way to practice measuring skills and fractions and the end result is a fun activity on the cheap. I wanted to do something a little special for the holidays though.

This candy cane scented playdough recipe smells so delicious and is a great way to get in the Christmas mood.

Why Scented Playdough?

I’ll admit I hadn’t realized scented playdough was even a thing until later in life. Not only does scented playdough smell good, but it can have a positive effect on the emotions. Scents like lavender are calming, while orange and lemon uplift the mood. Squishing and molding clay is stress relieving and smelling the essential oils just makes us all happy.

My oldest has issues focusing and we’ve found that keeping his hands busy during lessons really helps him pay attention. We’ve also molded play dough into different figures and objects to narrate a lesson. Acting the story out with playdough is a creative way to tell back what you’ve learned and helps mix things up.

Candy Cane Scented Playdough

This is a good activity to pull out in between lessons to boost mental awareness! Peppermint is cooling and supports a clear respiratory system. Mint is also known for its invigorating properties to help kids (and moms!) stay alert.

How Do you Make Candy Cane Playdough?

The candy cane playdough recipe is pretty simple actually. I added peppermint essential oil to our regular playdough recipe. To ensure the peppermint oil was evenly distributed, I combined it with the olive oil before adding it to the rest of the ingredients and cooking.

Make Peppermint Playdough

Some recipes add the essential oil after the playdough is already made, but this can pose some issues. Peppermint is a strong oil and I don’t want pockets of undiluted essential oil in the playdough. And although my kids help with candy cane playdough recipe, I add the peppermint myself. Accidentally getting peppermint in an eye is no fun!

Soft Playdough Recipe

Cream of tartar isn’t something I always keep on hand, but it’s worth having for playdough recipes. The cream of tartar is what makes the dough nice and soft. My first batch of scented playdough was perfect, but I ran out of cream of tartar on the second go round.

You may notice that the candy cane playdough in the pictures looks a little dry because I didn’t have enough cream of tartar for the second batch. This recipe though yields beautifully soft and squishy playdough!

Make Easy Peppermint Playdough

This candy cane playdough is pretty simple and takes less than 10 minutes total to make. Some recipes nix the cream of tartar, but the consistency just isn’t the same without it so I left it in. If you want a no cook version then use 1/2 cup boiling water and stir to combine. Add a little extra water at a time if needed.

Objects to Use with Playdough

Almost anything will work when it comes to playdough tools. You don’t need fancy playdough playsets though. Here are a few ideas that my kids love!

• Miniature or regular size rolling pins
• Stamps
• Cookie cutters
• Chopsticks
• Nature items (pinecones, twigs, pretend berries, and flowers)

Print

Candy Cane Playdough

A simple Christmas scented candy cane playdough recipe. Totally non-toxic and smells amazing!

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

cook time 4 minutes minutes

Total Time 9 minutes minutes

Servings 2 playdough balls

Author Jamie

Ingredients

• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1/3 cup salt
• 2 tsp cream of tartar
• 1 cup water
• 1 Tbsp vegetable oil olive or coconut both work
• 6-8 drops peppermint essential oil

Instructions

• Whisk together the flour, salt and cream of tartar in a pot.
• Measure the oil into a measuring spoon and drip the essential oils in, stir gently to combine.
• Add the oils and water to the pot and whisk until smooth.
• Cook over medium heat for about 4 minutes or until thickened and the dough pulls away from the sides of the pan.
• Remove from the pan and let the playdough cool in the fridge for 5-10 minutes.
• Divide the balls and have and use red food coloring on one half. You can use white food coloring on the other ball, or leave it a natural white.

Notes

For a candy cane playdough no cook version, use 1/2 cup boiling water and stir to combine. Add more water if needed a little at a time. 

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While I love history, it wasn’t thanks to my history textbook. I can still remember specific dates and events in the historical fiction novels I read over 20 years ago. What I don’t remember (and don’t care too) are the endless, boring details from my history textbooks.

What Are Living Books?

Living books, like the ones from my childhood, present ideas in an engaging way that children can learn from. They’re one of the cornerstones of the Charlotte Mason method. 

“Children must have books, living books; the best are not too good for them; anything less than the best is not good enough; and if it is needful to exercise economy, let go everything that belongs to soft and luxurious living before letting go the duty of supplying the books, and the frequent changes of books, which are necessary for the constant stimulation of the child’s intellectual life.” – Charlotte Mason

Living books as engaging, challenging, and worthwhile. They are usually written by one author who is passionate about the subject. Dry, boring, fact stuffed books are out. Insipid storylines that are choppy or preachy are likewise out.

What is Twaddle?

Any book that didn’t live up to these standards was labelled “twaddle.”

Yes, I know. When I first heard the definition of living books and twaddle, I had a hard time imagining how to really tell the difference between the two. At our house, we call twaddle brain junk food. It may feel good at the time, but not only is there little benefit, it’s likely harmful. Merriam-Webster has the definition of twaddle as “silly idle talk, nonsense, something insignificant or worthless.”

I want to clarify that a Charlotte Mason education doesn’t mean we never read anything fun or amusing. It’s not all about ancient, straight-faced, classic literature. What it does mean, is that the books, media, and other things we consume are worthwhile and help build us up.

So what does twaddle mean and how can we tell if a book is twaddle or living? Here’s an example of twaddle and living books to compare the difference.

Examples of Living Books vs Twaddle

Example of Twaddle Books:

George Washington was our first president. Before that, George was in a war. It was called the Revolutionary war. The war lasted from 1775-1783. About 25,000 men died in the Revolutionary war.

See how the sentences offer tired facts in an uninspiring fashion?

Example of Living Books:

“Never was there such a send-off as that given the Sixth Massachusetts Regiment, the first to leave for Washington. Thousands saw the trains off from Boston, the cheering loud enough to stir the saints. Great geysers were shot in the air by fire trucks when the cars passed through Worcester and Springfield. In New York, the regiment marched down thronged Broadway to an elegant breakfast at the Aster House. Their gunstocks were oiled, their bayonets bright.” – Bull Run by Paul Fleischman

In contrast, this passage makes it feel like we’re part of the story and in on the action! It engages the senses of our imagination.

Grade Level vs Comprehension

It’s also important to note that many of the books in a Charlotte Mason education would today be considered above the child’s grade level. Books that used to be read in the elementary years 100 years ago are now reserved for high school, if they’re even read at all.

We want to have living books, but they should also be appropriate for the child’s age. Since we’re often reading books aloud, it’s ok if our student can’t read the text on their own. The point is to introduce them to great ideas that are at their comprehension level.

For example, the quote from Bull Run” above is listed at a 6-8th grade reading level, however our CM curriculum uses it in form 1 (grades 1-3).

Let Living Books do the Teaching

Charlotte Mason emphasized that the books should do the teaching. This takes the pressure off of us to try and become an expert in everything who then relays that information to our children.

“The much-diluted, or over-condensed, teaching of the oral lesson, or the lecture, gives place to the well thought out, consecutive treatment of the right book, a living book in which facts are presented as the outcome of ideas.” – Charlotte Mason

Instead of spoon feeding our children ideas through lectures (or textbooks that do the same thing), we read them quality literature.

“I think we owe it to children to let them dig their knowledge, of whatever subject, for themselves out of the fit book; and this for two reasons: What a child digs for is his own possession; what is poured into his ear, like the idle song of a pleasant singer, floats out as lightly as it came in, and is rarely assimilated.

I do not mean to say that the lecture and the oral lesson are without their uses; but these uses are, to give impulse and to order knowledge; and not to convey knowledge, or to afford us that part of our education which comes of fit knowledge, fitly given.

Again, as I have already said, ideas must reach us directly from the mind of the thinker, and it is chiefly by means of the books they have written that we get into touch with the best minds.” Charlotte Mason

Size Doesn’t Matter

She goes on to say that living books stir our emotions and give impulse. That just because a book is big and long winded, doesn’t make it a living book. A small book may be no more than an abstract and “the dry bones of the subjects,” or it could be inspiring and thorough.

The important part isn’t how long the text is or how complicated the words sound.

The Litmus Test For Living Books

We start with a quality book, but if our children don’t enjoy it they won’t learn anything.

“The children themselves are the experts in this case. A single page will elicit a verdict; but the unhappy thing is, this verdict is not betrayed; it is acted upon in the opening or closing of the door of the mind.”  Charlotte Mason

If our children enjoy a book, but it’s not a living book giving them quality thoughts and inspiration, it’s not leading them where they need to go.

“For the rest, he must experiment or test the experiments of others, being assured of one thing––that a book serves the ends of education only as it is vital.” Charlotte Mason

Stop Explaining Living Books

Once we have a living book, there’s a right way and a wrong way to use it. Some of us can remember book reports for English class. After we dissected the book to death for a book report our spark for it was lost, no matter how good or enjoyable it was. Often these dissections and discussions take place after (or during!) each reading.

Charlotte said that it’s important for the children to like the book, to feel inspired by it, and for us to not get in the way.

Charlotte Mason Living Books: The Parents Role

By over explaining and overanalyzing the book, we can easily detract from the learning experience. We don’t have to worry about holding the class’s attention while we’re discussing the book, but let the inspiring words of the book do that.

“The teacher’s part in this regard is to see and feel for himself, and then to rouse his pupils by an appreciative look or word; but to beware how he deadens the impression by a flood of talk.”

“The inspired talk of an orator no doubt wakens a response and is listened to with tense attention; but few of us claim to be inspired, and we are sometimes aware of the difficulty of holding the attention of a class. We blame ourselves, whereas the blame lies in the instrument we employ––the more or less diluted oral lesson or lecture, in place of the living and arresting book.”

“Having found the right book, let the master give the book the lead and be content himself with a second place. The lecture must be subordinated to the book. The business of the teacher is to put his class in the right attitude towards their book by a word or two of his own interest in the matter contained, of his own delight in the manner of the author.” Charlotte Mason

Charlotte Mason Living Books: The Student’s Role

The students job is to take the information in, ponder it, and assimilate what they will into their knowledge bank. If our child doesn’t have to use his brain to think and dig for the information himself, it won’t stick.

“He must generalise, classify, infer, judge, visualise, discriminate, labour in one way or another, with that capable mind of his, until the substance of his book is assimilated or rejected, according as he shall determine; for the determination rests with him and not with his teacher.”

“But boys get knowledge only as they dig for it. Labour prepares the way for assimilation, that mental process which converts information into knowledge; and the effort of taking in the sequence of thought of his author is worth to the boy a great deal of oral teaching.” Charlotte Mason

Asessing Knowledge with Living Books

So if we’re not picking apart the reading or asking specific questions about it (like what date did this happen, what town did he live in, etc.), how do we know they learned the right information? Narration is one of the hallmarks of a CM education and it’s how our students convey what they learned.

“There is much difference between intelligent reading, which the pupil should do in silence, and a mere parrot-like cramming up of contents; and it is not a bad test of education to be able to give the points of a description, the sequence of a series of incidents, the links in a chain of argument, correctly, after a single careful reading. This is a power which a barrister, a publisher, a scholar, labours to acquire; and it is a power which children can acquire with great ease, and once acquired, the gulf is bridged which divides the reading from the non-reading community.” Charlotte Mason

Charlotte also gives more options for how students can use living books to further their knowledge.

“Other (ways) are to enumerate the statements in a given paragraph or chapter; to analyse a chapter, to divide it into paragraphs under proper headings, to tabulate and classify series; to trace cause to consequence and consequence to cause; to discern character and perceive how character and circumstance interact; to get lessons of life and conduct, or the living knowledge which makes for science, out of books; all this is possible for school boys and girls, and until they have begun to use books for themselves in such ways, they can hardly be said to have begun their education.” Charlotte Mason

What is a Living Book?

So, what are living books? A living book makes the story come alive and teaches the student in an engaging and meaningful way. Living books are long or short, old or new, and are usually written by one author who is passionate about the subject. They are not dry lists of summarized facts. Living books have more of a narrative or conversational tone, unlike my history textbooks growing up.

What are some of your favorite living books? Leave a comment and let us know!

The post What Are Living Books (and What’s Twaddle??) appeared first on pine cones and primers.

Like many things in life, we get out of it what we put in.

I’ve found that when I take the time to read inspirational books, I feel more inspired to pour out beautiful thoughts and ideas into our home. A good Charlotte Mason reading list is a key way to do that.

“Education is a life, nourished upon ideas; and education is an atmosphere––that is, the child breathes the atmosphere emanating from his parents; that of the ideas which rule their own lives.” – Charlotte Mason, Parents and Children, p. 247

I’m Too Busy to Read

First off, let me start by saying I have very little time in my life to sit down and read a book. That said, I’ve been on a child development neuroscience kick lately and am devouring books on said subject. So how in the world have I read all of these books, managed to stay sane, and still have time for homeschooling??

I can’t guarantee the sane part, but I do have a few tricks up my sleeve for getting some reading time in.

How to Fit in Reading Time as a Mom

One option is to set aside a measly 15 minutes a day to get some reading time in. Short reading times fit in well with the Charlotte Mason method anyway. I know some moms who spend 10-15 minutes reading an educational book after their devotional every morning. Sometimes we’ll have family “quiet time” where my oldest will read a chapter book, the toddler naps, and I take a minute to myself to read or crochet.

My Secret Weapon

Listening to books is my big (not so) secret. I often travel a lot for work, so I’ll play a book on audible on my phone while I drive. You can also listen to books while doing chores around the house or going out for a walk. The car is my biggest book “reading” time though, since my little ones can’t survive for 20 whole seconds at home without talking to me.

It’s kind of like the bathroom rule.

The kids can be happily playing but as soon as you sneak off to the bathroom they know. And they will find you.

Yes…Yes, You

Charlotte Mason talks about education as an atmosphere and a life. When we can model enjoying a good book for our kids, that becomes part of their atmosphere and encourages the habit of reading. Sadly I’ve seen all too many households that neglect the self-led reading that feeds the mind. There are so many good ideas to learn from books that we’ll never meet if we don’t give them the chance.

My Favorite Charlotte Mason Education Books for Moms

Not all of these books are written from a Charlotte Mason perspective, but they add to the discussion in a meaningful way. As you sift through them keep the ideas that fit your family and leave the rest. So much of the Charlotte Mason method is common sense and arises from how children naturally learn and behave.

Books that complement these ideals are a natural fit and can be easily incorporated into our overall educational philosophy.

These books are in no particular order, since they’re all my favorites right now.

#1 In Vital Harmony

I’m on my second round through this one on Audible. It’s one of those books I wanted to savor and mull over a bit because it’s so packed with helpful information. Charlotte Mason introduced her 20 principles of education, and In Vital Harmony tackles the task of explaining them. The chapters  break down her 20 principles in an easy to understand way, and flushes out her ideals.

Spoiler alert: the two main principles that all the other principles hinge on and expound from are 1: Education is the science of relations and 2: Children are born persons.  Veteran CM homeschoolier Karen Glass does a superb job of delving into the heart behind the Charlotte Mason method.

In Vital Harmony: Charlotte Mason and the Natural Laws of Education by Karen Glass – get it on Audible, Kindle or paperback 

#2 The Call of the Wild and Free 

While not strictly Charlotte Mason, this book is a breath of fresh air to the education world. It encompasses the overlapping similarities of methods like Waldorf, Montessori, Unschooling, and Charlotte Mason. The underlying idea is that children are born to be free thinkers, creators, and full of imagination. Our job as parents is to cultivate that wonder, not stifle it.

This leads to a lifetime of self-led learning and mature, free-thinking adults. I can’t rave enough about how much I love this book!

From the publisher:

“Allow your children to experience the adventure, freedom, and wonder of childhood with this practical guide that provides all the information, inspiration, and advice you need for creating a modern, quality homeschool education.”

The Call of the Wild and Free: Reclaiming Wonder in Your Child’s Education by Ainsley Arment – get it on Kindle, Audible, Print or CD here. 

#3 When Less Becomes More 

As a busy mom it can be SO easy to feel burnout. To try and do all. the. things. When we rush through life at breakneck speed trying to cram everything in, we end up missing out on so much. What I love about this book is that it’s practical and comes from a working mom, not yet another male guru that doesn’t have to worry about teaching his child and getting the laundry done.

Emily shares practical tips for how to say yes to what’s good, while saying no to what’s not beneficial in our current stage of life.

If you need to learn how to reclaim your sanity and peace while still getting the important things done, then run, don’t walk to get this book. Or click the button on your phone, same difference.

When Less Becomes More: Making Space for Slow, Simple, and Good by Emily Ley – get it on Audible, Kindle, Free on Kindle Unlimited, Print, or Audio CD

#4 Adventuring Together

This book has the flavor of unschooling, but still fits in well with Charlotte Mason’s love of nature. Greta takes us on her harrowing adventures, exploring nature trails and space stations with her four little ones. Sometimes as moms we forget about the wonder of childhood and forget to just be with our kids. Adventuring Together has practical ideas and riveting stories for how we can get out and enjoy nature and real life experiences on this homeschool journey.

Adventuring Together How to Create Connections and Make Lasting Memories with Your Kids by Greta Eskridge – Get it on Kindle, print, Audible or Audio CD here. 

#5 The Importance of Being Little

I feel like fist pumping and jumping up and down when I read this book. Ok, maybe not the jumping part because that would lead to an emergency bathroom trip. But every parent of a preschooler/kindergartner needs to read this book.

Scientists have pointed to the unique benefits of play based learning for young learners for years, yet  many school programs ignore it. Workpages, cutsey art projects, and scripted lessons not only don’t contribute anything meaningful, but they can have long lasting negative consequences on a child’s development.

Them’s fightin’ words, but read this book and you’ll see what I mean.

Yale early childhood expert Erika Christakis takes the reader on a journey through the preschool classroom, revealing how young children really learn. Through their atmosphere, quality literature, and real life experiences.

The Importance of Being Little: What Young Children Really Need from Grownups by Erika Christakis – Get it on Kindle, Audible, print, or MP3 here.

Did I leave out one of your favorites? Leave a comment and let us know what books we should be reading next!

The post My Top 5 Inspirational Books For Homeschool Moms appeared first on pine cones and primers.

“Imagine you’re drowning and someone hands you a baby.” Jim Gaffigan

Life with little ones can be challenging, but oh so rewarding. We’ve homeschooled for almost 6 years now, including through a new baby and working full time while homeschooling.

The Charlotte Mason method can be very demanding, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming! Here’s how to homeschool with a baby or toddler in tow.

#1 Establish Routines

It can be tempting to let the day slip by, putting out one fire after the next. Your toddler is having a meltdown. The baby won’t stop crying. Your 3rd and 4th grader won’t stop bickering with each other.

Are you stressed yet??

Establishing routines, even if they get derailed sometimes, sets expectations and a tone for the day. As much as they want to do it themselves, little ones thrive with structure.

#2 Make Good Habits

When we train our children in good habits, it makes for smoother days. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve cringed when parents tell me they can’t wait to hand their child over to the teacher/coach/grandparent because their child misbehaves around them.

“The mother who takes pains to endow her children with good habits secures for herself smooth and easy days; while she who lets their habits take care of themselves has a weary life of endless friction with the children.” Charlotte Mason

Expect Good Behavior

If we don’t show our children what is good and right, then expect it, they won’t do what is good and right. Kids will develop habits regardless. It’s our responsibility to make sure they’re good ones. Unruly little ones make for unruly adults.

If everything is chaos, that’s just not going to work. Stress, yelling, overwhelm… you know the drill.
Habit training is more work up front, but saves us (and our kids) from grief in the end.

#3 Naptime is Gold

Younger babies often take 2-3 naps a day. Even most toddlers still take an afternoon nap. Take advantage of this time! I sometimes save harder subjects, ones that require more concentration or guidance, for nap time.

Homeschooling with a Newborn

Speaking of naps, newborns (usually) nap more than older babies and little ones. Don’t stretch yourself too thin though stuffing everything in during naptime. It’s important to get adequate rest.

This may mean taking a break from school during this season. I planned for a 1 month school break when baby came. This reduced the stress of trying to get it all done with a newborn. When we’re not rested our attitude reflects this and it affects the mood of the home.

#4 The Cutest Fashion Accessory

Babywearing was a God-send with my little ones! They could snuggle up with me and not feel left out from the action. My youngest often fell asleep in the carrier and took a nap right there.

My favorite carrier is the LilleBaby. Little ones can face towards you if they prefer, or face out if they don’t want to miss out on any action. My youngest trekked around in it until he was almost 2.

I like the Moby Wrap with newborns, but after they reach 10 pounds it’s too much back strain for me.

#5 Don’t fit a Round Baby into a Square Schedule

Or something like that…

The idea is make your day work around your baby or toddler’s needs, not the other way around. Don’t teach a Shakespeare lesson right before lunch when baby is getting cranky.

Try to help your baby or toddler have a routine, like scheduled nap and eating times, then work homeschooling around that.

My baby was most calm in the mornings, so I took advantage of that and we did lessons first thing. I’d often nurse him in the rocking chair, while I read aloud, answered questions, or listened to narrations.

#6 It’s a Family Thing

We don’t have to do everything ourselves. Not only can older kids do chores like feeding pets, cleaning, and making meals, they can help with baby. Older ones can take turns watching and playing with the baby while you work with another student.

This doesn’t mean the baby needs a personal entertainer all day, but when they need focused attention, enlist help.

#7 Choose Your Space

We homeschool at the kitchen table which is open to the living room. This way I can work in the kitchen and supervise the toddler playing all at once. Somedays more successfully than others. You can also set up a baby pen area for times when another child needs more focused attention.

In on the Action

Little ones want to be involved in what’s going on. I pull up a chair for my toddler at the “school table” next to his brother. He can color, paint, squish playdough, or do other activities during this time. The key is to have variety so they don’t get bored and fussy.

#8 Busy Boxes

Toddlers and preschoolers like having special activities. You can have “busy boxes” with toys and activities that are for school time only. It keeps the experience special so they look forward to this time and are more engaged and peaceful.

Here are independent toddler and preschool activity ideas.

#9 Take Care of Yourself

I feel thin, sort of stretched. Like butter scraped over too much bread.” – Bilbo Baggins from J.R.R. Tolkien

We can’t give our family our best when we’re worn out. Take some time for self-care. There will be stressful days. Recharging our batteries so we can cope with the stress is a must for a healthy mind and body. Here are some ways to pamper yourself. 

Lie Low

Now is not the time to be involved in 3 homeschool co-ops, weekly swim meets, and dance lessons. A young baby or toddler takes a lot of physical and mental effort. When you feel like you’re ready, add these things back in.

#10 Call in the Cavalry

Once a week I have a mother’s helper come in. This gives me a little breathing room and takes some of the stress off my plate. Sometimes she watches the kids while I take a much needed nap or get some work done. Other times she cleans our house while I’m doing something with the kids.

This could be a young girl from a fellow homeschooling family, a college student, or a family friend with an empty nest.

Homeschooling with Little Ones

Homeschooling with little ones poses its challenges, but with targeted effort we don’t have to feel like we’re drowning.

The post How to Homeschool when You have a Baby or Toddler appeared first on pine cones and primers.

Ok, I lied.

Homeschooling doesn’t have to be high maintenance! Children can still get a quality education even without a full-time stay at home parent.

Homeschooling is Different

At 12, I carried a kitchen timer with me to school. Every time we changed classrooms, a student was disruptive, or time was otherwise not spent on school work, it went on the timer.

I’d come home and show my mom that we’d wasted 2 hours and 10 minutes that day. I was highly efficient as a kid.

What’s the point?

A lot of time at public and private school is not spent doing school. Study hall, lunch time, classroom disruptions, bathroom breaks, busywork to fill time… they all add up.

A Day in the Life of a Homeschooler

A typical homeschool day can be done in 1-4 hours, depending on the child’s age. This leaves plenty of time for self-learning or extra-curricular activities later (or earlier) in the day.

How to Work and Homeschool

#1 Roll With It

School doesn’t have to follow a rigid schedule. Instead of working on a schedule, I use time blocks. This way if there are interruptions I don’t feel like the whole day unraveled.

Instead of saying at 9 am we will have breakfast, then lessons from 9:30-11:30, I know that after breakfast ends we’ll spend 2 hours on school.

If breakfast is late that day or the baby has a diaper blowout and needs attention, I don’t panic.

#2 Don’t be Afraid of Commitment

Make homeschooling a priority.

If we’re going to commit, it’s best to do it fully. Partial efforts get partial results. That’s not to say somedays things won’t go according to plan (that will definitely happen!). However, if homeschooling isn’t a priority, it’s easy for us to push it aside in the business of the day.

#3 Have a Routine

Having routines is important. With routines kids know what to expect and it provides structure to the day. Otherwise it’s too easy to push things off and lounge around in our Pjs.

Here’s an example of my morning routine.

• I wake up an hour before the kids to plan out the day and have some reflection/devotion time.
• After waking up, my son does his chores while I makes breakfast. This habit training time teaches him teamwork and responsibility.
• Everyone sits down for a family breakfast while we listen to our composer or an audiobook.

I like to have a few routines as anchors throughout the day. Our family has morning, lunch, supper, and bedtime routines.

#4 Educate Yourself

“I’m not raising children, I’m raising adults.” – my Mom

I heard that phrase a lot as a child. The goal of raising children is to prepare them to enter the world, not do everything for them.

“Self-education is the only possible education; the rest is mere veneer laid on the surface of a child’s nature.” – Charlotte Mason

This doesn’t mean we hand our child a workbook and call it a day. We introduce them to great ideas and provide learning opportunities. The rest though is ultimately up to them.

As children get older, the development of self-education means we as educators can take more of a supervising role. That’s not to say we have no role in guiding our children’s education, but we bear less of the burden.

#5 Love to Learn

Do you remember that kid in class who never really participated? The guy who would fill in the worksheet and memorize answers for a test, but didn’t really care?

“Of all the joyous motives of school life, the love of knowledge is the only abiding one; the only one which determines the scale, so to speak, upon which the person will hereafter live.” – Charlotte Mason

We must teach our children how to learn, not just what to learn. This skill will benefit them the rest of their lives in whatever pursuit they choose.

#6 Let the Material do the Teaching

“The function of a teacher is to design learning experiences, not principally to convey information.” – Charlotte Mason

Unlike some teaching methods, our job isn’t to stuff facts into their brains. We present them with great ideas and let those ideas and experiences take hold.

#7 Scheduling the School Day for Success

This depends on what other obligations you have going on. If you work full time or part time. If you work from home or outside of the home. Nights or day shift.

The nice thing about homeschooling is its flexible. Not everyday has to look the same. Here are a few real life examples of moms who make homeschooling and careers work together. Every situation is different, but this should give you some ideas.

How Real Moms Work and Homeschool

Some parents homeschool year round so they only need to do 3-4 days a week. Some homeschool on weekends, or in the evenings. These are real life stories from actual working homeschool moms I know, but the names have been changed to protect privacy.

Stephanie and her husband work full time outside of the home at their local family business. She takes every Friday off so her kids can go to the local homeschool co-op. During the week the kids tag along to the office where they have a school room setup.

Different family members, including their Aunt and Uncle and both grandparents (former teachers) teach weekly classes to the kids. The whole family works together to make this happen.

Tammy works full time at her local post office, so she ends each day by 4:00 pm. Her boys stay with grandma during the day, and Tammy does their lessons with them when she gets home. They’re done by suppertime at 7:00.

Lydia works from home doing health coaching. With five kids all under 8, life is full, but she still makes it work! Her husband, a pastor, sometimes watches the kids while she meets with clients. Other times they meet at the kitchen table or over the phone while the kids play in the next room.

It’s not uncommon for her to nurse the baby while teaching a school lesson or on the phone with a client.

Allison works four days a week from home working online. Her kids are past the baby/toddler stage and are pretty good with playing together while mom works. She gets up early to get some office time in, and then after lunch they do school together.

Somedays instead of typical lessons they’ll do a field trip or other educational activity outside the home.

How I Make it Work

I work both from home as a writer and recipe developer, and in home healthcare outside the home. On the days I’m working with hospice patients my husband is home with the kids and takes care of their lessons that day.

If I have a half day I can homeschool before or after I’m with that client. Since I’m self-employed my schedule is always in flux. The beauty of homeschooling is we don’t have to do school at the exact same time every day!

On days I work from home we’ll have family breakfast and do school a few hours in the morning. After lunch my boys play with educational toys, like Legos or tinker toys, read books, paint and draw. I’m in the office for a few hours if they need me. Then at bedtime I’ll read them a living book before tucking them in.

Teamwork

Support is key. For some this means a family member pitches in caring for the kids. A babysitter, nanny or mother’s aid are other options. I have a young girl come in once a week to clean and help me keep my sanity!

We don’t need 10 hours a day to give our children a quality education. It takes some creativity, but it is possible to work and homeschool!

The post How to Work and Homeschool – from Real Moms appeared first on pine cones and primers.

Who Was Charlotte Mason?

Before we look into what the Charlotte Mason method is, it helps to know a little more about the person responsible. Charlotte Mason was a British Educator from the mid-1800s to the early 1900s. Mason started off with her teaching certificate at a typical 19th century English school but eventually realized there was a better way.

The wealthier students were taught art, advanced literature, and the “finer” subjects. While the poorer classes were resigned to learning a trade. Charlotte Mason proposed a broad and rich education for all students.

She eventually formed the Parents National Education Union (PNEU). And in 1891 Mason started a teacher training facility in Ambleside England.

The rest is history.

What is the Charlotte Mason Method?

According to Mason, children are born persons. They are not blank slates to be written on or empty vessels to fill with our own ideas. Our job is to set the feast of learning before them and let them have at it.

“Education is an Atmosphere, a Discipline, a Life.” – Charlotte Mason

Mason doesn’t just stop at what books to use for history class. Her idea was to nurture the whole child, body, mind, and spirit.

As homeschooling moms, we have the unique opportunity to create an atmosphere in our homes for this purpose. We not only choose the homeschool curriculum, but we can create a positive learning atmosphere that saturates everyday life.

“The question is not, — how much does the youth know? when he has finished his education — but how much does he care? and about how many orders of things does he care? In fact, how large is the room in which he finds his feet set? and, therefore, how full is the life he has before him?” Charlotte Mason, School Education: Developing A Curriculum

There are several main components to a Charlotte Mason education.

Habit Training

Before we even crack open the first book we’re teaching our child habits. The other day I watched a mom playing with her toddler while pushing him in the grocery cart. For some reason he thought the word “no” was funny, so she had made a game of it. She’d say no in a funny voice, and the toddler would laugh.

Cute? Certainly. Dangerous? Definitely.

Said child has now been taught that “no” means mom is playing around and not to pay any attention. Habit training is the foundation of the Charlotte Mason method and starts well before formal lessons.

What are the Charlotte Mason Habits?

We teach our children habits whether consciously or unconsciously. Mason urges educators and parents to start with the habits of obedience, attention, and honesty. Without these good habits, a child is destined to fail, not only in academics but in life.

“The formation of habits is education, and education is the formation of habits.” Charlotte Mason, Home Education

 

Living Books in the Charlotte Mason Method

When I was younger I devoured historical fiction books. I can still remember specific dates and events in the stories I read over 20 years ago. What I don’t remember (and don’t care too) are the endless, boring details from my history textbooks.

Living books, like the ones from my childhood, present ideas in an engaging way that children can learn from.

“Children must have books, living books; the best are not too good for them; anything less than the best is not good enough; and if it is needful to exercise economy, let go everything that belongs to soft and luxurious living before letting go the duty of supplying the books, and the frequent changes of books, which are necessary for the constant stimulation of the child’s intellectual life.” – Charlotte Mason

Living books are engaging, challenging, and worthwhile. They are usually written by one author who is passionate about the subject. Dry, boring, fact stuffed books are out. Insipid storylines that are choppy or preachy are likewise out.

Any book that didn’t live up to these standards was labeled “twaddle.” You can read more here about what are living books and what’s twaddle (including examples).

Nature Study

Getting outside and into nature is a core piece of a Charlotte Mason education. Mason recommended 4-6 hours of outside time every day! While that’s not quite doable for many in this day and age, the more time outside the better.

Along with free play outside, Mason encouraged a weekly nature study. Observing the world around us helps us connect ourselves with the parts of a larger whole. We can appreciate God’s creation and learn from it. Adam and Eve were created in a garden of all places. We were meant to have ample time outside!

Quality over Quantity

Another hallmark of Charlotte Mason’s educational philosophy is the quality, depth, and richness of it. Children aren’t spending 6 hours a day listening to lectures and filling out worksheets (all to pass a multiple choice test)! Lessons are short so students can give their best attention and best effort.

In elementary school this translates to 5-20 minutes per lesson, depending on the subject. For high school the maximum lesson time is 45 minutes. A Charlotte Mason preschool and kindergarten are different since formal lessons don’t start until age 6.

Narration in Charlotte Mason

If we’re not giving our children standardized tests and multiple choice quizzes, how do we know they’re learning? Let me turn that question around.

Most tests don’t do a good job of measuring what students really know.

If you’ve just read a book about the Civil War and your child can’t recall the date of the battle of Gettysburg on the quiz, is that failure?

What if they can describe in detail a Civil War officer’s uniform? How the soldiers dealt with the harsh conditions on the battlefield? Or that Harriet Tubman was a spy and how she led slaves to freedom?

Just because a child doesn’t know a specific fact on a test doesn’t mean they don’t know anything about the subject.

Narration asks a child to narrate back from beginning to end what was just read and to integrate it with their current knowledge. The Charlotte Mason method uses narration to put things in context and gives us a better picture of what our child does know.

Beginning a Charlotte Mason Homeschool

There are other details to a Charlotte Mason curriculum, including a Book of Centuries, a commonplace book, Shakespeare, and Plutarch. The best way to understand the full scope is to read Mason’s writings.

• You can get the original Charlotte Mason Home Education volumes here.
• You can also get the paraphrased Home Education here. This is great for moms eager to start but without a lot of time.
• If you don’t want an actual book in your hands, here are links to read the text online for free.

Charlotte Mason Curriculum

There are so many good options out there, but here are a few favorites. Note that there are many curriculums that claim to be Charlotte Mason inspired, like the Good and the Beautiful and Our Father’s World, but they don’t follow the Charlotte Mason approach 100 percent.

Because this method is so unique and works best when all the components are present, I’ve only included links to genuine Charlotte Mason curriculums.

• Ambleside Online – free
• Wildwood – Free and secular
• Simply Charlotte Mason
• Alveary by the Charlotte Mason Institute

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