The Charlotte Mason Method of Homeschooling

By: Diane Noble.

Our image of homeschooling has changes drastically in the last century. When we hear the word homeschooling, we no longer see a picture of five or six children sitting a round a table scribbling away as a stern mother watches over them and lectures. Today, we have a variety of different ways to practice homeschooling that include outdoor activities, arts and crafts, sports and the use of advanced technology. The Charlotte Mason method of homeschooling certainly is not the most modern of homeschooling philosophies but it remains to be one of the most popular. In this article, I will guide you through some of milestones of the Charlotte Mason Method.

Charlotte Mason was a passionate and innovative homeschooling mother who founded the homeschooling movement in the early 1900's (1842-1923). She invested her life in the pursuit of improving the quality of children's education. Her enthusiasm and commitment to homeschooling led her to lay the foundations for an effective, complete and adaptable homeschooling program that provided children with a comprehensive education while keeping it interesting. The Charlotte Mason method focuses on core subjects and places an emphasis on literature, classical music, and fine arts. Many homeschooling parents today are using her approach to teach their kids.

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.

The Charlotte Mason method of homeschooling includes a focus on reading a wide range of literature, but also outlines teaching practices to ensure that the child retains and comprehends what they have read. Mason believes that narration is the best way to make sure that children synthesize, organize and communicate the information. Younger children may narrate their readings orally or through drawings and older children can narrate through writing.

Mason advocates the use of 'Nature Diaries.' After a short and interesting lesson, the child is asked to observe Nature and draw what they perceive. This helps students develop a sense of respect for the environment. Regular nature study also paves the way for meaningful science instruction. Children should be encouraged to spend a significant amount of time outdoors so they can develop a relationship with nature and a love for it. If you ask your children to start a nature diary, let them know that the diary can include prose, pictures and poetry.

Children educated the Charlotte Mason way must not only develop literary, scientific and mathematical skills, but also excel in building good character and discipline. Mason was a firm believer that children must learn to govern themselves and develop a sense of inner discipline. Parents and teachers play an important role here, for they must guide children towards the development of good habits. Some of habits Mason encourages parents and teachers to nurture in children are: respect, patience, cleanliness and timeliness. Mason stated that it often takes four to six weeks for one of these skills to solidify as a habit. Parents who want to incorporate The Charlotte Mason method into their homeschooling program should try to implement as many of these practices as they can.

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