Notes for workshop given at the 2015 CHEC Conference. http://www.checin.org
Buzz Words & Basics
– Who was Charlotte Mason?
Charlotte Mason was a British educator who lived during the 19th century in Ambleside, England and founded the PNEU (Parents’ National Education Union.) For more information, according to Ambleside Online’s Moderators:
https://amblesideonline.org/FAQ.shtml#whowas
– PNEU Schools:
https://www.amblesideonline.org/PR/PR33p777WorkAimsofPUS.shtml
Miss Mason also wrote six extensive volumes outlining her educational philosophy.
http://www.amblesideschools.com/node/1942
– Child training courses (Principles and Practice resources):
http://www.amblesideschools.com/main/video/introduction
https://www.amblesideonline.org/CM/20Principles.html
– Schools and homeschool families continue to implement her methods.
– New & Veteran homeschoolers ask similar questions. “How do I get it all done?”
http://www.simplycharlottemason.com/scmforum
http://www.amblesideschools.com/main/training
– “Education is an atmosphere, a discipline, and a life.”
https://simplycharlottemason.com/store/education-is/
– Natural, not artificial. Habitual. Generous curriculum to feed the body, mind, and soul. (AO)
– CM Motto: I am, I can, I ought, I will. (Sonya Shafer shares Bible verses to explain these.)
“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works that no one should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” -Ephesians 2: 8-10
“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” -Philippians 4:13
“‘AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.’ The second is this, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” -Mark 12:30-31
“I have chosen the faithful way; I have placed Thine ordinances before me.” -Psalm 119:30
– short lessons / no homework
– living books
http://www.simplycharlottemason.com/faq/livingbook/
– Narration, Copywork, Dication (Prepared/Studied)
http://www.charlottemasonhelp.com/2009/07/narration.html
Excellent YouTube Video when you search Studied Dictation Tutorial Dec. 26, 2011. Sorry. I cannot get the link to paste.
– Hearing/Reading, Telling/Writing (SCM)
– Varied Subjects/Order
http://www.homeschoolnewslink.com/homeschool/columnists/levison/v8i5_real_charlotte.shtml
– Science of Relations
http://www.amblesideschools.com/main/science-relations
– Commonplace Book, Book of Centuries, Book of Firsts
http://www.sageparnassus.blogspot.com/2011/12/silva-rerum-commonplacing-as-habit_30.html
http://www.michelequigley.com/book-of-centuries-free-download/
– History/Geography
various living books, field trips, maps, and adventures
– Nature Study/Science
Handbook of Nature Study, by Anna B. Comstock
– Picture Study, Composer Study, Poetry, Foreign Languages, Shakespeare, Plutarch
– Handicrafts (Sloyd)
– Mother Culture (Karen Andreola)
http://www.momentswithmotherculture.blogspot.com
Resources
“The Texas Five” (Below are my personal family’s favorites for these subjects. You’ll find more in the sidebar and throughout this blog.)
– Reading
Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons
McGuffey’s Readers
Numerous book lists from which to spread a feast!
– Spelling
Ruth Beechick’s spelling lists from The Three Rs and You Can Teach Your Child Successfully
All About Spelling
Studied dictation using excerpts from our church bulletins, hymn study, quotes, Scripture memory work, and great books.
– Grammar
Primary Language Lessons and Intermediate Language Lessons, by Emma Serl
IEW theme based writing units are used in co-op.
Essentials of the English Language, by Leigh Bortins
– Mathematics
Rod and Staff
Teaching Textbooks
– Good Citizenship
co-op, field trips, service work
“My neighbor is anyone with a need that I am able to meet.” -Haddon Robinson
– STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics)
http://www.aut2bhomeincarolina.blogspot.com/2013/11/where-i-host-charlotte-mason-blog.html
http://www.livingcminca.blogspot.com/2012/10/stem-and-cm.html
– The icing on the cake! Actually, the best part! Scripture memorization!
REALITY!
– CM in a box? In 1998, when Karen Andreola published A Charlotte Mason Companion: Personal Reflections on The Gentle Art of Learning, prepackaged CM resources and plans did not exist. Now, there are endless places to find “CM in a box.” Buyer beware! Some of these plans and packages just put a label on a few good books mixed in with endless texts and workbooks. Our family would quit homeschooling if we were to put these boxes into use, but to each her own.
Here is a minimal list of places to find book lists, plans, or even a CM box.
Ambleside Online (AO)
House of Education (HOE)
Charlotte Mason Help (CMH)
Higher Up and Further In (HUFI)
Simply Charlotte Mason (SCM)
My Father’s World (MFW)
Or, you can DO IT YOURSELF! (DIY)
– Atmosphere (Natural, not artificial.)
Tailored to your family’s tastes and interests.
– Discipline (Habitual.)
Laying Down the Rails workshop and Laying Down the Rails for Children resources from SCM.
– Life (Generous curriculum to feed the body, mind, and soul.)
Plenty of time in the outdoors for exercise, fresh air, and camaraderie. Lots of good books and other learning experiences. Consistent church and volunteer opportunity participation.
– Planning, Comparing, and Examinations (Thoughts to consider.)
The Charlotte Mason Organizer is an online tool by Simply Charlotte Mason. Ideal for those who enjoy paperless planning.
apps.simplycharlottemason.com
My Student Logbook is the “bees knees” for paper planner types who just can’t get into online planning. http://www.mystudentlogbook.com
– Boxes, Checklists, Library Cards, and Disaster Plans
Morning Baskets http://www.wildflowersandmarbles.com/2014/05/15/morning-basket-ageless-inspiring-and-still-standing/
The Five Homeschooling Styles (Watch this BEFORE choosing CM education!) https://www.simplycharlottemason.com/five-homeschooling-styles/
Living Books Libraries (Some for inspiration, one for participation.)
http://www.livingbookslibrary.com
http://www.childrenslegacylibrary.blogspot.com
http://www.bethselahsbooks.wordpress.com
An awesome book of booklists!
More great booklists are found in the righthand sidebar of this blog! =>=>=>=>
Disaster Prevention!
Teaching from Rest: A Homeschooler’s Guide to Unshakable Peace, by Sarah Mackenzie
http://www.amongstlovelythings.com
(This will be the book study of the year for the Tailor Made Homeschool Support Group.)
http://www.tailormadehsg.wordpress.com
http://www.cireceinstitute.com/podcast (Scroll down to May 30, 2014 podcast to hear Andrew Kern speak about the idea behind “teaching from rest.”)
Remember that you are the parent. You determine the books, resources, and routine course of study for each of your children.
Do NOT let CM (or other education “expert”) speakers, authors, home schoolers, or other teachers determine that path that only you can chart with God’s help.
Still other CM books! (Just a few, by no means an exhaustive list.)
The Living Page: Keeping Notebooks with Charlotte Mason, by Laurie Bestvater
For the Children’s Sake, by Susan Schaefer Macaulay
A Charlotte Mason Education: A Home Schooling How-To Manual, by Catherine Levison
Topsy Turvy Toile 