Educational Approach Spotlight: Charlotte Mason
One of the best parts of homeschooling is tailoring the educational approach to meet the needs of each child. What gets really interesting here is that you may find that your different children perform better with different educational approaches and that what works well for them may change over time. Some parents find this overwhelming, and if that's you, that's okay. Over the next few blogs, I'm going to discuss the main educational approaches utilized today and then explain the amalgamated mashup of approaches we use in our household.
One approach you will definitely hear about in homeschooling circles is the Charlotte Mason approach, which emphasizes a rich, holistic education. This approach can work fantastic for families working while homeschooling or even for families that currently send their children to school but wish to provide extra support in their learning. The best part is that it's easy to make Charlotte Mason a free curriculum using your local library!
This blog post will introduce you to the essence of the Charlotte Mason method, explore research on student outcomes, provide a glimpse into a typical week, and offer guidance on assessing its alignment with your family's homeschool rhythm. It will also include a quick list of resources I personally use should you wish to explore Charlotte Mason further.
Understanding the Charlotte Mason Approach
Charlotte Mason (1842–1923) was a British educator who revolutionized education with her child-centric philosophy. Mason believed that education is more than academics. It is a lifestyle and discipline emphasizing the importance of nurturing a love for learning. Key components of her approach include:
Living Books: Using well-written, engaging books that help subjects come alive. To find some great examples of living books, I love Living Books Press.
Short Lessons: Keep lessons to 15–30 minutes to maintain children's attention and encourage focused learning. I love Ambleside online's free curriculum for lesson inspiration.
Nature Study: Encouraging regular and intentional interactions with nature. Subscribe to my blog below. to get lots of great ideas delivered regularly
Narration: Having children verbalize what they've learned helps develop comprehension and communication skills. Some great research supports this practice, so whether you use Charlotte Mason or not, I'd encourage you to consider building this into your curriculum.
Habit Training: These include attention, obedience, and truthfulness to build character and self-discipline. Again, regardless of your curriculum preference, this is the best practice in raising good humans. You'll also hear the importance of this in Waldorf and Montessori, so it is not unique to Charlotte Mason. I think Waldorf does a better job of this by encouraging families to place their values in a place of prominence where children can see them every day.
Research on Student Performance
While empirical studies specifically on the Charlotte Mason method are limited, anecdotal evidence and related educational research suggest positive outcomes.
For instance, the Clapham School discusses how Mason's philosophy anticipates modern research findings related to growth mindsets, which affect parenting and teaching practices.
Clapham School Other benefits include:
Holistic Development: The emphasis on nature study and the arts aligns with research that exposure to nature and creative subjects enhances cognitive and emotional development.
Attention and Focus: A contemporary understanding of attention spans in children supports the practice of short, focused lessons, which promote better retention and engagement.
A Glimpse into a Typical Charlotte Mason Week
A Charlotte Mason-inspired homeschool schedule needs to balance academics, arts, nature, and personal growth. Here's an example of how this could be accomplished over an average week:
Monday:
Morning: Short lessons in mathematics, literature (reading a living book), and copywork (handwriting practice).
Afternoon: Nature walk focusing on local flora; children sketch findings in nature journals.
Tuesday:
Morning: History lesson through storytelling; narration exercises where children retell the story.
Afternoon: Art appreciation, studying a famous painting and discussing its elements.
Wednesday:
Morning: Science exploration using living books; a short lesson on a scientific concept.
Afternoon: Handicrafts, such as knitting or woodworking, to develop fine motor skills and creativity.
Thursday:
Morning: Geography through map work and reading about different cultures.
Afternoon: Music study, listening to a composer, and discussing the emotions conveyed.
Friday:
Morning: Recitation of poetry; review and narration of the week's lessons.
Afternoon: Free time for children to pursue personal interests or engage in outdoor play.
How to trial the Charlotte Mason Approach
If you are considering Charlotte Mason a one-week trial incorporating the elements mentioned above could help you to determine if the Charlotte Mason method aligns with your family's educational goals. Over the course of the week, observe how your children respond to living books, nature studies, and short lessons. But, please keep in mind if this is your first exposure to Charlotte Mason you will need to put extra prep time into your lessons. The prep you put in to a trial is not necessarily indicative of the time you will need to invest - though it's certainly worth noting!
After the trial week, ask yourself three questions to determine if this could be a good fit:
Engagement with Learning: Did you and your child engage with the lessons? (Did it feel enjoyable or like you were both slogging through it?)
Balance and Rhythm: Did the structure of short lessons and varied subjects feel right to you, or did it seem like you were just jumping from task to task? This is a good indicator of how your (or your child's) brain works and if this approach works.
Growth: Does it feel like your child(ren) learned something beneficial this week in alignment with your families values and educational priorities?
By thoughtfully considering these aspects, you can make an informed decision about integrating the Charlotte Mason approach into your homeschooling journey. You might want to go all in on Charlotte Mason or consider blending a few approaches. Either option is great!
What are the drawbacks of Charlotte Mason?
A Charlotte Mason lesson lacks structure, which will not work for all learning styles. You will want to try this one before committing yourself and your family. You and your children may thrive in it or find it incredibly challenging. Remember, in selecting a curriculum, it has to be one that you can teach, so it is equally important that you are able to embrace the approach as your children.
It can feel dated at times and requires significant time on the part of the primary educator to curate the proper selection of living books to ensure you are giving your child a balanced perspective on the world. It tends to be very Euro-centric.