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Charlotte Mason was a teacher in England in the late 1800's / early 1900's. I won't bore you with details from her life at this point. You can read more by clicking on her name. One thing that I feel is pertinent to point out is that she saw children as people. This is almost unheard of at the time.
The Basics
Part 1: Structure
- Scheduled, structured morning Lessons
- Short lessons – No longer than 15 minutes on each subject until the child has learned to focus longer.
- To the point – Don't waste the child's time or your time with mindless busy work.
Part 2: Living Books
- Read books by one author who is passionate about the subject they write about. Skip boring textbooks.
- No “twaddle” or books with dumbed down vocab or abridged editions of books.
- The teacher should stay out of the way, allowing the child and the author to directly interact. Let the child extract meaning for themselves.
- Narration, first oral then written – the child should retell the story in their own words. This show comprehension of the material.
Part 3: Free Outdoor Afternoons
- Afternoons should be free for exploring and down time.
- Children need exercise and fresh air.
- Children should explore God's creation.
- Nature Journals – drawing and writing about what they find outside from bugs to flowers and more.
Doesn't this sound like the way you'd like to be taught?
You can read Charlotte Mason's books about her teaching and method, but they are written in older English that not accessible to most people today. Many parents find them difficult to read and understand. My favorite book for more info is A Charlotte Mason Companion by Karen Andreola.
