We absolutely love the Charlotte Mason Method in our homeschool. Back when we first set out to homeschool my husband and I did a lot of research and this was the method that stood out to us the most. It really fit us as a family but most important, it sounded like it would work for our oldest child. We are in year 6 of homeschooling and we still love Charlotte Mason. Here are some of the things we love most about the Charlotte Mason Method:
1. The usage of whole living books. Living books helps a child to receive knowledge by their own work, looking for facts and information.
2. Using first hand resources. This is used when the child is digging for first hand information. This really gets kids into nature and hands on activities which is very important. Miss Charlotte believes that children should spend time every day outside with nature, even in bad weather. Charlotte also believed in children keeping a nature study journal or notebook to record what they saw and learned. She believed fully that spending time in nature brought you closer to God.
3. Narration. In Charlotte Mason education method narration is very important.Narration is when a child retells back in their own words either orally or written what happened. Charlotte believed that narration was the best way to acquire knowledge from books. Narration also helps a child to learn to form their own opinion and judgements on subjects they are learning about. This also is beneficial because the students learn to tell back what the author was feeling as well.
4. Copy Work. Miss Mason taught that when a child was about 6 years old they should begin copy work. This was a very common practice amongst colonel students. Charlotte felt that children should be copying quotes from great scholars for example instead of silly sentences.
5. Art & Music. Not only did Miss Charlotte believe that listening to good music and seeing good artwork was beneficial. She also believed that kids should learn about famous artists and their works.
6. Social Studies. Charlotte Mason believed that when we read biographies, original documents, history, and historical will introduce your family to both heroes and villains.
There is a lot of simplicity in the Charlotte Mason Education method. The afternoons of her scholars were left free so that the children would have time for other activities such as nature hikes, pursuing hobbies, music and dance lessons, handicrafts, plays, biking, work, chores, service, and other activities. There was no homework given so as they would have time as well.
So who exactly is Charlotte Mason?
Charlotte Mason was an educator in the late 1800’s in England. She felt that education should be a gentle art and that developing good habits is essential because once developed, they guide your life and determine your path. She taught that education is an atmosphere, a discipline and a life. She felt that children should not be isolated into a reading outdoors child-environment but that they should experience life as it is. Some of the main characteristics of a Charlotte Mason education include using living books, narration, short lessons, free afternoons without homework, nature study, and uplifting cultural studies such as music and art. Charlotte Mason taught in traditional schools, but her methods translate beautifully into homeschooling and are popular among homeschoolers.
Here are some amazing resources brought to you in the Build your Bundle Sale that are also Charlotte Mason! Several of the resources shown are brought to you by Simply Charlotte Mason. I have used many of their resources through the years such as Laying Down the Rails…check them out! I am purchasing this bundle for our own use and cannot wait to get started!
Simply Charlotte Mason: Your Business Math Pet Store – $18.95 Value
Your Business Math Series is a fun and “living math” kit that reinforces math skills for ages 8–12! Your student uses math knowledge to keep his or her very own store running and, hopefully, make a profit. But there are also some surprises along the way!
“Living” Math – Learn to write checks, figure sales tax, pay bills, and keep a bank account ledger current, all while practicing basic skills like addition, subtraction, and multiplication.
Easy to Use – Conversational step-by-step instructions that lead the student through various tasks for each business “month.” Additional Teaching Tips and answers in the FREE 56-page teacher book.
Exciting – Unexpected surprises from Chance cards that students select at random!
Flexible – Complete the kit in just a few weeks or use it all school year. You choose your own pace.
Effective – Students don’t mind doing the math when they’re working on their very own store’s success in a fun game-like approach.
Comprehensive – An additional practice section in case your student needs more help on any skill used in Your Business Math Series.
Recommended – Listed as a suggested resource in the Simply Charlotte Mason Curriculum Guide.
Publisher: Simply Charlotte Mason
Considering God’s Creation Science – $29.95 Value
Life science truly comes alive with this Charlotte Mason style science curriculum that encompasses lapbooking and notebooking (all-inclusive!)
With Considering God’s Creation, your children will begin to see the Creator in creation and learn through discovery. They will enjoy the benefits of lap-booking without you having to create or search for resources. Easy-to-follow and comprehensive lesson plans are done for you. Considering God’s Creation is the perfect elementary science solution for you, as the teacher, and for your children, as budding scientists.
This science curriculum can be used alone as a one to three-year course or as an invaluable supplement for any other science program. It is adaptable for 2nd to 7th grade.
Considering God’s Creation is one of “Cathy Duffy’s 100 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum.” Duffy says “. . .this curriculum seems to come closer than any others I can think of for meeting the needs of a homeschool family that wants a Christian science curriculum that can be used to teach a broad span of grade levels together.”
NOTE: Considering God’s Creation is one of the recommended books for the upper elementary grades in the Simply Charlotte Mason “106 Days of Creation Studies” book.
Go to this Bundle | Publisher: Eagle’s Wings Educational Materials
A Young Scholar’s Guide to Composers – Retail $24.95
A Young Scholar’s Guide to Composers is a user-friendly, one-year curriculum for grades 4-8.
Why take the time to œCrack the Code of Classical Music? Music is from the Lord. He created it, and He created us with the ability to both make and appreciate music.
Classical music is uniquely part of our Western civilization. Research suggests that both listening to and playing classical music aids brain development. Even rudimentary exposure increases one’s level of enjoyment and understanding. This course provides a close-up look at famous composers, their music, and their times, with special attention to character traits and Christian testimony (or lack thereof). Even the musically challenged will enjoy this course! It’s perfect for grades 4-8 but is easily adaptable for younger and older students. Minimal teacher prep will return maximum enjoyment!
Go to this Bundle | Publisher: Bright Ideas Press
The Student’s Guide to Keeping an Art Journal – Retail $14.95
Learn Drawing, Practice Penmanship, and Study Nature – all in one course. Beginning a journal course will also help to instill creativity in your children by encouraging them to do independent studies and to draw from life!
Journaling is an integral part of learning about the fine arts, and in this text, Barry Stebbing introduces the students to some of the Great Masters who were also “Great Journal Keepers”. He discusses what to write about, what to draw, having a theme, and much more as the students are invited into the world of art journaling. This newly revised text has 40 art lessons. Recommended Ages 10 thru Adult.
Go to this Bundle | Publisher: How Great Thou Art
NaturExplorers Captivating Clouds – Retail $8.95
Captivating Clouds takes a serious look at the beauty and wonder floating above our heads almost daily. Not only will you learn many amazing facts about clouds, but you’ll be inspired to create artwork, tell stories and even daydream a bit!
Several ideas for cloud walks are included, plus other outdoor suggestions like identifying the direction clouds are blowing, creating color charts and even having an observational picnic.
Indoors, try your hand at making several types of clouds through experiments and artwork. Be inspired to learn such things as how clouds were named, how meteorologists use clouds to predict weather, and whether or not clouds affect the temperature.
Notebooking pages add ease for you and interest for your children. This unit will encourage you to take some time to watch the clouds pass by! And what a beautiful show you’ll see!
Go to this Bundle | Publisher: Shining Dawn Books
You Can Make Your Own Unit Study Using Charlotte Mason Methods – Retail $29.95
Have you ever wanted to learn more about Charlotte Mason methods and how to use them in a practical manner in your homeschool? Have you been attracted to the idea of unit studies, but don’t know how to get started planning your own unit study around a topic of your choosing? Do you like the idea of following a unit study, but wish to combine Charlotte Mason methods like using “living books”, “narration”, “dictation”, and “copywork?” This training will help you accomplish all of this!
Here’s what you get in the Audio Seminar Set!
9 MP3 Audio files (approximately 30 minutes each)
Handouts and Notes to accompany each workshop session
Sample and Blank Unit Study Brainstorming sheets, Subject Area and Goal Planning sheets, and Lesson Planning forms
Powerpoint slide shows to accompany workshop sessions to highlight the main points discussed in each session
Go to this Bundle | Publisher: Katie’s Homeschool Cottage
Write From History – Retail $22.95
The Write from History series is an elementary writing curriculum (target grades 1-5) based on the classical, Charlotte Mason Method of instruction. With this series, children learn to write by studying models written by talented authors from history. They read historical selections and narrate these back via oral narration, written narration, or written summations. Following each historical selection, a writing model (written in a true handwriting font) is studied for copywork. Additional models located in the appendix are used for studied dictation.
As children study the writing of talented authors, they absorb the style of those they imitate. They also learn to create complex sentences and use appropriate word choice. This method of teaching writing is based on the Charlotte Mason method and it gently but completely prepares students for middle school writing.
This writing program teaches grammar, spelling, penmanship, and history—all at once. You can select from Ancient, Medieval, or Early Modern, or Modern History in Cursive or Manuscript.
Be sure to select which volume you want to include with your purchase by clicking the “List of Downloads” tab.
Go to this Bundle | Publisher: Brookdale House
Ancient Literature 6 Pack – Retail $40.00
This bundle of Ancient Literature includes significant excerpts from the books of classical authors concerning the different time periods. Arranged chronologically, you can use this collection to supplement your history curriculum.
Volume One: Julius Caesar; Volume Two: Alexander the Great; Volume Three: Augustus, Jesus Christ, and Tiberius; Volume Four: Ancient Egypt; Volume Five: Caligula, Claudius, and Paul; and Volume Six: Nero, Paul, and the Destruction of Jerusalem.
Go to this Bundle | Publisher: Trivium Pursuit
Using Nature Study, Nature Journals, and Poetry Through the Year – Retail $14.95
Nature Study, Nature Journals, and Poetry Through the Year is a yearlong study of nature divided into seasons and months and the natural events that occur during those seasons. Through a natural introduction into science through nature, this study introduces children into different areas of biology, physics, and chemistry as an extended study of what you observe in nature.
Each season studied has 3 months and each month has poetry and quotes that have to do with that month or topics within that month. There are different topics depending on the natural events during that season or month, for example, under Winter; you will find December, January, and February. Within January, you will find the topics of Trees in Winter, Astronomy, Owls, and Nocturnal Animals.
Also included in this unit; living books list, nature journaling and drawing, experiments, nature walk ideas and activities, and questions with which to engage your children in conversation about the topic of study during the walk.
Go to this Bundle | Publisher: Katie’s Homeschool Cottage
Quark Chronicles: Botany – Retail $15.00
Quark Chronicles: Botany is a one-semester, living science book. Follow the adventures of Sally, Tom, Joe, and Mike as they travel through space to try and return home to Earth. Along the way, they team up with a living ship and a sapient plant to learn about botany. If they can’t get a garden up and going in space, they’ll starve!
Quark Chronicles is worldview neutral, meaning that you can use it regardless of how you feel about creationism, intelligent design, and evolution.
There is an optional student notebook available that you can purchase here. It includes suggestions for extra reading as well as copywork, vocabulary, and pages for narrations and experiment write-ups.
Go to this Bundle | Publisher: Barefoot Ragamuffin Curricula
Famous Composers Notebooking Pages – Retail $5.95
Enhance your student’s study of famous composers using these notebooking pages. Included in this huge bundle is a nice cover for your binder, listening guide pages, and continuation pages, as well as 10 notebooking layouts in primary and regular-lined formats for 28 famous composers, plus a blank template to add your own composers!
Go to this Bundle | Publisher: Notebookingpages.com
Famous Artist & Picture Study Notebooking Set – Retail $9.95
For each of the 25+ Famous Artists included in this set, you will get: Biography Notebooking Pages – (regular and primary-lined formats,) 6 Art Prints – (in both PDF and JPG formats,) and Picture Study Pages – (for the 6 included art prints. )You will also get a blank template set that you can use to study any artist that is not included in the list above and an “Artist Notebook Cover Page” for your binder!
Go to this Bundle | Publisher: Notebookingpages.com
Check out the savings on the Charlotte Mason Bundle alone!
You can order by clicking the BUY NOW button or going here.
In Christ,
Laura
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