It could be not easy to figure out how to homeschool. Covering all the state-required courses and the overall curriculum while knowing what works for your child and pushes them to do well can feel like a lot. Finding solutions that have worked for other families can help alleviate some of the stress.
Families and schools have used the Charlotte Mason approach for over a century. Being a philosophy and not a curriculum ensures its continued relevance.
What did Charlotte Mason do?
In the 20th century, Charlotte Mason worked in England as a teacher and reformer. By giving “a liberal education for all,” she spent her whole life trying to improve schools for children. In the 1800s, English children were taught based on their social class. Charlotte Mason, on the other hand, wanted all children, no matter what their social class, to get a complete and fair education.
What is the Charlotte Mason method?
The Charlotte Mason method was a way of teaching she created to convey her ideas to others. The core principle is that you should teach the whole person, not just their intellect, because a child is a person first and foremost. The three primary components of this method are environment, discipline, and life.
“Education is a life, a disciple, and an atmosphere.” — Charlotte Mason
Over time, Charlotte Mason’s method gave way to clear ideas and fundamental principles that served as the basis for her educational philosophy. Out of the 21 fundamental principles, this blog will focus on four.
The instructor’s position in Charlotte Mason’s method
Charlotte Mason’s approach to education differs significantly from standard ones because it puts the teacher at the center. Her approach changes the role of the teacher from a teacher to a facilitator and nurturer in a lively learning setting. She focused on sparking a child’s curiosity and making them love learning.
Facilitator of learning
Mason’s method changed the teacher’s role from lecturing to guiding, encouraging students to learn and explore independently instead of just giving them knowledge.
The teacher takes on the mentor role, helping students find tools and encouraging them to explore. This gives students the power to take charge of their learning. This change focuses on making a space that encourages participation and deep thought, taking learning outside of school and using what you’ve learned in real life.
Cultivating a love for learning
Mason stressed the importance of getting children excited about learning. Teachers encourage students to be curious and explore, telling them to ask questions and be amazed by the world. Creating an atmosphere that values wonder, experimentation, and finding sparks a natural desire to learn.
Making a safe space where children can share their ideas and thoughts helps them develop a deep love for learning, seeing school as an exciting lifelong quest rather than a list of tasks.
Four key concepts in the Charlotte Mason approach
1. Personhood
According to Mason, personalities are innate in children. They are not just forms that will take on characters later on.
In her view, a child possesses a whole person at birth, including their mind, body, soul, and spirit; this new information changed her thoughts on how children should be taught. She thought that children should be cared for and educated as whole people rather than as pieces and that this was the best approach.
It would be best to still care for children’s minds, bodies, souls, and spirits, even though they don’t always behave logically or reason like adults do.
2. Self education
Giving the child information in a way suitable for their age and then letting them learn from what they have is the basic premise behind this approach.
Most of the cleaning up should be done by the child. Allow young thoughts to draw associations between different topics. Rather than focusing on you putting together the puzzle (or lessons), you should highlight the child’s contributions.
It is your responsibility as a teacher to pique their interest, point them in the direction of relevant resources, and limit their freedom of thought so that they can retain the most crucial points.
3. Respect
Some adults may find this challenging, particularly those who were taught from a young age that “children must be seen and not heard.” Considering another person’s sentiments, desires, or rights is all it takes.
With love, even in correction, respect is offered. In no way is it dangerous or manipulative. Having authoritative, solid figures in a child’s life is essential, but respecting those in charge is also important. Treating children with the same respect you would like to receive is crucial.
4. Balance
Education is more than just a job; it’s a way of life, a discipline, and an environment, as you heard from Ms. Mason before. A well-rounded education for your pupils requires a balance between all three.
The fundamental concepts and ideals have been consistently successful for over a century. Providing students with a varied and comprehensive education will help them develop into well-rounded people.
You can read Charlotte Mason’s remarks in her Home Education book series to discover more about her methods and how to utilize them in your home.
Charlotte Mason’s timeless educational relevance and adaptability
Charlotte Mason’s methods, originating over a century ago, retain relevance today. They are adaptable, accommodating diverse learning styles and fundamental human development needs.
Mason’s approach offers a dynamic framework adaptable to various educational settings, nurturing individual growth. Recognizing the timeless nature of her methods reveals their potential to enrich modern educational practices, cultivating well-rounded individuals prepared for lifelong learning and development.
