What makes the Charlotte Mason method special?

The Charlotte Mason method of education optimizes learning for the child by eliminating wasted time and maximizing learning through several different avenues. To study the different aspects of the Charlotte Mason method, please go to our homeschooling main page. The Charlotte Mason method is known for:

1) Short lessons. Individual lessons should be 15 minutes for children ages 11 and younger and 30 minutes for children 12 and older. Children are able to give their full attention for the full length of the lesson, without wasted time due to inattention. The school day is typically over by lunch time, allowing the child time in the afternoon to play outdoors, practice musical instruments, and enjoy other handicrafts.

2) Avoid Twaddle. The Charlotte Mason method avoids "twaddle books", which is any liternature that is "dumbed down", lacking feeling or meaning. Instead, living books or whole books are used.

Living books are exciting books that have depth and feeling. They draw the reader into the story line and cause the characters to come alive. The opposite of this would be dry, boring textbooks.

Whole books are books that contain the entire story line as opposed to just bits and pieces. This is also called the 'unabridged version' of a story.

3) Nature Studies. A child should be outside everyday. Don't entertain the child, but let him or her explore.
Start a collection.
Do an indoor terrarium.
Keep lists of meterologic activity and weather patterns [such as temperature, sunrise, sunset, cloud patterns, etc].
Buy a compass.
Feed birds and other animals.

Nature walks: Keep a nature backpack for the nature walk, which is to be done weekly. In this pack should be a nature journal, pencils, field guides, camera, binoculars, and snacks.

Nature journals are used for your child to sketch what they see in nature. This may consist of a cardinal on the bird feeder or a leaf he or she is identifying for science. Many subjects for the nature journal are found while on the nature walk. The journal also contains poetry, description, weather, feelings, and identifications of items drawn.

4) Language arts the natural way

5) Bible Reading. Read the Bible, avoiding study notes, commentaries, and Bible helps. Don't explain the text during this part of school. This does not mean a child should never have application and explanation of the biblical text. But this should be left for family devotional times, church, and daily Bible discussion. Bible reading time allows for the Holy Spirit to explain the text to the child AND parent.

1) Pray before reading the Bible. Ask God to open your minds that you may understand His Holy Word.
2) Have the child narrate what was read in the Bible.
3) Learn the books of the Bible in order.
4) Learn groupings of the Bible, such as Law, historical, major and minor prophets, gospels, church history, letters, etc.
5) Bible reading plan: Read a chapter a day of the Bible. Children less than 9 years old will have the chapter read to him or her. Children 9 and older will read to themselves or aloud.

6) Varied reading materials.

Read aloud books:
Categories of study that are covered should include: Geography, History, Literature, Poetry, Science, Art, and others. Alternate between classic literature, biographies, stories, fables, animal stories, poems, and more...

Reading notebook:
The child keeps a notebook to record books that have been read, sketches, book reviews, and narrations.

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