We’ve been doing the Charlotte Mason method since 2020 and I have not written an overview about it. So for those who are wondering or wanting to know what Charlotte Mason education is, read on.

Charlotte Mason education is a homeschool method that focuses on “living books,” outdoor study, narration, and other ideas that come from Charlotte Mason’s ideas about education. It is something that a lot of teaching families choose.

What is a Charlotte Mason education?

Charlotte Mason was a British teacher who lived at the end of the 19th century and at the beginning of the 20th. She thought that children should be treated as whole people whose minds, bodies, and souls are all connected. She also thought that children should be introduced to the best ideas and literature from the start, instead of being given watered-down versions of classic works.

Charlotte Mason education is a way to teach at home that uses a lot of Mason’s ideas. It is based on the idea that children are born as people and should be taught as such, with less focus on textbooks and workbooks and more on real-life situations. It also puts a lot of weight on the arts, nature, and building good character.

Core Values of Charlotte Mason education

Charlotte Mason believes that education has three facets: Education is an atmosphere, a discipline, a life.

Education is at atmosphere. Charlotte Mason believes that a child will learn effectively if the environment is a natural condition for learning. The family culture plays a big role here, how the parents interact with the children, how the family spends time together, and how one parents the children. It is how the family, particularly the parents, value education and how they educate themselves as well.

“When we say that education is an atmosphere we do not mean that a child should be isolated in what may be called a ‘child environment’ specially adapted and prepared, but that we should take into account the educational value of his natural home atmosphere both as regards persons and things and should let him live freely among his proper conditions” 

(A Philosophy of Education, p. 94).

Education is a discipline. Charlotte Mason defines discipline as a guiding tool not only to education itself but to character building as well. She likens the habits to a railroad track that guides the train and prevent mishaps along the way. Discipline is all about teaching your child how to connect with the people, things, and ideas around him in the best way.

By ‘education is a discipline,’ we mean the discipline of habits, formed definitely and thoughtfully, whether habits of mind or body.

A Philosophy of Education, p. xvii

Education is a life. Charlotte Mason said that children are given food to sustain the physical body and that the mind needs feeding as well. The ideas that we give to our children feed the mind. This is the reason why parents need to carefully choose what they will offer their children. Charlotte Mason suggests offering a “feast” and let the children mull over them. It would be better to offer a whole feast than offering just a few “dishes”.

“In saying that ‘education is a life,’ the need of intellectual and moral as well as of physical sustenance is implied. The mind feeds on ideas, and therefore children should have a generous curriculum” 

A Philosophy of Education, p. xvii

How does Charlotte Mason’s way of teaching work?

The idea of “living books” is at the heart of Charlotte Mason teaching. Living books are well-written and interesting books with characters and stories that kids will like. Charlotte Mason teachers don’t use textbooks or workbooks to teach children about history, literature, science, and other subjects. Instead, they use “living books” to teach these topics.

Nature study is another important part of a Charlotte Mason education. Children are told to go outside and spend time looking at and learning about nature. They might keep nature journals in which they write about and draw trees, animals, and other things they see in nature.

Charlotte Mason schooling also puts a lot of value on telling stories. Narration is when children tell in their own words what they have read or heard. This helps them get better at talking to each other and thinking critically about what they have learned.

Why Choose a Charlotte Mason Education?

Families choose Charlotte Mason education for parenting for many different reasons. Some of the good things about this method are:

• Encourages a lifelong love of learning: When children use “living books” and real-life experiences, they are more interested and build a lifelong love of learning.
• Develops critical thinking: Narration and other Charlotte Mason ideas help kids learn how to think critically and speak well.
• Fosters a sense of wonder and curiosity: Learning about nature and being exposed to great writing and art can help children develop a sense of wonder and curiosity about the world around them.
• Character development is given a lot of attention in a Charlotte Mason school. This helps children grow up to be responsible, ethical, and caring people.

Charlotte Mason education is a unique and successful way to teach at home. It focuses on real-life experiences, living books, studying nature, telling stories, and building character. Charlotte Mason education might be the right choice for you if you want to teach your child at home and want to help them develop a love of learning, critical thinking skills, and a deep appreciation for the natural world. Check out online communities and tools to help you get started on this journey.