What is the Charlotte Mason Method?
Charlotte Mason was a British educator from the 1800’s-1900’s who challenged and changed the ideas of standard learning through use of living textbooks and life experiences to teach students. She was a dramatic reformer in the ideas of what “learning” and “education” meant.
She believed that children naturally learn in their environment through experience. Using discovery methods and creative storytelling, Charlotte Mason is a teaching style that incorporates topics and skills while also learning character and life skills with “living books”.
Her educational philosophy stemmed from her observation of how children learn and experience life on the day to day. She designed twenty principles to her core philosophy and then taught them by utilizing resources and living stories to bring learning to life in a natural way for a child.
What is the Charlotte Mason Method?
Teaching this method is about a deep understanding of learning: Atmosphere, Discipline and Life.
- What is your “Atmosphere” = your habits, flow and style in the everyday life.
- What is your “Discipline” = your intentional learning and expectations, goals and day to day learning
- What is your “Life” = your family size, ages and pacing
IT IS NOT: Dry textbooks (Mason called these “twaddle”), worksheets, only academic subjects and memorization.
IT IS: Experiences, living books and intentional engagement.
How does it work?
- Most families incorporating this method suggest a deep dive in to the philosophy as a whole before starting the teaching process. Learn more about her philosophy here.
- A great resource to learn the 20 principles is here.
- The Mason style is highly organized and designed to create an overall learning environment.
- The basics include texts, multiple reading books and structured lessons.
Using the details and intentional books, it provides opportunities for guided discovery and good habits.
- Short lessons to teach attention span
- Reading aloud
- Reading “living books”
- Dictation and copywork
- Living outside/outdoor experiences
- Narrations
Getting Started:
Resources for Further Learning and Starting Mason Style:
- Charlotte Mason method homeschool curriculum and helps
- Home – AmblesideOnline – Charlotte Mason Curriculum
- Charlotte Mason Homeschooling Resources, Curriculum & Community | Living with Charlotte
- BEST Charlotte Mason Homeschool Curriculum Picks and Choices [2023]
- About Charlotte Mason | Charlotte Mason Institute
Pros/Cons
- Complex to get started and require a lot of prep work.
- Expensive $$ depending on which curriculum base you use each year.
- Difficult or challenging for some learning styles.
- Highly engaging and unique in content.
- Great for short attention spans and building patience.
- Is organized and created with many templates to give you structured guidance on the day to day.
- Book focused with fun stories.
While our family does not use this method, it was a wonderful method to research. If you choose this method, you will not be disappointed. There are hundreds of resources and communities all over the county to support you. There are workshops, videos, curriculums, websites and more to help you decide and figure out what you want to do with this method. It is also a highly positive and encouraging method because it tailors to the child with activities and high levels of engagement. If you have a child that may struggle with attention span or enjoys reading, this is a great avenue to start in homeschool education.