Charlotte Mason (1842-1923) was a British school teacher whose method consisted of approaching a child's education in three parts.
- Atmosphere
- Discipline
- Life
Education is an Atmosphere
Atmosphere refers to the environment in which a child lives. Charlotte Mason believed that the home environment provided a third of a child's education. She encouraged parents to take an active role in their children's education. She also encouraged children to spend time outdoors, interacting first hand with nature.
Education is a Discipline
Discipline refers to good habits, or good character. Charlotte Mason believed that cultivating good habits in a child made up another third of the child's education. Parents hold responsibility for this third of the child's education as well.
Education is a Life
Life refers to academics, or living thoughts and ideas. Charlotte Mason believed that children need living thoughts and ideas over dry facts. With this in mind, she used "living books" over textbooks to make up the final third of the child's education. Living books refer to books written in narrative form by single authors with passion for the subject.
Charlotte Mason Methods
- Living Books
- Narration and Recitation
- Copywork and Dictation
- Handicrafts and Picture Study
- Nature Study and Scouting
Mason taught short lessons and varied the order of the subjects. She treated children as whole persons, more than empty vessels to be filled with facts. She used narrative "living" books to teach history, geography, science, and literature; manipulatives to teach math; and handicrafts and nature notebooks to teach art.
Mason asked children to narrate, to tell in their own words, as well as to recite information. She postponed the formal study of grammar until the age of ten. For picture study, Mason would have children first view and memorize a picture, then turn it over and remember it.
Mason concluded lessons early in the day, leaving the afternoon open for outdoor exploration, physical activity, and handicrafts. She endorsed the activity of scouting for its educational value and added it to her curriculum.
For more of Charlotte Mason's methods, see Simply Charlotte Mason.
Classical Education
The Charlotte Mason Method is sometimes classified as an adaptation of classical education. Classical education, based in Western cultural tradition, is a three-phase educational system with predefined subjects and methodology. For a comparison of the classical and Charlotte Mason approaches, see Charlotte Mason and Classical Education.
Educators who apply the Charlotte Mason Method, respect children as whole persons. Education is approached through the areas of atmosphere, discipline, and life; in other words, home environment, personal character, and academic subjects via passionate sources. Mason's three-part method places responsibility for the first two-thirds of a child's education in the parents' hands. Thus, homeschooling parents take responsibility for the child's whole education.
Sara McGrath - Sara is a veteran homeschool mom of three, Usborne consultant, and the author of Unschooling: A Lifestyle of Learning.
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