Charlotte Mason Study Guide - Softcover

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Penny Gardner, mother of six, has degrees in Elementary Education and Music Education. She taught in public schools for four years before marrying. She has been teaching her children at home for ten years. Penny was convinced of the power of Charlotte Mason's approach to education in 1994 after a truly miraculous first experience with narration and her non-writing child. She is an enthusiastic fan of Charlotte Mason's innovative concepts and has much experience to share.

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Introducing the Charlotte Mason Method Charlotte Mason's philosophy of education is becoming more popular as people realize what a simple, yet profound, method it is. Still, many educators have never been introduced to Charlotte Mason's ideas. Here are some commonly asked questions with brief answers to give you a quick overview.

1. Who was Charlotte Mason? When did she live? Charlotte Mason was an innovative educator who developed a unique approach to education. She wanted all children to have a broad, liberal education and to be allowed to reach their full potential. She started a teacher's training college and many parents who educated their children at home flocked to her ideas. This method was also used in about 300 schools in England. Charlotte, a native of England, lived from 1842-1923.

2. What are the benefits of using her approach? This is true learning -not superficial. Children's listening, attention, comprehension, retention, speaking, and writing skills all improve from using narration as a major part of education. It takes the burden of teaching off you; it puts the burden of learning on the child.

3. What exactly is narration? Charlotte said, "Narration is the mind putting questions to itself." After listening to (or reading for himself) a passage or chapter of a book, the child tells or writes, in his own words, what he got out of the reading. This requires much more thinking than merely answering someone else's questions. Narration is the most natural and effective way of learning to write.

4. I'm pleased with our family's approach. Should I add this? And how do I fit it in? Narration can easily be added to whatever type of home school you have. For those delaying academics, narration is wonderful. You read and listen to your child. You may keep a collection of his oral narrations (that you have written out for him) to show others that he is learning many things. If you are taking a more traditional approach, you are probably requiring writing everyday. Instead of the "What did you do last summer?" sort of writing assignments, let him write meaningfully about the scriptures or the history just read. If you do project learning, have him narrate from the resources used.

5. My kids aren't co-operating. Is this normal? How do I get narrations from them? Yes, this is normal. Children like to take the easy road; they may not want to add something to your current requirements. Try to make it fun and rewarding. Start with shorter selections; many times you can find something interesting in a single page. Read short, easy chapter books instead of long, challenging ones. Ask for oral narrations even though your older child is capable of writing. Read a book aloud as a family; then while Dad is at work read another chapter that the kids will need to tell Dad about before continuing the book. Put together a collection of narrations as a Christmas gift to relatives. Each child will want to have several of his stories included in this special, joint effort. Let them experience success from the start.

6. What age should children be when they start narrating? Charlotte said not to ask a child under six for a narration. However, if your youngster wants to tell you something, listen well. I would not ask written narrations of children until they are at least ten. And then expect a transition period before the child can write a complete narration.

7. What do I do when my child has mistakes in his written narration? We don't want to kill the desire to write by criticizing a child's effort. Sometimes I've volunteered to type the narration, correcting mistakes as I go. Later I can follow up with short lessons on particular problems. One mother has had good results by writing the number of errors at the end of each line. Then the child has the challenge of spotting his mistakes and fixing them. If you have a computer and the child enters the narration, he can use the spell checker to eliminate many errors.

8. What preparation do I need to do? Narrating is a natural, easy way to learn. It really simplifies home education. You don't need to write lesson plans or research a topic in advance or find 50 enrichment activities to be successful with narration. All you need to do a find high quality or "living book" which is worth retaining.

9. What are "living books?" Charlotte Mason said living books contain living ideas from great minds. Instead of presenting dry facts, these books are written in conversational, literary language. Many of the classics and Newbery winners (especially the earlier ones) are living books. The Bible is the ultimate living book.

10. What subject areas should my children be narrating? Literature, history, geography, science, Bible study, art appreciation are among the academic subjects that work really well using a narration approach. Narrations need not be essays. Sketching a map from memory or drawing a diagram of the parts of a flower or listing ten facts that you recall are all valid narrations.

11. I have children with a wide age span. How do you do narration in a family setting? One child can tell first with others adding their thoughts when he is through. Sometimes I have just one child narrate from a particular book even though the others are listening. Or an older child can write his narration in another room while mom takes dictation from a younger child. Your child can use a tape recorder to record his narration. An older child can read to a younger child and write down the younger child's narration for him.

12. What are nature notebooks? Nature notebooks are a record or journal of the things you observe in nature. They may include watercolors or sketches. The date, common name, scientific name, and the location where observed should all be included. Poetry is a nice touch.

There is much more to Charlotte Mason's philosophy. She said, "To form in his child right habits of thinking and behaving is a parent's chief duty.... To nourish a child daily with loving, right, and noble ideas... is the parent's next duty.... The child, having once received the idea, will assimilate it in his own way, and work it into the fabric of his life.... Nourish him with ideas which may bear fruit in his life." This approach will bear marvelous fruit in the homes and classrooms that are open to these fresh ideas.

Adapted and reprinted by permission from the Charlotte Mason Study Guide by Penny Gardner.