This year has been an amazing learning experience for me, as well as for my kids. First, it's my 7th year home-schooling my kids, but my 2nd year attempting to implement Charlotte Mason's methods in my home-school. What I've found is that during the last two years, some of the knots which have been tied tightly within my own mind, have begun to unravel under the guidance of this more classical approach to education.
I have found that I can think more clearly and logically in my own, adult mind(which was some-what stunted in my public school education). I have started to grow again! It's as if someone has just given me some tools that I never had. The "lost tools of learning" as they are called in the classical community. I feel so blessed that I am beginning to pick them up, and become inspired by them personally, and to have the ability to put them in the hands of my children. Perhaps they will continue to pass these tools on to future generations!
As I've been delving into History with the kids, it hasn't been in the "text-book with Q&A" way in which I was taught. It's been in a "listen to this fascinating story, and let's narrate, discuss, write or act out what we've just read" kind of way. The kids and I have been reading Wise Bauer's, "The Story of the World". Sometimes, we just listen to large chunks of it on a CD in the car, and sometimes, we read from the book to each other. Afterward, we discuss what we just read. This method, and these resources have opened up history to me, again, now with fresh joy and insight.
We are studying Latin together, from a book called "Getting Started With Latin: Beginning Latin for Homeschoolers and Self-Taught Students of Any Age", by William E. Linney. I find that I enjoy unraveling the puzzle of this ancient language right along with the kids. We always end our Latin lesson with a smile. Boy, that's a nice surprise!
We still get our core subjects done(Math, Writing, Grammar, Spelling, Reading), but my big change this year has been getting the schedule just right, so that we get it all(including Science, Art Appreciation/lessons, Music Appreciation/lessons, Poetry, Bible, Literature, etc.) in without major burn-out! For starters, we've been implementing CM's idea of 15 min. lessons. We just set the timer, start our subject, and when the time's up, we stop.
I've kept Math, and Writing at 30-45 min., but every other subject is short and sweet, before anyone is bored. Because we get a consistent 15 min. a day(or two, or three days a week, depending on the subject) of each of the other subjects, it actually works, and the kids learn a lot.
The next thing, I've just begun to do in our schedule, is to put the core subjects in the time slot that is most conducive to concentration and learning(between 10 and 11:30). This has been working beautifully!
So, lately, I've had a question on my mind...
What is the difference, if any, between Charlotte Mason's approach and Classical Education?
I know a lot of wonderful families who participate in Classical Education co-ops. I know that it is very similar to CM's methods, because while she lived, Classical Education was the model. I know that she felt that education needed to be reformed, and I know that she has a more gentle approach than strict classical(shorter lesson times, for example), but my understanding of the differences between the two are very limited beyond that.
How do Classical Education and Charlotte Mason fit together
God Bless You, and Happy Home-Schooling!
I have found that I can think more clearly and logically in my own, adult mind(which was some-what stunted in my public school education). I have started to grow again! It's as if someone has just given me some tools that I never had. The "lost tools of learning" as they are called in the classical community. I feel so blessed that I am beginning to pick them up, and become inspired by them personally, and to have the ability to put them in the hands of my children. Perhaps they will continue to pass these tools on to future generations!
As I've been delving into History with the kids, it hasn't been in the "text-book with Q&A" way in which I was taught. It's been in a "listen to this fascinating story, and let's narrate, discuss, write or act out what we've just read" kind of way. The kids and I have been reading Wise Bauer's, "The Story of the World". Sometimes, we just listen to large chunks of it on a CD in the car, and sometimes, we read from the book to each other. Afterward, we discuss what we just read. This method, and these resources have opened up history to me, again, now with fresh joy and insight.
We are studying Latin together, from a book called "Getting Started With Latin: Beginning Latin for Homeschoolers and Self-Taught Students of Any Age", by William E. Linney. I find that I enjoy unraveling the puzzle of this ancient language right along with the kids. We always end our Latin lesson with a smile. Boy, that's a nice surprise!
We still get our core subjects done(Math, Writing, Grammar, Spelling, Reading), but my big change this year has been getting the schedule just right, so that we get it all(including Science, Art Appreciation/lessons, Music Appreciation/lessons, Poetry, Bible, Literature, etc.) in without major burn-out! For starters, we've been implementing CM's idea of 15 min. lessons. We just set the timer, start our subject, and when the time's up, we stop.
I've kept Math, and Writing at 30-45 min., but every other subject is short and sweet, before anyone is bored. Because we get a consistent 15 min. a day(or two, or three days a week, depending on the subject) of each of the other subjects, it actually works, and the kids learn a lot.
The next thing, I've just begun to do in our schedule, is to put the core subjects in the time slot that is most conducive to concentration and learning(between 10 and 11:30). This has been working beautifully!
So, lately, I've had a question on my mind...
What is the difference, if any, between Charlotte Mason's approach and Classical Education?
I know a lot of wonderful families who participate in Classical Education co-ops. I know that it is very similar to CM's methods, because while she lived, Classical Education was the model. I know that she felt that education needed to be reformed, and I know that she has a more gentle approach than strict classical(shorter lesson times, for example), but my understanding of the differences between the two are very limited beyond that.
In order to get a better handle on it, and decide if I've been missing anything important in the Classical genre of education, I've started to read Susan Wise-Bauer's "The Well-Trained Mind". I've heard a lot about it over the years. I've heard it called the source book for most classical educators. I picked it up a few years back, and never was able to focus on it; but this week, I borrowed it from the library, and have found it inspiring, challenging, and exciting.
Just now, as I was perusing "classical" book lists for my middle-schooler, I came across this interesting Classical Education information website. Imagine my elation today, when I realized the article explained very clearly the history of these two types of approaches, in relation to each-other! It's a real gem for anyone interested in either of these approaches:
How do Classical Education and Charlotte Mason fit together
God Bless You, and Happy Home-Schooling!
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