Truly, to get to know Charlotte Mason and her methodology, you should read her volumes. There are SIX of them! If that feels a bit overwhelming, I recommend two specific authors, anything by them: Catherine Levison or Karen Andreola
Before that, maybe these 5 facets of the homeschooling patterns called "Charlotte Mason Methodology" will appeal to you, and get you going just enough, or, get you back on the right track, if you've strayed.
Need more resources? I think you'd like this bundle fr 91% off! It's called the Charlotte Mason Mini-Collection, and it's not available for long!
1) Short Lessons - 20 minutes is the LONGEST you should be spending on any specific lesson. Sometimes this means you stop, jump around, get a snack, and get back to it, but you'll see the retention of small, short bits of practice and information not only increases in their memory skills, but their motivation to do the lessons will also great increase! If you have a reluctant learner, let them set that timer - ANY timer will do - you'll be amazed at how much harder a human will work, when they can trust that the beeper means they are DONE (at least with that task!) If you have children younger than 10, I recommend that the timer be around 15 to 18 minutes. Short lessons doesn't mean less learning, it means more freedom to THINK and not be spoon-fed.
2) Morning Time - This is such a sweet start to your day. Sometimes with food or tea, or drink of some sort - but it's an easy gentle beginning to every day. Sort of like a warm up before you work out or exercise. We have changed the flow of ours over the years. Some days it includes art and poetry and music. Other days, it's "just" Bible and grammar. But it's a wonderful start to the day, all the kids are in the same location, and we get to all chat before the different expectations and lessons pull us in different directions - even at the high school level. I love the Morning Time Plans from A Gentle Feast. They've really enhanced many of our school years. If you purchase - let Julie Ross know I sent you. I don't make any money from this part, I just love her!
3) Habits/Schedules/Routines - Likely the hardest part of schooling, and it has the least to do with school, and the most to do with parenting. Your expectations of obedience, respect, and response time will play a GIGANTIC role in your educational day. I haven't personally read it, but if you need help in this area, I've heard great things about Laying Down the Rails. I'm married to a marine, so "delayed obedience is disobedience," was already a habit ingrained in our family life. The children had basic habits and routines from birth, since I was privileged to learn from my marine how discipline carries you through chaos, fatigue, sickness, and emotions. When I saw Miss Mason had the same attitude, but went about it in a confident yet calm way, I saw the loveliness I had been looking for in an educational method. Gracious structure! What a blend!
4) Special Needs - Special needs are special - unique, specific, and never repeated. All the facets above help the executive functioning of a child who doesn't learn like everyone. Having the rhythm of life, the comfort of home, structured gentleness, and plenty of outdoor time already lends itself to the learned who are not cookie cutters. Add in the short lessons, and BAM! Your curriculum is going to be a winner! If not, the tweaks are not hard to make! Remember - ONE great idea that has an effect is worth EVERYTHING - way more than a dozen facts that are soon forgotten.
5) Nature Study - This sounds so lofty. But really, just show the kids how to be in awe. I accidentally did this before I had "met" Charlotte Mason. I constantly commented on the sky. We laid on the trampoline and looked at stars. Any time we had a walk, a child squatted to observe a bug or an ant, I did the same. The observance of nature it amazing. Adding in a nature journal becomes a fairly easy step. Listing the Spanish translation next to the English labeling is just a teensy bit more. Suddenly, teensy bit by teensy bit, you have an entire journal full of lovely drawings and sketches, and a series of questions you have answered because you have had the time to wonder at them. What an amazing luxury this liftestyle of learning is!
Are you wondering where to get a bunch of AMAZING Charlotte Mason curriculum tools? My own Spanish Nature Study is listed in this current bundle. You'll want to grab it right away.
It's called the Charlotte Mason Mini-Collection, and it's not available for long.
If you want to do MORE Spanish, grab the two year curriculum See it and Say it - I've been honored by hearing and reading from Catherine Levison, the author of the book "A Charlotte Mason Education: A Home Schooling How-to Manual". She gave me more confidence in knowing that yes, indeed, my method WAS mirrored by Charlotte Mason's, whether or not I intended it (I didn't!) We just think alike, Charlotte and I. ;-)
