Ever wanted MORE detail on the Charlotte Mason HOmeschool? Do you just want to get away from spending HUNDREDS of dollars on teachers manuels and textbooks? Do you long for a simple natural way to educate your children? Im right there with you! For my short four years of homeschooling I've spent alot of time researching and seeking a user friendly, inexpensive, and natural course of study for my large family. The thought of my children having HUGE gaps in their education, teachin SEVERAL grades at once and spending large amounts of money scares me to death! I have read several books on Charlotte Mason, several of her books myself and researched every CM style cirriculum known to man (okay so thats an exaggeration) and while I am no expert on CM I am an expert on my family and what works and what does not for us.
In our home we long for a natural living books education that fosters a love of God and a love of learning and that also brings our family together. In using Living Boooks we get an exciting look at history, science, morals and the world through the eyes of authors who have great enthusiasm for what they are communicating. This enthusiasm is quiet contagious and inspires us to know more about a particular topic. Different companys produce a list and guide to this type of study but I find that using them is much like going on a blind date. though the company LOVES the books it chooses its quiet ackward and our family doesnt get into them as we do books that we've choosen for ourselves. That goes the same with any projects or lessons plans presented. When we just jump in and make it up as we go we really get into whatever craft we create. Also we are more likely to just read on when we are immersed in a topic instead of stopping to check the Teachers Manuel. Its also simpler to reach our multilevel home when we've hand picked what works for us instead of using the suggestions of others and what worked for them. No two family is alike.
After watching a program on Fox news about What Are Your Children REally REading I've come to the conclusion that it is impossible for me as a concerned knowledge seeking parent to give my children any MORE or LESS holes in thier home education than public schools do. My children can at least know how to learn and know how to convey what it is they are learning from their parents that Love and care for them and desire to give them the best education available and a passion for seeking out knowledge.
All that to say that I think I've come up with a few steps to help you come around to where I am and be confident in your ability to pick a course of study for your children. Weather it be with a Teachers Manuel and Lesson Plan or all on your own.
Educate Yourself! Every website, book and home education seminare will tell you the same first step. The first thing you need as a homeschooling parent is education. READ what others have to say about education. Know about different phylosphies of education. Talk to other homeschoolers and find out their favorite books and websites. And then evaluate for yourself what your homeschool will look like. Take plenty of notes! Some of my favorite authors are: Charlotte Mason, Katherine Levinson, Susan Schaffer McCauley, Cindy Rushton and Ruth Beechick to name a few. If I were to suggest just a few books to you I would suggest A Biblical Home Education by Ruth Beechick, For the Childrens Sake by Susan Shcaffer McCauley and A Charlotte Mason Companion by Karen Andreola. Cindy Rushtons books are wonderful How to's as well. My Favorite Websites are:
Charlotte Mason Help,
Simply Charlotte Mason and this page from
Ambleside OnlineDecide upon some ideas to try in your homeschool.Copywork, Living books, Narration, Nature study are very simple and key to a Charlotte Mason education but are also very usful to any style of school. Starting with the basics and adding on later is always a great idea. Even if you NEVER can get on to the more advanced stuff you'll have a wonderfully inspiring homeschool.
Check out this video from Bob and Tina Farwell.
Get into some good habits.
Begin your day at the same time every day. Schedule in some chore time. Make a menu plan. Work on Character Training. Begin to have a reading hour (or two). Be sure to have a routine Bible Time and personal quiet time. Pray! A habit of prayer is essental to a great homeschool as well. There are alot of great tips for scheduling your day, training your children and molding your homeschool. Managers of their homes is a book about this very subject. I find it very usful in my home. Alot of times this step needs to come before any of the others. You must have solid habits int he running of your home before trying to teach your children other things
Set up your Home for Learning.
Cindy Rushton has a great book about setting up your learning environment. As well as the book Educating the Whole Hearted child. Both wonderful reads! Worth adding to your library. Purchase good quality crayons, pencils, markers and colored pencils. You'll need the usuall scissors, glue, plain and lined paper. Also some cubbies and shelves for your books.
Get your cirriculum ready.This is the easy part! You'll need several things to get started.
- A good hands on Math Program
- A solid Reading Program if you dont have readers.
- A few "spine" books: 1 Poetry, 1 History, 1 Nature/Science, and a Read Aloud. We like to have a Daddy Read Aloud and a Mommy Read Aloud going.
- Pick a few "readers" on level for your independent readers that correlate with one or more of your spines OR that just seem appropriate.
- Buy a nice journal for each of your children and maybe even for yourself. Well two would be ideal. One for copywork and another for nature study.
Plot Your Course.
Take a Day or more to plot a course, just a general outline of where you want to go and where you'd like to be this year. As a family, and for each individual student. Do you want to see Bobby be more respectful and learn to read aloud beautifully? Could Susie use to write more legiably and have a better work ethic? Do you have littles to train in good character?
Talk to your husband Ask him what he'd like to see. He may have no opinion on your cirriculum choices but he may have advice or concerns about how to run the home. Does he wish he had a breather after work? Would he like to see dinner time pushed back an hour so he has more time with the children. Would he enjoy taking over Bible time int he evening OR reading read alouds before bed? Would he love to do Nature Study on the weekend where he can enjoy nature with the children? His imput can be so helpful in the homeschool. Ask him you'd be surprized at what you'll find out.
In no way am I saying I am an expert on homeschooling as I still have very young childrena and oh so much to learn. But there are as many different ways to home educate as there are different types of families. No two will look the same as no two homeschools will use the same materials. Be confident and know that you can do a good job teaching your children. The Lord bless you as you go forward on your journey.
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