Who Was Charlotte Mason?

An Influential Educator

Charlotte Mason was an educator who lived in Great Britain in the 1800s. She had a profound impact on the educational system in Great Britain around the turn of the century. She believed in looking at the child as a whole. She founded her writings and teachings on a Christian belief system. Though she had a great impact on education, as time went on, her writings became more obscure.

Charlotte Mason is Still With Us

Fast forward to today when a generation of homeschooling moms and dads are rediscovering the benefits of a "Charlotte Mason education." There have been several veteran homeschool mothers who have taken it upon themselves to find and read Charlotte Mason's original writings. How wonderful that these homeschooling moms took the time and made the effort to write books and create websites and basically cut a new road through the beautiful city called Homeschooling.

Invest in the Single-Most Important Resource for a Charlotte Mason Homeschool

I first heard of Charlotte Mason when I came across a book by Karen Andreola called A Charlotte Mason Companion: Personal Reflections on the Gentle Art of Learning. It remains to this day, not only my favorite Charlotte Mason resource, but my favorite homeschooling book in general. My own copy is well-loved and worn.

A Charlotte Mason Companion: Personal Reflections on the Gentle Art of Learning is still the book I recommend above all others if you want to learn about the benefits of a Charlotte Mason education. It validated what I felt was a good idea in our homeschool, even before I knew Charlotte Mason existed. This book gave me direction in my teaching and helped me develop a gentle, relaxed style while working toward academic milestones in math and writing.

The book is an excellent resource for creating a gentle but structured learning environment in your own homeschool.

On-line Resources

Ambleside Online is a free homeschooling curriculum for those using the Charlotte Mason approach.

Ambleside Online also has on their website the original Home Education Series by Charlotte Mason.

"To teach is to learn twice."
Joseph Joubert

Book Basket

I think quality books should be everywhere. I keep baskets of books all around the house. We have several large bookshelves. I keep stacks of new books on the coffee tables in the den and living room. They need not be expensive. Check used book stores and thrift stores, especially for bag sales.

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Quotations

"A rich child often sits in a poor mother's lap."
Danish proverb

"I hear and I forget.
I see and I remember.
I do and I understand."
Chinese proverb