The demands placed on children today to learn and perform can cause quite a bit of stress. While I encourage a challenging environment and think nothing ill of competition, especially when engaged with oneself, there is a time to play. Children learn through play and express what they have learned through play. Masterly inactivity is when a parent steps back and allows the child the freedom to play within boundaries. Every mom needs time to relax and step out of the front of the classroom as much as every child needs time to play. What is Masterly Inactivity? Masterly inactivity … Continue reading →

Those who incorporate a Charlotte Mason method use copywork daily. As I have stated in another article, copywork is can be used to teach a variety of lessons such as sentence formation and memorization. Many times, I am contacted by new homeschooling moms or moms who do not take a Charlotte Mason approach yet want to add in copywork for ideas. So, I thought it may be fun and useful to give some copywork ideas for those interested. Sometimes I assign copywork by theme. I have used hymns, poems, famous quotes, math rules, and grammar rules and so on, as … Continue reading →

“Perhaps it is not too much to say, that ninety-nine out of a hundred lost lives lie at the door of parents who took no pains to deliver them from sloth, from sensual appetites, from willfulness, no pains to fortify them with the habits of a good life.” Charlotte Mason Charlotte Mason spoke quite a bit about forming habits in your children. From physical to moral to character, Charlotte Mason felt instilling habits was vitally important to the raising of a child. In fact, at the heart of the Charlotte Mason method is habit training. The lack of habit training … Continue reading →

Charlotte Mason called art study “picture talks.” The students were expected to express what they saw in the work or art. How does the painting or artwork make them feel? What do they see? What colors are in the picture? What is the artist trying to convey? These are questions to guide your art study. Your role as the teacher is simply to guide the student but not do the talking yourself. This is not time to lecture but engage your child in conversation about the work of art. Art Study is best implemented by focusing on one artist’s works … Continue reading →

While the historical fiction area of my local library, I notice a woman talking. She was in a little sitting area behind me slouched on a couch. Across from her was this boy about 12 years old deeply involved in a book. I wondered for a moment if I should go save this kid from this crazy lady talking to herself. She then directed her attention on the boy. I stepped in a bit closer just in case I had my opportunity to be a superhero. Turns out the boy just learned the art of ignoring his mother. Finally he … Continue reading →

Nature study is an essential component to a Charlotte Mason education. However, any method one chooses will be enhanced by the student keeping a Nature Study Journal. Children innately have a curiosity about nature which should be encouraged to promote a long love for the outdoors. Charlotte Mason believed that children should spend at least fifteen minutes outside daily regardless of weather. I tend to agree as rainy or snowy days offer beauty and wonder in its own way. Nature Study simply consists of the nature walk and the documentation of the wonders that were explored that day. Children delight … Continue reading →

Copywork is a necessary component to the Charlotte Mason method of homeschooling. It may not always be a hit with the students, but it teaches more than penmanship. Although penmanship is sometimes improved by copywork, a student will develop skills to enhance narration, composition and writing. So, can we squeeze any more learning out of copywork? I have managed to use copywork time for bible memorization, math rules, language rules, and language lessons. I find the beautiful thing about using a Charlotte Mason approach is that you can tailor it to fit your family. Charlotte Mason is an applied method … Continue reading →