Curious about Charlotte Mason education? I want to point you in the direction of my top recommendations and resources for getting started.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Charlotte Mason?
Charlotte Mason (1842-1923) was a British educator who pioneered the way for many educational practices that are still used today. She had a passion for children, equipping parents to educate in their homes, and training teachers in the best practices for a life-giving education for students and themselves in her schools.
For more of a biography on Charlotte Mason, this book is the top recommendation: The Story of Charlotte Mason by Essex Cholmondley.
What is Charlotte Mason’s method of education?
Charlotte Mason based her method of education on a series of principles. Some call this list her “20 Principles” while others view them as a short synopsis, not limiting them to 20.
As I research more of Charlotte Mason’s educational philosophy through her volumes, I lean more on the side of a synopsis of her approach to education.
Some key points:
“Children are born persons“
Children are born persons meaning that they are full people from the very beginning, not blank slates. They don’t have to “grow into” being a person. They need nourishment of mind, body, and spirit at every age and stage.
Atmosphere, Discipline, Life
The tools we have at our disposal as educators to rightly educate children include the atmosphere they are in, the discipline of habit, and the life-giving ideas they take in, digest, and embody.
The Science of Relations
Education is the science of relations meaning that through living ideas (books, experiences, atmosphere, etc) children make connections from these ideas to build out their education and furnish their minds.
How does Charlotte Mason’s method of education differ from other methods of education?
Broad Feast of Ideas
Charlotte Mason Education is rooted in the idea of spreading a wide feast of ideas due to the child. This means that their education is to go beyond the “Three R’s” of writing, reading, and arithmetic.
A broad feast includes subjects to furnish the souls and minds of children including history, geography, natural history, nature study, out-of-door life, art appreciation, music, physical activity, handicrafts, and more.
To give a child a full life and a wide variety of interests was very important to Charlotte Mason. Emphasizing that these ideas are building a foundation for a delightful, full life for our children.
Christian Education
Charlotte Mason was a devout Christian woman, believing that the supreme educator of mankind is the Holy Spirit and we as parents are here to present a feast of worthy ideas, keeping our devotion to God at the center of our children’s education.
“But we hold that all education is divine, that every good gift of knowledge and insight comes from above, that the Lord the Holy Spirit is the supreme educator of mankind, and that the culmination of all education (which may, at the same time, be reached by a little child) is that personal knowledge of and intimacy with God in which our being finds its fullest perfection.” Vol. III School Education page 95.
“How many children are today taught to say at their mother’s knee, to learn from day to day and from hour to hour, in all its fullness of meaning- ‘My duty towards God is to believe in Him, to fear Him, and to love Him with all my heart, with all my mind, with all my soul, and with all my strength; to worship Him, to call upon Him, to honour His holy name and His word, and to serve Him truly all the days of my life’?…duty to Him who is invisible, which should be the very foundation of life, is least taught of all.” Vol. III School Education page 89.
Character & Care
The aim of our Charlotte Mason Education is cultivating character and care in the child (and ourselves). Educating children with the focus on rightly relating to the world, and the subjects at hand, while forming their deepest character is the aim of a Charlotte Mason Education.
Resources for Getting Started with Charlotte Mason Education
Diving into Charlotte Mason and her philosophy of education can initially be overwhelming. Social media portrays one thing, we hear terminology we don’t understand, and what in the world is narration?
The resources below have been extremely beneficial in my own Mother-Teacher learning time. These resources will provide you with a credible, sound place to start with Charlotte Mason Education.
A note on this list: Within each category, I tried to note the most simple book/podcast/resource to break things down while readings become more in-depth the further into the wardrobe you go.
Please feel free to email me with any questions, or comment below and I will do my best to answer.
I am not the “know everything Charlotte Mason lady” but I hope to guide and join you in the pursuit of this beautiful education with sources that have been very beneficial to me.
Books
For the Children’s Sake by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay– this book is what opened the wardrobe of Charlotte Mason education for me and sparked the idea of implementation in our home. Very simple, a short read, and a great place to begin.
For the Family’s Sake by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay– For the Family’s Sake helps paint a picture of incorporating Charlotte Mason’s ideas beyond the lesson table. These ideas are life-giving for all people, our students and ourselves. There are many inspiring ideas in this book.
Charlotte Mason’s Volumes– Charlotte Mason’s educational volumes are the meat and potatoes of diving into her educational philosophy. Written in Victorian English, the reading level is steeper and takes time to contemplate. I love reading small sections of her volumes throughout the year in my own Mother’s Education Time.
These are great to read in a book study with friends.
When Children Love to Learn by Elaine Cooper– I thoroughly enjoyed this practical read. I appreciate that each chapter is written by a different expert in Charlotte Mason education and application for our world today.
I appreciate the emphasis on Charlotte Mason’s methods being applied to larger schools. How beneficial and beautiful for more of these schools to be emerging throughout the world!
A Deeper Dive
Know + Tell by Karen Glass– Know and Tell is a deeper look into the art of narration. I found this especially helpful for knowing what to expect from a brand-new narrator and how to form open-ended questions to ask for a narration after readings.
Consider This by Karen Glass– Consider This is a wonderful read connecting Charlotte Mason to the wider Classical Tradition of education. Her focus on cultivating Christian virtue and poetic knowledge before analytical thinking is articulated very well.
This book is definitely a deeper dive into the conversation than the basics of home education.
Poetic Knowledge by James Taylor– For an even deeper philosophical dive into poetic knowledge, this book by James Taylor presents the ideas well.
This is a deep read and I am slowly and contemplatively making my way through. Very good but dense!
Fiction
Little Men– Little Men by Louisa May Alcott is a beautiful representation of Charlotte Mason education modeled in the home and homeschool. The atmosphere cultivated, the focus on character, and the life of the little boys sparks so many ideas in my mind and heart for our home and homeschool.
This read is a top favorite of mine.
Podcasts
- The Commonplace Podcast– In Season 2, Autumn breaks down Charlotte Mason’s principles in short snippets about 10-15 minutes long. This is a great reference while reading Volume I from Charlotte Mason: Home Education.
- Simply Charlotte Mason– I look to Simply Charlotte Mason often for very simplified breakdowns of bigger concepts in a CM education.
- A Delectable Education– This podcast is a treasure trove for the philosophy that stays true to CM and her principles. These ladies have spent years if not decades studying and implementing these ideas. I attended the virtual conference this year and recommend this resource as a top pick for continuing education.
- Schole Sisters– Schole Sisters is a podcast of convivial conversation around classical and Charlotte Mason education. These are enjoyable episodes. The mothers who host the show are further down the road from me which I find valuable.
- Educational Renaissance– I just discovered this podcast and I find it very helpful. My husband and I both enjoy discussing the ideas.
Blogs
- Cloistered Away– A beautiful blog on Classical Home Education.
- Sabbath Mood Homeschool– Great resource for CM science and nature study.
Other Resources for Charlotte Mason Education
- Ambleside Online– This is a go-to free resource for CM educators. Even including curriculum and booklists to get an idea of living books to start with or build a curriculum from. I refer to their archives of Parent’s Review Articles written during Charlotte Mason’s time as a magazine sent to those in her schools.
- John Sr. 1000 Good Books List– A great place to begin for building literacy in the classics.
- Cloistered Away Substack
- A Nourished Life + Home YouTube Channel (shameless plug 😉 )– I love learning and sharing on this journey! If you are more of a visual learner, I hope to provide a valuable resource on my YouTube channel.
- Simply Charlotte Mason YouTube
- Joy Cherrick YouTube Channel
- The Commonplace YouTube
Further Articles on Homeschooling
- Homeschool Lesson Plans: Step-by-step
- Homeschool Organization: Ideas for Any Space
- First Grade Homeschool Schedule: Our Timetable
- Charlotte Mason Homeschool Curriculum: 1st Grade
