Charlotte Mason Homeschooling?

Charlotte Mason is a great method, I sort of blend it with classical homeschooling, and making lapbooks and what not. You can have a lot of fun with your kids while they are learning.

I am also a teacher, and we homeschool in a relaxed style. We don't stick to a rigid schedule, but we love learning and have the time to do hands-on projects, go places, be outdoors, and have the flexibility we need to delve deeply into the topics that spark my childrens' curiosity. We use literature and non-fiction books mainly for literature and history and some for science. (I do use several textbooks as my spine, but we seldom actually read from them). We use the library, used book sales, Scholastic book orders, and book give-aways a lot. I provide my children with a sketchbook which they are free to use at any time they want, but I also give them assignments to draw and talk about. We do a LOT of talking, discussing, questioning, etc. I've used a book called The Private Eye for a process and ideas for observation skills, drawing, thinking in analogies, and writing. I also enjoy the narration component of the Charlotte Mason approach--it fits our emphasis on summarization skills and talking through what we are learning. My children are a little older now and their narration is moving nicely from oral to written language, with good organization to their thoughts. I consider our homeschooling a relaxed, eclectic approach rather than a pure Charlotte Mason style, but if I had to pick any particular style that most characterized our homeschool, CM would be it.

I host a weekly homeschool chat online. We are actually discussing Mason and other methods the end of January. If you are interested in joining the chat email me and I will be glad to give you the information!

Have you looked into Yahoo Groups? I know there are at least a few Charlotte Mason groups there--I was a member of a couple while I explored it myself. (I decided to not go that route, but I do know others who follow it and love it.)

Charlotte Mason was a great pioneer in education. Karen Andreola wrote the Charlotte Mason Companion which you might find helpful. Simply Grammar and English for the Thoughful Child are both Charlotte Mason style English/grammar options. Greenleaf Press is a company that embraces CM and publishes helps for users. There are also yahoogroups out there for those who want to connect and encourage one another in the CM way.

One thing CM has been quoted to have believed in is for kids to work hard in the morning but give them freedom to explore and discover in the afternoon. This worked well for us when our kids were young and slowly we have added hours as the kids grew up and entered high school years.

Never heard of her.