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A Bit of Charlotte Mason Home Education
Monday, September 28, 2009
I went to a workshop on Charlotte Mason Home Education this weekend. I was pleased to find that many of the ideas were similar to Thomas Jefferson Education, especially in the first couple of phases.
Here are some of the basic practices and ideas of Charlotte Mason that I think could be incorporated into TJEd...
1. Living Books, not textbooks. This is essentially the same as TJEd's classics. Living Books are books that change your life in some way. They are books that you go back to again and again (sound familiar?)
2. Don't rush academics. Wait for the "optimal learning time". Allow children to take their time to ponder ideas.
3. Narration (beginning around age 6): Retelling after a single reading. This can be spoken, written, drawn, or dramatized.
4. Copywork (beginning around 7 or 8): Practice penmanship by copying down classic quotes, poetry, jokes, etc.
5. Dictation (around 8 or 9): Use great literature. Student reads paragraph several times before dictated to. This helps students learn concentration and strengthens memory.
6. Nature Journaling: Perhaps my favorite idea from Charlotte Mason, nature journaling is much broader than it sounds. Each person has his own journal (including mom and dad) made of heavy, acid-free paper to paint, draw, and write in. You can draw nature observations, copy quotes, write original poetry, draw observations from science experiments or museums, etc. It is open-ended, but it encourages observation, writing, and appreciating beauty.
7. Art Appreciation: Choose an artist/composer/poet. Study six of their works over several weeks or months. Try to imitate the art. Write about it. Read bios about the artist.
8. Keep a list of books you've read with short synopses.
For more about Charlotte Mason, check out Penny Gardner's website. She has some fabulous book lists full of great classics.
So, here's my question...what specific ideas from other homeschool styles have you successfully incorporated into your TJEd homeschool?
3 comments:
I think the great thing about TJEd is that is not as "this is the right way to homeschool" sort of approach. Instead it is a set of broad outlines - the 7 keys, 4 phases, 5 pillars, 5 menotiring environments. You can fit a lot within this - especially if you individualise the curriculum which DeMille says is one of the fundamental differences between TJEd and other types of learning. As you have found there is al ot in Charlotte Mason that fits really well - what could be simpler than reading then narrating and the short lessons are very appropriate for Core and Love of Learning. I know many unschoolers find it meshes well with TJEd. I've made a lot of use of The Well-Trained Mind and although it may be a bit too pushy on the academics to mesh perfectly with TJEd for all kids, especially in the earlier years I find there is a lot of overlap. We've found the chronologcal approach to history using a spine like SOTW, supplemented by classic books and having the child narrate or prepare a notebook page to be a simple way of covering a whole lot of knowledge (geogrpahy, history, religion, politics, literature, writing etc) in one hit. Unit studies also mesh really well with TJEd so long as the unit is based aroud the child's interests and isn't imposed on them.
That is great information! I have signed up to attend the same event here in St. George in a couple weeks and I look forward to it!
I too, share the enthusiasm of blending TJEd and Charlotte Mason. I was able to host Penny Gardner's Seminar in AZ on Saturday, and felt SO inspired and empowered! I can see easy ways to incorporate Charlotte's concepts and methods within the framework of Leadership Education! I highly recommend taking advantage of any opportunity to attend one of Penny's workshops. I suspect you will leave with additional tools for your family!
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