Homeschooler Help

Each week I am covering the different homeschool styles and approaches.  My first post on this subject was posted last Tuesday,  I covered the unschooling approach. This week I am covering the  Charlotte Mason approach. This type of  approach seems to be the most popular among homeschooling families.

Charlotte Mason Approach

Charlotte Mason believed children learn from real life situations. She believed in a “living” education.  Charlotte  used pictures and music study as part of  her curriculum,  she used books that make events come alive.  Here are just a few recommended resources for living books Greenleaf Press, Penny Gardner, and  Charlotte Mason Education.  I ran across a website that offers free homeschool curriculum that is designed to be as close as possible to the curriculum that Charlotte Mason used in her correspondent schools, to learn more about this  curriculum that is available visit  Ambleside Online.  They use as many free online books as possible.  Take some time to read through the websites and do your own research. It’s important to choose the methodology that works best for you, your family and your child.

Ebook: Education is a Atmoshere, a Discipline, a Life

Here is a free ebook for you to download Education is a Atmoshere, a Discipline, a Life. This ebook is a 45 page read.  It is written by a homeschooling mom by the name of  Sonya Shafer. Sonya has used the Charlotte Mason method for more than fifteen years, she launched intentional parents and authored the book  The Anguishing Blessed Journey, A Mothers Faith Journal Through Autism. She is a frequent speaker at homeschool groups.  Her goal is to communicate the Charlotte Mason principles to parents and to show them how practical they are. In her ebook she covers a variety of topics such as:

• What you need to know about curriculum and schedules
• Five ways to cultivate good habits
• Charlotte Mason methods
• Discipline brings freedom and much more

There are many families using the Charlotte Mason approach and incorporating living education. I ran across this great blog written by a mom who uses  living literature in her homeschool curriculum. Her name is Cindy West, she homeschools her three children. She can be found at Our Journey Westward.

If you missed last weeks post on unschooling your child make sure to stop by and share your thoughts.

Next Tuesday I will be covering the Traditional Textbook approach.

Are you currently using the Charlotte Mason approach? Share with us what you most enjoy about it.

photo credit: roy costello