You have decided to homeschool and figured out you align with the Charlotte Mason philosophy of education, but what do you really need for a Charlotte Mason education anyway? Let me tell you, it’s simple and practical! Let’s dive in!
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Simply put, for a Charlotte Mason education you need…
- Charlotte Mason volumes (especially Vol I, II, III, and VI)
- A Bible
- Notebooks
- Library Card and/or living books
- Quality watercolors, pens, pencils
- A good math curriculum
This would be the bare bones list of things to get you started in implementing Charlotte’s philosophy. Any search on social media will no doubt provide beautifully photographed tables with lovely components. I couldn’t help but love them myself. However, education is more than beautiful pieces; a Charlotte Mason education is beautiful all on its own.
Charlotte Mason herself was a proponent for children to have the best quality of books and supplies one could afford. We have lots of options available today that range in quality. Provide the best you can within your budget. Keeping things simple will help you afford that.
So, starting with this simple list of what you really need for a Charlotte Mason education, let’s take a look at each one.
You Need Charlotte Mason’s Volumes to Implement Her Philosophy
The foundation of a CM education is understanding her philosophy. If you just try to copy and emulate an aesthetic, when things get challenging or bumpy you will go looking for something different. By reading her volumes (over & over, I might add), you will continually be refreshed by her wisdom and her view of children.
If you are able to find a Charlotte Mason study group in your area I strongly encourage you to join it. Having a group of fellow parents educating in the same philosophy and reading her volumes helps you interpret and make sense of things. I can vouch for, at times, questioning things. But it seems that as soon as I gather with this monthly group I am invigorated and inspired to keep going, however imperfectly.
Why don’t I have all the volumes listed though?
Good question. They are all important and filled with so much wisdom and truth. But we are keeping this simple and practical for getting you started. If you notice the link, it takes you to a free, accessible online version of her volumes. They have even been adapted to modern English for readability. AND…you can even find them on Librivox as an audiobook that you can listen to while you are working around the house with your morning routine!
Don’t Just Skim Them or Read Them Once!
Part of educating our children is continuing our own education. You will learn so much alongside your children as it is. But continuing to read through her volumes and revisit them over the years will only deepen your understanding of Mason’s philosophy. And it will encourage and strengthen your convictions in educating your own children. Mason had such a profound view of her children. Not only for her time, but for today’s modern view of children.
Countless times, as I have read back over a section or chapter, I understood things so much better than the first time through. I won’t pretend that her volumes can be a challenging read at times. But when you read a section, ponder on it a while, and then read it again, you can make sense of it so much easier. Similar to when you are reading your Bible!
Speaking of Bible…You Need One for a Charlotte Mason Education
But aren’t there secular families who use a Charlotte Mason philosophy of education? Absolutely! They see and appreciate the quality, beauty, and richness of this philosophy. I would venture to say that they abstain from the Bible instruction and readings, and then approach any Christian and biblical views from their worldview. Just the same as Christians approach secular worldviews from a biblical worldview.
Mason was a devout believer. She also understood that children enjoyed the Bible. By nine, she expected that children should be familiar with the simple narratives of the Old Testament, as well as two of the gospels.
Just like we talked about the best quality of materials you can afford, the same caliber is expected when providing the Word of God. Children are able to hear and benefit from the words of Scripture, not pre-digested, over-simplified renditions that strip the Word of its depth. Give your children THE WORD.
Granted, there are passages that require discretion and discernment on the parent’s part as to the maturity of the reader/hearer. Go forth wisely.
Notebooks are a Staple for a Charlotte Mason Education
What kind of notebooks?
How many notebooks?
Is this notebooking?
This is an adaptable element for your family. Some families choose to have several different notebooks in which their children illustrate or narrate in them. Others use the form of note-booking to allow their children to assimilate their ideas and record them. And, yet others use just a few notebooks to accomplish their goals when it comes to narrations and record keeping.
We are one of those families. Our boys have one main notebook for narrations, copywork, dictation, and notes. Another notebook for nature journaling and sketches. And finally, a book of centuries that grows with them. That is three notebooks total for each kid.
You could use the inexpensive composition notebooks from the school supplies section. But I will encourage you to “splurge” on beautiful quality notebooks for your kids. It changes things for them. They enjoy adding their illustrations or ideas on quality paper. The thinner paper in standard notebooks don’t seem to hold up to the pens, colored pencils, or even watercolors as you kids illuminate their ideas.
Our favorites have been these softbound, dot-grid notebooks in either A5 or B5 size.
The weight of the paper holds up to various mediums without bleeding.
For nature notebooks we like to use these traveler’s notebook inserts. They are the perfect portable size, lay flat when we are working in them, and handle the paint and pens very well.
Finally, let me recommend you read the book The Living Page by Lauri Bestvater. She goes over the different kids of notebooks and how they can be used, not only your kids’ education, but in your life as well. Very encouraging and inspiring!
Living Books are the Hallmark of a Charlotte Mason Education
A true Mason education comes from reading living books and then narrating, or telling back in your own words, what you learned.
But what are living books?
Living books are books written by an author who is an expert on the subject. They write in a narrative fashion as a means to convey ideas rather than just facts. They are NOT textbooks.
How do we select these living books?
Mason says on page 177 of School Education, in regard to choosing the “right books,”
“The ‘hundred best books for the schoolroom’ may be put down on a list, but not by me. I venture to propose one or two principles in the matter of school-books, and shall leave the far more difficult part, the application of those principles, to the reader. For example, I think we owe it to children to let them dig their knowledge, of whatever subject, for themselves out of the fit book; and this for two reasons: What a child digs for is his own possession; what is poured into his ear, like idle song of a pleasant singer, floats out as lightly as it came in, and is rarely assimilated. I do not mean to say that the lecture and oral lesson are without their uses; but these uses are, to give impulse and order knowledge; and not to convey knowledge, or to afford us that part of our education which comes of fit knowledge, fitly given.
Again, as I have already said, ideas must reach us directly from the mind of the thinker, and it is chiefly by means of the books they have written that we get into touch with the best minds.”
And!
In Parents and Children on page 278, she talks about children having the BEST BOOKS…
“One more thing is of vital importance; children must have books, LIVING BOOKS; the best are not too good for them; anything less than the best is not good enough; and if it is needful to exercise economy, let go everything that belongs to soft and luxurious living before letting go the duty of supplying the books, and the frequent changes of books, which are necessary for the constant stimulation of the child’s intellectual life.”
Mason esteemed good, living books!
Now, I am a believer in filling a home with quality books of every genre and century. But that is a venture to be taken slowly, over time. As a homeschool family going on 9 years, we have acquired many good, living books. I can thank AmblesideOnline for the wonderful list and free curriculum they provide for that!
But, there are many times that I have utilized our library for free access to quality titles if I ran out of my homeschool budget. There is also the option of building a kindle library. Many of the books can be purchased for $5 or less as a digital book. There is also ThriftBooks as a resource for getting used books at great prices. Hunt the thrift stores! Maybe even share a list with grandparents and close family to purchase for your kids in lieu of toys and other things.
Invest in Quality Art Supplies for Your Charlotte Mason Education
Between the subjects of nature study, art appreciation, and art lessons, having quality supplies on hand make these lessons more enjoyable and produce a better result.
Imagine the difference between a $2.00 tray of Crayola watercolors on basic white copy paper and a quality set of watercolors on heavyweight watercolor paper. You know the difference would be distinct. And if you are one to paint already, you know how much more enjoyable it is to move good paint on great paper than cheap paint on cheap paper. Give that experience to your kids, too!
Keep this simple to start out. Your kids can share one set of watercolors, a couple of brush pens, and a good sketchbook for each one. Teach them how to care for their materials and that neatness matters. Keep the lessons short and focused; only allowing longer as they show great care for their materials.
A Good Math Curriculum to Round Out Your Charlotte Mason Curriculum
This one will require a little more research on your part. I will point you in the direction of some excellent options and then you go from there.
Some families choose to apply Mason principles to their math and select a living math curriculum like…
Beauty and Truth Math – I can’t speak for the actual curriculum, but I can tell you that the support and service is top level amazing! They are there to help you and guide you so don’t hesitate to reach out with questions.
Charlotte Mason Arithmetic Series – This newer math series is excellent if you are starting from the beginning. Personally, I had a hard time backtracking this approach after a few years of traditional math under our belts. It is a beautiful and living approach to math and I highly recommend it though. I will also say that the additional resources available by Simply Charlotte Mason to help you teach math are wonderful!
Other great options include Masterbooks Math Lessons for a Living Education, Teaching Textbooks, and Horizons Math. We have used them all!
Now You are Ready to Give Your Kids a Charlotte Mason Education!
Remember, this isn’t a conclusive list of what makes a Charlotte Mason education. This is the basic list of what you need to get started. Whether you start with a free curriculum like AmblesideOnline or curating your own, or buying a curriculum like A Gentle Feast or the CMEC, this list is adaptable for either.
You will be inspired to add more things as you get into your selected curriculum. Go for it! One of the beautiful things about the philosophy is that Miss Mason believed in a liberal education for ALL! She believed kids should not be kept from a wide and varied education due to socioeconomic status or anything else. Children are born persons and worthy of being introduced to great ideas!
Just don’t feel hindered to begin this method of education because you feel like you need all the bells and whistles to do it. Whatever I left off the list can be gathered or looked up for free online, found in your home already, or borrowed.
Go forth and enjoy this wide, deep, beautiful means of educating your children!
And now that you have the bare necessities to begin, you can read How to Easily Create a Charlotte Mason Schedule.
Are you a Charlotte Mason homeschool family? What might you add to this list?
Leave a comment below!
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