Please introduce me to Chalotte Mason.

[christine in al]

Hi,

So, I'd like to know more about the method. I may have to buy the books so I don't want an entire library of suggestions right off.

 

What three books should I look for. In order of reading suggestion would be VERY helpful.

 

Thanks y'all.

~Christine in al

[angela in ohio]

You can read her original works through Ambleside Online. I think that is the best approach, rather than getting a watered down version. :001_smile:

[Guest Cindie2dds]

Ambleside Online is my favorite. I has the most practical help -- nuts and bolts, so to speak -- applications, extensive yahoo groups, etc. I have her original series, but Ambleside has it free here, both in its original format and translated into modern English.

 

Karen Andreola is a favorite of quite a few people, but I found her books to be more "feel good" than practical help, JMHO.

 

Of course, as far as blogs go, I adore Linda Fay's.

 

There are also a lot of free resources at Simply Charlotte Mason as well.

[AngelaNYC]

Christine...Charlotte. Charlotte...Christine.

 

There, now that the introductions are over, I'd like to say we love CM and have been using her method for over 5 years. We started off with piecing together our own stuff, then about 2 years ago we began using the Ambleside Online free CM curriculum. My 9y/o and I are about to start Year 3.

 

Here's a great page:

 

http://www.thehomeschoolmom.com/teacherslounge/styles/nutshell.php

 

and other with lots of great links and information:

 

http://www.squidoo.com/CMbasics

[Jami]

I've found Linda Fay's blog invaluable:

 

http://www.charlottemasonhelp.com/

http://higherupandfurtherin.blogspot.com/

 

I've also recently discovered Nancy's blog:

http://sageparnassus.blogspot.com/

 

And then ditto to read Charlotte Mason's original writings. The book "When Children Love to Learn" is a helpful modern application of CM's ideas. The authors are teachers in schools founded on her ideas, so there is a more "schoolish" application I suppose. Still, very helpful.

[Jayne J]

For the Childrens Sake by Susan Schaeffer Macauley was the book that turned me on to CM methods. I also appreciated "A Charlotte Mason Education" by Catherine Levinson. These are both short books, and they give a very basic outline of CM philosophies and applications. The original books, written by Charlotte Mason are indeed invaluable, but there are something like six thick volumes, and it is alot of slow going. I have them and read them and like them, but to just check if it is the right method for you, they might be overkill. The websites listed above by other posters are also a great place to start!

[AngelBee]

Try to read her original works, but take em slow and let it soak in. :)

 

We love Charlotte!

[Mothersweets]

The book that really turned me on to Charlotte Mason's ideas was A Charlotte Mason Companion by Karen Andreola.

 

Sorry, urpedonmommy, but For the Children's Sake was horrible for me! :o It was the first thing I read 15 years ago about CM and I couldn't hardly get through it - it was a real sleeping pill for me. So, for 15 years I went around thinking what a bore CM was and how could anyone like her methods?

 

A couple summers ago, I happened to see the CM Companion on the shelf at the library and thumbed through it and just fell in love with it!

 

I have found the site I am linking an excellent resource for Charlotte Mason's writings is http://simplycharlottemason.com/

 

Sonya Schafer puts together Ms. Mason's ideas in a cohesive, very accessible way that really makes it easy to understand and implement. Her All-Day Charlotte Mason Seminar is great, as is the Laying Down the Rails book and/or seminar.

[twoxcell]

I love the Charlotte Mason Companion! It is like sitting down to tea with a good friend. I also really enjoyed reading her original works. I have only read the first one. For some it is hard to understand the originals because of the British writing. My granny was from England, so it is not hard for me. We are loving Heart of Dakota this year! It really helps me do Charlotte Mason, and I just add in composer study, and artist study. I'm still trying to get to Nature study as much as we should, but my kids are young so right now when we get into nature I mostly just let them enjoy it.

[RobinM]

In addition to AO website and For the Children's Sake mentioned above, I would add When Children Love to Learn.

[sagira]

Three good books on Charlotte Mason, in order:

 

1. For The Children's Sake

2. A Charlotte Mason Companion

3. When Children Love to Learn

 

These three books are a great introduction to the CM method. If you can't get enough, I highly recommend reading CM's original volumes, especially volume 1 for young children.

[JumpedIntoTheDeepEndFirst]

I found Karen Andreola and Catherine Levison to be the most approachable authors on CM. I'd recommend any of their books. (Don't read Pocketful of Pinecones or Blackberry Inn without first getting an understanding of CM techniques though.)

[birchbark]

http://thecurriculumchoice.com/homeschool-philosophies/charlotte-mason/

 

I have read For the Children's Sake and own When Children Love to Learn. They both are good, but heavy on philosophy content (as opposed to the WTM for example). The reason I purchased WCLTL was that reviewers said that it contained more practical pointers than other CM books! But it was still too much for me. Many find it enjoyable reading, but I find a lot of philosophy a bit tedious to wade through. It depends on what you're looking for I guess.

[stripe]

Childlight is going to come up with a curriculum, but not any time soon. They are associated with Susan Schaeffer Macaulay, whose books I found inspiring (For the Children's Sake and When Children Love to Learn). I found Levison's book to be rather low on the "meat" factor. Anyhow Childlight has some lectures you can listen to online.

 

Mater Amabilis has a curriculum worth looking at whether you are Catholic or not.

http://www.materamabilis.org/ma/

 

I bought all 6 vols of CM's originals and ended up selling them and repurchasing only vol 1 and 6.

[Jami]

Childlight is going to come up with a curriculum, but not any time soon. They are associated with Susan Schaeffer Macaulay, whose books I found inspiring (For the Children's Sake and When Children Love to Learn). I found Levison's book to be rather low on the "meat" factor. Anyhow Childlight has some lectures you can listen to online.

 

Mater Amabilis has a curriculum worth looking at whether you are Catholic or not.

http://www.materamabilis.org/ma/

 

I bought all 6 vols of CM's originals and ended up selling them and repurchasing only vol 1 and 6.

 

 

Vol. 3 and 6 are my favorites and the ones I re-read on a regular basis. I think 6 stands alone well and since it's written 20 or so years after the earlier ones, there's more clarity of ideas I think.

[Mandy in TN]

Read the original volumes online at Ambleside.

To get you started print off her 20 principles and put them on the frig.:)

Mandy

[christine in al]

Thank you all so much.

I love all the discusion and different viewpoints and the variety of favorites and starting points . that's helpful because I won't throw out the philosphy if the first book by or about CM doesn't click.

 

I have my holiday reading all lined up now :-)

 

Thanks again EVERYone.

~christine in al

[Medieval Mom]

Three good books on Charlotte Mason, in order:

 

1. For The Children's Sake

2. A Charlotte Mason Companion

3. When Children Love to Learn

 

These three books are a great introduction to the CM method. If you can't get enough, I highly recommend reading CM's original volumes, especially volume 1 for young children.

 

:iagree: Except, my personal order for these books is 2, 3, 1. :) :lol:

 

Happy reading!

[coralloyd]

I have read about all there is on CM and for practical how to of her methods, read through through this sight : http://simplycharlottemason.com/.

 

After reading if you are really serious about implementing CM, order this:

 

http://simplycharlottemason.com/books/all-day-charlotte-mason-seminar-on-dvd/

 

Then this:

 

http://simplycharlottemason.com/books/books-and-things-seminar-on-dvd/

[truebird]

I'm not a Charlotte Mason expert, but I've read the Charlotte Mason Companion and found it very helpful. There are also a couple articles on the Well Trained Mind website that discuss the differences between the CM and TWTM approaches to classical education. Those helped me a lot last year, in deciding what approach would work best for my family (I use elements of both).

 

http://www.welltrainedmind.com/charlotte-mason-education/

[christine in al]

truebird!! perfect help!!!

 

I've ordered my CM books that others have sugggested and I'm about to complete reading this link you sent. This side by side comparison is exactly what I needed.

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply and include this link.

cheers.

~Christine in al