Bible, Literature (Tales, Fables, etc), Phonics/Reading,
German, World History, American History, Arithmetic, Singing (Hymns, Folk Songs, German), Character Stories, Habit Training, Geography and Mapwork, Handwriting, Picture Study/Art Appreciation, Science/Nature Stories, Poetry, Recitation, Scripture Memory, Read Alouds (Children's Novels), Sol-fa/Music, Timeline Notebook, Nature Study/Journal, Handicrafts (Clay Modeling, Doll Making, Sew/Knit, Woodwork), Art Lessons, Hero Admiration /Saint Stories, Life Skills (Chores, Home Economics),
Ballet, Drawing, Music Instrument Lessons (Piano, Recorder), Drill/Exercise, Composer Study/Music Appreciation.
How do we fit all these subjects into our year? Short lessons (10-20 minutes for most lessons) and we school around the whole year.
Why have I planned so many areas of learning for my scholar? Read Charlotte's own words:
"Because the relationships a child is born to are very various, the knowledge we offer him must be various too...it is a mistake to suppose that the greater the number of 'subjects' the greater the scholar's labor; the contrary is the case as the variety in itself affords refreshment...not the number of subjects but the hours of work bring fatigue to the scholar; and bearing this in mind, we have short hours. (V 6, p 157-8)
We wish to place before the child open doors to many avenues of instruction and delight...he is eclectic; he may choose this or that; our business is to supply him with due abundance and variety and his to take what he needs...we never know just where a child's talents lie, until we give him a variety of opportunities and a wide curriculum...we owe it to them to initiate an immense number of interests. The question is not,-how much does the youth know? when he has finished his education-but how much does he care? and about how many orders of things does he care? In fact, how large is the room in which he finds his feet set? and, therefore, how full is the life he has before him?" (Charlotte Mason)
Charlotte advocated short lessons for younger children: fifteen or twenty minutes at the most. These short lessons are part of training children in the habit of attention. Children can get a lot accomplished in fifteen minutes of complete attention (so can adults). Along with the short lessons should come a large variety of subjects, alternating the quieter, concentration-intense subjects with the louder, less-concentration-intense subjects and those that allow for physical movement and exercise. (SCM Website)
Ancient Paths Schoolhouse
"This is what the LORD says: "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls."
(Jeremiah 6:16)
"Charity"
by William Bouguereau
"Charity" depicts a woman caring for and protecting young children- giving them her nurturing and knowledge. The nurturing is represented by her bared breasts...illustrating her willingness to give of herself for their well being. Under her left foot is an overturned jug with gold and silver coins flowing out of it. This symbol reveals that there is no cost too great for their happiness. By her right foot a boy is leaning on a pile of books, showing her intent to educate them and give them the gift of knowledge. (Interpretation from the Art Renewal Site)
Let us so care for, nurture and educate the little ones entrusted to us. Remember Charlotte's words: "For the Children's Sake".
Let us so care for, nurture and educate the little ones entrusted to us. Remember Charlotte's words: "For the Children's Sake".
"For the Children's Sake"
Miss Mason
The Rule of the Home School
"Brisk work and ample leisure and freedom should be the rule of the Home School. " Miss Mason, Vol. 3, pg. 297
My AO Year 1 Scholar
True Education- Every day children should have:
*Something to Love: through knowledge of their Creator by listening to the Holy Scriptures and Bible Stories, they may develop an intimate relationship with and love for God, who loved us first; love from mother through focused attention and affection; schoolroom "pets" to care for.
*Something to Think About: whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy, think on these things. (Phil. 4:8) The child shall think about such things through the ideas found in the books they read; through God's attributes as seen in His artwork- the majesty of nature; and through the beauty in man's art-music, pictures and words.
"Life should be all living, and not merely a tedious passing of time; not all doing or all feeling or all thinking- the strain would be too great- but all living." (Charlotte Mason)
"The philosophy of the school room in one generation will be the philosophy of government in the next."
-Abraham Lincoln
-Abraham Lincoln
School Motto: "I am, I can, I ought, I will"
This was the motto CM used in her schools.
"I AM"- I am made in the image of God, the greatest thing in His creation. I am His workmanship and created in Christ Jesus to do good works. (Ephesians 2:10)
"I CAN"- I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. God has given me abilities which make me capable of doing the good works He has created me to do. (Phil 4:13)
"I OUGHT"- I ought to love the Lord with all my heart, soul and mind and love my neighbor as myself.
I ought to do what is right. It is my sense of duty — a sense of what is right and wrong. My conscience can be numbed by continuous wrong thinking. (Mark 12:30-31)
"I WILL"- I will forget myself and do what is right. Realizing my infinite worth, God given capabilities and the right actions God desires for me, I am assured that I can “will” myself, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to do what needs to be done. (Psalm 119:30-32)
God has created us and He has equipped us for every good work. He has given us a moral conscience and His Word to know right from wrong and He has enabled us to choose to follow His commands.
Print out CM motto cards here
"I AM"- I am made in the image of God, the greatest thing in His creation. I am His workmanship and created in Christ Jesus to do good works. (Ephesians 2:10)
"I CAN"- I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. God has given me abilities which make me capable of doing the good works He has created me to do. (Phil 4:13)
"I OUGHT"- I ought to love the Lord with all my heart, soul and mind and love my neighbor as myself.
I ought to do what is right. It is my sense of duty — a sense of what is right and wrong. My conscience can be numbed by continuous wrong thinking. (Mark 12:30-31)
"I WILL"- I will forget myself and do what is right. Realizing my infinite worth, God given capabilities and the right actions God desires for me, I am assured that I can “will” myself, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to do what needs to be done. (Psalm 119:30-32)
God has created us and He has equipped us for every good work. He has given us a moral conscience and His Word to know right from wrong and He has enabled us to choose to follow His commands.
Print out CM motto cards here
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Favorite Books on Education
Click on any of the books to learn more...
"Great character comes out of great thoughts and...great thought must be initiated by great thinkers; then we shall have a definite aim in education." (Charlotte Mason, V6, p 275)
"Knowing that the brain is the physical seat of habit and that conduct and character, alike, are the outcome of the habits we allow; knowing, too, that an inspiring idea imitates a new habit of thought, and hence a new habit of life; we perceive that the great work of education is to inspire children with vitalizing ideas as to every relation of life, every department of knowledge, every subject of thought; and to give deliberate care to the formation of those habits of the good life which are the outcome of vitalizing ideas."
"Knowing that the brain is the physical seat of habit and that conduct and character, alike, are the outcome of the habits we allow; knowing, too, that an inspiring idea imitates a new habit of thought, and hence a new habit of life; we perceive that the great work of education is to inspire children with vitalizing ideas as to every relation of life, every department of knowledge, every subject of thought; and to give deliberate care to the formation of those habits of the good life which are the outcome of vitalizing ideas."
Nature Notebooks
"As soon as a child is old enough, he should keep his own nature notebook for his enjoyment. Every day's walk will give something interesting to add--three squirrels playing in a tree, a bluejay flying across a field, a caterpillar crawling up a bush, a snail eating a cabbage leaf, a spider suddenly dropping from a thread to the ground, where he found ivy and how it was growing and what plants were growing with it, and how ivy manages to climb." (V1 p54)
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