When it comes to natural learning, the Charlotte Mason approach is a breath of fresh air. While not directly unschooling, her approach emphasizes the nurturing of the whole child through natural and practical learning experiences, rather than rote memorization and excessive “book work.”
Charlotte Mason
Charlotte Mason (1842-1923) was a British educator known for her innovative contributions to education. She emphasized the importance of “living books,” nature study, and a broad liberal arts curriculum, which focused on nurturing the whole child’s character, intellect, and spirituality.
Let’s explore practical ways to draw Charlotte Mason’s grounded and timeless methods, practices, and values into our natural home-learning environment.
1. Embrace the Great Outdoors:
Charlotte Mason was a strong advocate for outdoor education. Incorporate regular nature walks, hikes, and outdoor exploration into your daily routine. Let your child connect with the natural world, observe birds and insects, and journal their findings.
2. Use Living Books:
Replace textbooks, workbooks and curriculum with living books, which are beautiful, engaging, steeped in noble values, and well-written books that inspire a love for learning. Choose literature that aligns with your child’s interests and brings subjects to life.
3. Narration and Discussion:
Encourage your child to narrate what they’ve read or learned in their own words. Engage in thoughtful discussions to foster critical thinking and comprehension. Do this in a relaxed manner, not with a drill-style intensity. Simply be curious! (If the conversation doesn’t take off, no problem.)
4. Art and Music Appreciation:
Incorporate art and music into your daily life. Have a devoted “creation” area in your home where art and crafts can happen at any time, listen to classical music, hang original art on your walls, and keep books about art/innovation/ideas and creators where the children can pick them up any time.
5. Morning Time Ritual:
Establish a morning time rhythm where you read poetry, share wisdom, discuss history, or engage in other enriching connective conversations as you eat breakfast together. Our Mastermind Mealtime book is a fantastic resource for this very special time of day!
6.Habit Formation:
Gently and consistently support your child in forming good habits through your words, example, and energy.
7. Handicrafts and Practical Life Skills:
Encourage your child to engage in handicrafts and practical life skills like knitting, gardening, or cooking. These activities foster creativity, patience, and self-sufficiency.
8. Nature Journals and Notebooks:
Give your child a nature journal or notebook to record observations, sketches, and reflections from their outdoor adventures. Create time and space to support your child in exploring the use of pencils, art pens, and water-colours as they record their view of the natural world.
9. A Gentle Approach:
Embrace a gentle and patient approach to learning. Allow your child to learn at their own pace and honor their curiosity and timing.
10. Reading Aloud:
Reading aloud! It’s not just for young children; older children benefit from this too. Select literature that is rich in content and vocabulary. The sound of your voice reading meaningful content aloud to your children holds a high frequency that communicates with their very cells.
11. Daily Habit of Attention:
Develop your child’s habit of attention through activities that require focused observation, like cloud watching, bug watching, bird watching, or studying the stars.
12. Create a Charlotte Mason-Inspired Atmosphere:
Design a home environment that reflects the principles of beauty, order, and simplicity. Display nature-themed artwork, provide cozy reading corners, and keep learning materials accessible.
Conclusion
Bringing Charlotte Mason’s methods, practices, and values into your natural home learning environment is a rewarding journey that nurtures a love for learning and a deep appreciation for the world around us.
By embracing nature, living books, and the habits of attention, you can provide your child with a holistic education that extends far beyond traditional “school work.” Charlotte Mason’s philosophy reminds us that learning is a beautiful, lifelong adventure.