What Charlotte Mason Elementary School Looks Like

Simply Charlotte Mason Podcast

14 Jun 202319:08

EducationalLearning

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TLDRThe Simply Charlotte Mason podcast with Sonya Shafer explores the Charlotte Mason educational approach for grades 1-4, emphasizing incremental learning and preserving a child's love for education. The method involves short, focused lessons on a variety of subjects, including poetry, music, art, nature, and narration, without reliance on worksheets. It introduces formal lessons, reading, writing, spelling, and grammar in a way that builds confidence and fluency, preparing students for middle school while fostering a rich learning experience.

Takeaways

📚 The Charlotte Mason approach to education in the elementary years focuses on a variety of subjects and incremental learning to foster a love for learning and preserve a child's natural curiosity.
🌿 From ages three to five, the emphasis is on good conversations, habits, and exposure to enriching experiences in nature, art, music, and books, providing a foundation for formal lessons.
📈 Formal lessons begin at age six, with a gradual introduction to structured learning, ensuring that challenges are presented in small, manageable steps to build confidence and prevent overwhelm.
🎓 Lessons in grades 1–3 are kept short, typically no longer than 20 minutes, to maintain engagement and prevent tedium, with an increase to 30 minutes in grade 4 to prepare for middle school.
📘 The curriculum includes memorizing and reciting poetry, studying a composer and artist each term, and keeping a nature journal, all of which enrich the learning experience beyond traditional academics.
👂 Oral narration is a key component, requiring students to retell what they have learned in their own words, which helps in developing comprehension and communication skills without the pressure of reading or writing.
🔢 Math lessons in the Charlotte Mason method use real objects and oral teaching, gradually moving away from physical aids as the student gains confidence, and avoiding the reliance on worksheets.
✍️ Reading and handwriting are developed with short, focused lessons, emphasizing best effort and full attention, and integrating spelling and grammar in a gradual and natural progression.
📖 By grade 4, students are expected to read school books independently, with a transition from oral to written narrations and an introduction to English grammar and parts of speech.
🎻 The approach values a wide range of subjects, including art, music, handicrafts, and nature, ensuring a well-rounded education that keeps schoolwork interesting and enjoyable.
⏱ The daily workload is designed to be completed in about two hours for grades 1–3 and two and a half hours for grade 4, reflecting the importance of balance between mental work and rest.

Q & A

What is the main difference between a traditional elementary education and a Charlotte Mason approach?
-The Charlotte Mason approach focuses on short, engaging lessons with a variety of subjects, aiming to preserve the student's natural love for learning and avoid tedious busywork, unlike traditional education which often relies heavily on worksheets.
At what age does formal education begin in a Charlotte Mason approach?
-Formal education begins at age 6 in a Charlotte Mason approach.
How are lessons structured in the early elementary grades (1–3) according to the Charlotte Mason method?
-Lessons in grades 1–3 are short, no longer than 20 minutes each, and most are even shorter. They are designed to challenge students without overwhelming them.
What is the purpose of keeping lessons short in the Charlotte Mason approach?
-Short lessons help maintain the student's attention and best effort, prevent burnout, and preserve the student's natural enthusiasm for learning.
How does the Charlotte Mason approach handle reading and writing lessons in the early grades?
-Reading and writing lessons are very short, 10 minutes or less, and are paced according to the student's readiness. Reading involves learning letters and sounds, then building words and sentences. Writing follows a process from learning strokes to copying and transcribing sentences.
What role does narration play in a Charlotte Mason education?
-Narration involves students retelling in their own words what they have learned. It is used to ensure that students are mentally engaged with the material and helps develop their comprehension and verbal skills.
How is spelling introduced in a Charlotte Mason education?
-Spelling is integrated into reading and handwriting lessons using letter tiles initially, then progressing to copying and transcribing words and sentences, and eventually spelling words from memory.
What are some subjects covered in a Charlotte Mason elementary education besides the core academic subjects?
-Subjects include art, music, poetry, nature study, handicrafts, and even an introduction to Shakespeare, ensuring a broad and enriching education.
How does the Charlotte Mason approach teach math to elementary students?
-Math is taught using real objects to help students understand concepts before introducing written work. Lessons are oral and hands-on initially, gradually incorporating more writing as students become ready.
What changes in the educational approach when students reach fourth grade in a Charlotte Mason education?
-In fourth grade, lessons can be up to 30 minutes long, and students begin to read some of their school books themselves, write one narration per week, study spelling through dictation, and start learning grammar.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to Charlotte Mason Education

This paragraph introduces the Charlotte Mason approach to elementary education, contrasting it with traditional methods that heavily rely on textbooks and worksheets. It emphasizes the importance of incremental learning and preserving a child's natural curiosity. The speaker, Sonya Shafer, welcomes listeners to the Simply Charlotte Mason podcast and outlines the focus on grades 1–4, explaining the shift from informal preschool activities to formal lessons at age 6. The approach is characterized by gradual challenges, starting with short lessons to build confidence and maintain enthusiasm for learning.

05:06

🎓 Structure and Content of Elementary Lessons

This section delves into the specifics of what a Charlotte Mason education entails for children in grades 1–3, highlighting the continuation of activities from the preschool years with an emphasis on memorization, music appreciation, art study, and nature observation. The student is introduced to Shakespeare and is expected to keep a nature journal. The paragraph also discusses the importance of oral narration to reinforce learning without the immediate need for reading and writing skills, and the gradual introduction of formal lessons in various subjects, including math, which avoids worksheets and focuses on real-object learning.

10:11

📝 Developing Reading, Writing, and Spelling Skills

The paragraph discusses the development of reading and writing skills in a Charlotte Mason education. It explains the process of learning letters, sounds, and building words, as well as the gradual introduction of spelling integrated with reading and handwriting lessons. The approach is to keep lessons short and focused, promoting attention and effort. By the fourth grade, students are expected to read independently, narrate in writing, and begin studying English grammar, reflecting an incremental increase in challenge and complexity.

15:19

🌟 Preparing for Middle School and Beyond

The final paragraph summarizes the preparation for middle school within the Charlotte Mason approach. It emphasizes the balance of mental work and rest, with daily lessons designed to be completed in about two to two and a half hours. The student's education is not solely dependent on reading skills, as they have been learning through listening and oral narration. The paragraph also notes the student's progress in handwriting, spelling, grammar, and exposure to foreign languages and Shakespeare. The speaker invites listeners to explore Simply Charlotte Mason resources for more information on implementing this educational approach.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Charlotte Mason

Charlotte Mason was a British educator known for her educational philosophy that emphasizes the importance of living books, narration, and a rich curriculum. In the context of the video, Charlotte Mason's approach is contrasted with traditional education methods like worksheets, highlighting its focus on a more holistic and engaging learning experience.

💡Elementary Education

Elementary education refers to the stage of education that typically includes grades 1 through 4. In the video, the speaker discusses how a Charlotte Mason approach to elementary education differs from conventional methods, focusing on incremental learning, a variety of subjects, and the preservation of a child's natural love for learning.

💡Worksheets

Worksheets are educational tools commonly used in traditional classrooms to reinforce learning through exercises and activities. The video script criticizes the over-reliance on worksheets in elementary education, suggesting that they limit the scope of learning and do not fully engage students as compared to the Charlotte Mason approach.

💡Incremental Approach

An incremental approach refers to a method of learning where challenges and learning materials are introduced gradually, building on what the student already knows. The video emphasizes the importance of this approach in the Charlotte Mason method, ensuring that students are not overwhelmed and can maintain their enthusiasm for learning.

💡Narration

Narration in the context of the video refers to the practice of having students retell what they have read or learned in their own words. This method is used in the Charlotte Mason approach to engage students mentally with the material and to develop their ability to recall and articulate information.

💡Living Books

Living books are books that are written in a way that brings the subject matter to life, often through storytelling or vivid descriptions. The video script mentions that in a Charlotte Mason education, students learn from living books, which are more engaging and informative than textbooks, fostering a deeper understanding of the subjects.

💡Formal Lessons

Formal lessons are structured educational sessions that typically begin in elementary school. The video discusses how formal lessons in a Charlotte Mason education are introduced at age 6, with a focus on short, focused sessions that challenge students without overwhelming them.

💡Nature Journal

A nature journal is a record of observations and experiences in nature. In the Charlotte Mason approach, students are encouraged to keep a nature journal, documenting their weekly observations. This practice is intended to deepen their connection with nature and enhance their observational skills.

💡Reading and Writing Lessons

Reading and writing lessons are a key component of elementary education. The video script explains how in a Charlotte Mason education, these lessons are kept short and focused, with an emphasis on best effort and full attention. The approach also integrates reading and writing skills into other subjects once they are well established.

💡Spelling

Spelling is the ability to write words correctly. In the Charlotte Mason approach, spelling is introduced incrementally, starting with letter tiles and progressing to writing words from memory and transcribing sentences. This gradual progression helps students build their spelling skills in a way that is not overwhelming.

💡Foreign Language

Foreign language learning is an aspect of a well-rounded education. The video mentions that in the Charlotte Mason approach, foreign languages are taught through listening and speaking, rather than through reading and writing, allowing students to engage with the language in a more natural and immersive way.

Highlights

Charlotte Mason approach differs from traditional education by focusing on a holistic and engaging learning experience.

Formal lessons begin at age 6, building on informal experiences from preschool years.

Education is presented incrementally to set students up for success and preserve their love for learning.

Lessons in grades 1-3 are no longer than 20 minutes, with a gradual increase to 30 minutes in grade 4.

Students are required to memorize and recite a poem each term, fostering a love for poetry and literature.

Focus on a single composer each term to deepen understanding and appreciation of music.

Art education involves studying one artist and their work each term, enhancing visual literacy.

Nature study is integrated with keeping a nature journal, encouraging observation and reflection.

Introduction to Shakespeare plays enriches students' literary experiences.

Reading and writing skills are developed through oral responses and narrations, not just through worksheets.

Math lessons emphasize real objects and practical understanding before moving to abstract concepts.

Foreign language learning is initially focused on listening and speaking, not reading and writing.

Reading and handwriting lessons are short and focused, promoting attention and effort.

Spelling is introduced gradually, integrated into reading and handwriting lessons.

Grammar is introduced in fourth grade, aligning with students' developing abstract thinking skills.

Daily school work is balanced, taking about two hours in grades 1-3 and two and a half hours in grade 4.

Charlotte Mason education prepares students for middle school by solidifying reading skills and introducing more independent learning.

The approach emphasizes full attention and best effort in all lessons, fostering a habit of excellence.

Simply Charlotte Mason resources and curriculum are available to support this educational approach.

Transcripts

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