Charlotte Mason Resources

[krazzymommy]

Can anyone recommend some further resources (esp. books) on the Charlotte Mason method? I'm kind of looking for a Charlotte Mason for Idiots type book - plain, to the point overview! I haven't done any research on her method at all. :D

[Trivium Academy]

A Charlotte Mason Education by Catherine Levison and the 2nd book, More Charlotte Mason Education
These are the most practical, nuts and bolts books I know of. If you want something more encouraging, inspirational try For the Children's Sake by S. MacCaulay (sp?) and The Charlotte Mason Companion by K. Andreola

My favorites are the Levison books for practical and Real Learning by Elizabeth Foss, other than reading Charlotte Mason's original homeschooling series.

[LoveBaby]

My favorite is A Charlotte Mason Companion by Karen Andreola.

I also have:

A Charlotte Mason Education by Catherine Levison
A Charlotte Mason Study Guide by Penny Gardner

The study guide is great because it actually gives guidance in going through Charlottes original Homeschooling Series. I've actually just picked them up recently and am working my way through "Home Education" There is a brilliant piece of information on every page and I'm keeping notes as to what I want to implement in our home next!

Karen also has a book called "Pocketful of Pinecones" about nature study written in story form. I really enjoyed it as well. It was very encouraging and gave practical tips for using nature study in your homeschool.

There might be some information on the Simply Charlotte Mason website as well. And of course, Ambleside Online is a great resource as well.

[MicheleinMN]

A Charlotte Mason Education by Catherine Levison
and A More Charlotte Mason Education also by Catherine Levison

Hands down my favorite beginning CM books! Also check out the Ambleside Online website for loads of links and information.

http://www.amblesideonline.org/

Michele

[stripe]

A Charlotte Mason Education by Catherine Levison and the 2nd book, More Charlotte Mason Education
These are the most practical, nuts and bolts books I know of. If you want something more encouraging, inspirational try For the Children's Sake by S. MacCaulay (sp?)

(It's Susan Schaeffer Macaulay.)

I didn't particularly care for the Levison books. Unless you want a one-page summary of each subject area, they are far too brief. You can obtain something quite similar (better, really) in chart form on Simply Charlotte Mason's website (http://simplycharlottemason.com/planning/scmguide/) -- or here (http://simplycharlottemason.com/planning/eyguide/) for early years; or read the FAQs (http://www.amblesideonline.org/FAQ.shtml) , description of CM method (http://www.amblesideonline.org/WhatIsCM.shtml), or CM real/modernized/summarized options (http://www.amblesideonline.org/CM/toc.html) from Ambleside Online.

I liked "For the Children's Sake," as well as "When Children Love to Learn" by Elaine Cooper, which is in the same vein, but fleshes out the particular subject areas.

[Rhonda in TX]

Higher Up and Further In (http://higherupandfurtherin.blogspot.com/) is a favorite of many here. She is very strongly CM in her homeschool and really breaks down how to make it work in your school. She makes it very easy, and she has children all the way from kindergarten (maybe 1st grade) to early high school.

I would start by reading Karen Andreola's book, then go to HUFI.

[Shari]

All of the resources mentioned above are great (my personal favorite being More Charlotte Mason Education by Levison). There is a Yahoo group called CM Series that is reading through the original Charlotte Mason Home Education series. You can read from her originals or the modernized versions available at Ambleside Online. I think there are splinter groups reading from a couple of different volumes, and some of the Parents' Review articles ??

It is a good place to hear from folks who are serious about "straight" CM, and not quite as influenced by WTM, if that makes sense.

[wendilouwho]

I just read A Charlotte Mason Education by Levison. This was the first actual book I've read on CM methods. Yes, it's brief, but it leaves you with the feeling like you can actually put Charlotte Mason's ideas into practice. Mind you, I'm a brand spanking new homeschooler with no real practical experience. Right now I'm reading For the Children's Sake. The first two chapters really get you thinking.

So, if you want a quick read with practical advice, read A Charlotte Mason Education.

Wendi