I'd really like to use the Charlotte Mason method but I'm still learning about it and looking for people who are using it that might be able to help me.
For my preschool boys I am doing the Charlotte Mason Method. It seemed that my interests and the things I enjoyed reading when I was young are pretty much the same as the Charlotte Mason Method. http://amblesideonline.org/00.shtml This is a link to free curriculum that I use for my children. It is mostly book lists which is really all small children need as far as formal curriculum is concerned. Some of the books on the list that I already had were the Beatrix Potter series, and the old fationed Winnie the Pooh books, and art. I really appreciate this method because my boys are really eager to stop and look at the beauty of a leaf, for example, and examine it's role in the world and see that it is a very beautiful world we live in. This system works well for my almost 3 year old because of his personality. He's withdrawn, shy, and very sensitive. This teaching method really clicks with him and we see alot of lightbulb moments with this! If you have any questions you can send me a private message! I hope I've helped!!! Good Luck!
Well, have you checked out: Simply Charlotte Mason Ambleside Online A Charlotte Mason Education Or read any of these: Charlotte Mason's books (she wrote herself) Anything by Karen Andreola. THIS is a good starting point. or Catherine Levinson While I enjoyed Mrs. Andeola's books, I found Mrs. Levinson's more helpful for me. Now that I've thrown a ton of "stuff" at you, what exactly do you want to know from someone like me? Aside from being really attracted to Ms Mason's thoughts based on my experiences with children and what I know about child development, I've just observed in the past two years how my kids retain way more from a "living" book than from other forms of instruction. I am probably not a CM purist, but we really do utilize her ideas.
I'm hoping to use it as a basis for teaching but also add my own touch to it to suite my son. What I can't figure out is if it's a just a method of teaching (as in time span, subject suggestions ect.) or is it an actual curriculum with lesson plans and such.
In my opinion, CM is a methodology of teaching, although she does advocate certain topics at certain ages. For example, I believe she advocated history of one's own country for children beginning school; we, however, are doing world history instead of US history as our main focus. I support doing what works for your child. CM advocates reading small portions of books over a long span of time - maybe the term is marinating? Not sure - anyway, I did that for our first two years, but now am reading them in less time (say, two chapters a week instead of one), and my children are responding better. I strongly suggest you look at some sort of how-to CM books, like ones by Catherine Levinson or Karen Andreola. Beyond the whole "read for 15 minutes, have child narrate, change subject" routine, they give you a clear idea of what it looks like in their families. For me, that what helpful for envisioning hwo it might work for my family.
I'm torn, I really like her method of teaching but at the same time I feel I'm missing some basics and need more structure as far as what I should teach him per grade level...ex: what do I teach him in Kindergardan? I can figure out ways to teach him that suit him if I could just figure out what he should learn. I don't want the all-in-one packages because I know I'll stray from it and waste the money.
CM is not a curriculum but an educational philosophy. There are many CM styled curricula out there, though. Here are some of them (different levels of adherence to CM ideals) Sonlight Winter Promise Epi Kardia My Father's World Living Books Curriculum Since you don't want a set, you can use a resource like What Your Kindergartner Needs to Know. That series is quite good. Or you can search for scope and sequence charts online. Most state school systems have theirs online. At K there isn't really a huge list of "must knows." And CM didn't espouse any formal schooling until age 7. So just read lots of living books, take nature walks, and instill a love of learning.
