The Charlotte Mason Method
Charlotte Mason was a 19th century educator who believed "the souls of all children are waiting for the call of knowledge to awaken them to delightful living.” Some of the characteristics of a Charlotte Mason education are using living books, keeping a nature journal, and introducing music, art, poetry, and great literature among other resources. You can find out more about a Charlotte Mason education from Deborah Taylor-Hough in her summary Charlotte Mason in a Nutshell. Another excellent article for those considering the Ms. Mason's methods is Penny Gardner's Awakening the Soul Through Liberal Education.
- Charlotte Mason's Original Homeschooling Series by Charlotte Mason
- A Charlotte Mason Education, More Charlotte Mason Education by Catherine Levison
- A Charlotte Mason Companion : Personal Reflections on the Gentle Art of Learning by Karen Andreola
Living books, books which are well-written, engaging, and invite the reader inside, teach not through the dull imparting of facts but through the lives and events of the characters. They include genres such as historical fiction, nature books, and twaddle-free fiction stories such as those of Holling C. Holling. The terms "living books" and "twaddle" are commonly used by those following Charlotte Mason's educational theories, although they are quickly being picked up in other homeschool circles.
