How to Implement the Charlotte Mason Method into Your Current Curriculum

If you are unfamiliar with Charlotte Mason, you may not understand that this is a method, not a curriculum.  Realizing it is a method and determining if it is right for your homeschooling, you may be wondering how to gently add it to your current curriculum.  I will walk you through some easy ways that you can begin to implement some of these methods, without changing your curriculum.

How to Implement the Charlotte Mason Method into Your Current Curriculum

These methods work regardless of what curriculum you use and will benefit your children is many ways.

• Living Books – This is the core of a Charlotte Mason method of education.  Even if you use text books to teach your children main subjects, you can easily introduce a person or living book on the subjects that they are learning about in their other subjects. To help you identify some good living books you can follow my Living Book Pinterest Board or look into my favorite living book resource on my book shelve, All through the ages: History through literature guide.
  
• Narration – Oral and written narrations are one of the easiest ways to implement this method into your current curriculum. The concept behind this method is that when a child narrates they are making the information their own.  This skill of ‘retelling’ what they are learning in their curriculum is a perfect evaluation of what is being learned.
• Copywork – Rewriting vocabulary rich, thought-provoking quotes or favorite selections of living books is another aspect of this method. In doing so, spelling, punctuation and grammar is the focus of what is begin learned along with the best of their handwriting.  This can easily be implemented with little thought or prep work for the homeschooling teacher, especially in the high school years.
• Journaling – One of my favorite aspects of the Charlotte Mason method that really can enhance so many subjects that a child studies. As important as narration is to making the subject their own, journaling also serves this same purpose. Assigning a child to journal part of their lessons, map work, science or any subject being studied, but will allow for a creative assignments that will allow the child to be inspired further in their making the information visual to themselves and others.

Each of these methods are not only necessary to develop a self-learner, but can be done with very little investment.  Add one or several of these methods into your current curriculum will prove to be something that will engage the child into their studies and develop skills that will be necessary if higher education is a goal.

How do you see these method enhancing your homeschooling curriculum?

* I have an affiliate link to a trusted and love book that I have used for years while implementing the Charlotte Mason method into our homeschool.

If you are looking to be part of a community of Charlotte Mason Educators, consider joining my Mother Culture Connections for Charlotte Mason Educators Facebook Group, where we have monthly Facebook parties and help each other along the way.

If you are looking for more Charlotte Mason ideas, follow me on Pinterest!

This post was written by:
Dollie Freeman, is a veteran homeschooler who has educated her children with the Charlotte Mason way from preschool through high school. She shares about finding joy in the everyday of home, family and homeschool on her blog, Teachers of Good Things.