{"id":4021,"date":"2020-03-31T18:28:29","date_gmt":"2020-03-31T18:28:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.doingwhatmatters.com\/?p=4021"},"modified":"2022-02-07T19:17:38","modified_gmt":"2022-02-07T19:17:38","slug":"homeschool-101","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/doingwhatmatters.com\/homeschool-101\/","title":{"rendered":"Homeschool 101: Charlotte Mason Style"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n\r\n\r\n

In which a student of Charlotte Mason<\/a> (British educator 1842-1923) imperfectly outlines first steps of the Mason method with an eye toward hope and encouragement to new home educators.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n

By: Anya Campbell<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n

Instagram: <\/span><\/i>https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/ampc7\/<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\r\n

\"How<\/p>\r\n

Ideas on How to Begin<\/span><\/h2>\r\n

I love homeschooling and, honestly, when I started this process I really wasn’t expecting to enjoy it as much as I have so far. I\u2019ve been learning and implementing the Mason method in our home for the past 4 years. It hasn\u2019t been a quick, open and go process; more of a slow unfolding, if you will.\u00a0 Here are a few things I\u2019ve learned along the way that I hope can be helpful and give you courage to start your homeschool adventure.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The methods set down below are not difficult \u2014 they do, however, require the full attention of both student and teacher for a couple of hours every morning. At our house, daily lesson time is 9am-12:30, which includes around 10 subjects and a snack break. We\u2019re done every day by lunch time. No rushing. No pushing. Only daily diligence. What a gift!<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Homeschool 101 Essentials<\/span><\/i><\/h3>\r\n

I see the goal of education as knowing truth, seeing beauty, and acquiring character. These goals are partly gained and maintained through reading well and understanding what is read. Living ideas (gleaned from subjects studied) build on each other to form a network and relationship of truth, beauty, and, ultimately, character.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The habit of attention is the most important skill to foster from the get-go. A very effective way to practice attention is through a) <\/span>short lessons <\/span><\/i>(10-20 mins)<\/span> and b) <\/span>narration <\/span><\/i>(re-telling).<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n

The Habit of Attention Through Short Lessons and Narration<\/span><\/i><\/h3>\r\n

\"Homeschool<\/a>If you can\u2019t pay attention you won\u2019t understand. In these days of flickering screens and over-scheduling (guilty and guilty), it\u2019s harder than ever to pay attention to something for longer than a few seconds. The habit of attention allows us to zone in and focus on a certain subject for a few concentrated minutes, followed by the opportunity to narrate what we\u2019ve heard.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n