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Thursday, July 27, 2017

Why Not Charlotte Mason Anymore?

So I thought I was comitted to the CM approach to education but looks like I'm ecclectic through and through.  Yes, there are aspects of the method that I still love and intend to incorporate into our homeschool.  (I'm thinking here of the history timeline and book of centuries, nature walks with nature journal, copywork - and later dictation - for practice of spelling and handwriting in particular, picture study, classical music appreciation, living books in lieu of textbooks, handicrafts - especially knitting, and an emphasis on character formation.)

So what's preventing me from just calling myself a Charlotte Mason homeschooler, considering the rather long list of CM features I am embracing? First and foremost, while I do agree with the ideal of hours of outside time, ever since I gave up on trying to incorporate mandatory daily outdoor time, my stress levels have lowered!  I was feeling guilty for not spending the recommended 4-6 (!) hours outside with the kids when it was too hot and humid for my liking, followed by mosquito infestations at dusk, during the summer.  In the winter months, I likewise didn't spend the time outside because bundling up took longer than anyone wanted to actually be outside.  Perhaps this year, since we won't have a newborn to worry about, we may be able to spend more time outside once the humidity of summer subsides.  But it certainly won't be more than an hour at most daily.  We just don't have the desire to spend that much time slugging around trying to find something to do!  Sorry, I know nature is fascinating, but 4-6 hours?!  That time has to be taken from somewhere - if not chores, then sleep.

Also, while I do love the idea of living books instead of strictly textbooks, I do intend to use textbooks as spines for history and science.  I want that list of possible topics at our fingertips to use as a starting point for gauging my kids' interest.  There will be lots of reading of living books, but not without first referring to the textbooks.

And while this may not be a "con" per se, serious science study seems to be absent from the CM methodology, and mathematics are not addressed at all. I understand that most CM educators simply supplement for these subjects, but considering that I'd be tinkering with other aspects as well, might as well call myself ecclectic.




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