This podcast episode focuses on answering more listener questions about the Charlotte Mason method on some widely varying topics including Bible, narration, and unit studies.
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“Another point, the co-ordination of studies is carefully regulated without any reference to the clash of ideas on the threshold or their combination into apperception masses; but solely with reference to the natural and inevitable co-ordination of certain subjects. Thus, in readings on the period of the Armada, we should not devote the contemporary arithmetic lessons to calculations as to the amount of food necessary to sustain the Spanish fleet, because this is an arbitrary and not an inherent connection; but we should read such history, travels, and literature as would make the Spanish Armada live in the mind.” (Vol. 3, pp. 320-21)
“English History is always with us, but only in the earliest years is it studied alone. It is not, as we know, possible always to get the ideal book, so we use the best we can find and supplement with historical essays of literary value. Literature is hardly a distinct subject, so closely is it associated with history, whether general or English; and whether it be contemporary or merely illustrative; and it is astonishing how much sound learning children acquire when the thought of an age is made to synchronise with its political and social developments. A point which I should like to bring before the reader is the peculiar part which poetry plays in making us aware of this thought of the ages, including our own. Every age, every epoch, has its poetic aspect, its quintessence, as it were, and happy the people who have a Shakespeare, a Dante, a Milton, a Burns, to gather up and preserve its meaning as a world possession…Civics takes place as a separate subject, but it is so closely bound up with literature and history on the one hand and with ethics, or, what we call every-day morals, on the other, that the division of subjects is only nominal.” (Vol. 6, p. 274)
A Delectable Education, Episode 8: Narration, the Act of Knowing
Bonnie Buckingham
Loved listening in on this!!! Emily, I learned things/terms about history just in this short session from you that I did not know well. LOL! I loved how you fleshed out the science of relations/connections vs. unit studies.
So glad I could help, Amy! It can seem confusing at face value, but as so many ideas of Mason's, once the essential principle is grasped, it makes perfect sense.
Emily
I'm curious as to how CM teaches writing essays, papers, research, etc. and other writings such as compare and contrast, etc. (not narrating). When do you all feel you need to start preparing your children for writing in college and what do you use? Would love your insight as I shift to CM and have some classical hold backs. 🙂 Thanks!
In volume I, Mason addresses a chapter to "composition." At the back of volume III, School Education, there are examples of composition questions in the index. In volume VI, Towards a Philosophy of Education, page 190 also has an extensive chapter on composition. You can also listen to our podcast that discusses the progression of written work in episodes 44, 48, and 50.
-Liz
My daughter is 6.5 and we are just starting to dabble in homeschool as I read CM summary books and listen to your pod cast (and will be reading and buying CM’s actual books). But here’s the post cast in at now. Where exactly do I go to get a more list form of exactly where I should begin her when she is in form 1b. I am having a new baby in November 2017 too so we are dabbling now, so I can learn it better and dive in when she is 7. I love all the info on pod casts but for my sanity and organization, where do I go for a list of exactly what I should be teaching and which days and exactly what living books coordinate? Thank you, I’m new and a tad bit overwhelmed but excited.
Dear Brooke,
What a wonderful education your children are going to receive! I am so thankful you discovered the beauty of a Mason education.
There is a lot to learn, but you have begun on the right path by ordering and reading Mason’s volumes. I see you have applied for a consult, so I will leave it to Liz to guide you further.
~Nicole