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Charlotte Mason Study Guide

by Penny Gardner

Review by Martha Robinson

Charlotte Mason Study Guide by Penny Gardner. Copyright 1997. 167 pages. List price: $9.95. Please support HomeschoolChristian.com by ordering through our Amazon affiliate link.

In Charlotte Mason Study Guide, Penny Gardner has effectively summarized the original series of books written by Charlotte Mason almost 100 years ago. For anyone who loves the concept of Charlotte Masons methods but who does not have the stamina to dig through these challenging books, Penny Gardners guide is a true blessing.

Mrs. Gardner has organized the Charlotte Mason Study Guide into the twenty topics listed below:

  • Wisdom of Charlotte Mason and basic information
  • Child-rearing and discipline
  • The motto "Education is an atmosphere, a discipline, a life"
  • Ideas, the sustenance of life
  • The habit of attention
  • The will
  • Goals of education
  • The three R's
  • The arts
  • Education outdoors
  • Method and philosophy of education
  • The Child and his rights
  • Forming habits and virtuous character
  • Education is the science of relations.
  • Narration
  • Reason
  • Religion in education
  • Geography and history
  • Masterly inactivity
  • Nature study

For each topic, Mrs. Gardner gives quotations drawn from all six of Charlotte Masons books and adds analysis from her own experience. Reviews of books that support the Charlotte Mason method and articles by other writers are interspersed among the topics. The book finishes with sample written narrations by children of various ages.

Recommendation:Written in the classic style of telling the audience what you will tell them, telling them, and telling them what you told them, this book makes a difficult subject understandable. Other books on the market are "how to" books or books written from the heart by homeschooling mothers using the Charlotte Mason method, but the Charlotte Mason Study Guide gives the reader the essence of Charlotte Masons ideas in her own words. If you have wondered what the Charlotte Mason method is or want to strengthen your knowledge of her ideas, Charlotte Mason Study Guide is an excellent choice.

Other HomeschoolChristian resources related to this review:

HomeschoolChristian.com's Classical and Charlotte Mason Homeschooling Section with resources, links, and ideas for implementing the Charlotte Mason's methods
Review of A Charlotte Mason Education and other books by Catherine Levison
Review of Italics, Beautiful Handwriting for Children
Review of Helene Guerber's living history books
Review of The Story of the Renaissance and Reformation
Review of the Young American Patriots series of historical fiction

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