Customer Reviews

A Charlotte Mason Education

5 star:		(40)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Far and away the most helpful information I've found on the application of Charlotte Mason methods has come from this one little book. By doing a web search for both "Charlotte Mason" and "Catherine Levison", I located a wealth of information online about Miss Mason's educational methods and Mrs. Levison's other writings (a large number of websites, book lists, and even email newsletters). After reading through the online information, I was tempted to think I didn't need to actually spend money for any books on this topic. I thought the Web and a good search engine ............ was enough. But I've found that having each school subject's practical explanations individually listed in a single "hold-it-in-my-hand" resource has been a great benefit and definitely a worthwhile investment. The subjects covered in this book include: narration, literature, poetry, composition, handwriting, spelling, foreign language, grammar, science, math, art, music, history, geography, formation of habits, and more. In my humble opinion, no Charlotte Mason library or resource list is complete without A Charlotte Mason Education. It's short, but I found that only makes it more user-friendly; the practical tips aren't lost amidst other text. It's the perfect book for someone who's interested in getting down to business and "doing" Charlotte Mason methods in their home or school. The only problem I see with the book is that I wish more home schooling catalogs carried it so more people were aware of this helpful resource.

I've read Charlotte Mason's original works and every other book on Charlotte Mason topics, but I always had trouble with the details of practically applying Miss Mason's methods with my students. Levison's book took the mystery out of the method. Within the first 24 hours of reading A Charlotte Mason Education, I started applying the methods with my children and we loved it! I knew Charlotte Mason's methods were what I wanted to use... and this great little book made it possible. I highly recommend this book to anyone seriously considering implementing Charlotte Mason's methods in their home or school.

If you're brand new to Charlotte Mason and looking for a quick reference of the practical how-to's of Mason's educational methods, then this is the book for you! I believe that this book successfully accomplishes what it was written for--to present the reader with a step-by-step, topic-by-topic introduction to Miss Mason's methods. This book isn't an in-depth treatment of Charlotte Mason's entire philosophy of education, and I don't believe it was meant to cover anything more than just the practical how-to's. If you're looking at your home educational efforts and thinking something like, "How can I quickly and easily add art appreciation and poetry to our curriculum?", then you'll find the answers here. I find this to be one of the easiest to use, most helpful home education books on my shelf. I refer back to it often (ie: "I need more ideas for Nature study. I'll go back and see what Levison recommends"). The book is short, to the point, and written from the wisdom of a long-time homeschooling parent who spent several years digging through Charlotte Mason's original books and many out-of-print resources to distill Mason's vast writings on the philosophy of education into the practical nuts and bolts of how to do it at home. Presented in a manageable and readable format.

Contrary to some opinions, Levison's second book, More Charlotte Mason Education, definitely isn't a rewrite of this first book. More Charlotte Mason Education does go into greater depth on things like the life of Charlotte Mason, but none of the practical how-to's are repeated from one book to the next. Please don't start with Book Two unless you're already using CM methods almost exclusively in your home school, or I think you'll probably find yourself wondering why the author didn't talk about most educational topics that need to be covered in your homeschool (the first book gives the most information about what to do and how). I think it's probably best if someone buys both books. They're definitely a set that compliments and completes one another.

As a homeschooling parent I want to give my two children a great education. They are young, both in first grade. I was feeling so frustrated with my young daughter. She was not listening to me (tuning me out)and I was not sure how to deal with her. She would play around, not finish her lessons. A friend suggested the Charlotte Mason approach. I purchased Catherine Levison's book and read it through. Wow, it was wonderful. Right away I told the children there would be some changes at school. I reset our school classes. We read our Bible lessons 3 mornings a week, and classic literature 2 mornings a week. I started timing our classroom work, allowing only 20 minutes for each subject or paperwork. I told them that they each had 20 minutes for each subject, such as math, history, ect.. If they did not finish the paper that they would then stay behind and do their schoolwork "during their recess/play time". When Sarah had to stay in her seat and finish up during her recess/playtime she was not too happy. It only took two times for her to realize that mom was serious. I did not nag her. I just quietly reminded her once of the new rules. She is now listening better, finishing her work ahead of the time allowed on many days. Mom has been happier and our school days are so much more pleasant.
We went shopping for some whole,living books. We chose Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little,also Aesop's Fables to read during school time. We all three read together out loud. Then I have each child tell me what they read. I was amazed (embarassed too) when I read the list of great literature for suggested reading, in Catherine's book. Here I was a mom, and I as a child had never read any of the books listed. I soon purchased "Little Women, also Anne of Green Gables" for myself to start with. My husband gave me "Jane Eyre" for Christmas. I keep wondering why, when I was a child, that my teachers did not have us read whole books. It seemed so much of what we learned in public school was boring or I have forgotten it. My prayer is as a home school mom to give my children a better education than I received. To keep them excited about what we are learning. together.

This short book is a wonderful introduction to the application of the Charlotte Mason approach to homeschooling. But I would recommend reading Karen Andreola's book first. What Andreola's book lacks, you can find in Levinson's little book. It tells you what to do...it gives you more cocnrete ideas. There are problems with the book. SOmetimes the author mentions someone as if the reader is supposed to know who the person is. I foudn myself going to her bibliography to identify names. This was distracting. Also, the book does not really explain how the author implements the method. The method is described but I would have liked reading more about how she has done it. Andreaola covers that much better. Read both books. One supplements the other.

This smallish book (under 100 pages) gives a good introduction to Charlotte Mason's methods and ideas. I think it gives just the right amount of information to enable the reader to decide if they would like to further pursue the ideas of this remarkable teacher and her methods. This is the first book I have read regarding Miss Mason, and I am definitely interested in finding out more. The author covers, albeit briefly, such topics as: Narration, Copywork, Nature Study, as well as the more "core" subjects of Handwriting, Spelling, Math, etc. She suggests some resources, includes a bibliography, and intersperses some personal thoughts and experiences as well.

All in all, a good introduction to the Charlotte Mason philosophy of education.

A Charlotte Mason Education is a great introduction to this approach to teaching children. The majority of the book gives "how to" instructions on the different areas to be taught. A person can begin using one or more of these techniques before or while reading Charlotte Mason's, The Original Homeschooling Series, a six volume set. Catherine explains how she "eased into the Charlotte Mason approach" without implying that everyone's experience will be the same. As a teacher of 20 years, I have greatly appreciated Catherine's guidance in introducing the Charlotte Mason method in my teaching.

I read and enjoyed some of the other books on the Charlotte Mason method (by S. S. Macaulay and the Clarksons) but I still was unclear on exactly how to implement the program with my child. Catherine Levison's book took me by the hand and gave me concrete examples of how to implement the CM method. Especially helpful were the sample schedules, from Levison's own home school and from Charlotte Mason herself. This is the book that actually got me started on implementing the CM method in my home school!

I just finished reading this book and it's companion ("More Charlotte Mason Education." They both were very good! What I loved about this book was it was straightforward, easy to read and explains how to implement CM principles when homeschooling. As someone new to CM, I needed this book to explain the basic principles and give me an idea of how to apply them. As a busy mother of 3 young children, I don't have time to venture through huge volumes of homeschool philosophy. I read both books in one evening. I felt I got enough from this book to get started. I do feel I need to research the "nature study" portion of CM a bit more but that is probably because the concept is so new to me. Great read--highly recommend it!

If you know absolutely nothing about Charlotte Mason, this might be the book for you. Frankly, I would recommend Karen Andreola's book over this one as a starter for those interested in Charlotte Mason, or better yet, if you can afford it, buy Charlotte's books! :-) I am surprised at all the high reviews of the book...someone is seeing something that I didn't, and maybe you would too? I am a homeschooling mom of four boys and use a classical/charlotte mason style in my home. I have been homeschooling now for five years and come from a family filled with educators. I felt that this book was lacking in meat/substance, and had I not been familiar already with Charlotte Mason's overall ideas, probably would not have felt that a Charlotte Mason education was worth my time or consideration...however, in all fairness, the author does give some resources and ideas for implementing Charlotte Mason in your home that are nice to know. I'd check it out of the library though, or look for it used at yardsales? I will be reading her second book since I bought it for a steal at one of those aforementioned yardsales, and I understand that her second volume has more meat, and maybe that one is better? I hope so.