Introducing a new way to study Charlotte Mason:
So you’ve decided you want to know more about this philosophy called Charlotte Mason. Good for you! There’s a lot of ways to do that. The typical way is to either read a secondary source — where someone else has summarized Charlotte Mason for you — or to choose one of Charlotte Mason’s many volumes and read straight through it.
What I’m offering here is a third way.
When Charlotte Mason was trying to distill her educational philosophy into its simplest form: 20 core principles. These are the 20 most important aspects of her philosophy. Using Susan Schaeffer Macauley’s wonderful book (For the Children’s Sake), Miss Mason’s volumes, articles from Miss Mason’s magazine (The Parents’ Review), the best blog posts on these subjects, and discussion questions meant to help you dig deeply, Start Here is a comprehensive guide to the big ideas governing Charlotte Mason’s philosophy.
Start Here is appropriate for both group and individual study. For groups that meet once per month, this is 15 months of curriculum. Individuals may be able to complete it in less time. But keep in mind that speed is not the goal. The goal is understanding and embodiment. Discussion questions are included to help tie philosophy to practice, whether you’re discussing them in a group or journaling your answers.
This study is a simple way to familiarize yourself with Charlotte Mason’s philosophy if you are new to it, or refresh yourself with the principles if you’ve already made your way through her volumes. Studying the 20 Principles will remind you of what is true — and what is most important — when it comes to the education of the children you love.
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[…] MacCaulay and Towards a Philosophy of Education by Charlotte Mason, and other readings, with the Start Here study guide by Brandy […]
[…] think that many of us who are familiar with Charlotte Mason’s principles tend to have a handle on micro-alternation. But sometimes (especially in February), that […]
[…] you’d like to join me in studying Charlotte Mason’s 20 Principles, get your copy of Start Here and see this post for […]
[…] becomes more apparent to me how interconnected these principles are. Brandy, in her study guide “Start Here,” has helpfully paired the principles to discuss only one at a time, but it must be […]
[…] episode is sponsored by Start Here. When Charlotte Mason was trying to distill her educational philosophy into its simplest form, she […]
[…] episode is sponsored by Start Here, the definitive starting place for studying Charlotte Mason. When Charlotte Mason was trying to […]
[…] you’d like to join me in studying Charlotte Mason’s 20 Principles, get your copy of Start Here and see this post for […]
[…] you’d like to join me in studying Charlotte Mason’s 20 Principles, get your copy of Start Here and see this post for […]
[…] I’m sure there are some caveats we ought to throw in, but let’s just go with it for now, because the real point is that when we’re guided by principles, we make possible a living reproduction of the past. (This is why I am oh so passionate about a thorough study of the 20 principles.) […]
[…] too late to start studying Charlotte Mason’s 20 Principles along with me! Get your copy of Start Here and see this post for […]
[…] Mason’s 20 principles of education. To do this I will be using Brandy Vencel’s Start Here study guide. I invite you to study along with me. Here are the details for the […]
[…] my study of Charlotte Mason’s 20 Principles next month. I will use Brandy Vencel’s Start Here Study Guide. The study guide contains links to all of the sections in Charlotte Mason’s volumes (free […]
[…] curriculum — basically, what to study together. Now, most of you know that my study guide Start Here: A Journey Through Charlotte Mason’s 20 Principles was the result of leading a couple groups though {surprise!} a study of Charlotte Mason’s […]
[…] Start Here: A Journey Through Charlotte Mason’s 20 Principles […]
[…] episode is sponsored by Start Here. When Charlotte Mason was trying to distill her educational philosophy into its simplest form, she […]
[…] Start Here: A Journey Through Charlotte Mason’s 20 Principles […]
[…] Charlotte Mason said that fully 1/3 of our children’s curriculum is atmosphere, and though candles and art on the wall are nice touches, I believe that it is our own attitudes as we go about our business that creates the atmosphere our kids grow up in. Mom sets the tone, whether we like it or not. […]
[…] episode is sponsored by Start Here, the definitive starting place for studying Charlotte Mason. When Charlotte Mason was trying to […]
[…] Charlotte Mason had twenty principles she wrote as statements about the nature of children, about the nature of the world, and about the nature of learning. They are worth studying. […]
[…] Great Tradition by Richard Gamble + Start Here: A Journey Through Charolotte Mason’s 20 Principles by Brandy Vencel with an online book […]
[…] Great Tradition by Richard Gamble + Start Here: A Journey Through Charolotte Mason’s 20 Principles by Brandy Vencel with an online book […]
[…] I have been thinking lately about balance. Those beautiful women, who went through Brandy’s Start Here discussing Charlotte Mason’s 20 Principles, have heard me mention balance over and over again. […]
[…] Mason Education — I don’t recommend this one for Charlotte’s principles (I recommend you go to Brandy for that!) but for a quick look at her practices it was fine. Not my favorite CM […]
[…] Charlotte Mason said that fully 1/3 of our children’s curriculum is atmosphere, and though candles and art on the wall are nice touches, I believe that it is our own attitudes as we go about our business that creates the atmosphere our kids grow up in. Mom sets the tone, whether we like it or not. […]
[…] Charlotte Mason’s method by studying her 20 principles first (Brandy’s study guide is here. Soon her conference presentation will be available). When looking at the application of her […]
[…] Start Here: A Journey through Charlotte Mason’s 20 Principles by Brandy Vencel […]
[…] Start Here: A Journey Through Charlotte Mason’s 20 Principles […]
[…] of Education, chapter five, the Sacredness of Personality in preparation for our next local Start Here, 20 Principle discussion. These are some of my […]