More than just book learning…

I absolutely love having the opportunity to teach my son at home.  I like watching that lightbulb come on in his head when he understands something new.  And while, I wish for Noah to know all the knowledge and facts that he can soak up, I also wish for him to be a Godly, whole – human being.  (not merely a robot that can spout of facts at any given moment)  I want him to know why, to be free to ask questions {which he certainly does}, and to THINK!   And for this reason, I like Charlotte Mason, and her style of teaching children A LOT. 
{Taken from the simply charlotte mason website} ~
Charlotte Mason was a British educator who lived in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Her method, the Charlotte Mason method, is centered around the idea that education is three-pronged: Education is an Atmosphere, a Discipline, a Life.  By “Atmosphere,” Charlotte meant the surroundings in which the child grows up. A child absorbs a lot from his home environment. Charlotte believed that atmosphere makes up one-third of a child’s education.  By “Discipline,” Charlotte meant the discipline of good habits — and specifically habits of character. Cultivating good habits in your child’s life make up another third of his education.  The other third of education, “Life,” applies to academics. Charlotte believed that we should give children living thoughts and ideas, not just dry facts. So all of her methods for teaching the various school subjects are built around that concept.  For example, Charlotte’s students used living books rather than dry textbooks. Living books are usually written in story form by one author who has a passion for the subject. A living book makes the subject “come alive.”  She taught spelling by using passages from great books that communicate great ideas rather than just a list of words.  She encouraged spending time outdoors, interacting with God’s creation firsthand and learning the living ways of nature. 
The Charlotte Mason method is simply of living books, narration, dictation, copywork, and instilling good manners.  Now, I put that quite simply and if you would like to read about her method in more detail than check out her website HERE.   One of the greatest opportunities we have as homeschoolers is that our children can learn through everyday life.  Through doing, rather than just sitting down with a textbook all day.  She encourages that much of the child’s time be spent outdoors, playing, learning, discovering!  Have a nature journal. 
That being said… I like quotes.  and this one I came across of Charlotte Mason’s is one I am going to put up in our schooling area. 

If you went to one of Charlotte Mason’s schools you received this motto.    You can read the whole 5 –part blog post on her website beginning here.  They all must work together, one cannot have more focus than the other. 
Another great quote from Charlotte,  “to aquaint a child with himself—what he is as a human being – is a great part of education.”