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Charlotte Mason Poetry

378 episodes - English - Latest episode: 22 days ago - ★★★★★ - 201 ratings

Charlotte Mason Poetry is dedicated to promoting Charlotte Mason’s living ideas. We strive to share an authentic interpretation of Mason’s life work through a combination of original and vintage articles by a wide variety of authors. Our team draws from and transcribes many rare and wonderful documents from the PNEU many of which cannot be found anywhere else on the web.

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Episodes

The Great Recognition Mason Brought To Florence

May 24, 2022 10:58 - 21 minutes - 30.2 MB

We all know the story. A young, impressionable Miss Mason travels to Florence. With guidebook in hand, she beholds a glorious fresco, the embodiment of a medieval philosophy of education. Her eyes are opened and in her heart she cries, “Eureka!” Unlooked for, unasked for, yet marvelously presented to her mind, she receives as if … The post The Great Recognition Mason Brought To Florence first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Pestalozzi: The First Modern Educator

May 17, 2022 10:55 - 21 minutes - 29 MB

Editor’s Note: When Charlotte Mason famously wrote in Home Education that “Mothers owe ‘a thinking love’ to their Children,”[1] she was quoting Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi. Mason was very familiar with Pestalozzi’s work: at age 18 she had studied at the Home and Colonial Society, a school dedicated to training teachers to follow the Pestalozzian method.[2] … The post Pestalozzi: The First Modern Educator first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

The Approach to Poetry

May 10, 2022 11:00 - 31 minutes - 43.9 MB

Editor’s Note: Karen Andreola’s 1998 A Charlotte Mason Companion introduced a generation of parents to the Charlotte Mason philosophy. Her encyclopedic book explored element after element of the method, showing parents that Mason’s principles really could be brought to life in our time and place. The 29th chapter of the book delved into poetry and … The post The Approach to Poetry first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Living Memories of Emeline Steinthal: An Interview

May 03, 2022 10:46 - 45 minutes - 62.3 MB

Richele Baburina speaks with the great-granddaughter of Emeline Steinthal, Charlotte Mason’s dear friend and colleague, who brings the PNEU to life with fascinating details and astounding anecdotes of Ambleside, G. K. Chesterton, and more. Links: G. K. Chesterton’s Christmas Poem, published in The Parents’ Review A Devoted Life: Celebrating Emeline Steinthal Influence, by Emeline Steinthal, … The post Living Memories of Emeline Steinthal: An Interview first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Religious Teaching in the Home

April 26, 2022 10:54 - 13 minutes - 18.6 MB

Editor’s Note: Mary Alice Douglas (1860–1941) was the daughter of a rector and was “educated at home by a governess in [a] tight-knit, deeply religious family.”[1] In 1890, Douglas was appointed headmistress of Godolphin School in Salisbury. When she assumed the role, there were only 22 students at the school. From these humble beginnings, “she … The post Religious Teaching in the Home first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Susan Schaeffer Macaulay Interviews Joan Molyneux

April 19, 2022 10:49 - 1 hour - 110 MB

In 1984, Susan Schaeffer Macaulay published her groundbreaking book For the Children’s Sake. For many of us, it was our first introduction to the Charlotte Mason method. But how did Macaulay herself learn the method? In her book, she describes how her children were blessed by a school that “still practiced the gentle art of … The post Susan Schaeffer Macaulay Interviews Joan Molyneux first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

My Experience with Charlotte Mason in Sunday School

April 12, 2022 10:58 - 9 minutes - 12.7 MB

During most of the past six years I have volunteered helping with the pre-school and elementary aged children at our church. Although our church family includes many loving and well-intentioned educators, I am not aware of anyone else inclined towards Mason’s philosophy. In fact, much of what I observed over the years runs contrary to … The post My Experience with Charlotte Mason in Sunday School first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Influence

April 05, 2022 10:59 - 10 minutes - 13.8 MB

Editor’s Note by Richele Baburina Without the influence of Emeline Steinthal, the Parents’ National Education Union might never have come to be. And, without her influence, it might not have had such a far-reaching positive and enduring impact for good. Biographer Essex Cholmondeley explains what happened after their first membership enrollment: Mrs Steinthal was not … The post Influence first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Do Charlotte Mason’s Ideas Still Work?

March 29, 2022 11:19 - 24 minutes - 33 MB

“When Miss Mason was alive, for example, children were instinctively more obedient and respectful than they are today.”[1] As I have studied Charlotte Mason’s volumes with dozens of men and women over the past six years as part of the Idyll Challenge, I have noticed an occasional but recurring theme. Sooner or later, someone inevitably … The post Do Charlotte Mason’s Ideas Still Work? first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

The Teaching of Citizenship

March 22, 2022 10:54 - 17 minutes - 23.8 MB

Editor’s Note. The first article I ever read by House of Education graduate Eleanor Frost is her 1913 “Bible Teaching in The Parents’ Union School.” Presented at the 17th annual PNEU Conference, it has been one of my main “go to” references for Bible lessons, and I have read it more times than I can … The post The Teaching of Citizenship first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

The Source of Miss Mason’s Teaching

March 15, 2022 10:53 - 56 minutes - 78 MB

What was Charlotte Mason’s source for her philosophy of education? It is a question that I have discussed and debated at length over the past several years. And it is a question which does not seem yet to be settled to everyone’s satisfaction within the Charlotte Mason community. Answers seem to fall into three general … The post The Source of Miss Mason’s Teaching first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Education is a Discipline

March 08, 2022 11:49 - 11 minutes - 16.1 MB

Editor’s Note: The PNEU motto was “Education is an atmosphere, a discipline, and a life.”[1] This motto encapsulated what Charlotte Mason saw as the only three valid instruments of education: “the atmosphere of environment, the discipline of habit, and the presentation of living ideas.”[2] But did these three instruments function like the three legs of … The post Education is a Discipline first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Managing Multiple Forms

March 01, 2022 11:47 - 7 minutes - 10.8 MB

Editor’s Note: One of the most common questions we hear is how to handle a homeschool situation where there are multiple children in multiple forms. This is not a new question; it has challenged teachers for generations. Essex Cholmondeley, Charlotte Mason’s confidante and biographer, took on this and other questions in a 1927 “Notes and … The post Managing Multiple Forms first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

A Few Remarks on Music Teaching, Part II

February 22, 2022 11:59 - 26 minutes - 35.8 MB

Editor’s Note, by Heidi Buschbach Our author, W.H. Leslie, wrote Part II of this article and it was included in a later printing of The Parents’ Review that year. Part I focused on the early years of teaching Sol-fa which included basic things such as having good tone, training the ear to hear pitch, melody, … The post A Few Remarks on Music Teaching, Part II first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Charlotte Mason’s First Principle

February 15, 2022 11:56 - 52 minutes - 71.9 MB

The first principle of Charlotte Mason’s twenty-point synopsis reads simply, “Children are born persons.” Comprised of only four words, it’s the shortest principle in the synopsis. This economy of wording has led to a variety of interpretations of what Mason means by this principle. Through an extensive survey of Mason’s writings, I’ve attempted to uncover the … The post Charlotte Mason’s First Principle first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Children Are Born Persons

February 08, 2022 11:52 - 54 minutes - 75 MB

Editor’s Note: “Children are born persons” is a phrase that is inseparably associated with Charlotte Mason. It may be surprising, however, to learn that the phrase does not appear in Mason’s printed works until the publication of the Synopsis in 1904 — a full 18 years after the publication of Home Education. She then offered … The post Children Are Born Persons first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Meditation by Charlotte Mason

February 01, 2022 11:47 - 7 minutes - 10.3 MB

Editor’s Note: Back in August of 2020, we shared “The Story of Scale How Meditations,” which describes how Charlotte Mason’s 1898 reflections on the Gospel of John became available to the world. In that article, I noted that in 1906, Charlotte Mason wrote an article for The Parents’ Review entitled “Meditation.” This article set the … The post Meditation by Charlotte Mason first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Bible Lessons FAQ (Part 2)

January 25, 2022 11:59 - 46 minutes - 64.5 MB

Charlotte Mason developed a program and method for Bible lessons for children from ages 6 to 18 that is breathtaking in its simplicity, elegance, and efficacy. I have spent many years researching, writing, and speaking about this wonderful program, and now I am taking the time to respond to some questions that I have been asked … The post Bible Lessons FAQ (Part 2) first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Bible Teaching In The P.N.E.U.

January 18, 2022 12:07 - 15 minutes - 21 MB

Editor’s Note: In July 1919, Charlotte Mason wrote to her House of Education graduates. Her letter included this note: We must not forget either, our fellow helpers in India who have … addressed meetings and held up a standard of work to wistful mothers in India; we call to mind especially Mrs. Tasker, Miss Bruce … The post Bible Teaching In The P.N.E.U. first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Bible Lessons FAQ

January 11, 2022 11:53 - 39 minutes - 54.2 MB

When speaking of Bible lessons, Charlotte Mason writes, “Now our objective in this most important part of education is to give the children the knowledge of God.”[1] After years of careful research, I have concluded that Mason did not approach this “most important part of education” in a haphazard fashion. Instead, I have discovered that she developed a … The post Bible Lessons FAQ first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Nature Study In The Home

January 04, 2022 12:06 - 22 minutes - 30.5 MB

Editor’s Note by Richele Baburina The scene of a country vicar collecting insects among the ancient oaks of Sherwood Forest might make you think you’ve wandered into a G.K. Chesterton novel. In fact, it was the real life setting of Reverend Alfred Thornley, the clergyman naturalist who examined and graded the nature notebooks of Charlotte … The post Nature Study In The Home first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

A Year in Review — 1922

December 28, 2021 11:54 - 6 minutes - 8.38 MB

Editor’s Note: The 24th Annual Conference of the PNEU was held at the House of Education in Ambleside in 1922. It was the first time the conference had ever taken place at this location so cherished by Charlotte Mason.[1] Henrietta Franklin gave the opening address, during which she explained that before coming to the conference, … The post A Year in Review — 1922 first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

The New and Old Conceptions of Knowledge

December 21, 2021 12:17 - 19 minutes - 26.6 MB

Editor’s Note: In 1912, Charlotte Mason wrote a series of seven letters to The Times Educational Supplement. The letters were published under the general heading “The Basis of National Strength,” and two years later they were reprinted in The Parents’ Review, with this note: The Editor thinks that perhaps a series of letters published in … The post The New and Old Conceptions of Knowledge first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Knowledge and Narration

December 14, 2021 12:05 - 16 minutes - 22.4 MB

Editor’s Note: Have you ever corresponded with someone so often that you felt you knew the person, even though you’d never met? That’s how Charlotte Mason felt in 1920. She had exchanged so many letters and children’s examination papers with teacher Daisy Golding that she felt she already knew the woman — even though they’d … The post Knowledge and Narration first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Advent and Time

December 07, 2021 11:55 - 12 minutes - 17.3 MB

Although I grew up in a liturgical church with the changing seasons (Advent, Christmas, Epiphany into Ordinary Time, Lent, Easter, Pentecost, and then back to Ordinary Time) and the changing colors (purple, white, green, purple, white, to green again), I thought that these seasons and colors were silly and shallow — my life was run … The post Advent and Time first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

A Philosophy of Education Restated

November 30, 2021 11:54 - 13 minutes - 18 MB

Editor’s Note: Doreen Russo was educated at the Charlotte Mason College, formerly the House of Education. She later described how this training left an indelible mark upon her life: I think, in a way, we took the College with us when we left to teach… the syllabus and timetables… which we worked in the Practising … The post A Philosophy of Education Restated first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Music In The Nursery

November 23, 2021 11:53 - 9 minutes - 12.9 MB

Editor’s Note, by Dawn Tull As part of the special “Baby Number” edition of the Parents’ Review issued in July 1917, Mrs. Howard (Ella) Glover, the founder of Music Appreciation in the PNEU, wrote an article about musical ear training for the youngest children. Other articles in this “Baby Number” included: Religious Training at Home … The post Music In The Nursery first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

The Teaching of Drawing

November 16, 2021 11:54 - 32 minutes - 44.3 MB

Editor’s Note by Richele Baburina An artist awakens with a start to the bright glow enveloping her London studio. She rushes to the window and can barely believe her eyes. Snow! Without a thought to her appearance, she flings on her coat and hastens out the door—grabbing her paint box and easel on the way. … The post The Teaching of Drawing first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Maria Montessori and the Classical Tradition

November 09, 2021 11:49 - 37 minutes - 51.9 MB

What do you think of when you hear the word Montessori? Perhaps you imagine a room specifically designed for children, with small carpets and special shelves filled with activities. Perhaps you think of a carefully structured method to learn mathematics, reading, and even chores and crafts. Perhaps you envision a teacher following precise guidelines to … The post Maria Montessori and the Classical Tradition first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

The Charm of Nature Study

November 02, 2021 10:50 - 19 minutes - 27.3 MB

Editor’s Note: Geraldine Downton was a student at Charlotte Mason’s House of Education in the late 1920s.[1] She took a special interest in nature study, and excerpts from her nature notes were published in several issues of The Parents’ Review in the following decade.[2] By 1936, she was on the staff of the House of … The post The Charm of Nature Study first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

High School at Home with Charlotte Mason

October 26, 2021 10:53 - 52 minutes - 71.5 MB

Many homeschoolers are inspired by Charlotte Mason’s emphasis on nature study, living books, and narration. However, it can be difficult to envision what this emphasis would look like in high school. Does the Charlotte Mason method lose its distinctive features when teaching older teens? Or do Mason’s ideas have a unique application in the final … The post High School at Home with Charlotte Mason first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Children Up To School Age and Beyond (Continued)

October 19, 2021 10:58 - 46 minutes - 63.7 MB

Editor’s Note. In February of 1943, readers of The Parents’ Review were able to read the second part of Elsie Kitching’s monumental “Children Up to School Age and Beyond.” The first part had been published in the January issue and has also been transcribed and recorded by the Charlotte Mason Poetry team. It provided principles … The post Children Up To School Age and Beyond (Continued) first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Cultivating a Divine Education with Charlotte Mason

October 12, 2021 10:58 - 28 minutes - 39.5 MB

I first encountered the philosophy of Charlotte Mason when my oldest child was just three years old. We joined a book club studying A Charlotte Mason Companion, and my heart was stirred by the vision of a homeschool centered on goodness and beauty. I was drawn to this method that left space in the day … The post Cultivating a Divine Education with Charlotte Mason first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Children Up To School Age and Beyond

October 05, 2021 10:59 - 37 minutes - 51.9 MB

Editor’s Note: The December 1926 issue of The Parents’ Review was entitled “Of Little Children”[1] and was arranged at the special request of Henrietta Franklin.[2] As with the earlier 1917 “baby number,” the issue contained articles of special interest to parents of young children. However, unlike its predecessor, this issue also contained an official document … The post Children Up To School Age and Beyond first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

I Tried Charlotte Mason’s Schedule for 30 Days

September 28, 2021 11:05 - 14 minutes - 20.2 MB

I was a mess. Between the global pandemic, a cross-country real estate search, getting our house listed, sold, and the subsequent move, all sense of normalcy and routine had eroded. One by one, I’d allowed a slew of bad habits to creep into my life that turned my daily rhythms into a cacophony. With work … The post I Tried Charlotte Mason’s Schedule for 30 Days first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

The Teaching Of English

September 21, 2021 11:00 - 35 minutes - 49.2 MB

Editor’s Note: The name G. H. Smith may be familiar to readers of In Memoriam. His contribution to that 1923 volume is entitled “Elementary Schools.”[1] In his tribute, he wrote: We remember Miss Mason because she showed us how practice in school might be natural and simple, natural because it used the inherent element of … The post The Teaching Of English first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

A Physician’s Look at Charlotte Mason’s Views on Air and Exercise

September 14, 2021 11:01 - 28 minutes - 39.2 MB

The goal of this article is to conclude my three-part series examining Charlotte Mason’s views on health. So far we’ve covered skin disease, food, and water consumption. The focus of today’s article will be fresh/night air and exercise. I have reviewed Mason’s comments on these topics and have attempted to interpret them from her cultural … The post A Physician’s Look at Charlotte Mason’s Views on Air and Exercise first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Physical Culture

September 07, 2021 10:49 - 23 minutes - 32.2 MB

Editor’s Note: Leaflet H of the Parents’ Union School enumerated nine rules for mothers implementing Charlotte Mason’s method at home. Rule #7 stated, “Bad postures are to be corrected.”[1] We might reasonably ask how posture managed to make it into such an elite list of rules. The answer may be found in understanding the stress … The post Physical Culture first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

From Tired to Inspired

August 31, 2021 10:56 - 30 minutes - 42.4 MB

It was the end of the school year and I was drowning. I was overwhelmed and miserable, and that misery often stared back at me during our school hours in the faces of my children. Sure, we had our bright moments, but they were not what I knew was possible with a Charlotte Mason education. … The post From Tired to Inspired first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Simplicity

August 24, 2021 10:57 - 25 minutes - 35.6 MB

(A Bible Study) by Charlotte Mason The Parents’ Review, 1898, pp. 46-54 In the course of our Scale How Bible Readings in St. Luke’s Gospel, we came upon a discourse of our Lord’s, so full of illuminating and connected teaching upon the subject of Simplicity that it seems well to draw the attention of parents … The post Simplicity first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

The Story of “Ourselves”

August 19, 2021 11:02 - 15 minutes - 21.4 MB

Readers of the January 1901 issue of The Parents’ Review were treated to a new article by Charlotte Mason entitled “Ourselves, Our Souls, And Bodies.”[1] It was the first time this phrase appeared in the PNEU literature, but Mason made sure readers understood exactly where it came from: the article’s title was enclosed in quotation … The post The Story of “Ourselves” first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Neglected Nature

August 10, 2021 10:57 - 10 minutes - 14.7 MB

Editor’s Note: Rose Amy Pennethorne (1875-1955) studied at Charlotte Mason’s House of Education and graduated in 1898. After that she “had several posts in Home Schoolrooms,” during which time she was the editor of L’Umile Pianta, the alumnae magazine of the House of Education. Eventually she became the Organising Secretary of the PNEU, a position which she held … The post Neglected Nature first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

On First Reading Charlotte Mason’s Books

August 03, 2021 10:58 - 17 minutes - 24.5 MB

Editor’s Note: Dr. Jack Beckman, in his monumental 2003 dissertation entitled “Lessons to Learn,” describes a change that took place in the Charlotte Mason College (formerly the House of Education) in the early 1950’s: By Winter term 1950, certain new Staff were recruited for the College representative of the changes required by both the Ministry … The post On First Reading Charlotte Mason’s Books first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

The Role of Knowledge in Moral Development

July 27, 2021 10:58 - 38 minutes - 53.2 MB

The moral development of children: it’s what motivates many parents to homeschool in the first place. But if that’s the goal, how do we achieve it? Charlotte Mason’s surprising answer focuses not on the training we conduct but rather on the knowledge we provide. Recorded live at the Rocky Mountain Homeschool Conference, July 2021. The … The post The Role of Knowledge in Moral Development first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Charlotte Mason and the Philosophy of Science

July 20, 2021 10:58 - 54 minutes - 74.3 MB

What role does observational science play in your philosophy of education? John Amos Comenius (1592-1670), the “father of modern teaching,”[1] broke with tradition when he called out: And why should we need other teachers than these our senses to learn to know the works of Nature? Why, say I, should we not, instead of these … The post Charlotte Mason and the Philosophy of Science first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Classical Meets Charlotte Mason

July 13, 2021 10:59 - 43 minutes - 59.4 MB

Editor’s Note: The debate between Charlotte Mason and classical education has been going on for years. Does it really make a difference whether Mason was a classical educator or was influenced by classical theories of education? In this episode, Shannon weighs in on this topic as she recounts her journey from classical teacher to Mason educator and researcher. … The post Classical Meets Charlotte Mason first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

The Nature Work at the House of Education

July 06, 2021 10:57 - 14 minutes - 20.2 MB

Editor’s Note: Agnes Drury was in charge of the scientific work at the House of Education, and she had a particular delight in nature study and nature notebooks. In this paper from the 25th annual conference of the PNEU, Drury explains how nature study and science instruction were carried out at Mason’s school for teachers. … The post The Nature Work at the House of Education first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

The Perfect Charlotte Mason Education

June 29, 2021 11:00 - 42 minutes - 57.8 MB

When people first hear about the Charlotte Mason method, many decide they want to try it out. They start small, with a few elements such as nature study and narration. Over time they begin to see results in their family, and they want more. For some, this becomes a quest for the perfect Charlotte Mason … The post The Perfect Charlotte Mason Education first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

Religious Training In The Home

June 22, 2021 10:59 - 25 minutes - 34.9 MB

Editor’s Note: The August 1906 issue of The Parents’ Review closed with a preview of what was coming next: “The September number of the Parents’ Review will be devoted to the subject of Religious Education in the Home, and will contain several papers on a subject which is a cause of some anxiety to parents…”[1] … The post Religious Training In The Home first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

A Modern Take on Scouting

June 15, 2021 10:58 - 12 minutes - 17 MB

Scouting is one of the Charlotte Mason subjects that caught my imagination as soon as I heard of it. It seemed to combine everything I wish I had been taught about self-sufficiency and living a life immersed in nature. But so broad was the scope that I knew I had to put it on the … The post A Modern Take on Scouting first appeared on Charlotte Mason Poetry.

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The Scarlet Letter
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