the Method

Who is Charlotte Mason?

Miss Charlotte Mason was a 19th century British educator and philosopher.  She understood the need to allow every child, regardless of socioeconomic status, access to a quality education.  A novel thinker in her day, Mason saw children as persons, fully capable of exercising their minds to learn truth when provided with the tools of living books, rich experiences, and the natural world.  Out of respect for her students, Mason believed that teachers must not intervene and interpret a book or experience for their students, but should set before them a feast of living ideas.  Children partake in that feast, nourishing their minds and hearts.  Mason believed that, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, children develop the ability to self-educate. 

An Atmosphere, A Discipline, a life

In educating her students, Mason used three primary tools: the atmosphere of environment, the discipline of habit, and the presentation of living ideas.  In fact, the motto of her schools was “Education is an atmosphere, a discipline, and a life.”

Education is an atmosphere – This does not mean that children need a specially-prepared environment reduced or simplified for them.  Rather it means that careful attention should be paid to providing students with an environment rich in people and things which inspire their minds.  At Redwood, we strive to make each classroom a place of beauty and rest.  The content of the classrooms is carefully curated by the teachers to provide opportunities to delight the eye and inspire the mind.  Children will be surrounded by books, artwork, specimens, and tools with which they will interact in the forming of their own education. 

Education is a discipline – Mason knew that children learn best when they develop the discipline of correct habits.  Chief among these is the habit of careful attention.  Lessons are read one time, and the students narrate what they learned.  Because each lesson is short, there is plenty of opportunity each student to practice the habit of attention in a variety of subjects. 

Education is a life – Charlotte Mason knew that children require not only the physical sustenance of the body, but intellectual and moral nourishment, as well.  The mind feeds on ideas; therefore children should be provided with a wide and generous curriculum.  As students partake in this varied and delightful feast, they begin to make relational connections between ideas both in the classroom and in their wider world.