The Feast Life

#71: Breaking Down Charlotte Mason


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In this episode of The Feast Life, I’m sharing a recent conversation I had on The Education Breakdown podcast with host Sarah. We dive into the timeless and transformative ideas of Charlotte Mason—ideas that are just as relevant today as they were over a century ago.

We talk about what it means to truly educate the whole child through rich literature, meaningful narration, and real-world experiences. I explain the power of living books and how they spark curiosity and deep thinking in a way textbooks simply can’t. We also explore how narration develops higher-order thinking skills and why hands-on learning—like nature walks and science experiments—is essential for helping children make lasting connections with what they’re learning.

If you’ve ever wondered what makes the Charlotte Mason philosophy so life-giving, this conversation will inspire you to slow down, savor learning, and bring more wonder into your homeschool days.

5 Key Takeaways from This Episode:

  1. Children are born persons – Charlotte Mason believed all children are capable of deep learning when given the right opportunities.

  2. Living books > textbooks – Engaging, narrative-rich books spark curiosity and lasting understanding.

  3. Narration builds thinking skills – Having kids retell what they’ve learned helps them process and retain information naturally.

  4. Learning should be hands-on – Kids need real experiences in nature and science to develop wonder and connection.

  5. Gentle doesn’t mean light – A Charlotte Mason education is rich, rigorous, and respectful of the child.
  6. Resources Mentioned:

    Visit thefeastlife.me/blog/71 for additional resources and links

    Listen to The Educational Breakdown Podcast

    Check out The Educational Breakdown website

     

    Just Getting Started? Get our FREE Charlotte Mason and You Workshop to see if this powerful approach can transform your homeschool. https://www.thefeastlife.me/opt-in

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      Today’s episode is sponsored by the award winning Charlotte Mason curriculum A Gentle Feast. Get started with smooth and easy days at https://www.agentlefeast.com.

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      The Feast LifeBy thefeastlife.me

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