4Real Forums: Charlotte Mason vs Classical Learning

Oh, Dearest Mother, Sweetest Virgin of Altagracia, our Patroness. You are our Advocate and to you we recommend our needs. You are our Teacher and like disciples we come to learn from the example of your holy life. You are our Mother, and like children, we come to offer you all of the love of our hearts. Receive, dearest Mother, our offerings and listen attentively to our supplications. Amen.

Active Topics || Favorites || Member List || Search || About Us || Help || Register || Login

Philosophy of Education ( Forum Locked)
4Real Forums : Philosophy of Education

Topic: Charlotte Mason vs Classical Learning

Author

Message

<< Prev Topic | Next Topic >>

VanessaVH
Forum Pro

Joined: July 26 2008
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 224

Posted: Aug 11 2008 at 2:29pm \| IP Logged

I am reading Laura Berquest's book "Designing your own Classical Curriculum" and wondering what the main differences between the CM method and the Classical method.

As far as I can tell, in the Classical method there is a lot more emphasis on structure and memorizing than CM, but similar views on narration and such. Is this a correct comparison?

Also, since I haven't read all of the CM stuff yet, (just finished Elizabeth's book though!!!) Does she recomend memorizing anything? Poems, multiplication etc?

Thanks to all you more learned moms!!

JuliaT
Forum All-Star

Joined: June 25 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 563

Posted: Aug 11 2008 at 10:12pm \| IP Logged

Vanessa, I think the main difference between CM and CE is that CM wants the children to think things through on their own and make their own connections whereas with CE there is more of a mentoring relationship between teacher and student. The CE teacher leads the student to make those connections.

I believe CM advocates poetry recitation but not memorizing of facts and dates.

Blessings,
Julia
mom of 3 (9,7,5)

vmalott
Forum All-Star

Joined: Sept 15 2006
Location: Ohio
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 536

Posted: Aug 12 2008 at 7:25am \| IP Logged

As you read more about Classical Education and Charlotte Mason, you'll see that Berquist's approach is kind of a blend of the two. In other words, she uses the trivium as a guide and, at least in the earlier years, implements many methods from a Charlotte Mason education to help with learning.

Just take a look at what's suggested for learning in the early years in the book The Well Trained Mind by Susan Wise Bauer, and you'll see how different Berquist's approach to Classical Ed. is.

Valerie

__________________
Valerie
Mom to Julia ('94), John ('96), Lizzy ('98), Connor ('01), Drew ('02), Cate ('04), Aidan ('08) and three saints in heaven
Seven Times the Fun

Willa
Forum All-Star

Joined: Jan 28 2005
Location: California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3881

Posted: Aug 12 2008 at 10:54am \| IP Logged

Some other threads that discuss this:

Classical and CM
Is Mother of Divine Grace "Neo Classical"?

Questions about Classical Education

Classical criticism, please

These are not meant to stop conversation here, but just to give extra resources if you want them

I know that CM did have a place for memorization in her schools, but it was more to do with memorizing beautiful language (poetry and scripture) and foreign language vocabulary (she recommended that the children learn 6 new French words per day) and less to do with dates and factoids.

Narrating was an ancient classical tradition -- Charlotte Mason points that out in one of her books where she says that students were trained to tell a good story readily and gives examples of past classically educated people who were famous for their ability to do this.

__________________
AMDG
Willa
hsing boys ages 11, 14, almost 18 (+ 4 homeschool grads ages 20 to 27)
Take Up and Read

VanessaVH
Forum Pro

Joined: July 26 2008
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 224

Posted: Aug 12 2008 at 11:34am \| IP Logged

Thanks for all the imput. And for the related threads Willa, I will check them out as well. I am still finding my way around here and getting to read some of the back posts

Sorry, you cannot post a reply to this topic.
This forum has been locked by a forum administrator.

[Add this topic to My Favorites]

Printable version

Forum Jump

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot create polls in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

Hosting and Support provided by theNetSmith.com