Series Language Arts in the Charlotte Mason Method

Discover the simple, sensible, and effective ways that Charlotte Mason taught language arts.

What Exactly Is Language Arts?: Language Arts, part 1

In my years of helping other Charlotte Mason homeschoolers, probably the one topic that comes up most often is language arts. I receive questions from “How do you do language arts the Charlotte Mason way?” to “What about composition?” to…

Sonya Shafer
September 1, 2010

Charlotte Mason’s Language Arts Program: Language Arts, part 2

As we mentioned last week, Charlotte taught all the language arts skills in just a few power-packed subjects. One of Charlotte’s main strategies was to integrate language arts studies into other subjects, rather than pulling them out as separate skills.…

Sonya Shafer
September 8, 2010

Literature, Vocabulary, and Comprehension: Language Arts, part 3

If your school experience was anything like mine, you most likely sat through a multitude of vocabulary worksheets and reading comprehension worksheets in every grade. Plus, you probably had a separate class for Literature in junior high or high school.…

Sonya Shafer
September 15, 2010
3 Comments

Charlotte Mason Answers Your Questions about Narration: Language Arts, part 4

Narration is a cornerstone of Charlotte Mason’s language arts program. She wrote extensively on the subject, giving lots of helpful and practical tips. In one sense, narration is simple; in another sense, it is an art form. So it’s no…

Sonya Shafer
September 22, 2010
2 Comments

Composition the Charlotte Mason Way: Language Arts, part 5

If I were to ask you to write about your favorite kitchen appliance, your brain would begin working right away. In fact, you’re probably picturing your favorite appliance in your mind’s eye right now. Your mind would think of all…

Sonya Shafer
September 29, 2010
6 Comments

Teaching Reading: Language Arts, part 6

People often ask me what curriculum I used to teach my children to read. I didn’t use one. We just played with letters and their sounds, and eventually, when they were ready, I showed them how to put those sounds…

Sonya Shafer
October 6, 2010

Copywork, Transcription, Dictation: Language Arts, part 7

In studying to put together our new book, Hearing and Reading, Telling and Writing: A Charlotte Mason Language Arts Handbook, I was once again amazed at the way Charlotte could take a simple idea and pack it full of benefits.…

Sonya Shafer
October 13, 2010
2 Comments

Poetry: Language Arts, part 8

If you have been following our Language Arts series from the beginning, you will remember that Charlotte Mason approached language arts in a balanced two-pronged way: first, she integrated many language arts skills into regular school subjects; and second, she…

Sonya Shafer
October 21, 2010
2 Comments

A Charlotte Mason Approach to English Grammar: Language Arts, part 9

“You mean I don’t have to teach English grammar all year long in every grade?” Esther was astonished. “You’re already teaching the correct way to use words every time you have the children read or write or tell or listen.…