Math

On this page you will find details about how to teach math with the Charlotte Mason Method, an overview of math lessons in all twelve grades, Charlotte Mason Method math curriculum, and other helpful teacher resources.

Charlotte Mason Method Math Lessons

The Charlotte Mason Method of teaching math emphasizes accuracy, best effort, neatness, and truthfulness. It is a careful, guided discovery approach that goes at the child’s pace, ensuring that the student understands each concept before moving on.

Though math is useful in daily life, a Charlotte Mason Method approach recognizes that the study of math awakens a sense of awe in God’s fixed laws of the universe.

Math Manipulatives

The term math manipulative refers to a real, concrete object that can be used to demonstrate a math concept. Charlotte Mason Method math lessons use manipulatives extensively, providing students the opportunity to have firsthand experience with concepts.

Using everyday objects such as beans, coins, or craft sticks, students are guided to explore math concepts before moving on to abstract symbols. This approach of teaching math with manipulatives helps children to gain a solid understanding of why they would perform a certain math function, not just how to perform it.

Mental Math

The end of each Charlotte Mason Method math lesson is given to mental math, presented and answered orally. This builds the student’s familiarity with math facts and provides a review of previously learned concepts.

Charlotte Mason Math Grade by Grade

This chart provides an overview of Charlotte Mason math for grades 1–12, with links to recommended resources that can be used to teach math with the Charlotte Mason Method.

*Not all children need advanced mathematics, such as Calculus. If your child finds math fascinating and wants to pursue it, do the advanced math courses. If your child is not math-inclined and doesn’t need an advanced course for college requirements, do a Consumer Math course and give him practical experience as the family bookkeeper.

Charlotte Mason Method Math Curriculum

The Charlotte Mason Elementary Arithmetic Series gives you step by step lessons for teaching math the Charlotte Mason way. Each book covers one grade of math. Work at your child’s pace through these short but effective lessons.

Charlotte Mason Math Teacher Resources

The book Mathematics: An Instrument for Living Teaching gives you all the details on how Charlotte Mason approached math. You can also see live demonstrations of her methods for elementary arithmetic on the video series, Charlotte Mason’s Living Math: A Guided Journey.