I am reading through the CM Volume 1 and loving it. I haven’t gotten very far, but have browsed through some of the topics and want to be able to devour the book. I know that I cannot read it as fast as I want. So here’s my question: Is there a book that summarizes her Volume 1 and lists out the things that we can be doing in the early years? I have found the early years guide on this site very valuable, but am looking for more detail. I saw several topics such as exercises/games to train their observation skills, etc.
I know there is a lot of information in the Charlotte Mason companion, but I found that book very difficult to read and understand. Not sure why?
If you go to ambleside online, they have complete copies of the CM series in the original, in modern english, as well as summaries of the volumes. Hopefully something there will be helpful to you.
I know this won’t help immediately, but just FYI: Karen and I are currently working on compiling an Early Years handbook, similar in format to Laying Down the Rails and Hours in the Out-of-Doors, that will collect and organize all of Charlotte’s thoughts on those years before formal schooling begins.
We would love to hear suggestions on what kind of specific themes would be helpful to you as we organize the information.
I would like it to be only for early years – before six or seven when they start first grade and “formal academics.” I would like to see it laid out in summary and then detailed. I.e. do these things (observation game, pre-reading activities, lists of activities that we could do). Then detail it out with her quotes maybe.
That’s just some of the thoughts that have been tumbling through my head.
Any thoughts on when you might have it done? I’m reading through Volume 1 right now, but would love to have that as well.
Sonya…I can’t tell you how great the ebooks I’ve ordered have been so far…I look forward to this one as well! I would love just a really good summary of what early CM education looks and feels like. I also would greatly appreciate knowing what the age-range of the early years is. Book lists, some specific twaddle info (naming some books that would be considered twaddle), information about how to use media in a CM way, and things NOT to do. Just some thoughts!
Since this is a collection of Charlotte’s own words, we don’t have a particular book list or specific twaddle titles. But it does include her thoughts on what kinds of books to use with young children, etc. This post about twaddle might be helpful in evaluating books for any age group.