Secular Charlotte Mason

What does this quote mean to YOU? 

In a nutshell I interpret it to mean that the basic memorization of facts is only a very small part of an education.  The more important part of an education is understanding how it all fits together and using that information to help you learn even more.  This matches up very well with what I learned in psychology classes where we were taught that you will remember something new only if you are able to "attach" it to something you already know or an emotion. This is how most mneumonic devices work as well. I do find it interesting that Ms. Mason was opposed to unit studies which more modern educators use extensively to help children build those connections and relations. I'm assuming that she was opposed to the spoon feeding of the relations via unit studies. The best relationships in education are usually those that the children think of themselves. Like Ms. Mason says, if we get between the child and the book then we impede their ability to create a relationship with the book and therefore with the information contained within the book.

What do you all think???????? Post your opinion for some lively debate.

So many views yet no replies~ well for me, I have to agree with you Gina~ for me when I read this it is how science can be inter-woven in all areas of study. How things can be inter-connected, which is why I am reading up so much on Unit Studies.

For instance in Valerie Bendts book she mentions studying Sign Language.  Well at first glance science isnt actually evident. but further exploration into a biorgraphy by Hellen Keller and then her close relationship with Alexander Grahm Bell which begins a relative connection with science and exploration. 

These related connections I have found to be so important in helping my children learn.  

I have found it so helpful I am attempting to build connections around all areas of study.  It is quite a challenge at times however, key to our success in your home learning.

~ an excellent topic of conversation ~

Tracey,

I find that when I use history and literature as our core homeschooling subjects those types of relationships become far more obvious to the children which means we adults don't need to create the connections quite as much. Having the literature and timeline available to the kids at all times allows them to go recheck their info when a connection occurs to them. I noticed when we were studying DaVinci in math my daughter looked him up on our timeline and then asked me to help her find our science books that included DaVinci as she was chattering away about all the art that he did. She thought it was way cool that he explored so many connections. My son was just telling his sister about Helen Keller and Bell's mother as the girls were practicing their sign language for class. Like Cm says, we create the environment where connections can happen and then the kids make the actual connections themselves.

Exactly, and I am still trying to practice this.. although with my boys it takes some time to awaken this in them...for so long they have been programmed to just listen and then perform.  I has only been this year that I have seen a real change in them with their learning and letting the learning be theirs.

I just think it is so different from how we or I should say I was taught in school ~ it takes time to change my thinking...but I am getting better and better.

My son loves history...just loves it. He loves diving into things and being consumed by topics, it's really quite funny.

but wonderful ~

Tracey,

Be patient.  It took my kids a while to begin making their own relationships--esp. my kids who spent time in schools. My purely homeschooled child has always made her own relationships. I had to laugh when my hubby was making a big deal out of our middle child's current learning patterns.  She uses relationships and chunking of info exclusively these days which impressed her father for some reason.  My response?  Well of course, that's what learning and education is all about!

Like Tracey said, lots of folks have looked at this topic. We would LOVE to hear what you think of this quote before I post others (and you don't even have to agree with us lol).

Gina

Confession time!  As we are so new to homeschooling and CM, I feel a bit intimidated in entering into even a friendly debate about something that is so new to me.  I find that even thought I am so 'for' CM, I am still in the process of 'deprogramming' my public school mindset, so still trying to figure out what she was talking about in a lot of her work and what it means to our family and how best to apply it.

I am guessing that since there have been so many views on this subject, that I'm not the only who feels this way.

May I suggest posting other quotes to debate as well?  Perhaps another quote would strike something in another person? 

Heather

Thanks for being brave enough to post that Heather!  As you stated, there are plenty of other folks out there who feel the same.  Luckily this website is all about learning about CM together!  While I *love* what CM has done for our homeschooling and I have even created a website for it, I too, am far from being an expert on CM.

I hope you all feel welcome enough to post your thoughts, even if you don't feel like an expert. As part of this month's updating I will add a few more quotes for us to chew on.

Gina