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A few questions about Charlotte Mason curr.

post #1 of 13
Thread Starter 
I was looking at the CM site and I know it mentions religion but it doesn't seem to be a huge focus on the site. Just wondering if it's easy to make it secular and if there are any good resources of people who are already doing this (i.e. websites, blogs)?

Also, on the site it mentioned getting extra phonics and math programs...so I'm just wondering, are any of you doing this? If so, which programs you are using?

I'm really just looking for secular programs. Thanks in advance!
post #2 of 13
I don't really know anything about Charlotte Mason ... but in my search to read more about it and understand it, I came across this: http://www.secularcm.com/

I like the idea of literature based curriculum, and I like that it can be secular if you want. I *think* most Charlotte Mason is scripture/bible based - but I could be wrong about that. Like I said, I just started reading up on it.
post #3 of 13
i know there is a secular CM yahoo loop that's very active (you could pobably google it, or perhaps someone can link you to it). also, a lot of people use ambleside online in a secualr manner & there is a yahoo loop for that as well. hth.
post #4 of 13
There's the secular cm website and facebook page. We pretty much use CM's stuff and are secular. I have found it very easy. Using Mater Amablis' book selections make it easier for the most part, as Amblesides tend to be very outdated, religious, or (for some) racist. I know they were products of the time, but I'm uncomfortable reading some of those things to my kids or even to myself.
post #5 of 13
Charlotte Mason is a teaching philosophy, rather than a specific curriculum, so you can integrate religion to whatever extent and in whatever manner you desire. I'm sure there are those who would argue with that statement and say that the structure of the philosophy inherently integrates Christian values or something, but the fact is that you're free to choose which books you read, and free to integrate religious material (or not) of whatever sort you feel are appropriate for your family.

There's a relatively recent thread on here about a Pagan curriculum, and several of the participants seem interested in something CM-style.

We use Ambleside Online in a secular manner by simply leaving out or substituting for blatantly religious material. For example, in Year 1, we leave out the Bible, Trials and Triumph, and Parables of Nature. Next year, we won't be doing Pilgrim's Progress (don't know if we'd be doing that one even if I was Christian - I was bored out of my skull by a cartoon version when I was in Sunday School as a kid). We also integrate books and resources from other CM and classical sites, secular or otherwise, as well as things I come up with myself. I like AO because it's free and someone's already done so much of the brainwork for me, and I haven't found a similarly well organized, free, secular resource.

I do find that older books (and by that, I mean anything pre-1960s or so) often emphasize Christian values either overtly or covertly, and often assume a basic familiarity with Christianity. These books tend to be heavily utilized in CM-type curriculums, both due to content and quality. We read them anyways, because I don't believe in throwing the baby out with the bathwater, but it is something to be aware of.
post #6 of 13
You might find this yahoo group really helpful.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SecularCM/
post #7 of 13
Thread Starter 
Awesome, thanks so much!
My son is finishing Public school kinder right now and I'm just wondering what you all use for phonics and math to supplement your CM, or do you choose not to, and if so...why?

Thanks!!
post #8 of 13
We will be doing a blend of CM and Classical Education. For math we will be using RightStart Math.
post #9 of 13
Quote:
Originally Posted by MissHurricat View Post
Awesome, thanks so much!
My son is finishing Public school kinder right now and I'm just wondering what you all use for phonics and math to supplement your CM, or do you choose not to, and if so...why?

Thanks!!
CM is a teaching philosophy, not a particular curriculum to supplement, so you can use whatever phonics or math programs you'd like. Ambleside Online is a free, online, CM schedule you can follow, with lots of suggestions for math & probably phonics as well.

HERE is the site, with phonics & math suggestions for year one.
post #10 of 13
Quote:
Originally Posted by MissHurricat View Post
Awesome, thanks so much!
My son is finishing Public school kinder right now and I'm just wondering what you all use for phonics and math to supplement your CM, or do you choose not to, and if so...why?

Thanks!!
I think you typically select a curriculum for those. We're CM and we're doing:
RightStart Math
Handwriting without Tears
Currently Headsprout phonics (and added I See Sam readers). If I had it to do over I would have done Phonics Road instead I think at this point. But they love what we're doing.
post #11 of 13
We also follow Ambleside Online secularly. We use Teaching Textbooks for math (I also like Life of Fred) and I created my own program for phonics. You can check out my blog to see how we do it. It's in my sig.
post #12 of 13
I think we are most closely assoc. with CM. We use sonlight as our history core but I do not do their other subjects just the history and I do not do any of their readings with an overtly religous connotation (for instance the missionary books we skip)

Were Christian but prefer to only introduce our children to religous beliefs/stories of our faith instead. For the most part I think CM relies heavily on books. For example I would say our science is very CM but all the books are secular in nature for example magic school bus, ready to read science and so on.

I looked over quite a few CM inspired curriculums and only found a few that I think would be hard to make secular but that is based on the majority of the books being either from their own publishing or the majority of the readings being religous books. So in a sense you would be picking a part all the material.
post #13 of 13
Thread Starter 
Thanks so much ladies. I spoke with the farmer that we get our CSA from and he said that DS and I can come out there a day or two each week to help him. He will teach us farm stuff and we will help him get ready for market days. DS and I are both interested in farm related things and we would like to have a farm in about 5 years.
DS is also obsessed with Legos so I think I'm going to plan some unit studies around this. Nothing super structured, but just things to really keep his brain working and keep him excited about learning.
I looked at some of the recommended sites and really like them.
Thanks again!
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