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#71: Breaking Down Charlotte Mason

Season #2

In this episode of The Feast Life, I’m sharing a recent conversation I had on The Education Breakdown podcast with host Sarah. We dive into the timeless and transformative ideas of Charlotte Mason—ideas that are just as relevant today as they were over a century ago.

We talk about what it means to truly educate the whole child through rich literature, meaningful narration, and real-world experiences. I explain the power of living books and how they spark curiosity and deep thinking in a way textbooks simply can’t. We also explore how narration develops higher-order thinking skills and why hands-on learning—like nature walks and science experiments—is essential for helping children make lasting connections with what they’re learning.

If you’ve ever wondered what makes the Charlotte Mason philosophy so life-giving, this conversation will inspire you to slow down, savor learning, and bring more wonder into your homeschool days.

5 Key Takeaways from This Episode:

  1. Children are born persons – Charlotte Mason believed all children are capable of deep learning when given the right opportunities.

  2. Living books > textbooks – Engaging, narrative-rich books spark curiosity and lasting understanding.

  3. Narration builds thinking skills – Having kids retell what they’ve learned helps them process and retain information naturally.

  4. Learning should be hands-on – Kids need real experiences in nature and science to develop wonder and connection.

  5. Gentle doesn’t mean light – A Charlotte Mason education is rich, rigorous, and respectful of the child.

Resources Mentioned:

Visit thefeastlife.me/blog/71 for additional resources and links

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Today’s episode is sponsored by the award winning Charlotte Mason curriculum A Gentle Feast. Get started with smooth and easy days at https://www.agentlefeast.com.