Charlotte Mason Education 101 for Dads: What is My Wife Talking About? - Scott Cottrill:

Your wife’s been talking about this woman named Charlotte Mason and you’re wondering who she is. You may be all-in for homeschooling your kids but thought you’d be using spelling tests, quizzes, and book reports. Instead, you’re hearing about living books, narration, and nature study. Is this method even trustworthy and verifiable? This workshop will address your concerns and demonstrate why Charlotte Mason’s method is so successful. Don’t let the fact that it’s over 100 years old add to your doubts. Hopefully this hour will both relieve and surprise you.

Mapping - Emily Kiser:

Charlotte Mason tells us that geography should be learned chiefly through maps. In this workshop, we will work through the use of maps in a Charlotte Mason education, from early maps and plans of our own home to studying the maps of far-off lands. We will have a chance to practice making maps of our own as well as asking and answering the type of map questions Miss Mason insisted upon before each geography lesson.

Teaching Science in Middle School and High School - Nicole Williams:

Charlotte Mason says, “Books dealing with science as with history, say, should be of a literary character,” (A Philosophy of Education, p. 218) but does the thought of assigning your child a living book for science make you fearful that you are not preparing them for life or possible university courses? Let us consider how each aspect of a Charlotte Mason science curriculum fits together so that our children not only learn to wonder and admire but also become scientifically literate citizens.

Take Heart: Navigating Fear & Anxiety as a Homeschool Parent - Jessica Becker:

There are few things more terrifying than taking on the responsibility of your child's education. The weight and uncertainty can feel overwhelming, even crippling at times. As a mom who has spent many wakeful nights in the throes of panic, I know this all too well. In this session, we will explore the purpose of fear, its healthy and unhealthy activity in our lives, and ways to navigate through its worrisome tides with courage, trust, and, most importantly, hope.

An Overview of Mathematics in a Charlotte Mason Education - Emily Al-Khatib and Heather Schultz:

In this session, we will look at what Charlotte Mason says about mathematics and how it was implemented in her schools. We will then discuss how her methods and principles apply to mathematics today. Come ready to see the timeless beauty and truth of her method in this overview of the early years through high school graduation.

Wise and Purposeful Letting Alone - Emily Kiser:

Charlotte Mason said, “[W]ise and purposeful letting alone is the best part of education.” In this session, we will explore the distinctive elements of the Charlotte Mason Method, a philosophy rooted in our created identity as persons, and how to implement her natural method in our individual classrooms. Much of our time will be devoted to the unique role of the teacher in this method as we learn how to practice Masterly Inactivity–what that wise and purposeful letting alone means, and what it doesn’t.

What’s Dad Got to Do With It? How Dads Fit into Charlotte Mason Education - Scott Cottrill:

In many homes, most if not all the homeschooling is done by moms. When we let this happen, we as fathers lose out on opportunities to participate and encounter joy watching our kids grow. Because of your employment, you may not be able to teach every class, but there are some things that you can do, perhaps even better than your wife. Let’s explore some of those opportunities together and find your place in your children’s education.

Spelling: Learning without Lists or Bees - Liz Cottrill:

Miss Mason says spelling comes easily to the reader. Her method introduces spelling in a simple way so that the student learns to spell without the ordeal many of us remember. Even for the reading-challenged, the art of spelling can be taught without trauma, if the principle and practice work together, because as she says: "There is no part of a child's work at school which some philosophical principle does not underlie.”

Finding Balance: The Elusive Search for Breathing Room - Jessica Becker:

One thing we hear over and over from homeschooling parents is the perpetual search for "balance." Be it work/life, family/alone time, homeschooling/extracurricular, our society seems in a constant cycle of overload and burnout. How do we find balance when our plates are so full with things that seem mandatory? How can address burnout when the causes of our burnout are an integral part of our everyday life? What is "balance," anyway? This session will be part-conversation and part-workshop as we work through the many things we are juggling and how some basic principles can guide us through.

High School Math - Emily Al-Khatib and Heather Schultz:

How does an upper-level math lesson work in a Charlotte Mason education? In this practicum, we will demonstrate a high school math lesson with you as the student. Upon completing the lesson there will be a time for us to answer questions you still have.

The Power of a Narrated Education - Liz Cottrill:

The Art of Narration is fundamental in a CM education. Liz talks through the what, the why, and the how.

When the Son Comes Up: Dad’s Role in Developing Emotionally Strong Boys - Scott Cottrill:

Raising boys is a challenging and daunting task, especially in today’s tumultuous culture. Many fathers choose to hide themselves in work or recreational activities instead of becoming actively involved in their son’s lives. The result is that moms are left holding the bag and meet anger and frustration from boys who are already told by society that there is something wrong with them because they are male. In this workshop, we will delve into the tenuous emotions of young men, how they take out their frustrations, and how we as parents can help them navigate through the minefield of growing up and becoming who God intends for them to be. Maybe in the process, we men can become better examples for them and our families. How do you have a presence in your son’s education when most of the responsibility falls on your wife?

Nature Walk - Nicole Williams:

Would you like to see Nature Study in action? In this practicum, Nicole will incorporate several components of what Miss Mason referred to as out-of-door work to better help you understand what to do with the children during a time of nature study.

Scansion - Jono Kiser:

MORE INFO COMING SOON

Upper Elementary Math - Emily Al-Khatib and Heather Schultz:

In this practicum, Heather and Emily will implement an upper elementary math lesson with you as the student. Upon completing the lesson there will be a short Q&A time for us to answer questions you still have.

Homeschooling with your Spouse - Jessica and Andrew Becker:

Have you ever thought about what it would be like to share some of the homeschooling load with your spouse? Or are you just curious to know what that looks like in an actual home? In this session, Andrew and Jessica Becker will be sharing how they co-educate their children, what led to this structure in their home, and the practical ways they stay on the same page (and lesson).

Finding Time to Read - Liz Cottrill:

If this was the last Charlotte Mason talk Liz ever gave, she would want this to be the last word on the subject, the most important thing of all. This is what she would want you to remember above all things that have come before. Moms are always short of time and energy, but the thing we are most tempted to leave out of our lives is the thing that helps with those problems.

Fostering the Habit of Attention: Practical Strategies for Engaged Minds - Nicole Williams:

Cultivating the Habit of Attention is essential to unlocking a child’s ability to learn. In this workshop, we will explore how living books ignite curiosity and foster a love of learning. We will also discuss several other practical strategies to strengthen this vital habit of mind. Join Nicole to discover how these methods nurture focused, engaged learners, transforming both their education and personal growth.

A Single History Lesson - Emily Kiser:

The Charlotte Mason method can seem daunting to those unaccustomed to the use of living books and narration, and it is only through doing that we see the beautiful simplicity of Miss Mason's applied philosophy. This session offers the chance to see the method in action as attendees participate in a history lesson and ask questions once the lesson is complete.

Shakespeare - Jono Kiser:

MORE INFO COMING SOON