Modern Miss Mason in a Charlotte Mason Homeschool High School: A Book Review
Welcome to A Mother’s Thinking Love: Living Ideas, Lovingly Shared! As a Charlotte Mason homeschool mom, I’m sharing a book review from a Charlotte Mason-inspired book. In this post, I’ll review what makes this book helpful, briefly explore the concept of Charlotte Mason in our modern time, and share a few of my personal, practical takeaways. Join me for: Modern Miss Mason in a Charlotte Mason Homeschool High School: A Book Review.
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Why Should You Read “Modern Miss Mason” by Leah Boden?
“Modern Miss Mason: Discover How Charlotte Mason’s Revolutionary Ideas on Home Education Can Change How You & Your Children Learn & Grow Together” was written by Leah Boden. I don’t remember which podcast it was on, but I first heard Leah speak about homeschooling with a Charlotte Mason philosophy a few years ago. Honestly, I listened to the podcast, appreciated her perspective, but, ultimately, didn’t give much more thought to the idea she was discussing: Charlotte Mason in our modern day. In the years since, I have seen the naivety of that perspective. As I start to plan the end of our middle school, and the beginning of our high school, years, I was seeking a fresh perspective. That’s when Leah’s book came to mind! I ordered it and read it within two days of delivery.
Leah’s perspective was a breath of fresh air for me, and renewed my spirit of creativity. In my view, Leah’s book adds value to the life of a new or veteran homeschool mom. If you have never heard of Charlotte Mason, or if you have read all six of her volumes, you will appreciate Leah’s wisdom. Leah’s understanding of Miss Mason’s philosophy allows her to distill her principles into concise, understandable bits. She weaves narratives of her own life and educational philosophy beautifully throughout. While Leah’s focus, rightfully so, is on inspiring mothers without burdening them with a list of “must dos”, she does provide practical advice at the end of chapters in the form of “Mason Moments”.
Why MODERN Miss Mason?
As I said previously, I tried to dodge the fact that I was attempting to implement an educational philosophy that was over 100 years old. In the younger years, this didn’t seem to cause us too much friction. I’m not sure why, but it was just easier to brush it off. Throughout our middle school years, however, I have come face-to-face with the fact that I needed to take time to think through the vision for our homeschool. The results have been worth every effort.
For me, the beauty of Charlotte Mason’s philosophy is that it’s not a system. It’s vibrant, alive, and for all persons. Far be it from me to put word’s into Miss Mason’s mouth, but I think she would advise mothers to think about the children in front of them, the world they live in, and apply her principles with loving care. That’s why I named my website: A Mother’s Thinking Love. Using my own Mother’s Thinking Love has brought such peace to our homeschool. Being willing to adapt Miss Mason’s principles to our 21st century, rural American context has renewed our joy and excitement for each new day of learning.
Modern Miss Mason in a Charlotte Mason Homeschool: My Takeaways
As I read through Modern Miss Mason, I underlined, marked pages, and wrote ideas in my notebook. Some ideas came from Leah herself, but some ideas were merely inspired by Leah’s words.
Here are a few things from my list:
- Mark Dawn Chorus Day on my calendar every year.
- Buy postcards of famous artist prints for affordable art study. Here are the ones I purchased to use first.
- Keep a first impressions of art notebook.
- Remember to be diligent in my own education.
I hope “Modern Miss Mason in a Charlotte Mason Homeschool High School: A Book Review” has been helpful for you. If you are looking for ways to bring Charlotte Mason into our modern context, you will be blessed by this book. How have you thoughtfully implemented Miss Mason’s philosophy in your homeschool? Share your ideas in the comments below!
