Teaching Methods

A Solid Foundation

Our educational method is based on the work of educational reformer Charlotte Mason who believed children learn best when given abundant, high-quality books; time in the outdoors; and are taught gently using methods such as narration, short lessons, and “masterly inactivity.”

Living Books Curriculum is a curriculum designed around a collection of living books. Living books warm the imagination, nurture thinking, and communicate knowledge mind-to-mind. Children require books that are living in order for their minds and hearts to develop to their fullest capacity.

Charlotte Mason taught that when books are many, varied, and living the child is able to take up the ideas in them like a plant taking nutrients from the soil. The result is “full happy living, resourcefulness, expansiveness, expression, power of initiative, serviceableness—in a word, character.”

Designed to Deliver Results

Further incorporating Charlotte Mason’s philosophy, Living Books Curriculum emphasizes the use of orality (speaking and listening), classic literature, and “learning-by-doing.” Living Books Curriculum’s approach to education follows the core values and methods expressed below as the “seven keys” and “six tools.”

Seven Keys of Learning

Children are persons
Children love to learn
Children need a supportive atmosphere for learning
Orality is essential to literacy and learning
Living ideas are the natural food of the mind
Active involvement is vital to learning
The formation of effective habits leads to a productive life

Six Tools for Learning

Narration
Literature
Storytelling
Nature Study
Short Lessons
Local resources

Received my order and I love it. I have read nearly the entire Foundation Year. It is almost life changing for me. I am looking forward to receiving the First Year manual. Have you shipped it yet? I also have some other books to order. Thank you for your work.
Mary Holman
Apex, NC

Easy to Use

Living Books Curriculum offers comprehensive teaching guides for each curriculum package to help the homeschooling parent organize the lessons and assess comprehension. Each teaching guide describes the Living Books Curriculum philosophy; supplies helpful articles written by industry experts; and provides numerous teaching resources including a week-by-week teaching guide, an overview of each subject, a checklist that reminds the teaching parent to regularly include the fundamentals of the Charlotte Mason method, and a suggested daily schedule. (The teaching guides are included in the price of the complete curriculum package(s) or sold separately.)

In addition, Living Books Curriculum offers free advice and support to its customers and potential customers. If you have a question about the curriculum or need specific teaching advice, Living Books Curriculum is available to help. All inquiries can be sent to lbcinfo@livingbookscurriculum.com. You can expect a prompt, thoughtful response.