Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Charlotte Mason List of Attainments


From Ambleside Online:

Charlotte Mason included in her Original Homeschool Series books some lists of attainments, goals or objectives to be met by certain ages. She has one for 6-year-olds and one for 12-year-olds.

"A Formidable List of Attainments for a Child of Six", a reprint of a curriculum outline from a CM school in the 1890's.

1. To recite, beautifully, 6 easy poems and hymns
 
2. to recite, perfectly and beautifully, a parable and a psalm
 
3. to add and subtract numbers up to 10, with dominoes or counters
 
4. to read--what and how much, will depend on what we are told of the child
 
5. to copy in print-hand from a book
 
6. to know the points of the compass with relation to their own home, where the sun rises and sets, and the way the wind blows
 
7. to describe the boundaries of their own home
 
8. to describe any lake, river, pond, island etc. within easy reach
 
9. to tell quite accurately (however shortly) 3 stories from Bible history, 3 from early English, and 3 from early Roman history (Ambleside note: we may want to substitute early American for early English!)
 
10. to be able to describe 3 walks and 3 views
 
11. to mount in a scrap book a dozen common wildflowers, with leaves (one every week); to name these, describe them in their own words, and say where they found them.
 
12. to do the same with leaves and flowers of 6 forest trees
 
13. to know 6 birds by song, colour and shape
 
14. to send in certain Kindergarten or other handiwork, as directed
 
15. to tell three stories about their own "pets"--rabbit, dog or cat.
 
16. to name 20 common objects in French, and say a dozen little sentences
 
17. to sing one hymn, one French song, and one English song
 
18. to keep a caterpillar and tell the life-story of a butterfly from his own observations.

 At the link above, you can find the list of attainments for children 6-12.

NOTE: Seems to me, we, as a society expect so much less, in some respects, of our children today. One of the aspects employed by Charlotte Mason that seems to be missing nowadays, it the careful observation of the world within view. Taking the time to build a deep awareness of the immediate environment (attention to details) will be of benefit in other study areas.

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So how do you fit is all in? Here is an example of a school schedule to give you an idea.


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