God is the creator and sustainer of all things—and the perfect loving relationship between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is the foundation of life. Children are created in God’s image, with a capacity for relationships. As educator Charlotte Mason put it, “Education is a science of relations.” Children are whole people and just as children’s bodies need proper nourishment, their minds do as well. Through the use of well- written books, by authors who love their subject, children can meet mind to mind with ideas that are good, right, true, lovely and noble throughout all of academia. Through time spent in nature they can form relationships with God’s creation and through time studying the Bible, children can be led into a relationship with Jesus-- in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. LS follows Charlotte Mason’s principles of education. By design, the methodology used at LS is not something you will find at a public school, and it is important that as parents and co-educators, you are in complete understanding of the methodology because this will help you understand why we do or do not do certain things. This involves an entire paradigm shift in what education truly is. Instead of worksheets, we focus on excellent literature and narrating it back. Instead of rote memorization, we prioritize learning how to synthesize information and forming relationships with knowledge. Instead of sit down and be quiet, we value hands on learning with varied subjects and facilitate an atmosphere of discussion. Please take some time to learn about the philosophy. We have compiled some resources to help you.
1. ASI video Part 1, Persons or Products? (7:06 minutes) The Ambleside Difference
2. ASI video Part 3, What are We Drawing Students To? (5:41 minutes) The Ambleside Difference
3. Read the book, In Vital Harmony by Karen Glass
4. Listen to New Mason Jar Podcast Episode 3 (interview with Karen Glass regarding her book, In Vital Harmony, 40:44)
5. Listen to New Mason Jar Podcast Episode 11 (Q&A, 42:48)
6. Listen to New Mason Jar Podcast Episode 4 (interview with Brandy Vercel regarding Mason’s 20 principles, 44:09)
7. Listen to New Mason Jar Podcast Episode 7 (interview with Karen Glass regarding narration, writing, critical thinking, 1:00)
Below is additional recommended reading:
For the Children’s Sake by Susan Schaeffer Macauley, In Vital Harmony by Karen Glass, Know and Tell by Karen Glass, When Children Love to Learn by Elaine Cooper
and a Charlotte Mason Study Guide by Penny Gardner
LS also recommends The New Mason Jar Podcast with Cindy Rollins found wherever you download your podcasts.
