Self Education
From Alveary Member Amy F.
Charlotte Mason says, “There is no education but self-education,” (Volume 6, p. 26). Our goal then as educators is to guide our students into becoming self-learners. Transitioning children to more independent work is a process for both teacher and student. In fact, I would say there is a bit of an art to slowly letting go.
In my experience, children around the age of ten start to desire some independent work. This usually occurs when the child has developed good habits of attention, is reading well and comprehending what they are reading, and is starting to take on more responsibilities in other realms of life.
Begin slowly, allowing the child to start with the subject in which they are strongest. Guide the child in recalling their previous lesson, and help them decide how much they can read before stopping to narrate. Then walk them through the process of determining the best narration style for the passage. It can be a silent narration, (see Volume 6, p. 304 for this idea) or any of various types of written narration including outlines, a short synopsis, a drawing, etc. (Volume 3, p. 180). If your student has learned to type, this is a great opportunity for them to begin using the computer occasionally for written narrations. Children can learn how to use an assortment of computer resources (word-processing, graphics, and others) to help get their ideas on paper. As they learn the method, we can give more subjects to the student for independent work.
Turning over a subject to our student doesn’t mean our work is done, however. Ms. Mason says, “Require the pupil to relate to the passage he has read. The child must read to know; his teacher's business is to see that he knows.” (Volume 6, p. 304) Even as we grant more independence, we should not forget to have discussions with our students. We should also be present to help when a child needs our assistance and to encourage them to stay on task.
While there is work involved in reaching this new stage of independence, there is also a real enjoyment in watching each child begin to take ownership of their education.
We’d love to hear your own experience on transitioning your students to independent work in the comments below!
Notes:
- Membership: Celebrating 10 Years of Alveary! Register between February 1 – March 31 to receive exclusive freebies, including conference recordings, Natural History Club membership, digital monographs, and $50 off our Virtual Immersion Masterclass. Don’t miss out—renew now!
- Open House: Know a friend interested in Alveary? Send them this link to sign up for our online Open House.
- High School Electives: Health, Technology, Art History, and Fast Track Art—so many exciting electives have been added for 2025-26! Check out all the new offerings/updates here.
- Dynamic Planning Tool: Have you had a chance to explore the Alveary Dynamic Planning Tool? Check out the Getting Started video to see how this powerful tool can help you plan and customize Alveary for your students. You can find the dynamic tool in the schedule portion of the 2025-26 Dashboard!
- CMI: Some students struggle with narration, and it’s easy to wonder: Are they not trying hard enough, or is their working memory overloaded? Understanding this difference is crucial to adapting our teaching effectively. Watch Part 2 of The World of Words and Working Memory series here.
- Day in the Life: Did you catch Heather's videos on social media last week? She shared a glimpse into homeschooling with a first-grader and two little brothers! We've added them to YouTube for easy rewatching—go check them out!
- Volunteers: We are looking for volunteers who would like to donate their Airtable and/or book knowledge toward improving the 2025-26 Alveary Bookshelf. (Free reading, family reading, etc.) Email melissa@cminst.org if you are interested.
- Open Positions: We have multiple job opportunities listed on our job board. Check them out here to learn more and apply!
- Term 3 Exams: Term 3 exams are posted! You can find them on your Dashboard under Step 5.
---
Trivia Question: Where was Mason employed at the time of her first lectures on education?
Answer: Bishop Otter Teacher Training College
