TEACHING PHILOSOPHY

At The Grove, we embrace the principles of Charlotte Mason, recognizing the transformative power of living books, hands-on activities, and the pursuit of goodness over the mere accumulation of knowledge. It is through these foundational elements that we long to cultivate a love for learning, nourish the minds and hearts of our children, and encourage a rich and meaningful educational experience.

As Charlotte Mason once said, "Education is an atmosphere, a discipline, a life." This philosophy reminds us that learning extends far beyond textbooks and worksheets. We create an atmosphere of wonder, curiosity, and respect for all subjects, fostering an environment where our children can flourish. By incorporating living books—engaging, thought-provoking literature that ignites the imagination—we open up vast worlds of knowledge and inspiration for our students.

Also, the Charlotte Mason approach places great emphasis on hands-on activities and experiences. She believed that children should engage with the world through their senses, actively participating in their own learning. By incorporating nature walks, art projects, scientific experiments, and other hands-on activities, we provide our children with opportunities to explore, discover, and make connections that deepen their understanding of the world around them.  Mason believed that education should aim at developing virtuous and compassionate individuals. As she stated, "Education is the science of relations" — nurturing meaningful connections between our children and the world, between ideas and values, and between individuals.

A TEACHERS EDUCATION 

By studying Charlotte Mason's philosophies, teachers gain a deeper understanding of her educational principles and methods. This allows us to align our own teaching practices with the key tenets of a Charlotte Mason education, such as living books, nature study, and narration. The directors have compiled a list of resources that we ask every teacher to read or listen to before the start of The Grove in September, see links on our resource pages.  We believe this will be invaluable for you leading our children in the upcoming school year.