The Role of the Teacher in a Charlotte Mason Education
By the Alveary Team
As you dive into a new school year, remember the art of masterly inactivity that invites your students to take ownership of their learning. In this video, Dr. Whiteside unpacks what it means to be a “guide, philosopher, and friend”, allowing your students to build their own relationships with knowledge. Mason reminds us, “The teachers give sympathy and occasionally elucidate, sum up or enlarge, but the actual work is done by the scholars” (A Philosophy of Education, p. 6).
Standing aside doesn’t mean stepping away. Instead, the teacher indicates (offers a rich feast of ideas), stimulates (shares genuine enthusiasm), directs (creates the structure and atmosphere for attention), and constrains (holds back from telling students what to think). This approach allows students to own their learning.
If you’d like to dive deeper into this topic, remember that our Guiding With Grace virtual ticket is still on sale.
We’d love to hear from you: Does Mason’s idea of “standing aside” feel challenging or freeing? Share your experience with us in the comments!
Lesson Plan Spotlight
Our Outdoor Work resources are designed to capture the beauty and fullness Mason envisioned for Nature Lore. Each month, you’ll find inspiration from an experienced naturalist, scouting activities for all skill levels, gentle structure for nature walks, and nature notebook prompts that coordinate with lessons while leaving room for creativity. Available in a handy, take-along format—perfect for printing or keeping on your phone! Members can access it via the Quick Link in the Science lesson plans.
Notes
- Giveaway: We’re giving merch to three lucky winners who can pick a shirt or tote bag! Check out this Hive post for details. Open through August 31 → Winners announced September 1 in The Hive.
- Office Hours: Here is the link to the recording of this week’s Office Hours, answering your questions!
- Exams: Term 1 exams are now posted on your dashboard! Remember, you can visit the Exams section in Foundations to refresh your memory or learn more before your students begin.
- Read with us: In the Company of Ideas kicks off in September! Our first book is A Little Book for New Historians by Dr. Tracy McKenzie. Grab your copy and join us for the first discussion prompt next month.
- Job posting: The Alveary team is looking for lesson plan writers for French and Sol-fa. If you are interested, please send your resume to Melissa Ferguson at melissa@cminst.org.
- CMI Courses: Registration is now open for CMI’s Fall Courses! Explore our full lineup and find the perfect course for you.
- Sale at Home Science Tools: It is a great time to order your science lab kits and other supplies. You can use the code AUGUST to get 20% off and free shipping for purchases over $100. The discount ends 8/18.
Query: How should I dispose of chemicals used in science lab?
This is a great question, as we all want to be good stewards of our environment!
When you purchase chemicals, the manufacturer or supplier often provides safety and disposal information either on the packaging or on a separate document. If you received this from your supplier, then you can follow their instructions. If your materials did not arrive with safety and disposal guidance and you would like to see the official documentation, you can find it online by searching [chemical name] + “MSDS”. The “MSDS” is the material safety data sheet, also just called “SDS”. The MSDS is a standard document available for every chemical substance that provides information for safe handling, clean-up, and disposal - even water has an MSDS. If you examine the MSDS for many chemical substances, you will notice that the recommendations can vary for different locations. Sometimes the recommendations might depend on how much of the material needs to be disposed of, what form it is in, or what infrastructure is available at your location. This is why we cannot give explicit disposal instructions for everyone (with the exception of common materials purchased at the grocery store, which can generally just be thrown away).
Ultimately, each individual is responsible for ensuring that their local regulations are being followed. Therefore, if you have any concerns, your local waste management provider is really your best resource. They will be able to give you the most accurate and straightforward information for your location, and they are just a phone call or email away.
