Charlotte Mason Conference Resources
The lectures and Keynote presentations from our conferences are listed below- click on the appropriate button to access them. The lectures will appear in a pop-up window, so make sure that your browser is not set to block them.
Speaker: Jennifer Spencer
BiographyJennifer Spencer lives in Gaffney, South Carolina with her husband of 13 years and her two children, Drew and Marley. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood education from Winthrop University in 1996, and has just completed her Master's degree in Elementary Education from Gardner-Webb University. Jennifer taught four years in the public school system before deciding to take a year off to homeschool. While at home, she was turned on to the teachings of Charlotte Mason through an email loop. She is now the Assistant Director at The Village School of Gaffney, a private school based on Mason's philosophy, where she has taught for five years. Her teaching experience has ranged from kindergarten through middle school, but she most enjoys teaching literature and history at the upper elementary level.
Topic: Developmentally Appropriate Use of Narration Attendees of this session will learn about children's developmental progression in the art of narration. We will explore how to help very young children learn to express their thoughts orally and follow through with the introduction of written retelling. Teachers of older children and teenagers will discover how to get students to organize and "flesh out" their narrations so that they are not scattered or skimpy and so that they reflect understanding of diverse literary elements instead of being mere plot regurgitation. Discussion of educational theory will be combined with model lessons to help participants develop a deep understanding of the topic.
Recommended for: those who are beginning the use of narration or those teaching kindergarten or first grade and need to introduce narration to students
Speaker: Tammy Glaser
BiographyTammy Glaser, a graduate in mathematics from the U. S. Naval Academy and Naval Postgraduate School, left the Navy to homeschool her two children in 1995. She started transitioning to Charlotte Mason methodology in 1999. Her insights on homeschooling and autism are published online and in magazines, books, and newspapers. She and her husband, Steve, live in Manning, South Carolina.
Topic: Assessing Therapies for Special Needs
Learners from a Charlotte Mason Perspective Therapies recommended for special needs children can cloud one’s vision of education as “an atmosphere, a discipline, and a life”. The speaker will demonstrate how to translate one autism therapy into Charlotte Mason terminology and accept or reject principles that respect a child’s personhood. The participants will do the same for a speech program for language-delayed children. They will leave the class more confident in selecting the therapies most suited to a Charlotte Mason philosophy. They will leave inspired by Miss Mason’s language arts program, which enabled a person with life-long speaking challenges to learn recitation!
Recommended for: teachers and parents of special needs students, and administrators.
Helpful Links:
Therapies Handout
Tweaking Charlotte Mason Video
Relationship Development Intervention Video
The Association Method Video Part I
The Association Method Video Part II
Speaker: Bonnie Buckingham
BiographyThe first book Ms. Buckingham read when she started home schooling in 1991 was For the Children Sake by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay. It ignited a passion for living books, nature study, art and poetry. Home school speaker on Living Books, reluctant Readers, and Charlotte Mason's Methods, a mother of 5 children (4 boys and 1 girl), an avid book collector and art lover, she will speak on a variety of topics.
Topic: Making the Heart Sing With Recitation This session looks at how poetry, Shakespeare, essays, plays, and Scripture are recited or memorized to make hearts to sing, eyes to sparkle, and even laughter to explode. Diction and format in classroom teaching will be discussed as well as examples.
Recommended for: K-12 teachers, Administrators and Parents
Speaker: Lori Lawing
BiographyLori Lawing has come to appreciate Charlotte Mason’s way of training the intellect as well as her love of literature. In addition to teaching her children (ages 12, 11, 8, 6, and 4) she delights in teaching Shakespeare to a group of 25 six to twelve year olds. She is a 1985 graduate of UNC and was a member of Chapel Hill’s speech team, competing in oral performance of literture. She currently directs an annual competitive speech tournment for 100+ students in the greater Charlotte area.
Topic: Training the Intellect through Literature We all admit that nature, morality and theology are divine in origin, but Charlotte Mason believed the origins of the intellect are divine as well. Intellect is not man’s own sphere, nor his exclusive domain. If the source of intellect is divine, then our pursuit of knowledge is ultimately for the glory of God. Charlotte Mason believed we need to feed the child’s mind with the food of intellectual life: ideas. This session’s participants will practice with lessons of literture and poetry which require the mind to think. In the words of Shakespeare’s Henry V, “Work, work your thoughts!” Included will be a study of the literary aspects of Scripture, Shakespeare, poetry, classics, living books and recitation.
Recommended for: Primary to High School Teachers, Administrators and Parents
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