The Living Page: Keeping Notebooks With Charlotte Mason

by Laurie Bestvater

"We all have need to be trained to see, and to have our eyes opened before we can take in the joy that is meant for us in this beautiful life." Charlotte Mason ~~~~~~~ "Composition books and blank journals are readily available at every big box and corner store, available so inexpensively as to be common and ironic as we reach that digital dominion, the projected 'paperless culture.' Shall we despair the future of the notebook? Is the practice an anachronism in an age where one's thoughts and pictures, doings and strivings are so easily recorded on a smartphone or blog,and students in even the youngest classrooms are handed electronic tablets with textbooks loaded and worksheets at the ready? Or is there something indispensable in the keeping of notebooks without which human beings would be the poorer?" THE LIVING PAGE invites the reader to take a closer look in the timeless company of 19th century educator, Charlotte Mason.

Genres: Education, Nonfiction, Parenting, Homeschool, Personal Development, Reference, Writing

193 pages, Paperback

First published October 16, 2012

Reviews

[Heather Gorsett · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I’m slowly letting the principles of Charlotte Mason’s educational philosophy wash over me, every connection that leads to a deeper understanding convinces me more and more that this truly is the best education we can give our children. I loved this book!

I really appreciated the format. The author inspired me in the first chapter, gave me the practical information in the second chapter, and then laid out the philosophical underpinnings in the remaining chapters. I’ll end my review with my narration:

Paper activities, paper companions, paper graces, paper postures, the blank page, keeping. All these terms give a fuller sense of the true meaning of what it means to participate in the act of notebooking.

Why notebook when technology has made it easier not to through speed, ease, and productivity?

Simply because technology makes us less not more human! To be human is to think, reason, know, understand; a gift bestowed upon us by our Creator and withheld from his other earthly creation.

Through the blank page, we slow down, reflect, choose, sort, ruminate, assimilate, meditate, ponder, and keep. Notebooking keeps us from becoming gluttonous consumers. They thin out our lives, helping us to see less is truly more. The emphasis is not the product but the process, transformation not information.

“The object of these notebooks is that the pupils should learn how to appreciate rather than how to produce.”

There’s so more that could be said but for that you’ll have to read the book!

[Lena Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has completely transformed my concept of keeping notebooks as defined in Charlotte Mason's educational philosophy. Until now, the various notebooks have felt almost optional because of my lack of understanding. Now I know that they are vital and central and our Charlotte Mason School will look very different next year.

[Gina Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I resisted reading this book for so long because I felt like, “my kids are too old and I can’t try to add any more notebooks than we already do.” Don’t be like me. Read this!!! I thought I would feel pressure to do more, be better, etc, but instead I just feel inspired. I came away with a much better grasp of the WHY behind things, especially Book of Centuries, and I’m excited to continue my own keeping. I was also reminded to really slow down and savor the relationships. So good!

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Living Page is the Mason community's newest top resource. I found myself continually hearing C. S. Lewis's "Ah, you, too?" in my head as I read it. It's thoroughly researched -- over the course of years, one surmises -- and the author's voice is so tender and clear that you feel almost as if you're sitting in Miss Mason's living room, chatting with her about her intentions for the method. There are ample examples and Ms. Bestvater covers all of the notebooks Miss Mason advocated using, even a few I'd not heard of after years of teaching with this method. Some books tell you how to teach a certain way in a step by step manual. The Living Page reveals WHY you should teach in a certain way. She tells us why, then shows us how. The results will have huge implications for my own classes, as I now have a handbook for the how and why of Charlotte Mason's insistence on the use of notebooks.

[Joanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book put words to my hope for my children’s childhood: I hope it can be an antidote to (or inoculation against?) the lies of our times. I hope they are so at home with the Truth, with meaningful work, with innocent play, with the discipline of habits, with a slow pace of thought and response, with communion with other people, with noticing and relishing that the counterfeits of efficiency and consumption (and etc.) hold little appeal to them. I hope it does the same to me.

The focus here is how “paper postures” as used or mentioned by Charlotte Mason support the essential human activities I listed above. I’m inspired to find ways to make notebooking a source of joy and delight for my kids, and I’m encouraged to persevere even when it’s temporarily not. And I’d like to make a more consistent habit with my own nature and commonplace notebooks.

[Jessica Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent book that really illuminated for me an aspect of a CM education that I hadn't studied fully - notebook keeping. Yes, we have kept notebooks in our CM homeschool since the beginning, but I had not plumbed the depths of WHY. The Living Page is a beautiful glimpse of an education that develops our humanity and helps us to slow down and savor the glory all around us.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of those rare non-fiction books where you may have read it to learn about a certain subject -- in this case how to keep the different notebooks Charlotte Mason recommended in her homeschooling series -- but end up getting so much for your mind and soul to contemplate that the subject (which was thoroughly covered, btw) seems small. Truly hope this author writes more in the future.

EDITED MAY 2014: I am removing two stars since discovering the author contacted a blog I frequent and asked the blog author to remove content of a book discussion based on this book. The blog did not violate any copyright and the author had no legal standing to make such a request. The author of the blog did remove her content.
I am against author interference into reading experience. Readers should be able read, discuss, debate and even criticize a book without authors asking for favors or implying there is a personal relationship between author and reader beyond that of intellect and imagination. Living in a world where there is open media does not give an author the right to influence or edit readers from discourse or criticism.
I will keep three stars based on content, but am very disappointed with this author.

[Lekeshua · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely read into a part of Charlotte Mason lifestyle of learning that is often vague when reading through Charlotte Mason’s books. The Living Page is a great guide to habit of keeping for the entire family. This habit is beyond educating from K-12 but a learning as a lifestyle that’s beyond absorbing information. The habit of Keeping allows us to not only absorb but internalize in a way that helps us to dive deep. The ways are very simple and beautiful.

[Bethanyanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-read for the upcoming school year

[Melissa Bair · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm full of ideas for next school year thanks to this book! I've always loved notebooks and it was so enlightening to see how Charlotte Mason intended them to be used in such a clear way.

[Sara Hollar · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciated the content, but I was confused by the format (inspire, introduce all the notebooks, then inspire more). The author lost me for the second half. It felt like she was trying to quote as many people as possible (seriously, are 405 notes needed for a 130 page book?). I appreciated her research, and will use some of what she introduced in our homeschool. It's a worthwhile skim (ahem, read. A worthwhile read).

[Bambi Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written. Read with a highlighter in hand and a cup of coffee nearby as the content requires some concentration. I wish I had read through the glossary at the end of the book before reading it. Homeschoolers, especially those with some knowledge of Charlotte Mason's philosophy of education, will be taught and inspired to faithfully "Keep" for the purpose of true education. "The question is not, -- how much does the youth know? when he has finished his education -- but how much does he care? and about how many orders of things does he care? In fact, how large is the room in which he finds his feet set? and, therefore, how full is the life he has before him?" --Charlotte Mason

[Courtney Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was way more intense than I expected and NOT recommended for those not fairly comfortable with Charlotte Mason already, there is an assumed knowledge of the basic methodology, the Forms, ect. But, wow, really well researched and very inspiring. I'm extremely judgmental of CM "interpretations", I feel like they often water down her pedagogy into something idyllic and cutesy, this book does nothing of the sort. Highly recommended to anyone following a CM method or implementing notebooking.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wish I'd read this book at least 12 years ago. GREAT resource describing the different types of notebooks Charlotte Mason mentioned/taught/used, how to introduce them in developmentally appropriate ways and progress through the different levels ... and so much more in Part One. But what I found even more valuable at this stage when my youngest went to college this fall is Part Two where Bestvater discusses how the notebooks support CM's overall philosophy and what that philosophy IS and how this simple tool develops the learner and supports relationship with people, places, and things. It helped me understand the beauty of her philosophy in a way I never have before.

Highly recommended.

[Amanda Gauthier-Parker · Rating 3 out of 5]

My rating is an average of 4 stars for the first half of the book, and 2 stars for the second half. My main issue with part 2 is that it read like a college senior thesis, complete with superfluous quotation marks and no fewer than 4 endnotes per page, rather than like a true narration of Ms. Bestvater's own thoughts and conclusions in her own words, which were few and far between. Threading together quotes from one's Commonplace is not narration. It is almost as though she had not yet made the ideas her own, but was still in the process of understanding the whys behind Ms. Mason's methods, and thus, unfortunately, the writing is a jumbled mess of jargon used to impress a professor rather than a clearly communicated idea. That said, the book still contains many important ideas and helpful examples pertaining to notebooking and its purposes.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book encapsulates the magic of slow open-eyed rhythms, lifelong idea-rich practices, and vital relating typical in the keeping manner of a Charlotte Mason method of education.

It is the complete antithesis of burning workbooks at the end of a school year. Education should not be so impersonal, devalued, disposable.

The learning in our home that is most life-giving—and when you adopt postures like this, it is hard to distinguish school time from free time, student from teacher—follows these ideals. I reread it to fortify current practices and consider additional ways of keeping. Because the practice of keeping is the best way to learn it’s irreplaceable magic and to crave more.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a new staple for Mason educators, to be read, reread, and referenced often. Laurie Bestvater is a master of both Charlotte Mason's philosophy and the written word. Her writing style and insights often left me breathless. Practical hints on all of Mason's "forms of vitality" are brilliantly interwoven with their theoretical underpinnings, culminating in a very balanced, readable, and spiritually nourishing text.

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. It made me even more excited about Charlotte Mason's philosophy and resonated with me personally as I thought about my journals and homeschool experience. I think these ideas would be helpful not just for educators but anyone who desires to be a learner. I'm ready to start an official Commonplace notebook, Nature notebook, and Book of Centuries... and I'm looking forward to sharing the notebooks with my daughters in the future when they start their own!

[Shanshan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very inspiring book. Definitely makes me want to incorporate more Keeping into our school as well as for my own personal growth. I like how the process is more important than the final product as I have previously been one of those people who dislikes fluff and things without purpose. But I am finally understanding how beauty and discovery and conversation all point to God and His glory.

[Bobbiann Markle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is a very good book, although I found it a bit difficult to read (but that’s on me for reading too many exciting adventures and not enough thoughtful books). It’s not a to-do list because Charlotte Mason did not spell out a format for students to follow. Rather, Bestvater examines Mason’s writings and the samples that are available, and draws conclusions and ideas from them. I found it very helpful, and will likely refer to it regularly. I’ve prepared a Calendar of Firsts on the very day I finished reading. :)

[Joelle McNulty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read it after seeing it referenced in the Commonplace Quarterly. It was pretty good, but a little more philosophical and theoretical than what I was looking for. I would have liked more actual examples of the various notebooks from students (though it did have some).

[Beth Lorow · Rating 3 out of 5]

A detailed exploration of the types of notebooks suggested by educator Charlotte Mason. I had hoped for more "how-to" and less "why," but, nevertheless, the book was interesting and inspiring.

[Sara Larson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent resource to describe the philosophy and practices of keeping notebooks in the Charlotte Mason method of education. Nature notebooks, book of centuries, copybook, timelines, foreign language, word book, commonplace, fortitude journal and several others I hadn’t even heard of. Very very helpful and delightful resource!

[Trace · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 star rating

Definitely sold me on the benefits of keeping notebooks (or being a Keeper, as the author puts it). It is a beautiful discipline that I want to keep working on. I feel at times, I consume so many books with very little digesting of them. (for my fellow TJED'er friends, I feel this is a core phase issue). I want to cultivate the habit of slowing down and responding to the books that I read through my commonplace notebook.

I don't follow all of Charlotte Mason's methods or ideas and as such, I don't feel the need to keep a book of firsts or a book of centuries, or any of the other notebooks mentioned in this book.... but I do keep a Commonplace book and am now further convinced that I should keep up the habit AND introduce it to my son.

[Vicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book provides a more authentic view of Charlotte Mason's views and ideas than found in much of the homeschooling community. Many of my own ideas were confirmed and my philosophy of education was deepened by this read. I was encouraged towards the ongoing process of creativity in home education, rather than the modern notion of outcomes and results which attract praise or approval without growth or real learning.

There were many examples of journals to inspire creativity and also tables of journaling possibilities to put into practice. It is a book that I will regularly reference for new ideas and encouragement.

[Lmichelleb · Rating 5 out of 5]

A slow read through this rich companion for one who wants to learn to live through "keeping," or recording ideas and thoughts and interactions with the world in various notebooks, was just what I needed to commit more to a life of keeping. I already keep a nature journal and a commonplace book, but I have added a music notebook and am inspired to revamp my book of centuries. Then it will be time to read through The Living Page again, and add another couple notebooks to my life!

I am very grateful for this resource that is teaching me to live with my eyes wide open!

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent and thorough overview of notebook-keeping in accordance with Charlotte Mason's ideas. I need to re-read this regularly and glean and implement notebook-keeping ideas for both my children and myself. Definitely recommend to anyone wanting to break free from current schooling ideas and allow their children to produce their own work, outside constraints of worksheets and coloring pages.

[Kaycee Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

ALL 👏🏼 THE 👏🏼 FOOTNOTES 👏🏼

I loved this book and it only solidified my reasons for following a Charlotte Mason method for education. Not only is it a practical handbook for notebook keeping, but it also serves as a philosophical “why”: through keeping notebooks, the science of relations is at work, and Mason invites her students TO SEE.

Currently we just use the “Three Pillars” (nature notebook, Book of Centuries, and Commonplace) but this book expanded my understanding and piqued my interest in many other forms of “remembering”. I apologize to all the people who had to receive my narrations while I was reading this! Haha. CM is becoming more than an interest at this point…perhaps a passion? Although my husband might call it an obsession 😂

[Camilla Sadler · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I didn't quite get to finish it before having to return it. But there was some helpful information about Charlotte Mason's notebooks that I hope to implement in our homeschool. It also finally motivated me to finally start my own commonplace book.
It is definitely not an easy read and I think you need a background in Charlotte Mason's philosophy and methods before reading this book.

[Jessi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book to help you be a better commonplacer or keeper.