Real Learning: Education in the Heart of the Home

by Elizabeth Foss

This book is not about "school at home"--it is about something better. It is about Real Learning.

Homeschooling pioneer Charlotte Mason wrote with great wisdom about providing young minds with a living books education. She urged teachers to present great ideas and stand back, allowing students to form relationships with the ideas.

Elizabeth Foss carries Miss Mason's philosophy from the ideal to the real. How does the busy home-educating mom balance the various needs of a houseful of children? How does she provide short lessons and free afternoons while ensuring that her children receive a thorough and well-rounded education? Exactly how does she use living books to teach history, geography, literature, and scienc? How does she incorporate nature study, the arts, and soccer practice? How does she create in her home an atmosphere of sanctity with Christ at its center, an atmosphere of love in which the whole family can grow in holiness day by day?

How does she manage all this and still get dinner on the table?

With passion and grace, Elizabeth Foss explores these questions and more. Real Learning is a rich and detailed examination of how to let "eduation" spill out of your home classroom into every aspect of your family life. More than a curriculum guide, it is a look at a lifestyle which aims to nourish the whole child, the whold family--heart, soul, and mind.

Genres: Education, Parenting, Nonfiction, Christian, Faith, Inspirational, Catholic

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[leslie]

I stumbled across Elizabeth Foss when I googled "Catholic Homemaking" in a desperate attempt to kill two birds with one stone. It worked. She writes beautifully about homeschooling her family while living the liturgy with them.

[Johanna Hanson]

The author is Catholic and writes to Catholic homeschoolers. Even though I differed from her in her theology, this was one of the most practical books on applying Charlotte Mason education in the home, and I came away with a wealth of inspiration.

[Heather]

If you're familiar with Charlotte Mason, this book will largely be redundant. If you're not familiar then this is a nice introduction.

I found a few ideas that I'd like to implement and a few reminders of things I'd read previously and had forgotten about. It's not a book I feel like I need in my permanent home library though.

I did enjoy the personal stories and examples of how to make things work with a larger family. It can be a bit bossy at times though so you just take what you want and leave the rest.

The book is written from a Catholic perspective so there is a lot of material which would only relate to Catholics. I didn't mind this as some of the scripture quoted is applicable to most Christian faiths. I did get a bit irked at sentences similar to "Catholic homeschoolers sacrifice more than any other homeschoolers" and other such treats. I don't think Catholics have a corner on the market of sacrifice. I think most homeschoolers give a lot of their time and energy to educating their children - they sacrifice. Most moms do no matter their faith.

I do think it's worth checking out from the library, before you buy.

[Heidi]

Probably one of the best books I've read on homeschooling. Most homeschoolers are plagued with self-doubt and an overwhelm with the "how" of doing this thing. There are so many options (usually a good thing), but that can lead to decision fatigue and constant questioning (especially when self-doubt is at the heart of the matter). Foss shows a peaceful way of homeschooling. Her book is FULL of great resources. So, while you can (and I do) obsess over all the options she offers, in reality she is telling you to choose any of the options (all or some).

This book should give you a good mind-picture of how homeschooling can work in a Charlotte Mason way. Then put it on your shelf and re-reference anytime you're looking for a resource.

[Sarah]

This is a wonderful reference! A go-to book that I know I'll pick up again and again ... Even though I did not read it cover to cover, I read what applied to me at the moment. I will read more as I need it. And while I haven't really incorporated "living books" into my homeschool, this is becoming my goal for the future, hopefully next year!

[Kai]

so inspirational! makes me want to throw out my box of books from Seton! (Ok, well, not really) But Foss has some wonderful ideas on how to enhance the everyday homeschooling experience! I especially like her ideas on how not to "kill" various subjects.

[Shawna]

This book is a great reference for homeschooling. It also provides some great insights into parenting in general.

[Ella]

This book was so encouraging as a new homeschooling mom! I highly recommend it. Very easy read.

[Katie]

If you’re a catholic homeschooler or thinking about it you need to read this book! I found it so inspiring, full of wisdom and practical advice. It’s expensive to find a copy anywhere but worth every penny!

[Renee]

I'm fairly new to both homeschooling and Charlotte Mason, so I found this book to be extremely helpful. There were so many practical ideas that I have already started to implement in our home.

[Ginny]

This was the first book I read on home schooling, and it changed my life. Thank you, Elizabeth Foss, and the Holy Spirit!

[Steph]

Love!!

[Cj]

A must read if you're considering or actively homeschooling.

[Anne]

This book encapsulates much of what I am coming to believe about education. Even though it is written to encourage Catholic homeschoolers, the general belief about the purpose of education and the value of living books could be incorporated into a classroom setting and should underpin any curriculum.

Author Elizabeth Foss, a mom and writer whose professional background is in education, quotes British educator Charlotte Mason as saying, "Upon the knowledge of these great matters-- History, Literature, Nature, Science, Art-- the Mind feeds and grows. It assimilates such knowledge as the body assimilates food, and the person becomes what is called magnanimous-- that is a person of great mind, wide interests, incapable of occupying himself much about petty, personal matters."

This should be the end result and the goal of all ways of educating: a virtuous person "of great mind." In this gentle yet energizing introduction to Charlotte Mason's educational philosophies, Foss sets forth this goal and suggests ways of achieving it in a home education setting. I particularly liked the around the year booklists-- something I think could be very valuable to all parents whether they homeschool or not.

Foss's goal is to introduce both Charlotte Mason's and Edith Stein's educational philosophies so parents can build a home that is "alive with living books and living ideas" and create an environment where children learn even if no one is actively teaching. I would point out to interested readers that this is not strictly a "how to" book or a defined curriculum, and I did find that some suggested approaches or methods would not be natural for our family. But I appreciate her vision for an educated person and felt recharged by the beauty of this approach.

[Catherine Gillespie]

I am a huge fan of Elizabeth Foss, who writes about applying Charlotte Mason-type principles to education and family life, among other things, so when I found that the library had a copy of the book she wrote many years ago, I was eager to read it. Real Learning is primarily directed toward Catholic homeschoolers, but the majority of the topics are applicable to anyone who homeschools, or parents who take an active approach in cultivating an after-school learning environment in their homes.

{Read my full review here}

[Maren Grossman]

I love this book. Love it!

[Tricia Jennings]

The very first book I read about homeschooling a couple of years ago, and still my source of daily inspiration.

[Emily]

This is one of my favorite resources for inspiration in our homeschool. I re-read it probably once a year at least.

[Rachel]

Great overview of the Charlotte Mason method of homeschooling from a Catholic perspective.

[Kendra Fletcher]

Really, my favorite book on home education. An annual read for me, and I've been homeschooling since 1997.

[Shaunda Penny]

An excellent source of overall inspiration, with some excellent practical ideas and resources.

[Sarah McBride]

I reference this book more than any other during planning sessions for my homeschool, and just for yearly inspo.

It’s out of print but worth searching for a copy. Highly recommend!

[Kara]

Retreading this one (4th time? 5th?) especially the chapter on burnout.