The Tool of Reading for Lifelong Learning

Simply Charlotte Mason Homeschooling

Sonya Shafer

Education, Self-improvement, Kids & Family, Parenting, How To

4.8 • 552 Ratings

🗓️ 19 November 2025

⏱️ 14 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Reading with full attention is a skill that will equip your student to self-education for life. // MENTIONED Previous episodes in this series https://simplycharlottemason.com/blog/series/6-tools-for-self-education/ Simply Charlotte Mason Curriculum https://simplycharlottemason.com/planning/curriculum-guide/overview-chart/ // FOLLOW Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simplycharlottemason/ Facebook News: https://www.facebook.com/SimplyCM SCM Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1445273695729787/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/simplycm/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/SimplyCM SCM Forum: https://simplycharlottemason.com/scmforum/ Subscribe Listen to the audio version of the podcast https://simplycharlottemason.com/blog/the-tool-of-reading-for-lifelong-learning/#audio Read the blog post version of the podcast https://simplycharlottemason.com/blog/the-tool-of-reading-for-lifelong-learning/ Upcoming Events https://simplycharlottemason.com/events-speaking/ Contact Us https://simplycharlottemason.com/contact/ Tags: #CharlotteMason #homeschool #livingbooks

Transcript

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0:00.0	When we talk about the tools for learning, reading obviously bubbles to the top.
0:05.1	But what your students are reading is just as important as the fact that they are reading.
0:10.5	What kinds of books best support self-education?
0:14.7	Let me show you.
0:24.4	Welcome to the Simply Charlotte Mason podcast. I'm Sonia Schaefer.
0:25.9	If you haven't subscribed yet, go ahead and do that now.
0:28.7	We bring you new encouragement and Charlotte Mason training for homeschool parents every week.
0:33.9	We've been talking about the tools for self-education that will equip our students to continue
0:39.2	learning their entire lives. Check the description for links to the previous episodes in
0:44.2	this series. Last time, we discussed the power of observing and how that tool is built into
0:50.8	a Charlotte Mason education. Today, let's talk about another tool for learning, reading.
0:58.2	Books play a big part in a Charlotte Mason approach, but not just any books.
1:04.1	Charlotte Mason is famous for saying, let their books be living books.
1:09.0	The story of Charlotte Mason, page 51. A living book is a well-written
1:13.9	book, usually crafted by one author who has a passion for that subject. It's a book into
1:21.2	which the writer has put his heart as well as a highly trained mind. The story of Charlotte Mason, page 175.
1:30.3	Therefore, a living book also touches the reader's heart. It fires the imagination, touches
1:38.3	the emotions, and gives the reader ideas to ponder, not just dry facts to memorize for an upcoming test. Living books
1:48.4	are closely related to observation. We talked last time about how powerful a tool observation
1:55.5	can be. Well, a living book makes the subject come alive as though you were observing what was happening
2:02.7	or being described.
2:04.9	These kind of books are the next best thing when first-hand observation is not possible.
	...

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