A Twaddle-Free Education: An Introduction to Charlotte Mason's Timeless Educational Ideas

This book was extremely helpful. I have been reading a lot of books about Charlotte Mason and her methodology but still felt like, ok, now what? So many greats for how to implement and utilize Charlotte Mason's ideas in a family. This book is a great for anyone looking to engage with their children, homeschool or just spend quality time. Highly recommended.

As a mom new to homeschooling, this book was a good beginning to my research on how I'd want to homeschool my children. There was a few methods discussed that I can compare and contrast and some statistical information that i found encouraging. However, there seemed to be a lot of repeated texts that was a bit off putting.

Nice condensed explanation and practical application of Charlotte Masons philosophies applied to modern day homeschooling. A bit biased against other homeschooling methods but that’s her experience so it’s her right to write about it. I Enjoyed her research paper at the end summarizing the advent of the homeschooling movement.

Since I'm new to Charlotte Mason, I found this book helpful if not exactly professional. Taylor-Hough succeeds in providing a general overview of Mason's philosophy, such as the importance of nature and high-quality literature and art. While the book does provide specific, practical guidance (e.g., lists for suggested reading materials and indoor winter activities), I was not impressed by the production. Chapter 18 presents a Q&A with the author but repeats verbatim some of the material from the beginning chapters. The lists in Chapter 11 switch randomly from bullets to numbers. And the author uses the words "twaddle" and "twaddly" overmuch. At moments, she seems insecure, trying to convince readers she is an “insider.” I think she should be more confident: yes, she allows occasional entertainment that may seem silly and less educational. So what? For the vast majority of the time, it seems, she respectfully challenges her children to use their gifts and surrounds them with what is beautiful and deep. As an English teacher and "old soul," I resonate with the author's appreciation for books that are not dumbed down. In a society where publishing companies often churn out inane children's books with no plot or beauty—simply to provide material for emergent readers—it's refreshing to find children's books that are well illustrated, well crafted works of literature. Our kids do need to learn to read (and the "Level 1" or "Level 2" labels help), but they also need to develop a love of reading. And it's confusing when kindergarten teachers ask about the beginning, middle, and end of the story when there is no story!--when the book consists of nonsensical CVC words that label pictures. But, with all that said, I know that in my idealism I can sometimes be too harsh towards books that serve a good purpose. As we advocate high-quality materials, we should also be able to step back and humbly laugh at our own fervent disdain for kitsch. Overall, the strength of this book lies in its specific ideas for planning and offering quality books and activities for children. It combines an overview of Mason’s philosophy with tips that we’d usually see on homeschooling blogs. In that sense, it’s very helpful! Underlying the message of this book, though, is the subtle, more significant message that we are capable of helping our children even with limited resources and support. That is, Taylor-Hough’s husband had to move out due to a degenerative brain disorder, leaving her married but practically a single mom. Given my own experience as someone widowed at age twenty-five, I took this message to heart. She deserves my thanks for offering a glimpse into her journey.

I read this book through in one night. I just couldn't put it down. Taylor-Hough does a fantastic job of describing a Charlotte Mason education in such a way as to invigorate and excite parents. Her book is the perfect introduction and led me down many google-rabbit holes in search of more, more, more!

I love how simple she makes the CM education, as so many make it too complicated, especially for people on a lower budget or just starting out. I really love the booklist. The only thing I wish this had was a working, linked Table of Contents to make browsing the book easier on the Kindle.

I read a lot of Charlotte Mason after my oldest was born and implemented it from the beginning of our homeschool journey. Now with my second born it’s been quite some time since I’ve dived in to reading on the subject. Reading A Twaddle Free Education was a great reminder and motivation to once again implement it from the start as I navigate our homeschooling journey with my child who is completely opposite of my first born.

Lots of great ideas and a quick easy read. Thanks for sharing! I don't generally buy ebooks cause I never get around to reading all I have since there isn't always a lot of value in most. Your book is definitely one I would recommend! And if you check out my reviews, I don't give praise lightly.