Homeschool English Lessons
“The English curriculum is built around the three interrelated strands of Language, Literature and Literacy...Together the three strands focus on developing students’ knowledge, understanding and skills in listening, reading, viewing, speaking, writing and creating.”
Australian National Curriculum
With this goal in mind how can we teach this subject in a way that children will love to learn it?
Charlotte Mason believed that she had the key to teaching language, literacy and literature in a way children will enjoy.
Her main resource was real books, or living books as she called them.
Incorporating literature in her method involved:
• Reading widely from living books . See our booklist selection.
• Copywork to teach handwriting initially and then to learn writing from good models.
• Dictation from well-chosen passages to teach spelling, grammar and punctuation.
• Narration from living books for; comprehension, retention, verbal and written expression, and developing writing skills.
• Memorisation and recitation to train their memory and oral expression.
The Charlotte Mason Method also gives you the freedom to:
• follow your child’s interest when you select material so your child will be easier to teach and will love learning
• work at your child’s reading level so they can be challenged and progress with confidence
• determine the content of what your child reads and avoid unsuitable reading material
• stretch their vocabulary and provide good models of speech in the home .
Learning to Write
Teaching Handwriting, Spelling and Grammar. Charlotte Mason Style
teaches handwriting from first letters to mastering writing. It gives ideas on using copywork and dictation in the homeschool.
Suitable for Grades: Kindergarten –Grade 3
Learning and Loving Reading
Teaching children to read is not very difficult. See our booklist of learning to read books.
However teaching them to love reading can be more of a challenge.
Here are a few ideas to help you along the way.
1. Read to your children from an early age. Here is a list of lovely picture books.
2. Encouraging reading from living books.
3. Providing a literature rich education.See our booklist index for a range of topics.
Resources That Help You Teach English
• Our graded scope and sequence will give you suggestions on what to teach
• How to Homeschool 101 is a general resource that will help you develop confidence as a home school teacher.
• Teaching Handwriting the Charlotte Mason Way is a good introduction to handwriting, spelling and grammar.
Copywork and Dictation Resources 
• Alphabet Copybook FREE DOWNLOAD
• Classic Copywork Classic literature passages in an easy workbook style for your children to follow.
• Downunder Copywork Australian and New Zealand literature passages in an easy workbook style for your children to follow.
• Downunder Dictation and Teacher's Guide Dictation passages and ideas and to help you make dictation effective for teaching spelling, punctuation and grammar.
• Briefest English and Punctuation Guide Ever This simple to use guide was written for Australian and New Zealand students.
Emma Serl’s Language Lessons
These language lessons combine Charlotte Mason’s methods(and more) into an easy to follow English resource. They includes conversation lessons, picture studies, poetry, narations, letter writing, grammar and more.
• Primary Language Lessons is for Grade 2-3
• Intermediate Language Lessons is for Grade 4-6
When you use living books all subjects can be an English lesson