Between the Lines provides British homeschooling families with a comprehensive curriculum that is a replica of the original PNEU programmes created by Charlotte Mason herself for use in her Parent Union schools and homeschooling programme.
The PNEU curriculum was used from 1892 until long after Charlotte Mason's death, being continually updated each year until well into the 1980s. The Between the Lines programme focuses on the curriculum used between 1921 and 1923, with occasional dips into other years when specific books listed could not be sourced.
In summary, the programme will eventually cover all 12 years of schooling across Forms I to VI across all subject areas. It is aimed at Christian British children, following the principles of the Charlotte Mason educational philosophy as follows:
- Children are born persons: Every child is unique and has been created for a particular purpose by God. They are naturally curious and eager to learn. The job of a parent or teacher is to cherish and support that curiosity and eagerness.
- Education is an Atmosphere: Children need to be educated in a real homely atmosphere, not an environment specially prepared for them. Children should experience nature and life directly, both the positive and the negative. The atmosphere during a lesson should be friendly and kind, focused on the child and the text. With the correct support, your child should be putting in the effort to learn and discuss, rather than you as the parent playing centre-stage lecturing and teaching the child.
- Education is a Discipline: Children should not be free to do as they please. They should be taught how to live a life of joyful obedience, doing what is right and good. Intentional habit-training is a cornerstone of this approach.
- Education is a Life: Living ideas should be presented to the child through well-chosen living books and natural objects. Living books are those books written in a story-like form by an enthusiastic author who has experienced what they have written first-hand. It is not a summary of dry facts as you would find in most textbooks.
The Between the Lines Lesson Plans ensure that you have:
- Suggestions on how to create a timetable structured according to Charlotte Mason principles
- A year planner structured according to three 12-week terms
- A FREE Resource list of everything you'll need for the year
- A FREE Scope and Sequence list of every topic covered
- Complete daily and/or weekly lesson plans for each subject
- Suggested assessment questions per term per subject
- Guidance on how to implement Charlotte Mason principles
Browse our FAQ to find out more about our programme, or choose a Form from the Curriculum menu above to start exploring what we offer for each age group.