A Vision for Growth: Charlotte Mason’s Attainments as a Guide for Homeschooling
In School Education, Charlotte Mason offers a beautiful picture of what a child might grow into by ages six and twelve. These attainments reflect a thoughtful view of childhood, one shaped by habit, attention, delight, and steady growth. When I first came across these list of attainments, I felt a sense of relief that there was a scope and sequence, laid out by Miss Mason herself, on where to go and what to do.
For younger homeschool moms, this list can offer direction and encouragement. It provides a framework to consider what matters most in the early years and how to shape the atmosphere and practices of your homeschool.
Attainments By Age 6:
1. To recite, beautifully, 6 easy poems and hymns
2. to recite, perfectly and beautifully, a parable and a psalm
3. to add and subtract numbers up to 10, with dominoes or counters
4. to read--what and how much, will depend on what we are told of the child
5. to copy in print-hand from a book
6. to know the points of the compass with relation to their own home, where the sun rises and sets, and the way the wind blows
7. to describe the boundaries of their own home
8. to describe any lake, river, pond, island etc. within easy reach
9. to tell quite accurately (however shortly) 3 stories from Bible history, 3 from early English, and 3 from early Roman history (my note here, we may want to substitute early American for early English!)
10. to be able to describe 3 walks and 3 views
11. to mount in a scrap book a dozen common wildflowers, with leaves (one every week); to name these, describe them in their own words, and say where they found them.
12. to do the same with leaves and flowers of 6 forest trees
13. to know 6 birds by song, colour and shape
14. to send in certain Kindergarten or other handiwork, as directed
15. to tell three stories about their own "pets"--rabbit, dog or cat.
16. to name 20 common objects in French, and say a dozen little sentences
17. to sing one hymn, one French song, and one English song
18. to keep a caterpillar and tell the life-story of a butterfly from his own observations.
Attainments by Age 12:
To grasp the sense of a passage of some length at a single reading: and to narrate the substance of what they have read or heard.
To spell, and express themselves in writing with ease and fair correctness.
To give an orderly and detailed account of any subject they have studied.
To describe in writing what they have seen, or heard from the newspapers.
They should have a familiar acquaintance with the common objects of the country, with power to reproduce some of these in brushwork.
Should have skill in various handicrafts, as cardboard Sloyd, basket-making, clay-modelling, etc.
In Arithmetic, they should have some knowledge of vulgar and decimal fractions, percentage, household accounts, etc.
Should have a knowledge of Elementary Algebra, and should have done practical exercises in Geometry.
Of Elementary Latin Grammar; should read fables and easy tales, and, say, one or two books of 'Caesar.'
They should have some power of understanding spoken French, and be able to speak a little; and to read an easy Frenchbook without a dictionary.
In German, much the same as in French, but less progress.
In History, they will have gone through a rather detailed study of English, French, and Classical (Plutarch) History.
In Geography they will have studied in detail the map of the world, and have been at one time able to fill in the landscape, industries, etc., from their studies, of each division of the map.
They will have learned the elements of Physical Geography, Botany, Human Physiology, and Natural History, and will have read interesting books on some of these subjects.
They should have some knowledge of English Grammar.
They should have a considerable knowledge of Scripture History and the Bible text.
They should have learned a good deal of Scripture and of Poetry, and should have read some Literature.
They should have learned to sing on the Tonic Sol-fa method, and should know a number of English, French, and German Songs.
They should have learned Swedish Drill and various drills and calisthenic exercises.
In Drawing they should be able to represent common objects of the house and field with brush or charcoal; should be able to give rudimentary expression to ideas; and should be acquainted with the works of some artists through reproductions.
In Music their knowledge of theory and their ear-training should keep pace with their powers of execution.
Why This Matters for the Homeschool Mom:
Charlotte Mason’s attainments give mothers a sense of direction. They highlight the kinds of habits, relationships, and ideas that can fill a child’s mind and heart during these formative years.
Rather than focusing on quantity, let this list remind you to cultivate consistency in small daily practices:
Reading aloud from worthy books
Encouraging narration and thoughtful conversation
Offering time for nature observation and recording
Filling your home with music, art, and beauty
Supporting the growth of habits that shape character
Each of these small steps helps build a rich and meaningful education.
If you’d like a free download of these attainments to add to your planner, please click here.
