Simply Charlotte Mason Homeschooling (video): Recent Episodes
Sonya Shafer
Here's your guide to credits, grades, and transcripts when you are approaching high school with the Charlotte Mason Method.
Your high school student needs to grow in the ability to work independently. Here's how you can set your student up for success.
Here's a look at how you can schedule high school work while still using the wonderful Charlotte Mason Method in your home school.
If you thought Charlotte Mason was only about living books, think again! Here are the subjects that use "things" for living ideas.
Education is an atmosphere, a discipline, a life. How does that look in your science lessons?
These are our top picks for books your high school students should read when studying Ancient Times.
These are our top picks for living books about Ancient Times for middle schoolers.
Living Books about Ancient Times for Middle School Students originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
These are our top picks for books your elementary students should read when studying Ancient Times.
Living Books about Ancient Times for Elementary Students originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
These are the books your whole family will enjoy together when studying Ancient history.
Living Books about Ancient Times for the Whole Family originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Sonya is joined by Laura Pitney to talk about how Charlotte Mason supports our students even after they become adults and leave our homes.
Preparing Children for Adulthood with Charlotte Mason originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
If your high school student is studying the Early Modern time period, these are the books you'll want to know about.
Living Books about Early Modern History for High School Students originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Here are some great living books for middle school students who are studying Early Modern history.
Living History Books about Early Modern History for Middle School Students originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
These are our top books for elementary students who are studying Early Modern history.
Living Books about Early Modern History for Elementary Students originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Our top picks for your whole family to read together for a study of Early Modern history in your home school.
Living Books about Early Modern History for the Whole Family originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Sonya sits down with Katie Thacker to share the story behind the new curriculum from Simply Charlotte Mason.
The Story Behind Simply Charlotte Mason’s New Curriculum originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Our top living books for high school students studying the Middle Ages time period in history.
Living Books about the Middle Ages for High School Students originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Here are our favorite living books about the Middle Ages for middle school students.
Living Books about the Middle Ages for Middle School Students originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Top living books about the Middle Ages for elementary age students to use in your home school for history lessons.
Living Books about the Middle Ages for Elementary Students originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Here are our top picks for living books to use for the whole family for homeschool history lessons on the Middle Ages.
Living Books about the Middle Ages for the Whole Family originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
With the Charlotte Mason method of living books and narration, history comes to life for your homeschool students.
How to Teach History the Charlotte Mason Way originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Geography lessons in a Charlotte Mason home school are much more than facts about population and GDP! Find out how you can introduce your students to the people and places of our world.
How to Teach Geography the Charlotte Mason Way originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Getting your students into the Word of God is the most important thing you can do in your home school.
How to Teach Bible the Charlotte Mason Way originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Sonya is joined by her daughter Ruth to chat about how growing up being taught the Charlotte Mason way and how using CM in her own homeschool has been a benefit.
An Interview with a Second Generation Charlotte Mason Homeschool Mom originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Expressing what you've learned creatively is a powerful tool for self-education.
The Tool of Creating for Lifelong Learning originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
With the Charlotte Mason Method, your student doesn't memorize a fact until she's grasped the idea behind it.
The Tool of Memorizing for Lifelong Learning originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Here's a look at the four notebooks used for Charlotte Mason homeschooling, and why they are better than traditional worksheets.
The Tool of Notebooking for Lifelong Learning originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
If your student can tell about something, she has truly grasped it. It's another tool for self-education.
The Tool of Telling for Lifelong Learning originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Reading with full attention is a skill that will equip your student to self-education for life.
The Tool of Reading for Lifelong Learning originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
The skill of observation is crucial to lifelong learning. Here's how you can help your student build that skill.
The Tool of Observation for Lifelong Learning originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
If your student can do six simple practices, he can learn for himself for life.
Six Tools for Self-Education originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
If rewards are not what we use to motivate, how can we guide our children to grow in good habits?
Good Habits without Rewards originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
We are blessed to live in a world that is full of good living books. Here's how to find extras for leisure reads and use them with your family.
How to Find and Use Extra Living Books originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Charlotte Mason gave us permission to put homeschooling on pause to occasionally take an unexpected break.
Snatching Sunny Moments originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Charlotte Mason homeschoolers often talk about living ideas. But what is a living idea and how do you know you're giving them to your students?
What Is a Living Idea? originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Is your home school feeling stale? Here are five ways to practice self care for homeschool moms.
5 Tips for Self Care for Homeschool Moms originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Laura Pitney joins Sonya to share the life-changing advice she would want her younger self to know.
The Advice I Would Give My Younger Self originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Even as you strive for the best your home school can be, don't miss the growth that's happening in the day to day.
The Glare of Perfection originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Richele Baburina joins Sonya for a special look behind the scenes at the creation of The Charlotte Mason Elementary Arithmetic Series.
The Story Behind The Charlotte Mason Elementary Arithmetic Series originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Narration is a powerful way to learn, but it can seem unfamiliar when your student begins. Here are five tips for getting started with confidence.
5 Tips for Starting Narration originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
The transition to 4th grade in the Charlotte Mason Method brings several changes for your child. Here's how to have a successful 4th grade year.
Your Guide to 4th Grade with the Charlotte Mason Method originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
How can you encourage your children to love nature and the outdoors, perhaps if you don't already have that love yourself? Sonya is joined by her daughter Ruth to chat about some strategies for enjoying nature with your kids.
How to Encourage a Love of Nature in Your Children originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Here are some great reasons to enjoy poetry with your family.
What’s the Point of Poetry? originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Why should your student learn a handicraft such as knitting, woodworking, or sewing?
What’s the Point of Handicrafts? originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Composition lessons with the Charlotte Mason Method are the culmination of years of your student sharing his thoughts and ideas.
Charlotte Mason Language Arts: Composition originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
What is narration? It's a powerful tool that helps students take ownership of what they have learned.
What Is Narration? — Charlotte Mason Language Arts originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
The Charlotte Mason approach to grammar and English builds a student's confidence in the art of using language well.
Charlotte Mason Language Arts: Grammar originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
You're going to love the Charlotte Mason approach to spelling, with words learned in context of great passages from literature!
Charlotte Mason Language Arts: Spelling originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
How do field trips fit into a Charlotte Mason homeschool year?
What’s the Role of Field Trips in Charlotte Mason? originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
With the Charlotte Mason Method, students learn handwriting in a natural way. Here's how it works.
Charlotte Mason Language Arts: Handwriting originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
The Charlotte Mason approach to reading lessons is the best of both phonics and sight words. Here's how it works.
Charlotte Mason Language Arts: Reading Lessons originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Recitation the Charlotte Mason way is more than just rote memorization. It's a chance for students to show how the ideas they've received have impacted them.
Charlotte Mason Language Arts: Recitation originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
A Charlotte Mason education in language arts begins with good books. Here's why choosing living books is so important.
Charlotte Mason Language Arts: Good Books originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Charlotte Mason math lessons often have the student answer verbally. Richele joins Sonya to talk about why this is a benefit and how to approach struggles with this method.
Oral Work in the Charlotte Mason Math Lesson originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
What benefits can you and your children gain from regularly spending time outdoors studying nature?
What’s the Point of Nature Study? originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Ancient biographies and really old plays. What's the point of including these in your homeschool schedule?
What’s the Point of Shakespeare and Plutarch? originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Sonya is joined by Amber O'Neal Johnston, who shares her story of coming to love nature study after growing up in the air conditioning.
From Air Conditioning to Loving Nature Study originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Why is there so much emphasis on good habits in the Charlotte Mason Method of homeschooling?
What’s the Point of Good Habits? originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
When you have more preschoolers than school-age children it can be difficult to balance the different ages. Sonya is joined by her daughter Ruth to share her strategies for homeschooling in this situation.
Strategies for Homeschool with Multiple Preschoolers originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Wondering why you should include a foreign language in your home school? Sonya shares some great reasons your family should learn another language.
What’s the Point of Learning a Foreign Language? originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Have you ever wondered why Charlotte Mason homeschool schedules include art and music?
What’s the Point of Art and Music? originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
We've received many questions about math tables and how to teach them with the Charlotte Mason Method. Richele Baburina joins Sonya to answer your questions.
Learning Multiplication Tables the Charlotte Mason Way originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
You have a wonderful opportunity to dig deeper into the ideas found in books by discussing fiction with your student. Here's how.
Discussing Fiction without Formal Narration originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
You should only read as much as your child is able to narrate. But how do you know where to stop in a longer reading?
How to Break Readings into Smaller Parts originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
You might have heard that Charlotte Mason required perfection or best effort. What does that really mean, and how can we avoid an unhealthy perfectionist mindset?
Does Charlotte Mason Require Perfection? originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Does your home school have to look just like Charlotte Mason's schools? You have plenty of freedom in the principles of the Charlotte Mason Method to do what works for your family!
You Don’t Have to Be Charlotte Mason originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Sonya and Karen share how they each started with Charlotte Mason homeschooling, and how this wonderful method has served them and their children well.
How We Got Started with Charlotte Mason Homeschooling originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Homeschool math lessons often have the child work independently. But the Charlotte Mason method takes a different approach.
Why You Should Be Involved in Your Child’s Homeschool Math Lessons originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Do you ever think of math as beautiful? Tabitha Wirges and Dr. Julie Ryle, authors of Practical Geometry, join Sonya to talk about how a mother can see the beauty of math in the everyday.
The Beauty of Math originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Your child is not a grade level! Find out how to break out of the grade level mentality and customize your homeschool lessons to your unique child.
Teach Your Child, Not a Grade Level originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Katie Thacker, Charlotte Mason parent of a child with ADHD, joins Sonya to discuss strategies for supporting ADHD students with the Charlotte Mason Method.
How to Support ADHD Students in a Charlotte Mason Home School originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Here's an overview of the notebooks that students keep in a Charlotte Mason Method homeschool.
Charlotte Mason Method Notebooking originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
It seems like living science books often go out of print after just a couple of years. Here are some ways you can find a substitute book.
How to Choose Substitute Living Science Books originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Here are five ways you can set yourself up for a smooth homeschool morning every day.
5 Tips for a Smooth Homeschool Morning originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
With upper level literature, students need to discuss genre, themes, plot, character, and more. How can we do this in a Charlotte Mason way?
Literature Discussions the Charlotte Mason Way originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Find out how you can become your child's favorite book narrator! Here are 10 tips for reading aloud well.
10 Tips for Reading Aloud originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
As parents we want our children to enjoy reading. Here's how you can set your child up to love reading for life.
How to Cultivate the Joy of Reading originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
What is twaddle? What does it mean to avoid twaddle in your home school?
What Is Twaddle? originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Amber O'Neal Johnston joins Sonya to talk about why history is so interesting with the Charlotte Mason homeschool approach.
Why Repeat History Time Periods? originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Here is what your preschooler really needs from you between ages 3 and 5, and what will truly prepare your preschooler for first grade.
What Your Preschooler Really Needs originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Keep your homeschool schedule fresh and interesting with enrichment subjects! These 10 ideas are easy, fun, and add variety to your day.
10 Ways to Keep Homeschool Interesting originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Here's how to arrange your homeschool day to maximize your children's ability to focus and pay attention.
The Secret to Planning Your Homeschool Day originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Christy Hissong joins Sonya to talk about what adjustments you might need to make to homeschool with a single child.
Homeschooling a Single Child with the Charlotte Mason Method originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Here's how you can organize your homeschool schedule so that lessons are done by lunchtime—it's all due to the Charlotte Mason Method!
Homeschool Schedule — How You Can Finish Lessons by Lunch originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Find out the way to teach that effectively leads children to love learning for a lifetime.
How Should Children Learn? originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
What should children learn in your home school? Here are the subjects you should include in your schedule.
What Should Children Learn? originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Why do children need to learn? It's a foundational question that all homeschool parents should ask.
Why Should Children Learn? originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Is Charlotte Mason homeschooling only for girls? Karen Smith, mother of three boys, joins Sonya to talk about how Charlotte Mason worked for her family.
Does Charlotte Mason Work for Boys? originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Christy Hissong joins Sonya to share about the benefits of enjoying music as part of your homeschool day.
The Benefits of Music Study originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Just by using Charlotte Mason methods in your home school, your children will gain these five key good habits that will guide them for life!
5 Lifelong Habits in Charlotte Mason Homeschooling originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Richele and Sonya talk about why we study the arts, and what enrichment these subjects can bring to our home schools.
Why We Study the Arts originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Five great tips for planning your Charlotte Mason homeschool.
5 Tips for Planning Your Charlotte Mason Homeschool originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
You're at the end of a school year but you haven't quite finished a book. What should you do?
What to Do When Last Year’s Homeschool Plan is Unfinished originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Charlotte Mason told us to give preschoolers a full six years to explore before formal lessons. But how can you fit that in while you're doing formal lessons with older children?
How to Nurture Your Preschooler While Homeschooling Older Children originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
How do you approach leisure reading when you don't have time to pre-read every book for your older child?
How to Guide Older Children in Independent Leisure Reading originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Is Charlotte Mason all sipping tea and sitting quietly? Karen and Sonya explain how we may have gotten a mistaken impression.
Is Charlotte Mason Subdued and Tranquil? originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Sonya and Doug discuss what role, if any, technology can play in a Charlotte Mason homeschool.
Technology and Charlotte Mason Homeschooling originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Here are 10 ways that dads can get involved with Charlotte Mason homeschooling.
How Dad Can Help with Charlotte Mason Homeschooling originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
The authors of Charlotte Mason Practical Geometry join Sonya to explain what practical geometry is and how it's perfect for an upper elementary student.
What Is Charlotte Mason Practical Geometry? originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Keeping a nature journal the way Charlotte Mason suggested incorporates so many disciplines!
Nature Journaling: Where Science, Writing, Poetry, and Art Come Together originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Amber O'Neal Johnston shares how she had to overcome cultural objections to homeschooling, and why that matters to all of us homeschoolers.
Overcoming Cultural Objections to Homeschooling originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
How can you tell if you are doing too much in your homeschool? Here are five things to check in on.
How to Know If You’re Doing Too Much originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
It's not too late to start Charlotte Mason, but you may want to keep these five things in mind as you make the switch.
Is It Too Late to Start Homeschooling with the Charlotte Mason Method? originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Do you need to teach your child to read before 1st Grade? The answer may surprise you!
Do You Need to Teach Your Child to Read Before 1st Grade? originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Here are three things to consider when you evaluate an approach to homeschooling.
How to Choose a Homeschooling Style originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Here are the benefits your student will miss if you skip the science labs in upper level science courses.
Why Your Student Needs Science Labs originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
With its emphasis on a habit of attention, does Charlotte Mason work for homeschooling with ADHD?
Charlotte Mason Homeschooling with ADHD originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Reminding a child after you've told her what to do will set up a habit of waiting for you to remind her! Here's what to do instead.
Why Reminding Your Child Doesn’t Work originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Charlotte Mason told us to read a lesson or give a directive only once. Is this unrealistic? Is it ever okay to repeat yourself?
Don’t Repeat Yourself originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Is education for the future, or does it benefit your child right now?
Education Is a Life Now originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Richele Baburina tried Charlotte Mason's personal schedule for 30 days. She and Sonya chat about what she learned from the experience.
Following Charlotte Mason’s Personal Schedule for 30 Days originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Sonya shares five tips from Charlotte Mason that will help you make sure your Christmas break is a smooth one.
5 Tips for a Smooth Christmas Break originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Amber O'Neal Johnston joins Sonya to talk about bringing your family's heritage to the holidays.
Including Your Heritage During the Holidays originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Laura Pitney joins Sonya to talk about how we can nourish our children's hearts during the holidays.
Creating a Nourishing Holiday Atmosphere originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Richele joins Sonya to share how older students can expand on picture study to go deeper into art appreciation.
How to Expand on Picture Study originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
It's something we homeschoolers think about especially around the holidays: How are we going to explain Charlotte Mason to our relatives?
How to Explain Charlotte Mason to your Relatives originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Karen Smith joins Sonya to talk about her favorite tools for nature study.
Favorite Nature Study Tools originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Here are some tips for using the wonderful Charlotte Mason method of narration when you have multiple children.
Tips for Narration with Multiple Children originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
The transition from oral to written narration can be tricky to navigate. Here are some tips for how to start written narration, when to do it, and how to smooth the way.
How to Start Written Narration originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Narration is more than just telling back what you heard! Here are four types of narration and how this brilliant method grows with your child.
How Charlotte Mason Narration Grows With Your Child originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
One of the keys to success with Charlotte Mason narration is how much you're reading beforehand.
How Much To Read Before Asking for a Narration originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Here's how to set your child up for success when you ask for a narration after a homeschool lesson.
5 Steps to Successful Narration originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Why should we do narration instead of traditional assessment methods like fill-in-the-blank or multiple choice? Here are three reasons why narration is a better way.
3 Reasons You Should Use Charlotte Mason Narration originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Richele Baburina guides you through teaching multiplication tables in a Charlotte Mason math lesson.
The Charlotte Mason Way to Teach Multiplication Tables originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
With Charlotte Mason methods, even high school students can be finished each day in just four hours! But is that enough time to earn required high school credit?
Is 4 Hours a Day Enough for High School? originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Ever wonder why Charlotte Mason lessons are short? Here's a look at six ways short lessons benefit your student.
6 Benefits of Short Lessons originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
We often get asked, "Why should we study insects and bugs? Karen Smith joins Sonya to explain what you're missing when you skip over this fascinating part of God's creation.
Why Should We Study Insects? originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Here's what you can do to set yourself up for a great homeschool year.
How to Have a Great Homeschool Year originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Richele joins Sonya to talk about how mental math helps your child form good habits and review math concepts — but without the drudgery of drill worksheets!
Mental Math in the Charlotte Mason Math Lesson originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
How would your homeschool be different if your child put forth best effort for everything? Here are three ways you can work to instill this good habit.
3 Ways to Work on the Habit of Best Effort originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
A habit of truthfulness is important to instill in your child from a young age. Here are three ways you can work on this important habit.
3 Ways to Work on the Habit of Truthfulness originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
The habit of obedience is a foundational good habit that every child needs. Here are five ways you can work on it in your home.
5 Ways to Work on the Habit of Obedience originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
The habit of attention can change your homeschool! Here are three ways to work on this foundational habit.
3 Ways to Work on the Habit of Attention originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Good habits are a big part of a Charlotte Mason homeschool. Here's how you can intentionally include good habits in your schedule.
How to Include Good Habits in Your Homeschool Schedule originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
When you have homeschool co-op once a week, how can you schedule a Charlotte Mason education to make sure you're still getting everything done?
How to Schedule Charlotte Mason Lessons with a Weekly Co-op originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Richele Baburina, mother of a dyslexic learner, joins Sonya to discuss how the Charlotte Mason approach works wonderfully for a student who learns in a unique way.
Does Charlotte Mason Work for a Dyslexic Child? originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Here's how high school looks the Charlotte Mason way, and how it sets your student up for success in adult life.
What Charlotte Mason High School Looks Like originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Here's how the Charlotte Mason approach to homeschooling effectively bridges the gap between elementary school and high school, setting your student up for success all along the way.
What Charlotte Mason Middle School Looks Like originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
The Charlotte Mason Method of homeschooling gives elementary children plenty of opportunities to grow and explore as they learn about a wide variety of subjects.
What Charlotte Mason Elementary School Looks Like originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Charlotte Mason homeschooling is incredibly effective for a preschool child. Here's an overview of what to focus on and what to expect as you homeschool your preschooler the Charlotte Mason way.
What Charlotte Mason Preschool Looks Like originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
In a Charlotte Mason math lesson, the parent is like a guide who helps the child along. Richele joins Sonya to explain how you can guide your child to a firm understanding of math.
How the Parent Guides a Charlotte Mason Math Lesson originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
If you're already doing family devotions, why should you also add Bible lessons to your schedule? Sonya shares some great reasons to give your children both.
The Difference Between Bible Lessons and Family Devotions originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Four ways to know you've had a good homeschool year as you evaluate the end of a school year and look forward to the next.
Did You Have a Good Homeschool Year? originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Enrichment subjects are a wonderful way to add beauty to your homeschool day. Here are eight reasons you shouldn't skip them.
8 Reasons to Include Enrichment Subjects in Your Homeschool Schedule originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Are you doing enough nature study? You might already be doing more than you think.
Am I Doing Enough Nature Study? originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Can't get outside because of the weather? Not much nature around you? Here are 20 ways you can bring the nature indoors.
20 Ideas for Indoor Nature Study originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Nature is beautiful, but sometimes it can be dangerous. How can you protect yourself? Karen Smith provides reassurance and some strategies for staying safe.
Staying Safe in Nature originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Do you have a child who loves to run and shout? How can you teach that child to respect others and not scare away the nature when you're outside?
Respecting Others While Doing Nature Study originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Does a blank nature journal intimidate you? Do you wonder when you should have your child record his findings? Karen and Sonya answer your questions nature journals.
What to Put in a Nature Journal originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Find out what the difference is between science lessons and nature study, and how to balance the two in a Charlotte Mason homeschool.
How to Balance Science Lessons with Nature Study originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
The preschool and Kindergarten years are a perfect time to cultivate a child's natural love for God's creation outdoors!
How to Do Nature Study with Preschoolers originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Here's how you can get started with Charlotte Mason nature study without overwhelming yourself or your children.
How Can I Get Started with Nature Study? originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
What's the best way to encourage your child's interest in nature study? Sonya and Karen share some ideas to help you.
How to Encourage Interest in Nature Study originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Here's how a Charlotte Mason approach to math breathes life into lessons and keeps things interesting.
The Life of the Math Lesson originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Here's what we can learn from Charlotte Mason's class schedules to help us create our own homeschool plans.
3 Principles from Charlotte Mason’s Schedules originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Sonya is joined by Sarah from Read-Aloud Revival to talk about how you can spot a great picture book to read to your little ones.
How to Spot a Great Picture Book originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Sarah Mackenzie of Read-Aloud Revival joins Sonya to discuss tweaking narration when your child has special needs or special challenges.
Narration with Special Challenges originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
You'll be surprised at just how many good habits you can form in your child with a well-taught math lesson!
The Discipline of Good Habits in the Charlotte Mason Math Lesson originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
What should you do if your child wants to read twaddle? Sonya and Laura share some ideas for steering your child toward the good stuff.
Help! My Child Wants to Read Twaddle! originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
The story of Charlotte Mason, how she revolutionized education, and how her legacy impacts homeschooling today.
Who Was Charlotte Mason? originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Join Sonya and Karen for a conversation about how you can prepare children for adult life through chores, and what chores are appropriate for which ages.
How Chores Prepare Children for Life originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Charlotte Mason believed in the potential of every human person. And she summed up that belief in eight words.
8 Words That Make All the Difference originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Sonya shares five books recommendations—one is FREE—that will help you grow in your role as a Charlotte Mason homeschool parent.
5 Books to Help You Grow as a Charlotte Mason Homeschool Parent originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Sonya shares a meditation on Isaiah 9:6 to encourage you all year to trust in our good Father.
A Christmas Meditation originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
You can learn to add illustrations to your nature journal! Richele Baburina joins Sonya with some practical tips that will inspire you to get started.
How to Grow in Nature Journaling originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Can you keep a nature journal if you are not artistic? Sonya and Karen are self-proclaimed not artistic people, and they have some ideas for you.
Can You Nature Journal If You’re Not Artistic? originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Richele shares how Charlotte Mason math lessons help you retain a child's happy relationship with math—and a healthy relationship between you and your child.
The Atmosphere of the Charlotte Mason Math Lesson originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Richele Baburina joins Sonya for an overview of Charlotte Mason math lessons.
Getting Started with Charlotte Mason Math originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Sonya answers questions about how to know when you're pressuring a child too much, and how to know when it's time to move on to a new habit.
Habits Q & A: Avoiding Pressuring a Child; When to Move on to a New Habit originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Here are five things to think about when preparing a Charlotte Mason lesson.
How to Prepare a Charlotte Mason Lesson originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
What is your role as the teacher in a Charlotte Mason homeschool? Here are four things you're responsible to do for your child.
4 Roles of a Charlotte Mason Teacher originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Sonya is joined by Laura Pitney for an encouraging conversation about having patience as our children grow step by step.
Patience for the Homeschool Journey originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
What can you do to establish good habits in the toddler and preschool years?
Habits Q & A: Habit Training with Young Children originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
How did Charlotte herself define twaddle, and what was she warning us about?
What Is Twaddle? originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Does the Charlotte Mason method provide enough challenge or rigor as children get older? Amber O'Neal Johnston joins Sonya for an encouraging conversation.
Is Charlotte Mason Enough for Older Students? originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
When you understand the difference between word memory and mind memory, it can revolutionize your home school.
What Makes Learning Stick? originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
What do you do when an outside influence or a busy schedule threatens to sabotage your habit-training efforts?
Habits Q & A: Bad Influences and Busy Schedules originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Here are 10 things Charlotte Mason would model for you and inspire you to do if she were your life coach.
If Charlotte Mason Were Your Life Coach originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
A look at the types of bird feeders you can use to attract birds to your backyard for nature study.
Nature Study with Bird Feeders originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Here are three tips to help you have a successful year homeschooling the Charlotte Mason way.
3 Tips for a Successful Charlotte Mason Homeschool Year originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Sonya answers questions about how to help a timid child gain confidence and how to keep up with good habits while you're moving.
Habits Q & A: Helping a Timid Child and Habits While Moving originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Sonya and Laura talk about how to balance pushing through with willpower and giving yourself grace.
Balancing Willpower with Grace originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Your child has turned six and you're ready to start homeschooling first grade the Charlotte Mason way. How do you start formal lessons?
How to Ease into Formal Lessons in First Grade originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Charlotte Mason believed that worship was a part of our whole life, not just formal Bible studies.
Worship: Core Values of Charlotte Mason originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Karen Smith joins Sonya to share four steps to great nature study.
4 Steps to Great Nature Study originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Sonya shares some practical tips for breaking a bad habit the Charlotte Mason way.
Habits Q & A: How to Break a Bad Habit originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
How the SCM history curriculum approaches history to give children knowledge of our fellow man and become better global neighbors.
History Streams in the Simply Charlotte Mason Curriculum originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
As a person, your child has one chief responsibility.
Responsibility: Core Values of Charlotte Mason originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Sonya is joined by Karen Smith to talk about how we can introduce science concepts to our preschoolers the Charlotte Mason way.
Charlotte Mason Science for Preschoolers originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
How the parent’s character affects habit training and how Mom can keep a sweet, even temper.
Habits Q & A: Parent’s Character; Maintaining a Sweet, Even Temper originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Ever wonder if you are doing enough in your home school? Sonya has some encouragement for you.
How to Know You Are Doing Enough originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
How do you teach logic and reasoning in a Charlotte Mason home school?
Reason: Core Values of Charlotte Mason originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Laura Pitney joins Sonya to talk about how to approach summer break without losing all your momentum.
Don’t Break Your Home School During Summer Break originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Sonya explains the key to helping children learn to make good choices.
Habits Q & A: Training the Will originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
What did Charlotte Mason say about learning to be content? You may be surprised!
Learning to Be Content originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
We need to teach our children the difference between “I want” and “I will.”
Will: Core Values of Charlotte Mason originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
What changes do you need to make as your child reaches the high school years?
High School Transitions and the Charlotte Mason Method originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
How can you start habit training with an older child? How do you help a child who tends to think negatively?
Habits Q & A: Starting with Older Children; Dealing with Negativity originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Karen Smith joins Sonya to talk about ways you can do a long-term nature study.
Long-Term Nature Study originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
If you want to give your child an education that views him as a whole person, you need to focus on both academics and character, self-education and self-direction.
Self-Direction: Core Values of Charlotte Mason originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Sometimes homeschooling just doesn’t seem to work. Sonya is joined by Amber O’Neal Johnston to discuss what to do when you or your children are struggling with a Charlotte Mason method.
What to Do When Charlotte Mason Methods Don’t Work originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
What’s the best way to approach habit training with multiple children in the family?
Habits Q & A: Habits with Multiple Children originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Here’s a simple way you can encourage the habit of attention in every lesson.
Attention: Core Values of Charlotte Mason originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
You can make adjustments to your homeschool curriculum. You have permission.
Teach the Child originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
How do you cultivate good habits but also a flexible mind-set in an autistic child? How do you focus on only one habit with several children?
Habits Q & A: Special Needs; One at a Time originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
What three words would you use to describe the Charlotte Mason approach? Here’s how Charlotte described it.
Charlotte Mason in Three Words originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
There’s a difference between knowledge and information.
Knowledge: Core Values of Charlotte Mason originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Sonya is joined by Karen Smith for an overview of how to teach science the Charlotte Mason way all through the grades.
Science through the Grades originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Here are four steps to help you come up with effective consequences.
Habits Q & A: Consequences originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Here are some ideas for how you can incorporate Charlotte Mason’s philosophy and methods into your home even if you are not homeschooling.
Charlotte Mason When You Don’t Homeschool originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Sonya discusses three hallmarks of a good curriculum.
Generous, Variety, Literary: Core Values of Charlotte Mason originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Sonya talks with Karen Smith about how she organizes her large home library.
Organizing a Large Home Library originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Sonya begins a new series answering questions about habit training.
Habits Q & A: Introduction to Habit Training originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Sonya chats with Amber O’Neal Johnston about why it’s important to pre-read and strategies for staying ahead.
Pre-Reading Your Students’ Books originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Sonya and Laura discuss how they organize their home libraries.
Organizing Your Home Library originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
There’s a big difference between recognizing someone and having a relationship with the person.
Relations: Core Values of Charlotte Mason originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Sonya is joined by Ginger Hubbard and Katy Morgan to talk about six mistakes parents can make when they’re trying to cultivate a habit of obedience.
6 Discipline Mistakes Parents Make originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Homeschooling the Charlotte Mason way is a skill that can be learned.
Like Riding a Bike originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Sonya is joined by Karen Smith to talk about overcoming some common nature study obstacles.
Nature Study Obstacles originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Ideas are like seeds that grow and bear fruit in your child’s life.
Ideas: Core Values of Charlotte Mason originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Amber O’Neal Johnston joins Sonya to discuss what you should think about before you change curriculum.
Before You Switch Curriculum originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Here’s how to take a trip to Europe through some great living books.
Favorite Living Books about Europe originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Here is an idea that our children need to hear often, perhaps especially around the holidays.
You Are Much More Than a Number originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Who’s doing the most work in your home school: the teacher or the student?
Self-Education: Core Values of Charlotte Mason originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Are we killing the love of learning in our children by requiring them to put forth their best effort?
Your Questions Answered: Does Best Effort Kill Love of Learning? originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Sonya shares her favorite living books about North America.
Favorite Living Books about North America originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Sonya chats with Karen Smith about how we can expand our nature study by using all our senses.
Using All Your Senses in Nature Study originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
There’s a big difference between exercising the mind and feeding the mind.
Nourishment: Core Values of Charlotte Mason originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Sonya chats with author Ginger Hubbard and podcast host Katy Morgan about parenting and how we can help our children (and ourselves) grow.
I Can’t Believe You Just Said That originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Sonya shares some great living books about the continent of Asia.
Favorite Living Books About Asia originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Let’s talk about what it means when we say that education is a life.
Life: Core Values of Charlotte Mason originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
How do you deal with a nature fear? Karen Smith and Laura Pitney join Sonya to discuss this question.
Nature Study Fears originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Here’s the secret to getting through your lessons without needing big breaks. Planning and scheduling your homeschool studies involve several steps. Five steps, really. First, you start with the big overview, then zoom in on this year; then I like to take that year and break it into three terms and figure out what I’m […]
The Secret to Planning Your Homeschool Day originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Sonya shares some of her favorite living books to help your children learn about the people who live on the continent of Africa.
Favorite Living Books about Africa originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Sonya chats with Laura Pitney about how teaching in a co-op setting differs from teaching in your home school, and how you can make the most of your co-op teaching time.
Teaching in a Charlotte Mason Co-op originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Don’t have a Charlotte Mason co-op near you? Here are some ideas for starting one.
Starting a Charlotte Mason Co-op originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
You don’t have to be perfect to work on good habits with your children, you just need to be intentional.
Discipline: Core Values of Charlotte Mason originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Karen Smith shares some of her favorite living science books for grades 4–6.
Favorite Living Science Books for Grades 4–6 originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Sonya chats with Laura about why so many homeschoolers love Charlotte Mason co-ops.
The Excitement of a Charlotte Mason Co-op originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Your child will learn a lot from having natural, first-hand experiences with the people and things in your home.
Atmosphere: Core Values of Charlotte Mason originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Sonya chats with Amber O’Neal Johnston about how homeschool communities can enhance and support what you’re doing at home.
Homeschool Communities originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Karen Smith shares some of her favorite living science books for grades 1–3 that will give your child a gentle introduction to the wonders of God’s Creation.
Favorite Living Science Books for Grades 1–3 originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Sonya chats with Laura about how to stay organized at the end of the school year.
End-of-School-Year Organizing Ideas originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Think of education like a three-legged stool. You need all three legs to stay balanced.
Balance: Core Values of Charlotte Mason originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Sonya chats with Karen Smith about some things to look for when you do nature study in the summer.
Nature Study in the Summer originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Here are some of my favorite books for learning about the cultures of South and Central America.
Favorite Living Books about South and Central America originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Trying to homeschool while moving into a new house? Laura has some great encouragement for you.
Moving While Homeschooling originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
We often talk about “respect the child as a person.” Here’s what it looks like.
Respect: Core Values of Charlotte Mason originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Sonya and Amber O’Neal Johnston discuss how to balance homeschooling and working from home.
Homeschooling and Working from Home originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Sonya shares her favorite living books about the Middle East.
Favorite Living Books about the Middle East originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Sonya and Laura take a look at three key areas that need to be organized to keep your home school functioning smoothly.
3 Keys to Organizing Your Home School originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Charlotte Mason had a very balanced view of authority and obedience. Let’s talk about it. We have begun a tour, looking at the core values that Charlotte Mason educators hold dear. These are the guiding principles upon which Charlotte built her whole educational approach; and if we can get a firm grasp on these values, […]
Authority and Obedience: Core Values of Charlotte Mason originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Let me tell you, most Charlotte Mason homeschoolers are learning as we go. Sometimes we look at other Charlotte Mason homeschoolers around us and we think, “Wow, look at everything they know.” We think they’ve always known about the artists and the composers and the nature and the handicrafts, but that’s not the case. Let […]
Learning As You Homeschool with Charlotte Mason originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Is there a place for fun activities in a Charlotte Mason education?
Your Questions Answered: The Place of Fun in a Charlotte Mason Education originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
The main message for today is “Don’t lose hope.” We have embarked on a tour of the ideas and values that form the core of a Charlotte Mason education. When we have these core values clearly embedded in our hearts and minds, we can approach each day of homeschooling with clarity and with confidence. We […]
Possibilities: Core Values of Charlotte Mason originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Let’s look at ten ways a Charlotte Mason education can prepare a student for success in a STEM field.
10 Ways a Charlotte Mason Education Prepares a Student for a STEM Career originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Sonya discusses how the current STEM emphasis aligns, or doesn’t align, with a Charlotte Mason education.
STEM and a Charlotte Mason Education originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Recently I shared my favorite living books for teaching Bible. Today I want to expand on that topic and share with you more great resources for teaching Bible. These are not living books in and of themselves, but they will help you and your children dig into and feel at home with the Living Book, […]
More Great Resources for Teaching Bible originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Sonya and Laura share some ideas for what to do when your child says that school is pointless.
Your Questions Answered: When School Seems Pointless originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
What do you see when you look at your child? Here’s what Charlotte Mason would like you to see. Charlotte Mason created a list of 20 core values, 20 key principles that formed the foundation on which her approach to education was built. We’ve started on a tour through those 20 core values. If you […]
Personhood: Core Values of Charlotte Mason originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
When we think about homeschooling, we often limit it to what we do within our four walls, or at least within our community. But what better way is there to learn about the people in the world and make relations with them than to go there and meet them in person? So today we want […]
Worldschooling originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
In previous posts I have shared my favorite books for teaching history, and many of you said you appreciate those book reviews and would like more recommendations covering other subjects as well. So today I’m sharing some great living books for teaching Bible. Now, the first one I hope is quite obvious: the Bible. This […]
Favorite Living Books for Teaching Bible originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Have you ever told your child, “Let’s just get through this” schoolwork? Sonya and Laura discuss positive ways to approach that situation.
Your Questions Answered: Let’s Just Get Through This originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
A friend of mine made a statement recently that stopped me in my tracks. She was explaining how in the past she hadn’t felt confident deviating from a recommended book list for her Charlotte Mason home school, and she said something like, “That was before I understood the difference between Charlotte Mason’s principles and a […]
Core Values of Charlotte Mason: Introduction originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
It seems like one of the hardest concepts to wrap your head around when you’re homeschooling with the Charlotte Mason Method is the concept of living ideas versus dry facts. Now, we give our children living ideas in several ways; but for this post I’m going to focus on living books, because living books make […]
What a Living Book Sounds Like originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Today we’re wrapping up our favorite history books series. We’ve covered five history time periods so far: Middle Ages and Renaissance, Early Modern, Modern Times, Ancient Egypt, and Ancient Greece. Today we’ll share our top living books for studying Ancient Rome. I hope these posts have been helpful to you. Leave a comment and let […]
Favorite Living History Books on Ancient Rome originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Sonya and Laura talk about some adjustments they’ve made in their home schools and share encouragement for readjusting your plans.
Making Midyear Adjustments in Your Home School originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
This time of year, as we celebrate the birth of Jesus and look toward the unknown future of the coming year, we can find comfort and confidence in the truth that Jesus is called Immanuel, God with us. Charlotte Mason reminded her readers of that truth of an ever-present Savior, Who is with us in […]
God With Us originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
In the last post, we looked at how books can help our children form relations with themselves, and we talked about those books as mirrors. Today, we want to expand on another aspect of that and how books can help our children form relations with others. They’ve formed the groundwork as they get to know […]
Books as Windows originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
The books that we give to our children help them form relations, those important relations that Charlotte Mason talked about so much, relating with God, relating with the universe around us, and relating with people, and that’s the aspect that we want to focus in on today. Joining me for this discussion is my friend, […]
Books as Mirrors originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
One of the great things about doing Charlotte Mason nature study is that you don’t have to have a bunch of expensive equipment. Just grab your journal and go outside. But sometimes it can be helpful to expand our nature study practices by having some equipment, if we want to. So today we want to […]
Binoculars in Nature Study originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Too often Ancient Greece is just tossed into a quick overview of Ancient Times, but there are so many interesting and valuable stories from that time period—and so many great books—that can help us get a clearer picture of what life was like during Old Testament times. That’s why I like to take a full […]
Favorite Living History Books on Ancient Greece originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Are you looking for ways to create a more Charlotte Mason atmosphere in your home? Today we want to address a great question, and here to join me are Jenn Faas and Laura Pitney, my friends and coworkers. Sonya: Here’s the question: “Can you give some tips on great ways to create a Charlotte Mason […]
Your Questions Answered: Your Home School Space originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Charlotte Mason used a wonderfully unique and effective method for teaching conversational foreign languages. It’s called a Series Approach, and I’m going to walk you through how to do it. What You Will Need You will need a series. A series is a set of related statements that describe an everyday action. So for example, […]
How to Teach Foreign Language originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Has it ever happened to you that you ask your child, “What did you see outside today?” and that child says, “A bird,” and you try to get more information, but the child just says, “Well, I think it was red, or I think it was … it might have had some blue,” and that […]
Help Your Child Learn to Observe More Closely originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
I really enjoy sharing my favorite living books with you. It’s like introducing delightful old friends that I know will help and support you along your homeschool journey. Today I will give you my top ten picks for studying Ancient Egypt. These are the ten living books that are scheduled into the lesson plan guide […]
Favorite Living History Books on Ancient Egypt originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
I think at some time or other, all of us homeschool mamas have felt like giving up. “I just want to quit.” It’s a great question to discuss today, and Laura Pitney is here joining me: “What keeps you going when you want to quit?” Laura: That’s a very good question, as always. Sonya: Yes, […]
Your Questions Answered: When You Want to Quit Homeschooling originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
I’m going to venture to say that most of us did not grow up with Shakespeare as a regular part of our education. In my school years, I had only one Shakespeare play introduced to me and that was a last-minute, “Here, let’s watch this movie,” by a substitute teacher. But Charlotte Mason believed that […]
How to Teach Shakespeare originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Today we want to dive into a few questions that we’ve received from different home educating parents who have questions about Charlotte Mason’s method of dictation. If you’re not familiar with that wonderful method for teaching children spelling, then take a look at that post, How to Do Dictation. The corresponding video will walk you […]
Your Questions Answered: Questions about Dictation originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
On my bookshelf I have a copy of a book from the early 1900s that was used in Charlotte Mason’s schools. Many books like this contain an introduction full of helpful comments, but the introduction to this book is so refreshing that I want to share a portion of it with you. Of course, it […]
Hints to Teachers originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Today, we want to tackle a fun topic: school supplies for a Charlotte Mason education. We already talked about what we consider back-to-school essentials for the mom, and those are more the attitudes that set the atmosphere of your home. But today we want to get down and practical with “What are some school supplies?”—some […]
Your Questions Answered: Favorite School Supplies for a Charlotte Mason Home School originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Today we want to discuss how Charlotte Mason taught English grammar. Grammar analyzes the system and the structure of a language. That’s a heavy concept that requires abstract thinking, so Charlotte did not start formal grammar lessons until the student was about 10 years old. When we talk about grammar lessons, we’re basically talking about […]
How to Teach Grammar originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Today we want to discuss a mind-set that could be robbing you of some of the richness involved in nature study the Charlotte Mason way. We want to talk about whether your mind-set is a checklist (“Yep, just do that.”) or a relationship in nature study. And here to join me is my friend and […]
Nature Study: Not Just a Checklist originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Some of you have asked about notebooking and whether that is a Charlotte Mason method. It’s a good question, and the answer all depends on what you’re thinking of when you think “notebooking.” For some people, notebooking is like scrapbooking. You tuck postcards and maps, stickers and photographs, pamphlets and articles from magazines on the […]
Charlotte Mason Notebooking originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Today we want to talk about a question that I think most of us have heard at some time or other in our homeschool career. “I don’t like doing (whatever the subject is).” What about when my child doesn’t like to do a certain subject? Here to join me is my friend and coworker, Laura […]
Your Questions Answered: When Your Child Doesn’t “Like” a Subject originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
I want to introduce to you a wonderful tool that Charlotte Mason used to help her students see where everything fit in history. It’s called a Book of Centuries. What You Will Need A Book of Centuries is basically a timeline in a book. Every two-page spread covers one hundred years—a century—that’s why it’s called […]
How to Do a Book of Centuries originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Imagine a scenario with me. You are teaching your child how to write. So, as Charlotte Mason detailed, you set before that child a model of the handwriting you want him to copy. Now let me ask you a question: What does that model look like? Imagine giving your child a printout of the mistakes […]
Dealing with Our Past Homeschooling Mistakes originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Today is a special post for those who are diving into homeschooling this year, maybe for the first time, and are looking for some simple ways to incorporate more than just the basic academics. I want to share with you three simple ways to enrich your homeschool experience. These are three short, enjoyable methods that […]
Simple Ways to Enrich Your Homeschool Experience originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
This time of year, it seems like no matter which store you go into, there are lists and lists of back-to-school supplies: these are the things the students will need to get into the school days ahead. But what about the homeschool mama? What will she need for the school days ahead? We’re going to […]
Your Questions Answered: Back-to-School Essentials for Mom originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Today we want to talk about how to do formal spelling lessons in a Charlotte Mason way: dictation. If you have been following the previous articles in this How To series, you will have seen how Charlotte included some spelling components in both copywork and transcription. (And even in beginning reading lessons.) Those preparatory practices […]
How to Do Dictation originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Today I’d like to walk through two different ways to schedule a school day. Both are viable options. Use the one that fits best during this season of life. Over the years—or even during different terms of a single year—you might find that one of these works better at that moment. Feel free to switch […]
2 Ways to Schedule Your Homeschool Day originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Today we’re going to do some slicing and dicing. Not in my kitchen. We’re going to slice and dice a calendar. I want to show you four different ways that you could schedule your school year. Most of us were raised with a traditional nine-month school year: nine months of school and three months off […]
4 Ways to Schedule Your Homeschool Year originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
I just pulled a notebook off my little reading table and opened to the first page. And I can’t stop smiling at the diversity of wisdom and wit recorded there. First is a quote by Eleanor Roosevelt: “I decided to accept the fact that a man must be what he is, life must be lived […]
Getting Started with a Book of Mottoes, or Commonplace Book originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Today I want to explain a practice that will help your student develop handwriting fluency, practice beautiful penmanship, encourage correct spelling, and feed your child’s mind with worthy ideas. It’s a simple practice, but it can yield big results. That practice is transcription. Here’s how to do it. What You Will Need Just as with […]
How to Do Transcription originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
In a Charlotte Mason education, it’s the books that shine. They are the teachers, and a lot depends on them. That’s why we are selective when it comes to the books we recommend in our curriculum at Simply Charlotte Mason. If you look at the SCM curriculum pages on our website, you can see all […]
Finding a Substitute Book originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Many times we focus on the mom in a Charlotte Mason homeschool. We usually focus on the moms, because they’re often the ones doing the bulk of the teaching in a homeschool. But homeschooling affects both parents. And we thought you might like to hear one dad’s story about the Charlotte Mason home school in […]
A Charlotte Mason Homeschool Dad’s Story originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Perhaps you have heard the term “copywork” and wondered what exactly it is. Copywork is a method that Charlotte Mason used to help children learn letter formation. Let’s walk through what that looks like. What You Will Need Basically you need two things: something to copy and something to write with. The “something to copy” […]
How to Do Copywork originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
In the spring and summer, many of us turn our thoughts to evaluating our home schools. How are things going? What changes might we want to make? Some states or provinces require that you write some kind of end-of-the-school-year assessment. And even if it’s not required legally, it’s a good idea to pause every once […]
Give Your Home School a KISS originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Modern Times (about 1850 to present day) is a jam-packed era in history. So many things were happening all around the world; and thanks to improved technology, we have access to more details than any other time period. The thing we need to be careful of is overload. You cannot teach your child all about […]
Favorite Modern Times History Books for Grades 10–12 originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Many of you know that Charlotte Mason was a big advocate of taking nature walks and doing nature study. She scheduled her students to get out into the fields one half-day every week, and Charlotte herself did a nature walk every day. But Charlotte lived in a beautiful, rural setting in the picturesque lake district […]
Nature Study in the City originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Usually when people describe the Charlotte Mason approach, the one thing they almost always mention is nature study. Time in nature is an integral part of the Charlotte Mason Method. So let’s walk through how to do a nature study. What You Will Need You will need a blank sketchbook for each person and something […]
How to Do Nature Study originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
I think almost all of us who use the Charlotte Mason Method have a desire to see our children love to read. We know how much richness good books can add to our thoughts and our lives, and we want our children to experience that too. So on one hand, when we see one of […]
Your Questions Answered: Prolific Reader originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Today I want to share my top picks for living history books on modern times. These are the books that I recommend for grades 7–9, and in some cases, all the way through twelfth grade. I’ll explain more about that in an upcoming post. We will be looking at books for both American history and […]
Favorite Modern Times History Books for Grades 7–9 originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Sonya is joined by SCM co-founder Doug Smith to discuss screen time and technology.
Screen Time originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
If your experience with poetry during your own school years was anything like my experience, you’re going to find Charlotte Mason’s approach to be a breath of fresh air. Let’s walk through how to do poet study. It’s going to be easier, and probably more enjoyable, than you might expect. What You Will Need Just […]
How to Do Poet Study originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Today I’ve asked two friends to join me: Laura Pitney and Jenn Faas. We’re going to be talking about the unique challenges of home schooling, Charlotte Mason style with a large family. Sonya: So between all of us, we’ve got 14 kids? Jenn: Sounds right. Laura: Four, six, and four. Yep, good job. Sonya: Jenn […]
Your Questions Answered: Charlotte Mason with a Large Family originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
All right, I just have to say that I’m going to miss seeing you in person! I was really looking forward to getting together with you at homeschool conventions this spring. Now that many of them are canceled, we will have to wait for those hugs and pictures and fun. But it’s good to know […]
Be Home originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
I love sharing great book recommendations with other homeschoolers. Today I’ll be sharing my top picks for grades 4–6 who are studying modern times, about 1850 to the present. I already reviewed books that will give an overview of that time period for the whole family to enjoy together. Today I want to zero in […]
Favorite Modern Times History Books for Grades 4–6 originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
I have four daughters, no sons. So sometimes I get asked whether a Charlotte Mason approach works with boys. The answer is “Yes, absolutely it does,” but don’t just take my word for it. Today we’re going to talk with one of the co-founders of Simply Charlotte Mason, my friend and mother of three boys, […]
Charlotte Mason with Boys originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Today I want to walk you through how to do music study, or composer study. Charlotte Mason believed that “music is a necessary part of education.” It can also be a simple part of your home school. Here’s how. What You Will Need You will need access to music, whether it is on vinyl, or […]
How to Do Music Study originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Welcome to another installment of Your Questions Answered. As usual, my friend and co-worker, Laura Pitney is joining me. Here’s the question we’re going to discuss today: For elementary students, how do you balance all the subjects and still give them plenty of time to play together? Laura: That’s a good question. Sonya: I think […]
Your Questions Answered: Time to Play originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
There are a lot of books available on modern history (about 1850 to present day). The trick is to find the good ones, the ones that are appropriate for those younger grades mentally and emotionally. Some very difficult events occurred in modern times, and because of advancing technology, we are more aware of some quite […]
Favorite Modern Times History Books for Grades 1–3 originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
There’s a question that seems to come up regularly in homeschooling discussions. In fact, it might be niggling in the back of your mind right now. So let’s take a few minutes to turn around and address that question head on. Let’s get it out in the open and talk about it. The question I […]
Is My Child Learning Enough? originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Picture study is one of the easiest things to add to your schoolwork and one of the most enriching. Let’s walk through how to do it. What You Will Need You will need to select an artist and have a good-sized picture by that artist for your picture study lesson. How To All right, let’s […]
How to Do Picture Study originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Recently, Sonya Shafer and Laura Pitney and Karen Smith sat down to discuss this question: What are one or two (or three, four, whichever we get to) common homeschool mistakes that get in the way of success with the Charlotte Mason methods? Laura: I think we’ve all been there, right? Sonya: We have made mistakes—at […]
Your Questions Answered: Common CM Homeschool Mistakes originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
I must admit that I’m somewhat partial to old books. But when you’re teaching modern history, you have to find some new favorites. And I’m happy to tell you about some real gems that I’ve found and can heartily recommend for the whole family. Good living books make it simple to teach your whole family […]
Favorite Modern Times History Books for the Family originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Sonya is joined by Karen Smith to talk about how to do nature study when it’s cold outside.
Winter Nature Study originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Let’s walk through a foundational method used in many Charlotte Mason-style lessons: narration. You will be using this method for history, geography, Bible, science, and other subjects, so let’s make sure you understand it and feel confident using it. What You Will Need Really all that you need to do a narration lesson is a […]
How to Do Narration originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
It seems like more and more people are traveling and expanding their horizons around the world. We often get asked for advice and practical tips from families who are planning to live and homeschool overseas. The Charlotte Mason Method can present some unique challenges and some uniquely enriching opportunities when you’re homeschooling in a different […]
Homeschooling Overseas with the Charlotte Mason Method originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
We’ve spent several blog posts talking about the way of the will and how to strengthen the will so it will be able to choose to do what is right, even when it’s hard. I’ve really enjoyed these weeks of addressing your questions and giving practical ideas about disciplining the will and developing willpower. Today […]
Our Wills and God’s Will originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
I remember my high school history books. They were nothing like these beauties! My history textbooks were full of summaries and facts. These are full of ideas and people and fascinating narratives that make the events of the past come alive! Today I want to share with you my favorite history books for high school […]
Favorite Early Modern History Books for Grades 10–12 originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
This morning my alarm went off as scheduled. I squinted my eyes part-way open and took in the dark room and the cold rain pattering against the window. It was a dreary day, but it was warm and cozy under the covers. As I reached out my finger to turn off the alarm, a faint […]
I Am, I Can, I Ought, I Wish I Did originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
A well-rounded Charlotte Mason education involves living ideas from great books, the discipline of good habits, and the atmosphere of our homes. We’d like to focus on that third aspect today. My friend and co-worker Laura Pitney is here to talk about creating a delightful atmosphere during the Christmas season. Now, I know not all […]
Your Questions Answered: Christmas Season Edition originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
My friend Pam Barnhill stopped by today and she sat down to have a little chat with us. Some of you might know her from her popular podcast, Homeschool Solutions. Sonya: Pam, thanks so much for joining us today. Pam: Thank you so much for having me, Sonya. It’s great to be here. Sonya: Would […]
A Chat with Pam Barnhill originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
I love being surrounded by great books! My father recently made me two more bookcases, so I’ve been happily reshuffling and reorganizing my collection of history and literature books. That’s one of my favorite tasks: handling and organizing my books. As I hold each one, it’s like looking into the face of an old friend. […]
Favorite Early Modern Books for Grades 7–9 originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Right off the bat, some of you may be thinking, “Strengthen my child’s will? I don’t need to strengthen it. He’s a strong-willed child already!” And that may be the case, but don’t jump to any conclusions. You might want to read the other posts about the Will to make sure you know what we’re […]
3 Ways to Develop Willpower originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
My friend and co-worker Laura Pitney is joining me to talk about all of those wonderful enrichment subjects. Here’s the question to discuss today: “There are so many enriching subjects in a Charlotte Mason approach: picture study, music study, nature study, poetry, handicrafts, art instruction, Shakespeare, hymn singing, and more. It seems like so much […]
Your Questions Answered: Fitting in the Good Stuff originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
A good field guide can be a very helpful tool when you’re doing nature walks or nature study. Let’s talk about what to look for when you’re choosing them and how to use them. Joining me today is my longtime friend and co-creator of Simply Charlotte Mason, Karen Smith. Karen is my go-to person for […]
How to Choose and Use Field Guides originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
The Early Modern time period includes many fascinating people and events. And what better way to study them than through living books—books that make them come alive in your child’s mind; books that touch their emotions and fire their imaginations; books that are well written and brimming with ideas, not just dry facts. Today I […]
Favorite Early Modern Books for Grades 4–6 originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
A few weeks ago I did a post on the Way of the Will as a little refresher course on how Charlotte Mason explained the will and how it works. Many of you responded with requests for more on that subject. So today we’re going to touch on another aspect of the will, and I […]
Is Your Child Strong-Willed or Weak-Willed? originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Today my friend and co-worker Laura Pitney is with me to share some of our favorite moments using the Charlotte Mason method. Sonya: I’m thinking back on it, now that I’ve graduated three out of my four kids, and I can see a lot more, I wouldn’t necessarily say, you know, “top moments,” but there […]
Your Questions Answered: Favorite CM Moments originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
When I was a little girl, I would go visit my grandparents once or twice a year. I quickly figured out that things at my grandparents’ house were different from my own house. They had different-looking furniture; they watched different TV shows and played different games; they had different toys for me to play with; […]
How to Read History originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Today I’d like to share some of my favorite living books for early elementary students, those in grades 1–3, covering history during the years of 1550–1850 or so. I’m going to share titles for both American history and world history during that era, often called Early Modern. I think it’s helpful to study American history […]
Favorite Early Modern Books for Grades 1–3 originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
In a Charlotte Mason Homeschool, we know we should do nature study once a week, or is that a nature walk once a week? What’s the difference, anyway? Let’s figure this out. Joining me today is my longtime friend and co-creator of Simply Charlotte Mason, Karen Smith. Karen is my go-to person for anything nature […]
Nature Walk or Nature Study? originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Today I’m joined by my friend and co-worker, Laura Pitney, to do another installment of Your Questions Answered. The question for today is quite interesting: “You say not to repeat yourself, but I’m wondering how you teach this? I have a five year old. Let’s say I get her attention, look directly into her eyes, […]
Your Questions Answered: Not Repeating Yourself originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
I was recently talking with a group of parents, and in the course of our time together, I mentioned how important it is to make sure our young adults know how the will works. Well, all of the parents in that group wanted a refresher course on the way of the will, as Charlotte Mason […]
The Way of the Will originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Today I’m sharing some great books that will guide your whole family through the time in history that we call Early Modern, about 1550 through 1850 or so. It’s an exciting time period with a lot happening all around the world, including a fledgling country that we now know as the United States. I think […]
Favorite Early Modern Books for the Whole Family originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
My friend and coworker, Laura Pitney is with me today for another episode of Your Questions Answered. Today’s question is What is the place of audiobooks in a Charlotte Mason home school? Laura: That is a great question for sure. Sonya: Let’s talk about benefits first, how they can be very helpful to a homeschool […]
Your Questions Answered: Audiobooks in a Charlotte Mason Home School originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Planning for your home school can sometimes seem overwhelming. But let me encourage you that the more you do it, the easier it gets. And today I want to share with you a quick and simple trick I use when I’m trying to lay out a weekly schedule and a daily schedule. I’ve been using […]
Using Subject Cards to Plan Your Homeschool Schedule originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
It’s that time of year again — the season when many of us get the itch to plan our next school year. Whether you’re just starting out or have been doing this for decades, here are five friendly reminders—just five ideas to keep in mind as you plan for your Charlotte Mason homeschool this coming […]
5 Things to Remember When Planning Your Charlotte Mason Homeschool originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Today my friend and coworker, Laura Pitney, is with me to discuss a question that we received about narration: “With more than one child in the phase of doing oral narration, how do I have them each do a narration on what we read together without them just copying the child that goes first? At […]
Your Questions Answered: Narration with Multiple Children originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
DIY—Do It Yourself. For some of you, those initials generate great excitement! Images of potential projects arise in your imagination and you can hardly wait to dive into a new one. Others of you get tired just looking at those initials. To you, DIY stands for a pile of decisions and precious time that you […]
5 Steps to Planning Your Charlotte Mason Education originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
In this post I want to show you a little technique that I use to help me think through, adjust, and fine tune our history cycle to fit different family situations. We’re going to answer this question: Why do you have a six-year history cycle and how can I use it with multiple children? So […]
Using the 6-Year History Cycle originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
We talked last time about how the summer months can be a great time to give focused effort in habit-training, even if you’re taking that time off from schoolwork. Especially if you’re taking that time off from schoolwork! When you don’t have lessons to prepare and complete, you can invest your time and energy in […]
Working On Best Effort During the Summer originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
When I was a girl, I took piano lessons. I would practice diligently during the school year, but my teacher always gave her students the summer off. So I got used to not practicing during the summer months. Later, in high school, I switched to a different teacher, and she had a completely different mind-set. […]
Working On Attention During the Summer originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
One of the biggest challenges a homeschool mom faces is trying to get schoolwork done with preschoolers in the mix. My friends Jenn Faas and Laura Pitney are here to help me discuss this today. Sonya: Between all of us, we’ve had 13 preschool kids. And you have one currently and a baby, right, Jenn? […]
Your Questions Answered: Homeschooling with Preschoolers in the Mix originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Charlotte Mason believed that music is a necessary part of education. And not just haphazard music; she encouraged us to “Let the young people hear good music as often as possible, and that under instruction” (Formation of Character, p. 235). Now, maybe you’re not a musician and aren’t quite sure how to make that happen. […]
Two New Music Studies Now Available originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Today I’m sharing some of my absolute favorite picture books for 3 to 5 year olds. These are picture books that you will want to read to your child again and again. These are books that, if your preschooler grabs one off the shelf again (!) and brings it to you to read again (!), […]
Top 10 (or 20) Picture Books for Preschoolers originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Do a quick search on Amazon for picture books, and you are suddenly faced with more than 60,000 titles. Think of it: 60,000 picture books to choose from. That’s a lot of books! In fact, if you could stack all of those picture books one on top of the other, the stack would reach to […]
How to Choose a Good Picture Book originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
I talk to mamas all over the country who are feeling pressure with their preschoolers. They’re being pressured to push academics, to focus on reading and writing and math facts with their three-, four-, and five-year-olds. Perhaps you’re the mother of a young child and you have felt that pressure. Let me reassure you that […]
New Preschool Resource: Our Preschool Life originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
The biggest job that a preschool child has is to explore his surroundings and make sense of the world around him. As he uses his five senses, he’s forming crucial connections in his brain. And those connections will help him be prepared for later challenges like formal school work. But pushing the school work first […]
Your Questions Answered: Preschool Activities originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Young children spend the first five or six years of their lives busily making sense out of life around them. Their brains are on overdrive: observing, categorizing, comparing, discriminating, problem solving, experimenting, testing, assimilating. For example, let’s say you hand your child a spherical object and tell him that it is a ball. Over the […]
Preschool Priorities originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
We’ve been sharing our favorite books for studying the Middle Ages and Renaissance, telling a little about each title and breaking it down by age range. So far we’ve covered grades 1–3, grades 4–6, grades 7–9, and grades 10–12. What’s left? Well, today I want to give you some titles that are great for all […]
Favorite Middle Ages and Renaissance Books for the Whole Family originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
I just spent a weekend at a conference with some wonderful homeschooling mamas: some who are new to homeschooling and some who are veterans. As I was chatting with one mama who is just in the midst of her first year, she told me something that made me pause and ponder. This mama explained that […]
Let Us Not Grow Weary originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Here’s how to make exam week a time to celebrate your student’s growth.
What Exam Week Looks Like in a Charlotte Mason Home School originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
What do you mean “Charlotte Mason didn’t do tests?” She did whole weeks of exams!
What Exam Week Sounds Like in a Charlotte Mason Home School originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
I’ve been sharing some of my top picks for Middle Ages and Renaissance books for different age groups. Today I want to talk about my favorite books for grades 10 through 12. Now, remember, these are not the typical high school textbooks that you probably used during your own school years. These are living books—books […]
Favorite Middle Ages, Renaissance, and Reformation Books for Grades 10–12 originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
As the mother of a special needs child, I appreciate those who are able to look past the differences and see the similarities. Yes, some children have special needs, but all children have many needs that are the same no matter their skill levels. Though a child may seem to withdraw into her own little […]
The Heart of Education originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
My friend and co-worker, Laura Pitney, is joining me again today. We want to discuss another great question that you have asked: “What about little boys and girls who can’t or won’t sit still? What do you do then?” We hope you enjoy our discussion and receive some ideas that might be helpful. Sonya: First, […]
Your Questions Answered: Children Who Won’t Sit Still originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
We all want to instill good habits in our children, from the time they are toddlers through the time they move out to start their own households. We often think of habit training as something we do on the side. We work on kindness alongside all of the activities of the day. We work on […]
5 Life Habits Built Into a Charlotte Mason Education originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
There are so many great books set in the Middle Ages and Renaissance! I’ve been sharing some of my favorites for the different age groups, and today I want to share my top picks for grades 7 through 9. These are living books—books that will make the time period come alive for your student. As […]
Favorite Middle Ages and Renaissance Books for Grades 7–9 originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
I’ve been working on an interesting project the last few weeks. It all started when I was looking at some old pamphlets and programmes in the Charlotte Mason digital archives (which is a fabulous resource, by the way). The programmes detail the work that students were to do each term and the books that they […]
How Much Did a Charlotte Mason Education Cost? originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
My friend and co-worker Laura Pitney joins me again as we answer another of your questions. This time, we’re talking about how to have a smooth morning of lessons. Here’s the question that we want to discuss today: I would love to see some ideas of how to practically get lessons done in the morning, […]
Your Questions Answered: A Smooth Morning of Lessons originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
When you drive a long distance, it’s reassuring to have signs along the route that tell you when to turn or that your exit is coming up. Well, the same holds true when you’re teaching your child to read. There are signposts along that road. Let’s talk through the five steps involved in teaching your […]
Signposts for Reading Lessons in the Charlotte Mason Method originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Today I want to share more of my top picks for living books on the Middle Ages and Renaissance. The titles I’m sharing today are appropriate for fourth through sixth graders. At that age, the students should be transitioning to reading their school books for themselves, and all of these titles can be used as independent […]
Favorite Middle Ages & Renaissance Books for Grades 4–6 originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Homeschooling comes with its own set of blessings and challenges. One of the challenges is figuring out what one child can do while you’re busy helping a different child. A home school is very much like a one-room schoolhouse. You’re managing several children across several grade levels—with only one teacher. It’s a fact of life […]
40 Ideas for Independent Work (Not Busywork!) originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
My friend and co-worker, Laura Pitney, has joined us today, and we’re going to share some ideas on organizing your Charlotte Mason homeschool. Laura has a real heart to encourage and help other homeschool mamas, plus she’s very organized! So I’m glad that she can join us for this discussion. You’re going to love her […]
Your Questions Answered: Organizing Your Home School originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Have you ever had the experience where things just come together? You have a discussion with someone, and that person brings up a great point that causes you to ponder. You form some ideas in your head and tuck them away for the time being. Then just a few days later, someone else mentions that […]
The Importance of Working with Your Hands originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
I recently did an article called Productive Afternoons, and in it I mentioned that in Charlotte Mason’s schools formal lessons were done by lunch. Well, we received many questions about how lessons could be done by lunch, so I want to do a couple of things in this article. First, I want to show you […]
How to Finish Lessons by Lunch originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Today we are excited to announce that The Charlotte Mason Elementary Arithmetic, Book 2, is now available!You are sure to enjoy these simple, lively lessons that will help your student gain a firm footing in addition, subtraction, and multiplication up to 1,000. He will solidify and learn the addition tables up to 10 + 10 […]
The Charlotte Mason Elementary Arithmetic Series, Book 2 Is Here! originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
If there is one thing Charlotte Mason homeschoolers love to do, it’s talk about our favorite books. I think every Charlotte Mason meeting I’ve ever attended had at least one conversation going on about “What books do you suggest for this time period and these grades?” or “Got any new favorite read-alouds?” I love to […]
7 Favorite Middle Ages & Renaissance Books for Grades 1–3 originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Many years ago my family discovered a wonderful little system to help us with Scripture memory. With this simple tool, we consistently learn new verses, plus we review every verse we’ve ever learned every month. And it takes only five minutes a day. Thousands of families are now using the Scripture Memory System in their…
Q & A: Inside the Scripture Memory System originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Recently I made a trip to the rolling hills of Virginia to meet up with some friends of mine. You might know them as the ladies from A Delectable Education, a popular Charlotte Mason method podcast: Nicole Williams and Liz Cottrill and Emily Kiser. We sat down at the Living Books Library to chat, because I […]
Behind the Scenes with A Delectable Education originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Let’s talk about living books. Now, I can almost hear you saying, “Living books? Again? We talk about them all the time!” And that just proves my point. In a Charlotte Mason home school we spend a lot of time talking about living books: what they are, how to spot them, where to find them, […]
5 Ways NOT to Use a Living Book originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
About twenty-five years ago, when I started homeschooling, I didn’t have the Internet. (I’ll pause here for a minute to let that sink in.) . . . I heard about Charlotte Mason at a state homeschool conference and immediately went looking for any books I could find about her methods. One of the first books […]
An Interview with Karen Andreola originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Reading aloud to your children is a gift that you can give them all year round. If you set up a habit of reading together just one chapter from a good literature book every day, you’ll be giving your children a precious gift. In fact, you might not realize just how valuable that gift is. […]
The Gift of Reading Aloud originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Have you ever watched a play or a movie in which the actors weren’t that great? They just didn’t do a very good job of delivering their lines or communicating what was happening inside and outside their characters. The actors didn’t write the play or the movie, yet they had an important role in making […]
Reading Aloud So Children Love to Listen originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
I can’t state this better than Charlotte Mason already did— “Children must have books, living books; the best are not too good for them; anything less than the best is not good enough” (Parents and Children, p. 279). Living books are a hallmark of a Charlotte Mason education. They are not used in every subject, […]
5 Ways to Find Living Books originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Today was one of “those” days. It took a Herculean effort just to make sure we accomplished all that needed to be done: meals, vitamins, exercises, beginning reading, copywork, math, groceries, Bible, literature, Scripture memory. Not to mention conference calls, e-mails, writing, and scheduling.I’m sure your to-do list looked just as full and loomed just […]
The Daily Effort of Education originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
In Charlotte Mason circles, we talk a lot about habits: how God made our brains to form habits automatically through repetition; what kinds of motivation work best; how long it takes to form a good habit; how to replace a bad habit with a good habit. All of this is important, because good habits give […]
God and Habit-Training originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
We talk a lot about your school schedule and how to make it work for you and your students. But what about that block of time before school starts? That part of your morning can have a big impact on your school day. If breakfast is pleasant, chores get done, and the children gather in […]
5 Tips for a Smooth Morning originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
For many years now I’ve been on the lookout for the perfect location at which to hold a gathering of all of us, my Charlotte Mason friends (and I count you as one of those friends) and I. Because I wanted this get-together to be very special, I had a long list of requirements for […]
Announcing the Charlotte Mason Together Retreat originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Joan wanted a garden. In her mind this garden would provide colorful, fresh, healthful vegetables for her family. She could picture the lovely yellow peppers, delicious sweet onions, and bright red tomatoes. In fact, she could almost taste the fresh salsa! But Joan was new to this whole gardening thing. She knew it involved putting […]
Charlotte Mason Homeschooling Is Not One-Size-Fits-All originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Using Language Well, Book 3, focuses the spotlight on analyzing sentences. We recommend it for grades 7 and 8, and it is available now! Learning how to analyze sentences is an important skill for your student to have in order to continue to grow in her ability to communicate well. When she analyzes a sentence, […]
Using Language Well, Book 3, Is Here! originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
A smartphone is a tool. It isn’t good or bad in and of itself. It’s just a tool; it’s up to you how you use it. I encourage you to make sure that you use technology in a way that reinforces the knowledge and the habits that you are trying to instill in your child’s […]
10 Smartphone Hacks for Charlotte Mason Homeschoolers originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Narration is such a powerful tool when done correctly. The foundational way is simply to retell what you read or heard in your own words. If you’re just getting started with narration, you may need to start with reading only a paragraph or one page in order to retain all of that information, process it, […]
New Narration Notecards Are Here! originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
A slip of paper. That’s all. A slip of paper. I find it very interesting that the word schedule comes from the Latin for “a slip of paper.” Can you imagine? When Charlotte Mason homeschoolers talk about schedules, somehow it takes on much more significance than a slip of paper. We read books about how […]
5 Questions to Ask about Your Schedule originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
I love how, with the Charlotte Mason approach, you’re done with lessons by lunch time. Younger students in her schools were done by 11:30, middle students by 12:00, and older students by 1:00. It’s so refreshing to focus head-down for a few hours and then relax. The variety of subjects covered during those hours helps […]
Productive Afternoons in Charlotte Mason Homeschooling originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
I am so happy to announce that the 2019 calendar journal is available, because it combines four things that I like to keep near me during the year. In some ways the year seems to fly by; but in other ways, there is a lot of time and life that passes between January and December. […]
2019 Calendar Journal Now Available: Hope for Tomorrow originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
If you’re switching from an unschooling approach to the Charlotte Mason Method, here’s a little advice to keep in mind. If you’re not sure what “unschooling” is, it might help to take a moment and watch the video, Five Flavors of Homeschooling. But if you know what unschooling is, you’ve had first-hand experience with unschooling, […]
Switching to Charlotte Mason from Unschooling originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Some people think that a Charlotte Mason approach is a unit study approach. But there are some key differences between the two methods. And if you’re making the change from unit studies to Charlotte Mason in your homeschool, you need to understand those differences. Let’s take a look at them by first exploring three tendencies […]
Switching to Charlotte Mason from Unit Studies originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
I’m often asked, “Is Charlotte Mason classical?” Homeschoolers can debate that question all day. Here’s my take on it: If by “classical” you mean appreciating and using classic literature; cultivating good character; focusing on what is good, true, noble, and beautiful; and spreading a wide feast that includes art and music and poetry and Shakespeare […]
Switching to Charlotte Mason from Classical originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
We all come to Charlotte Mason from different backgrounds. Perhaps your homeschool background has been mainly using traditional methods and materials like textbooks and workbooks, study guides and worksheets. If that’s the case, you may find that you have a tendency to think about education in certain ways, and those thoughts might trip you up […]
Switching to Charlotte Mason from Textbooks originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Over the past few weeks, we’ve been talking about tendencies and tips for those who are making the transition to using a Charlotte Mason approach in their home schools. We all come from different backgrounds and those backgrounds can act like magnets. It seems like they constantly try to pull our thoughts back in that […]
Switching to Charlotte Mason from a Classroom originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
We’ve been talking about making the transition to using Charlotte Mason methods in your homeschool. All of us come from different backgrounds and those backgrounds influence our thinking. That’s only natural. In the next few articles, I’d like to walk through some of those background scenarios and offer you some ideas that might help you […]
Starting Charlotte Mason from Scratch originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
We’ve been talking about how to make the transition to the Charlotte Mason method in your homeschool. Some people are ready to dive in with both feet; others feel more comfortable easing into it step by step. So I’ve been outlining a way to make that transition in five stages. I hope you feel free […]
A Mental Shift—How to Switch to Charlotte Mason Homeschooling, Part 6 originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Over the past few weeks we have been walking through how you can make a transition to the Charlotte Mason approach in your home school in stages, getting comfortable at each stage before you move on to the next one. If you haven’t read the posts for Stages 1–4, I encourage you to do that […]
Add More Variety—How to Switch to Charlotte Mason Homeschooling, Stage 5 originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
We’ve been talking about how to make the transition to the Charlotte Mason method in your homeschool, easing into it little by little. We’ve talked already about Stages 1–3: The Basics, Once a Week, and Everyday Subjects. I recommend that you read those posts if you haven’t already. Today we want to do Stage 4. […]
The Right Stuff—How to Switch to Charlotte Mason Homeschooling, Stage 4 originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
We’ve been discussing how to make the transition to the Charlotte Mason method in five stages. We’ve already talked about Stage 1: The Basics and Stage 2: things you will do just Once a Week. Today, let’s look at Stage 3, which is two things that I want you to start doing every day. Literature […]
Daily Mind Food—How to Switch to Charlotte Mason Homeschooling, Stage 3 originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
We’ve been talking about how to make the transition to the Charlotte Mason method in five stages. Last time we talked about Stage 1: The Basics. Today let’s move on to Stage 2: Once a Week. The Once-a-Week stage is comprised of five subjects that are not hard to do, and you do each one […]
Simple Weekly Subjects—How to Switch to Charlotte Mason Homeschooling, Stage 2 originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Today I’d like to discuss a question that I hear frequently. It goes something like this: “The more I hear about the Charlotte Mason method, the more I become convinced that this is the method that’s going to fit my family best. This is what I want to do. Currently, I’m doing ____. How do […]
How to Switch to Charlotte Mason Homeschooling, Stage 1 originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.