Weary, Worried, and Mad: The Three Thanksgiving ThievesSomehow Thanksgiving snuck up on me this year. Usually I make it a point to get out Thanksgiving decorations on November 1, because I like to remind everyone that there is an important holiday before Christmas too. I pull out…Sonya ShaferNovember 21, 20121 Comment
Charlotte Mason Blog Carnival: Of Principles and a Wide Range of KnowledgeWe’re happy to be hosting the Charlotte Mason Blog Carnival this week. The carnival has been pondering the 20 Principles of a CM Education over the year, and this edition of the carnival centers on #19. I love Principle 19.…Sonya ShaferNovember 13, 2012
Too Often Habit Is the FrustratorAlong about this time of year we homeschoolers usually have a pretty good feel for what is working and what needs to be changed. Whether it is what time we get up in the morning, who does which subject when,…Sonya ShaferNovember 8, 2012
Twaddle Too OftenI still recall the time many years ago when we scraped the bottom of our newlywed bank account to buy a gift for a little boy. We got him a sturdy but simple toy car. No flashing lights, no screeching…Sonya ShaferOctober 31, 20122 Comments
Why I Love CMSeventeen years ago, when I first heard a description of the Charlotte Mason Method, my heart resonated with that brief snippet. If you had asked me then why I was drawn to CM above all the other approaches to homeschooling,…Sonya ShaferOctober 10, 20124 Comments
SCM Wins Seven PHS Reader Awards!Every year Practical Homeschooling magazine hosts their much-anticipated Reader Awards for various homeschool resources. The way it works is that the magazine’s readers have an opportunity to nominate their favorite products; then once the ballot is compiled, everyone votes on…Sonya ShaferOctober 3, 20124 Comments
New Book on Charlotte Mason MathIn the past whenever I read Charlotte Mason’s statement about math, “I need not touch upon the subject of Mathematics. It is receiving ample attention, and is rapidly becoming an instrument for living teaching in our schools” (Vol. 3, p.…Sonya ShaferSeptember 26, 20122 Comments
New Revelation Bible StudyWe’re pleased to announce the release of our latest Bible study, written in a Charlotte Mason style that encourages the students to interact directly with Scripture. Come, Lord Jesus: Lessons from Revelation walks your whole family through the book of…Sonya ShaferJuly 5, 2012
New 2012-13 Calendar Journal: Wisdom for MomsOver the past three weeks we have pondered some wonderful gems of wisdom from Charlotte Mason. Wisdom Gem #1: “Always remember that persons matter more than things. Don’t say anything that will leave a sting.” Wisdom Gem #2: “State your…Sonya ShaferMay 10, 2012
Even in Mature LifeMy friend Ruth is 61. She is an exuberant veteran homeschooler who has graduated three and spends her days encouraging other homeschool students and parents. She also recently lost 120 pounds. When I asked Ruth to tell me her story,…Sonya ShaferMay 3, 20121 Comment
State But Don’t AttackMost of us have chosen a “different” path in life. We homeschool. And even more than that, we don’t use a traditional method of homeschooling. We use Charlotte Mason’s approach. Those choices can be unsettling to onlookers. And if that’s…Sonya ShaferApril 25, 20127 Comments
Persons Matter More Than ThingsI’ve been reading The Lord of the Rings lately, and one striking illustration has leapt off the pages again and again: whenever the enemy inflicts a wound, a deep sting is embedded that stays and debilitates even after the flesh…Sonya ShaferApril 18, 20122 Comments
Three New Modern History BooksSimply Charlotte Mason is delighted to announce three new resources to help you teach modern history in a living way! The new books cover people and events from 1850 to the present day—both American history and world history. Over the…Sonya ShaferApril 12, 2012
Nourish the Plant: A Growing Time, Part 4Spring has certainly arrived here in Georgia! All around I see people outside doing yard work (and sneezing from the pollen)—breaking up the soil, pulling weeds, and cultivating their trees and gardens. Such a great reminder of what we’ve been…Sonya ShaferApril 4, 20123 Comments
Past the Outer Court(This article by Sonya Shafer was originally published in The Old Schoolhouse magazine, Summer 2011 issue.) Here is the story of two girls. We will call them Jan and Emily. Both are about nine years old. Jan is reading her…Sonya ShaferApril 3, 20125 Comments
