Charlotte Mason Language Arts: Good BooksA Charlotte Mason education in language arts begins with good books. Here's why choosing living books is so important.Sonya ShaferJune 4, 2025
Do You Need to Teach Your Child to Read Before 1st Grade?Do you need to teach your child to read before 1st Grade? The answer may surprise you!Sonya ShaferFebruary 14, 20241 Comment
How to Teach ShakespeareHere's a simple approach to enjoying the plays of William Shakespeare.Sonya ShaferOctober 14, 20202 Comments
How to Teach GrammarThe Charlotte Mason Method approaches grammar a little differently, but it's an approach that makes total sense.Sonya ShaferSeptember 16, 2020
How to Do DictationPrepared dictation is a brilliant way to teach spelling in the context of great ideas.Sonya ShaferJuly 22, 20201 Comment
Getting Started with a Book of Mottoes, or Commonplace BookA book of mottoes is a wonderful lifelong habit to form. Here's how to do it.Sonya ShaferJuly 1, 20201 Comment
How to Do TranscriptionHandwriting practice that encourages careful work and accurate spelling—that's transcription.Sonya ShaferJune 24, 2020
How to Do CopyworkCopywork is how Charlotte Mason did handwriting practice. Here's how to do it.Sonya ShaferJune 3, 20203 Comments
How to Do a Poet StudyWith this simple approach, your children can actually enjoy poet study!Sonya ShaferApril 8, 20203 Comments
Your Questions Answered: Narration with Multiple ChildrenToday 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…Sonya ShaferJuly 31, 20195 Comments
Signposts for Reading Lessons in the Charlotte Mason MethodWhen 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…Sonya ShaferMarch 5, 20193 Comments
Teaching Grammar: Subject by Subject, Part 16Most of you were probably taught English grammar the same way I was. In first grade we were told, “A noun is the name of a person, place, thing, or idea. Circle the nouns in these five sentences.” Then in…Sonya ShaferMay 3, 2016
Teaching Writing: Subject by Subject, Part 15When we talk about writing, we usually have one or both of these aspects in mind: handwriting and composition. Let’s look at each one and outline how Charlotte Mason approached them. : Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS |…Sonya ShaferApril 27, 20162 Comments
Teaching Spelling: Subject by Subject, Part 14I’m a list person. As I sit at my desk and type these words, I’ve lost count of how many items I’ve added to my to-do list already today. Lists can be effective tools for many things. But when it…Sonya ShaferApril 12, 201617 Comments
Teaching Beginning Reading: Subject by Subject, Part 13When my oldest child was a little one, the thought of teaching her how to read hovered in my mind as a huge challenge. I don’t remember waking up at night, wondering if I would be able to teach her…Sonya ShaferApril 5, 20162 Comments
