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 ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Living Books2 Comments
A Personal Calendar JournalAt the store yesterday I noticed a display of 2013 calendars. Most were the kind that you hang on the wall, but I’ve come to prefer the kind that are printed like a book with plenty of room to write.…Sonya ShaferBooks & Resources1 Comment
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 ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Encouragement4 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 ShaferBooks & Resources, Charlotte Mason Method4 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 ShaferBooks & Resources, Charlotte Mason Method, Math2 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 ShaferBooks & Resources, Charlotte Mason Method, Bible
New Scripture Memory VideoA smiling homeschool mom greeted me at a convention recently with these words: “Love, love, love the Scripture Memory System!” Of course, her comment made me smile too. It does my heart good when I hear that other families are…Sonya ShaferBooks & Resources, Bible5 Comments
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 ShaferBooks & Resources, Charlotte Mason Method
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 ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Habits1 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 ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Encouragement7 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 ShaferEncouragement, Charlotte Mason Method2 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 ShaferBooks & Resources, Charlotte Mason Method, History
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 ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Encouragement, Parenting3 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 ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Living Books5 Comments
Pull the Weeds: A Growing Time, Part 3In front of our house is a little perennial garden. I often tell people how much I love perennials because “you just plant them and forget them.” But that’s not quite true. Every morning as we return from walking the…Sonya ShaferParenting, Books & Resources, Charlotte Mason Method, Habits, Encouragement
Provide the Right Atmosphere: A Growing Time, Part 2Last week we started a discussion based on Charlotte Mason’s reminder that the goal of learning is growth: “Children learn, to Grow”; not just to know (Vol. 1, p. 171). And we took a lesson from Frog and Toad that…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Encouragement, Parenting2 Comments
Lessons from Frog and Toad: A Growing Time, Part 1Frog and Toad can teach us some good life lessons. Have you read their story about the garden? Toad sees Frog’s beautiful garden and decides he wants one. So Frog gives him some seeds. Toad plants them and impatiently watches…Sonya ShaferParenting, Charlotte Mason Method, Encouragement5 Comments
2 Great Reasons to Attend a Homeschool ConventionWhere does the time go? It’s hard to wrap my mind around the fact that my friend Karen (the other half of Simply Charlotte Mason) will be graduating her two youngest children this year. It’s a big commitment to homeschool…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Events19 Comments
Picture Study FAQ and New PortfoliosPicture study is such a great way to add a little something to your day that brings a nice change of pace and “freshens your wits,” as Charlotte liked to describe it. You don’t need an art degree to teach…Sonya ShaferBooks & Resources, Charlotte Mason Method, Art
Two New History BooksWe recently found two gems that are geared for elementary students but that the whole family will enjoy. Those are the best kind of gems! I love to read a well-written elementary-level living book, for it keeps things focused and…Sonya ShaferBooks & Resources, Charlotte Mason Method, History5 Comments
Sharing Our Opinions: Forming Just Opinions, part 4“You shouldn’t eat white bread; white bread is bad for you. Whole wheat is best.” The little girl looked up at me with sincere and reproving eyes as I prepared lunch. We were taking care of her and her brother…Sonya ShaferEducation Is, Parenting, Charlotte Mason Method3 Comments
Of Principles and Fallacies: Forming Just Opinions, Part 3I was reading a biography on Louis Pasteur recently and came across this wonderful quote: “The greatest danger to the mind is to believe in something because one wishes to do so.” Charlotte Mason would agree. When it comes to…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Education Is, Parenting3 Comments
Heads and Hearts: Forming Just Opinions, part 2Last week the children and I watched a nature video. We gazed in wonder as thousands of beautiful snow geese returned from their southern migration to celebrate spring in the far reaches of the north. Part of their celebration was…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Education Is, Parenting3 Comments
Ready-Made OpinionsWe just returned from a trip to the store where, I will admit, I grabbed some ready-made food items. Yes, I could probably have made those items from scratch with a little time and effort, but that seems to be…Sonya ShaferParenting, Charlotte Mason Method, Education Is4 Comments
Charlotte Mason Blog Carnival: Celebrating Charlotte editionIn The Story of Charlotte Mason it gives Charlotte’s birthday as January 1, 1842. Though we don’t know for certain whether she was born on January 1st or if it was just recorded on that default date because the actual…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method30 Comments
The Way of the Will, Free E-bookA friend of mine posted a cartoon this week that caught my eye. The first character asks, “What exactly is a New Year’s resolution?” And the second replies, “It’s a to-do list for the first week of January.” For some…Sonya ShaferBooks & Resources, Charlotte Mason Method, Parenting1 Comment
Favorite Posts from 2011I think I’ve caught the bug. Not that icky respiratory bug that’s going around. I’m talking about the let’s-get-busy-and-tweak-what-needs-tweaking-so-we-can-enter-2012-ready-to-succeed bug. You know, that persistent urge to clean out closets or reorganize the kitchen cupboards. That itch to evaluate your life…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method1 Comment
JoyJoy. We sing about it. We desire it. But often we look for it in the wrong places. Too often we hope that this season of parties and family gatherings and gifts and special concerts and candlelight services will somehow…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Seasonal Inspiration4 Comments
Delightful But ExhaustingAm I the only one whose mind is working in constant addendum mode during this season of the year? You know what I mean by “addendum mode,” don’t you? It’s that state of mind in which your brain adds to…Sonya ShaferSeasonal Inspiration, Charlotte Mason Method8 Comments
New Audiobook of Outdoor SecretsIt seems that more and more homeschoolers are using audiobooks. It makes sense when you think about it, especially for those of us using the Charlotte Mason Method. We read a lot of books, and we keep an ongoing list…Sonya ShaferBooks & Resources, Charlotte Mason Method, Nature Study, Science
Straight from the HeartHave you ever noticed the different distances a Thank You can travel? I went through a drive-through the other day, and at the end of my order the employee told me the total and said, “Thank you.” That Thank You…Sonya ShaferBooks & Resources, Seasonal Inspiration1 Comment
“Still Better,” Hymns in Prose for ChildrenIt always intrigues me to find out exact titles that Charlotte Mason recommended in her writings and used in her schools. Recently I came across this recommendation: Describing the best material to use for reading lessons, Charlotte said, Short fables,…Sonya ShaferBooks & Resources, Charlotte Mason Method, Reading1 Comment
Charlotte Mason Homeschooling with Special Needs ChildrenI have a daughter with special needs. We diagnosed her with autism and PDD-NOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder) when she was four years old, and I’ve been trying to use as many Charlotte Mason methods as possible in our homeschooling journey…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Special Needs16 Comments
Handicrafts Made Simple DVD SeriesI don’t know about you, but for me the two biggest challenges of teaching handicrafts are (1) not knowing how to do the craft myself and (2) coming up with projects. Despite my noticeable lack of “craftyness,” my oldest daughter…Sonya ShaferBooks & Resources, Charlotte Mason Method, Handicrafts1 Comment
Fall Handicrafts Tips and IdeasHandicrafts and life skills are such a great way to spend cooler afternoons. And as the weather turns cold, they provide a wonderfully productive outlet for energetic minds and fingers indoors. We like to combine handicrafts with life skills because…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Seasonal Inspiration, Handicrafts, Books & Resources1 Comment
Facts vs. IdeasI remember sitting in our Charlotte Mason homeschool discussion group, explaining how a living book should give our children ideas, not just facts. One dear lady turned a puzzled look my way and asked, “What do you mean ‘ideas’?” That…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Education Is, Living Books4 Comments
Delightful HandwritingIt seems that children naturally want to make their mark as they grow. The tinies smear their highchair tray with sauces and puddings to explore what it might look like; the little ones scribble with crayons on any surface in…Sonya ShaferBooks & Resources, Charlotte Mason Method, Writing3 Comments
The Gentle Art of Learning, Part 3We are honored to have Karen Andreola as a guest writer for today’s post. Her book, A Charlotte Mason Companion: Personal Reflections on the Gentle Art of Learning, has been a source of inspiration and encouragement for so many of…Karen AndreolaCharlotte Mason Method, Education Is11 Comments
Is Charlotte Mason a Gentle Approach?, Part 2Last week we started a discussion on whether Charlotte Mason’s approach should be described as “gentle.” We hear that description used a lot, but is it accurate? Much of the answer depends on how you define “gentle.” In the previous…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Education Is3 Comments
Is Charlotte Mason a Gentle Approach?, Part 1I have often heard homeschool moms refer to the Charlotte Mason approach as a “gentle” approach. I’ve even used the term myself, come to think of it, when describing some of her methods. Usually that word comes up when we…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Education Is11 Comments
3 New Picture Study PortfoliosEver since our first three Picture Study Portfolios came out, we have been receiving enthusiastic comments about them. I just purchased the Picture Study Portfolio featuring the works from Giotto at our homeschool conference today!! WOW!!! These are beautiful, the…Sonya ShaferBooks & Resources, Charlotte Mason Method, Art
What I Learned from Charlotte’s ScheduleAs every fall rolls around, the time comes to re-evaluate my daily schedule. Yes, I try to organize my children’s daily homeschool schedule, but the evaluating and tweaking go further than that. I like to take a look at how…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Homeschool Planning, Encouragement14 Comments
3 New Workshop Recordings to Equip and Encourage Homeschool MomsThis spring and summer have been chock full of homeschool conventions, and I have enjoyed many lovely opportunities to present workshops. It has been a blessing and a privilege to share ideas from my experience as a Charlotte Mason-style homeschool…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Encouragement, Books & Resources1 Comment
Three Questions for the Homeschool Mother: How?In the past couple of weeks we have looked at two very important questions for homeschool mothers: Why must the children learn? and What should they learn? Charlotte Mason believed that those questions needed definite and thoughtful answers if we…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Education Is
Three Questions for the Homeschool Mother: What?It seems like What? is one of the main questions we homeschool mothers ask: What books? What math curriculum? What supplemental courses or classes? What outside activities? We spend a lot of time pondering the What as we pore over…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Education Is
Three Questions for the Homeschool Mother: Why?As we prepare for another year of homeschooling, many of us are asking a lot of questions: What can I buy with the money available? How detailed should my plans be? Am I leaving something out? How can I keep…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Education Is
My Book of Centuries, A Great JoyWhen I first heard about a Book of Centuries, I was relieved. Here was the perfect way to contain that wall timeline that was threatening to overtake my house—a timeline in a book! But, as usual, Charlotte Mason’s method was…Sonya ShaferHistory, Books & Resources, Charlotte Mason Method1 Comment
A Variety of Tools for Teaching ReadingA few weeks ago we were on the road in Texas, between conventions, when our battery light came on. My husband is mechanically minded (for which I am often thankful), so he knew what to do. We found the nearest…Sonya ShaferBooks & Resources, Charlotte Mason Method, Reading, Language Arts
The Wonderful Ease of Having a PlanI am at peace. My mind can focus happily as I write this note. It is not wrestling with little nagging thoughts that flit in uninvited and interrupt the flow. How did I achieve this happy state?, you ask. Yesterday…Sonya ShaferEncouragement, Books & Resources, Charlotte Mason Method, Homeschool Planning
I Am, I Can, I Ought, I Will Calendar JournalWe hope you’ve enjoyed this series on Charlotte Mason’s motto for students. There is much more to ponder, much more to consider and do to help our children realize the potential in those four powerful phrases: I am, I can,…Sonya ShaferBooks & Resources, Charlotte Mason Method3 Comments
