Favorite Living Science Books for Grades 4–6Karen Smith shares some of her favorite living science books for grades 4–6.Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Living Books, Science1 Comment
The Excitement of a Charlotte Mason Co-opSonya chats with Laura about why so many homeschoolers love Charlotte Mason co-ops.Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method
Atmosphere: Core Values of Charlotte MasonYour child will learn a lot from having natural, first-hand experiences with the people and things in your home.Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method2 Comments
Homeschool CommunitiesSonya chats with Amber O'Neal Johnston about how homeschool communities can enhance and support what you're doing at home.Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method2 Comments
Favorite Living Science Books for Grades 1–3Karen 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.Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Science, Nature Study1 Comment
End-of-School-Year Organizing IdeasSonya chats with Laura about how to stay organized at the end of the school year.Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method3 Comments
Balance: Core Values of Charlotte MasonThink of education like a three-legged stool. You need all three legs to stay balanced.Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method
Nature Study in the SummerSonya chats with Karen Smith about some things to look for when you do nature study in the summer.Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Nature Study
Favorite Living Books about South and Central AmericaHere are some of my favorite books for learning about the cultures of South and Central America.Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Books & Resources, Geography1 Comment
Moving While HomeschoolingTrying to homeschool while moving into a new house? Laura has some great encouragement for you.Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method2 Comments
Respect: Core Values of Charlotte MasonWe often talk about "respect the child as a person." Here's what it looks like.Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method1 Comment
Homeschooling and Working from HomeSonya and Amber O'Neal Johnston discuss how to balance homeschooling and working from home.Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method2 Comments
Favorite Living Books about the Middle EastSonya shares her favorite living books about the Middle East.Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Living Books, Geography
3 Keys to Organizing Your Home SchoolSonya and Laura take a look at three key areas that need to be organized to keep your home school functioning smoothly.Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method
Authority and Obedience: Core Values of Charlotte MasonCharlotte 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…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method
Learning As You Homeschool with Charlotte MasonSonya is joined by Amber O'Neal Johnston to talk about learning as you go while homeschooling the Charlotte Mason way.Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Encouragement
Your Questions Answered: The Place of Fun in a Charlotte Mason EducationIs there a place for fun activities in a Charlotte Mason education?Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method
Possibilities: Core Values of Charlotte MasonThe 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…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method1 Comment
10 Ways a Charlotte Mason Education Prepares a Student for a STEM CareerLet's look at ten ways a Charlotte Mason education can prepare a student for success in a STEM field.Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method
STEM and a Charlotte Mason EducationSonya discusses how the current STEM emphasis aligns, or doesn't align, with a Charlotte Mason education.Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method
More Great Resources for Teaching BibleRecently 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…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Books & Resources, Bible3 Comments
Your Questions Answered: When School Seems PointlessSonya and Laura share some ideas for what to do when your child says that school is pointless.Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Encouragement3 Comments
Personhood: Core Values of Charlotte MasonWhat 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…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method
WorldschoolingWhen 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…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method
Favorite Living Books for Teaching BibleIn 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…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Bible1 Comment
Your Questions Answered: Let’s Just Get Through ThisHave you ever told your child, "Let's just get through this" schoolwork? Sonya and Laura discuss positive ways to approach that situation.Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method
Core Values of Charlotte Mason: IntroductionA 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…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method1 Comment
What a Living Book Sounds LikeIt 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;…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Living Books1 Comment
Favorite Living History Books on Ancient RomeToday 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…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, History, Books & Resources, Living Books4 Comments
Making Midyear Adjustments in Your Home SchoolSonya and Laura talk about some adjustments they've made in their home schools and share encouragement for readjusting your plans.Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Homeschool Planning1 Comment
God With UsThis 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…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Seasonal Inspiration3 Comments
Books as WindowsIn 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…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Living Books, History2 Comments
Books as MirrorsThe 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…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Living Books, History5 Comments
Binoculars in Nature StudyOne 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…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Nature Study3 Comments
Favorite Living History Books on Ancient GreeceGreat living history books for studying Ancient Greece the Charlotte Mason way.Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Books & Resources, Living Books, History
Your Questions Answered: Your Home School SpaceAre 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…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method
How to Teach Foreign LanguageA simple and effective approach to learning a foreign language that gets you speaking right away.Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Foreign Language5 Comments
Help Your Child Learn to Observe More CloselyHas 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…Sonya ShaferNature Study, Charlotte Mason Method
Favorite Living History Books on Ancient EgyptI 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…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Books & Resources, History
Your Questions Answered: When You Want to Quit HomeschoolingSonya and Laura share encouragement and ideas for dealing with homeschool burnout.Sonya ShaferEncouragement
How to Teach ShakespeareHere's a simple approach to enjoying the plays of William Shakespeare.Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Language Arts2 Comments
Your Questions Answered: Questions about DictationToday 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…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Spelling
Hints to TeachersOn 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…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Books & Resources, Education Is, Encouragement13 Comments
New Picture Study: HolbeinA new artist has been added to the award-winning Picture Study Portfolios collection: Hans Holbein. Each Holbein picture in the portfolio has an interesting story behind it that will encourage your child to look closely and discover more about the…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method
Your Questions Answered: Favorite School Supplies for a Charlotte Mason Home SchoolToday, 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.…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method2 Comments
How to Teach GrammarThe Charlotte Mason Method approaches grammar a little differently, but it's an approach that makes total sense.Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Language Arts
Nature Study: Not Just a ChecklistToday 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.”)…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Nature Study
Charlotte Mason NotebookingSome 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.…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Books & Resources
What to Do If Your Child Doesn’t Like a School SubjectWhat should you do when your child doesn't like a certain school subject? Sonya and Laura discuss ways to approach this in your home school.Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method
How to Do a Book of CenturiesA Book of Centuries is a timeline in a book. Find out how and download a free printable template.Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, History
