Happy Results: Jill C’s Journey to Charlotte MasonMany homeschool moms, as they learn more about Charlotte Mason’s methods, get a funny look on their faces and say something like, “That’s what I’ve been trying to do all along, because . . . well, it just makes sense.…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Encouragement1 Comment
How Fiction Helps Children GrowMy youngest has been traveling to conventions with us over the past few months. Amid the different locations and changing venues, she has held tightly to one constant: on every trip she brings a classic children’s literature book. These books…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Literature1 Comment
5 Ways to Strengthen Your Child’s WillpowerJoey sits in his room and plays video games hour after hour, sulking anytime he is asked to do anything else. Samantha pitches a fit when she is told she may not have a cookie right now. Alex stares out…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Parenting1 Comment
Charlotte Mason and The Marshmallow TestFour-year-old Susie sits at a little table in a plain room, listening intently. “Susie, which do you like better: one marshmallow or two marshmallows?” the nice lady asks as she points to the sweet treats sitting on paper plates on…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Parenting2 Comments
Happy Results: Arline E.’s Scripture Memory StoryIt’s so much fun explaining the Scripture Memory System to people when I speak at conventions around the country. When they realize that their whole family can memorize new Bible passages plus review all the verses they have learned in…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Bible2 Comments
A Beautiful Scripture Memory BoxFor many years we have encouraged families to memorize Scripture with a simple and effective system. In just five or ten minutes a day you can continually learn new passages plus review every verse you’ve learned. Many of you have…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Books & Resources, Bible2 Comments
The CM Organizer Has a Fresh New Look!For several months now we have been busily working behind the scenes on an update to the CM Organizer, and today we’re thrilled to announce the exciting news: the CM Organizer has an attractive new look! It’s still the same…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, CM Organizer1 Comment
Good Habits, Great Books, and Guided DiscoveryYou have, no doubt, heard of the 3 Rs when it comes to education: reading, writing, and ‘rithmetic. (Why writing is considered an R, I don’t know, but let’s just keep going.) Those three Rs make it simple to summarize…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Education Is1 Comment
Announcing Four Wonderful New Picture Study PortfoliosToday we are pleased to announce four new artists have been added to our collection of Picture Study Portfolios. You may recognize some of their names: Raphael, Cassatt, Rubens, and Homer. Raphael is known for his portrayals of cherubic angels…Sonya ShaferArt, Books & Resources, Charlotte Mason Method2 Comments
Happy Results: Elsie L’s Picture Study StoryPicture study is a simple Charlotte Mason method, taking only a few minutes each week. Yet that practice can yield wonderful results. Lingering with one artist and allowing the students to look closely and carefully at his work—to look for…Sonya ShaferArt, Charlotte Mason Method1 Comment
How Large Is Your Student’s Room?We’re not talking about blueprints and square footage today. Rather, the question, How large is your student’s room?, refers to a powerful passage that Charlotte Mason wrote in School Education. It’s not about architecture; it’s about curriculum. Let me explain.…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Education Is3 Comments
Inside the 6 Volumes of the Original Home Schooling SeriesCharlotte Mason’s original six-volume series is a wealth of ideas, encouragement, and good humor. The books are not easy reading, but they are rich reading. You will gain much insight and confidence if you spend even ten minutes a day…Sonya ShaferBooks & Resources, Charlotte Mason Method2 Comments
The “Pinks” Are BackI’ve had two constant companions over the 20 years that I’ve been homeschooling: my husband John and my pink six-volume set of The Original Home Schooling Series by Charlotte Mason. Several years ago we had the privilege of getting to…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Books & Resources7 Comments
Happy Results: Heather F.’s Nature Study StoryOf the many gifts that we can give our children, one of the greatest is a love of nature. And the sooner we encourage that relationship, the more time they will have to develop it and enjoy its benefits. Charlotte…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Encouragement3 Comments
A Flowing StreamOnce upon a time there was a little village nestled at the foot of snow-capped mountains. Its greatest treasure was a sparkling, life-giving stream that flowed right down the center. The people who lived near that stream were happy and…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Parenting1 Comment
Keeping Your Balance, 2017–18 Calendar JournalBalance is a needful, but often elusive, state. We yearn for it, yet often we don’t consciously think about it until it’s gone. When life is humming along smoothly, we don’t usually focus on possible tweaks and changes we may…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Books & Resources
You Need All Three: Atmosphere, Discipline, and LifeIf you have ever sat on a three-legged stool, you know how important the three legs are to keeping your balance. Take away any of the legs and the stool becomes unstable. It’s the same with a Charlotte Mason education.…Sonya ShaferEducation Is, Charlotte Mason Method6 Comments
Get Your Student in the WordI have a little saying that sums up my goals for my children’s Bible lessons: Get the Word in your children and your children in the Word. The first part of that goal—get the Word in your children—is done through…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Bible1 Comment
New Lesson Plan Books from the Middle Ages through Modern TimesWe at SCM are committed to continue to grow and improve the resources that we offer. As our name suggests, our goal is to make it simple for you to give your children an enjoyable, quality Charlotte Mason education. Today…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, History1 Comment
How to Dish Up KnowledgeChildren need food to grow. Nutritionists tell us that the best way to feed our children for physical growth is to regularly provide good portions of a variety of healthful foods several times a day. Charlotte Mason believed that the…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Education Is
Happy Results: Amanda L.’s CM Methods StoryMaybe you are new to Charlotte Mason’s methods and are on the fence about whether to use them in your home school. Or perhaps you aren’t sure that CM methods would work with your boys. Well, take some encouragement from…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Encouragement
They Have to Stand Before They Can RunMy daughter just sent me a sweet side-by-side picture that shows my granddaughter at five days old and at one year old in front of the same blossoming apple tree. Children grow so much that first year! It has been…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Encouragement1 Comment
Fabulous New Living Book on the Middle AgesWe are so excited to announce a new living history book for the whole family: A Castle with Many Rooms: The Story of the Middle Ages! Now you and your children can follow the fascinating story of the Middle Ages…Sonya ShaferBooks & Resources, Charlotte Mason Method6 Comments
Nature Study and Science: Is There a Difference?We hear a lot about nature study as one of Charlotte Mason’s key methods. And it is a key activity for learning. The question is sometimes asked, though: Is nature study all you do for science? Let’s talk a bit…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Nature Study, Science
Happy Results: Michelle F.’s Shakespeare StoryCharlotte Mason was sure that even young students could enjoy Shakespeare. She reported, “Their power to understand, visualise, and ‘tell’ a play of Shakespeare from nine years old and onwards is very surprising” (Vol. 6, p. 182). Michelle F. recently…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Encouragement
More of The Stuff They Left BehindThere’s something about looking closely and carefully at a historical object that makes that era become more real in your mind. Taking your time to observe in detail the treasures that people of the past created seems to help you…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Books & Resources
Visits to Asia Now AvailableWe are thrilled to announce that the much-anticipated Visits to Asia geography notebook is now available! This gentle weekly study walks you through an exploration of the countries of Asia with captivating photography, a traveler’s firsthand accounts, delightful living books,…Sonya ShaferBooks & Resources, Charlotte Mason Method, Geography
A Weekly Homeschool Schedule As Simple As 1-2-3Many of you are in the midst of planning for your home schools, so I thought it might be helpful to share a quick explanation of how I plan my weekly schedule. I’ve been using this 1-2-3 method of planning…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Homeschool Planning8 Comments
Happy Results: Melissa S.’s Picture Study StoryI recently read this wonderful reminder of what it is we are endeavoring to do when we give our children a Charlotte Mason education: I desire my children to form relations with what they study—not to know meagerly “about” something…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Art, Encouragement
Use Powerful Combinations: 6 Tools for Self-Education, Part 7Thanks for coming along on this little study that caught my attention. This whole idea of self-educating seems clearer now. We’ve looked at six tools that facilitate self-education: Read or hear literary books. Put it in your own words (narrate).…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Education Is4 Comments
Create Something of Your Own: 6 Tools for Self-Education, Part 6When my children were young we had a designated Craft Box. Into this box went empty paper towel tubes, clean styrofoam trays, sheets of felt on clearance at the fabric store, empty cereal boxes, paper that had been printed on…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Education Is
Keep It and Give It Away: 6 Tools for Self-Education, Part 5I was talking with a mother recently whose daughter had memorized a poem. The mother shared how some relatives had stopped by, and the mother had taken advantage of their visit to encourage her daughter to recite the poem for…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Education Is2 Comments
Record Your Discoveries: 6 Tools for Self-Education, Part 4Write it down. That was the instruction at the end of the first chapter in the book I was reading. The chapter had been full of ideas and possibilities. So much so that my head was spinning with different images…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Education Is
Observe Closely and Carefully: 6 Tools for Self-Education, Part 3Most of you are familiar with the illustrious fictional detective, Sherlock Holmes. He is famous for solving mysteries by paying close attention to details. One scenario sticks out in my mind, because it sums up the Holmes character in a…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Education Is1 Comment
Put It in Your Own Words: 6 Tools for Self-Education, Part 2“So where shall we meet?” I was arranging to have lunch with a friend, and we were trying to answer one of the most difficult questions that can ever be posed to two or more people: Where do you want…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Education Is
6 Tools for Self-Education, Part 1It struck me the other day how much time and effort we homeschooling parents put into teaching. We spend hours discussing strategies, learning techniques, and evaluating materials, striving to improve our presentations as teachers. All of that is good. We…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Education Is1 Comment
Now Get Free Shipping Every DayDon’t you love it when you finally reach a goal that you have had your eye on for many years? Well, the year 2017 reflects just such a milestone goal for SCM. We are excited to announce that Free Shipping…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method1 Comment
Happy Results: Delight S.’s Habit StoryWhen we think of habits to be formed, we often think of tasks that will make our homes run smoother. We may look at a new year and decide to help our children focus on picking up toys, brushing teeth,…Sonya ShaferEncouragement
Take Joy HomeI like to ponder this poem that Charlotte Mason and her student teachers pondered every Christmas season. Take joy home,And make a place in thy great heart for her,And give her time to grow, and cherish her!Then will She come…Sonya ShaferSeasonal Inspiration1 Comment
Happy Results: Zelena O.’s Music Study StoryMusic is such a gift! And it doesn’t take a lot to give that gift to your children. Simply focusing on one composer for several weeks, listening to his works and enjoying them together, can have a large impact. Zelena…Sonya ShaferEncouragement
More Video Q & AThousands of you have enjoyed our free video resource, SCM Answers Your Questions. We’re glad those short, informal recordings have been encouraging. And we thought it might be helpful to add some more videos to the series, answering more of…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Education Is, Nature Study, Homeschool Planning, Special Needs
Two Ways to Save at SCM“Something old and something new.” Isn’t that how the rhyme goes? I know it is usually used in a wedding context, but those phrases keep coming to mind because we have two exciting announcements to make. Both of which will…Sonya ShaferBooks & Resources2 Comments
Together But Isolated: Taming Holiday Screen TimeToday I am happy to introduce a guest post from Doug Smith. Doug and his wife Karen are no strangers to many of you. They are co-creators of Simply Charlotte Mason, and you may have met them working the SCM…Doug SmithParenting8 Comments
New Shakespeare in Three Steps: Twelfth Night and MacbethThe other day I heard someone describe Shakespeare’s plays as the “sitcoms of the 16th and 17th centuries.” At first I thought that was a trivial comparison; but the more I ponder it, the more sense it makes. Shakespeare’s plays…Sonya ShaferBooks & Resources, Charlotte Mason Method
Happy Results: Bek M.’s Nature Study StoryNature study is such a wonderful opportunity for learning no matter where you live. The main thing is to keep your ears and eyes open to the natural world around you and be willing to explore where it takes you.…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Encouragement
Uniquely Human: A Book ReviewI have a new favorite book about loving and educating a child with autism: Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism by Barry M. Prizant. I want to get copies for everyone in my extended family. I want to…Sonya ShaferBooks & Resources, Special Needs6 Comments
More Poems to Enjoy: Holmes and WhittierI love Charlotte Mason’s “permission” to simply enjoy poetry. The weekly happy opportunities to read a poem with my children have enriched my own spirit. There is something refreshing about having the freedom to make my own relations with the…Sonya ShaferBooks & Resources, Charlotte Mason Method1 Comment
Happy Results: Katherine R.’s Book of Centuries StoryCharlotte Mason’s idea of keeping a timeline in a book is brilliant. Each time you read about a person or an event in history, you turn to the appropriate century in the book and make an entry. But the real…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Encouragement2 Comments
It’s OK to Say I Don’t Know“Why do the leaves fall?” My mind raced as her little face turned toward me with that so-familiar quizzical expression. OK. Science. Think! You learned this, didn’t you? Elementary school. Come on, come on, she’s waiting. Say something. Say anything,…Sonya ShaferCharlotte Mason Method, Education Is2 Comments
2017 Calendar Journal Now AvailableOne of my favorite literary quotes is from Anne of Green Gables. (Some of you already know what it is, for you have hugged that quote to your own hearts too. Feel free to recite it along with me.) “Isn’t…Sonya ShaferBooks & Resources
