Name: CHEC Rocky Mountain Homeschool Conference
Start: 2025-06-12T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-06-14T23:59:59-05:00
Location: Denver, CO

Tagged: books, CM

This topic has 9 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 10 years ago by missceegee.

Viewing 10 posts - 1 through 10 (of 10 total)

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May 10, 2015 at 12:42 am
azkari02
Participant
Which are the 2 most helpful books I can read that will give me a thorough explanation of the CM approach and how to implement it? Quick and easy to follow books are preferred. I’ll have a 6-year-old in the Fall and want to start preparing. Thanks, in advance!
May 10, 2015 at 7:52 am
Karen
Participant
A Charlotte Mason Education and More Charlotte Mason Education by Catherine Levison are both slim books that are rather practical – giving examples, charts (schedules), and tips for implementing the CM-style education.
A Charlotte Mason Companion by Karen Andreola is a thicker book. The nice thing about it is that it’s more conversational, it covers some of the “habit” areas more in depth than the Levison books do.
I like all three books, own all three, and read all three at least once a year. These three are my reference books for all things CM.
Karen Andreola also wrote two fiction books: Pocketful of Pinecones and Lessons at Blackberry Inn. These fiction books are short-chaptered, easy-to-read books that help you see a CM education unfolding in the life of one mom. The books are easy to put down, easy to pick up. The chapters are the perfect length for snatching reading time. The storyline is grabbing enough to keep you interested, but what really shines through are the ideas. You see in the book through the life of Carol, the fictional mom, how she implements CM’s philosophy. This somehow sparks my imagination and helps me to think of ways to implement the CM philosophy in my house. I also read these books about once a year or so.
Others might chime in with some of the newer CM-style books out there. I haven’t read any of those yet.
May 10, 2015 at 8:17 am
Melanie32
Participant
I agree with Karen-Catherine Levinson’s books are the most practical of all CM books out there. If you want a quick overview of how CM methods work and how you can apply her principles, hers are the books to read.
Karen Andreola’s is the most inspirational IMO-especially when you’re starting out with young children. Her CM book is called A Charlotte Mason Companion and it was my first introduction to Charlotte Mason. As soon as I read it I knew I wanted that kind of an education for my children.
May 10, 2015 at 10:55 am
HollyS
Participant
I just read A Charlotte Mason Education and really enjoyed it. I read it in a couple hours so it would definitely be quick and easy to read! For the Children’s Sake is another great pick.
May 10, 2015 at 11:37 am
missceegee
Participant
It isn’t a book, but the Living and Learning DVD set by SCM tops everything else except Charlotte’s own books, in my opinion. I’ve read all of the books mentioned above and enjoyed them, but the DVD set is my favorite.
May 10, 2015 at 1:06 pm
Kayla
Participant
I love the DVDs that Christie mentioned. I’m reading A Charlotte Mason Companion right now to refresh before our next school year starts. I’m also slowly working my way through Charlotte’s original writtings, which are obviously the best option.
May 10, 2015 at 1:49 pm
Melanie32
Participant
Yes-if you can spring for them, the SCM DVD’s far surpass all the books mentioned above. Sonya provides inspiration and information in a way that really makes you feel that you can do this thing called CM education. I highly recommend them! 🙂
May 10, 2015 at 2:19 pm
RobinP
Participant
Ditto the DVDs.
May 10, 2015 at 5:29 pm
petitemom
Participant
I loved the All-Day Charlotte Mason seminar on DVD. If you cannot get that “When children love to learn” is very good.
May 10, 2015 at 5:37 pm
missceegee
Participant
Just to clarify, the Living and Learning dvd set is the newer one that SCM offers and a bit more in depth, but the All Day one is great, too!