Name: Great Homeschool Conventions (Columbus)
Start: 2025-04-24T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-04-26T23:59:59-05:00
Location: Columbus, OH

This topic has 7 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 7 years, 2 months ago by Karen Smith.

Viewing 8 posts - 1 through 8 (of 8 total)

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October 12, 2017 at 5:40 pm
Melanie
Participant
Which book do y’all recommend…the CM Companion or A CM Education/More CM Education? This is my first year using the CM style and I love it. The kids (14, 10, 6, 5) do, too!! I’d like something to help me along my journey with more tips and guides on how to do it all correctly. Thanks!
October 12, 2017 at 6:18 pm
alphabetika
Participant
To be honest, I think your best “companion” is the articles and forum here on Simply Charlotte Mason!
October 12, 2017 at 7:09 pm
sheraz
Participant
They both are good for beginning CMer’s.
The Charlotte Mason Companion by Karen Andreola is written in a cozy, having-a-relaxing-chat-with-my-friend kind of way. To me, she is reassuring and makes the case that CM is not just about fancy curriculum or how much money you are spending. Her often really insightful observations are on every page. It is a very encouraging book with chapters that cover each topic.
A Charlotte Mason Education by Catherine Levison is much more a nuts and bolts type book. Each chapter literally covers how to do one subject in clear, concise language. It is the book you get when you want to to “start this whole CM thing right now.” The second book is more about understanding the philosophy side of the methods of a CM education, and really, you cannot have a true CM education if you do not understand the philosophy behind the methods. It also offers more ideas about how to implement those methods.
Each offers its own appeal. It really depends on how you like to read to get your information. I’ve read them all and they all have taught me something helpful. 🙂

October 13, 2017 at 5:00 am
Melanie32
Participant
Sheraz said it perfectly! I have them both and Levison’s other books as well.
I will say that A Charlotte Mason Companion was my first introduction to Charlotte Mason and it will always hold a special place in my heart. I just love Karen Andreola. I think if it were me, I would buy the companion. 🙂
October 13, 2017 at 5:05 am
Tristan
Participant
Beyond the articles and materials here at SCM my favorite is A Charlotte Mason Companion. I also really enjoy Andreola’s Pocketful of Pinecones and Lessons at Blackberry Inn.
October 13, 2017 at 9:22 am
MelissaB
Participant
I really liked Catherine Levison’s books a lot (actually my first into to CM educating). They helped me dig right in because they were concise and more “nuts and bolts” as mentioned above. I have the companion too, but still haven’t made it through the full book yet. It’s good, but it’s very long compared to both of Levison’s books and my kids are older now, so I feel like it doesn’t fit as well either.
October 13, 2017 at 10:48 pm
Jamie
Participant
Just my opinion but the articles and ebooks found here on SimplyCM are the BEST resources to get you going and encourage you in implementating a Charlotte Mason education in your home.
I also love the “Pocketfull of Pinecones” as a living narrative of seeing it all work.
October 14, 2017 at 9:57 am
Karen Smith
Moderator
All of our helpful articles that others have recommended can be found in our Learning Library organized by topic and series.