We were created for language. It’s the primary way through which we know God. Through His word He speaks to our hearts and minds. Through His word He artfully communicates in a way that connects us to Him. God is the Master of the Art of Language. And we’re changed because of it. From the Read More
We’ve learned from the last two blogs that copywork is worth its weight in gold. Yet, there’s even more value to be mined from copywork lessons. You can use copywork to teach spelling! Charlotte Mason tells us that we need to help our children develop the habit of seeing words. And you know how it goes—habits, habits, habits. Read More
Everyone understands the value of copywork for neat handwriting, but did you know copywork benefits the child’s language learning and creates foundational habits? Copywork works—on so many levels! Charlotte Mason was a huge advocate for copywork and developed a specific methodology that benefitted her students greatly. Let me share with you some of her ideas Read More
Let’s talk about how to teach copywork so that your children will actually develop the skill of natural, fluid writing. All of my children left home with the skill of writing. One was naturally drawn toward language and writing while the others gravitated to math and science—not surprising as they grew up watching their mom Read More
It wasn’t long into our homeschool experience that I encountered what seemed like an immovable boulder blocking our way forward. Garnering my abundance of first year homeschool energy and excitement, we found a way around it. And just as we began skipping along our merry way, another boulder came tumbling toward us. And then another. Read More
I’m filled with awe and wonder when I consider that my children were chosen by God before the foundation of the world. That each was distinctly fashioned with specific gifts, talents, abilities, interests, passions, dislikes, and preferences. Each was created for a particular purpose—a purpose God ordained in advance that they should pursue. For we Read More
As a veteran homeschooler and creator of products that empower moms to educate with excellence, it is my heart’s cry to encourage, build up, and say to every homeschooler I encounter with those weary and worried-filled eyes, “You can do this!” You can do this well. You can educate your children better than the reigning Read More
I’ve heard many commentaries on love and what Jesus meant when He told us to love one another. Years ago, I wholeheartedly agreed with the idea that love is a decision, not a feeling. The concept that love is expressed more out of choice than emotional sentiment made sense to me. I went along with Read More
There’s a quote that says, “If Satan can’t tempt us with destruction, he’ll tempt us with distraction.” How true for the homeschool mom! Our enemy tempts us to veer off God’s perfect path by distracting us with a plethora of “good” things: things that seem beneficial, things that seem profitable, things that even seem necessary. Things Read More
Of all the things we desire to accomplish in our homeschool day, devotions with our children should uncompromisingly be done first. Why? Because nurturing our children’s heart and character is paramount for success in all areas of their life—whether sports, academics, leadership, or daily choices. I’ve said this for years, and it still rings true: Read More
There’s confusion among homeschoolers about when to teach science. Some Charlotte Mason educators avoid teaching science in the early elementary years. Often, they consider nature study enough. Perhaps part of it is they are uninterested in science—the outcome of their own education. After all, the way science is presented in the school system renders it Read More
Homeschooling children with ADHD is a popular topic and is something I’ve spoken about recently. I’ve been making homeschool related TikToks every week and had a huge response to my TikTok about how to ensure your ADHD children thrive in your homeschool. I also did a podcast on this topic for The Charlotte Mason Show. Read More
Ever wonder exactly why notebooking is superior to worksheets and quizzes? It’s because of the little horseshoe-shaped organ in the brain—the amygdala. This important learning center of the brain is activated when a person is engaged in creativity, especially when it involves the use of his memory. Creativity and memory are closely linked and, when Read More
No matter what career your child chooses, no matter what he or she does in the future, the ability to communicate effectively in writing is essential for success and advancement. Tragically, writing instruction is one of the greatest failings of the modern education system. As homeschoolers, we can remedy this by implementing the writing progression Charlotte Read More
When it comes to teaching our children the art of writing, it’s not enough that we employ copywork and choose living books from which to learn and grow. We must also ask our children to engage with the books—to think, consider, and understand the story or content well enough to explain it in their own Read More
In the last few posts, I began the discussion on the most effective Charlotte Mason methods for teaching your children to write well, to become skillful writers. I talked about the eminent value of transcribing (through copywork and a Book of Commonplace) and its importance in training the brain in the mechanics of writing, including solid sentence structure Read More
Do you ever have those days where you just feel like it’s too hard? You can’t think of a reason to be motivated, to keep going. You can’t remember why you started this? And you lack the will or energy to go on? I hope I’m not the only one. Well, there’s something I have Read More
There is a right way—a methodology—for teaching writing and if followed, your children will become proficient if not skilled writers. Unfortunately, our modern educational system does not teach writing well. In fact, poor writing is the biggest complaint of college professors and is why most every student who enters university must take a remedial writing Read More
In this time of extraordinary pressure, educational and social, perhaps the mother’s first duty to her children is to secure for them a quiet growing time– spent for the most part in the fresh air. – Charlotte Mason Yes! But how do we make our outdoor experiences even more meaningful? I have some key tips Read More
Every week I have this great intention to give you tips on scheduling your day. Every week, as I’m writing, something related hits me. First, it was letting God lead (because He’s in charge of our day anyway). Next, it was how to do devotions (because that’s first on the schedule). Today, it’s developing self-motivated Read More
She cried out to God, “This isn’t working! Homeschooling is too hard! I can’t do it anymore!” Last week, I planned to write on how to schedule your homeschool, but it turned into an article on allowing room for the Holy Spirit to guide your days—essentially not being a slave to your schedule or to Read More
I hope y’all are having a great week and getting in gear for the new school year. My two who are still in college at University of Georgia started back last week. They have a computer architecture class together and are so happy about that. It’s like homeschooling again—learning the same subject together. They’ll both Read More
Hey Homeschooler! It’s been a wild and wonderful week for me. My daughter and her family moved back to Atlanta with my new grandson. They’ve been living here for a week and it’s been glorious. They move into their new place on Friday. The fun thing about having my daughter back in our town is, not Read More
Well, here we are again! Another exciting school adventure awaits! I hope it’s the best year ever for you. It was a whirlwind of a summer for the Fulbrights, traveling from coast-to-coast meeting so many truly precious homeschoolers. We hit nine states in all: SC, OH, MO, FL, IA, CA, TX, AZ, and GA. What a Read More
Is art education the unsolved mystery in your homeschool? It is for many moms—but it doesn’t have to be if you teach art the Charlotte Mason way! Albert Einstein said, “It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression.” Charlotte Mason believed art should be a staple in every child’s Read More
Every generation since Christ came to earth has experienced trials of one kind or another. And every generation has been encouraged by God to keep the faith. To believe His plans and purposes will prevail—even in this—our hour of trouble. Imagine Christians living during the days of Rome where life was decadent and people freely engaged Read More
Nature study is not a subject we teach—it’s a way of life. A way of life initiated by a habit we must instill in the early years. Nature study builds into our children something that cannot be attained through any other means—a spirit of freedom and a sense of awe—a depth of understanding of God’s beautiful creation Read More
“The kids in my class don’t think,” my son remarked while explaining to me the surprising things he discovered his freshman year of college. “What do you mean they don’t think?” I asked. “They listen to the lectures, but never have any questions that go beyond what the professor taught. They just care about what’s Read More
We don’t often think of Prayer and Praise as a habit to be trained. However, like Thoughts of God, prayer and praise can become second nature to us, to our children, if we make them a regular part of our day. Anything we do regularly or continually can be considered a habit. And there is no better habit Read More
The habit of perfect execution. Sounds intimidating, and perhaps a bit elusive. But what exactly is it? It’s simply requiring our children to always do their best work. That’s it. Charlotte Mason tells us, “’Throw perfection into all you do’ is a counsel upon which a family may be brought up with great advantage.” EXCELLENCE This Read More
The habit of attention is one of the most critical habits a homeschool mom can train—and one of the greatest gifts she can give. Why is this particular habit so important and so impactful? Charlotte Mason tells us that all our children’s intellectual gifts—their natural intelligence and comprehension during learning and in life—depend completely on the cultivation of this habit. Read More
When the right idea or thought is planted in the garden of a child’s soul, with the ever present help of the Divine Life—the Holy Spirit—that idea begins to influence a child’s thoughts and decisions. Those decisions then become actions. Those actions then become habits. Those habits then become character. I love how Ralph Waldo Read More
Charlotte Mason tells us, “The child who starts out with, say, 20 good habits begins with a certain capital which he will lay out to endless profit as the years go on.” In the next series of posts, we will discuss many of the habits Charlotte Mason mentions and consider how best to train them Read More
Living books breathe life into learning. They engage the reader and offer up a bounty of original thoughts and ideas. Ideas. They’re the key to living books. New, original, unique ideas are what mark a living book, bringing it to life. These ideas are like seeds planted. They germinate in our children’s thoughts and take on Read More
Imagine the genius and brilliance your children would exhibit if their thoughts were led by the Holy Spirit. Consider the ease they’d have in understanding challenging subjects. Imagine how much less stressful homeschooling would be each day if you purposefully invited God into your schoolroom. If you allowed space for the Lord to be their Teacher. When Read More
One of Charlotte Mason’s least discussed but most critical teachings is that of the Divine Life. It’s this foundational tenet that most powerfully permeates the words and works of Ms. Mason. She insists that the Lord is our children’s best and ultimate teacher, and her philosophy of education rests firmly on this truth. INSEPARABLE The concept Read More
One of Charlotte Mason’s key tenets was that of “letting alone, letting the children be.” Of giving them autonomy and allowing them to do what needs doing on their own initiative and in their own way—without our interference and prodding. This, she insists, is what grows self-initiative—children who are self-motivated and find new interests to Read More
Character training may seem elusive and difficult to accomplish. Yet, Charlotte Mason gives us great insight into this most important aspect of a child’s education. It’s quite simple, really. Character training is a matter of conveying worthy ideas then allowing the Divine Life to work in the soul of the child. It is this Divine Read More
A milestone birthday party, an anticipated performance, a treasured relative’s arrival. That long awaited, saved up for vacation. We enjoy the hustle and bustle of it all—the planning, the shopping, the excitement of getting everything ready! But have you noticed our children tend to become high maintenance during these times? Charlotte Mason tells us this Read More
Does doubt sneak up on you? Does it whisper that you can’t do this? That it’s too hard? Do you worry you aren’t doing enough? Do you believe you’ve fallen behind? Why do we let these thoughts debilitate us? Is it because we think it’s all up to us? That we are 100% responsible for Read More
Forgive me for starting this blog with a few predictable clichés, but they’re powerful. What I love about cliché is that the visual image in the small metaphor or simile tells an important story with few words. You can’t pour from an empty cup. An empty tank will take you nowhere. Put your own oxygen Read More
In order to live a productive and unfettered life in this world, our children must have a strong sense of self confidence. They must know they can do all the great things God has called them to do—and do them well. Here’s an uncomfortable truth: Children live up to what we believe about them and measure Read More
The fussy mom. Are you acquainted with her? She is always commanding, demanding, interfering, intervening, redirecting, reminding, worrying, hurrying, hovering, and smothering, moralizing and mediating. FUSSINESS Many times during our journey I fell into the fussy mom syndrome, hijacking the joy God had for me, my children and our homeschool. Oftentimes it was because I was Read More
Is art education the unsolved mystery in your homeschool? It is for many moms—but it doesn’t have to be if you teach art the Charlotte Mason way! Albert Einstein said, “It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression.” Charlotte Mason believed art should be a staple in every child’s Read More
Sadly, many educators avoid teaching science in the early years. Believing scientific concepts and vocabulary are too advanced and therefore out of reach for young children, they neglect science education during the most critical years when a child’s sense of wonder is most heightened. I know this from experience. It was my own childhood and Read More
Notebooks are living books—creative expressions of a child’s learning. When our children engage in notebooking, they are uniquely authoring their own book filled with authentic ideas and expressions they will treasure forever. Some people mistakenly believe notebooking is all about writing, but that’s not true at all. While notebooking can and often does include writing, Read More
As homeschool moms, we want our science to come to life. Why give our children a substandard science education when we can make it awesome? Let’s explore six ways to spark your science and set your children on the path to a love for learning! Capitalize on Your Children’s Interests “The curriculum will always be Read More
Nature study builds into our children something wonderful. Something that cannot be attained through any other means. It instills a spirit of freedom and a sense of awe. A depth of understanding of God’s beautiful creation. And a curiosity that stays with our children their entire lives. The more time they spend outdoors exploring nature—freely Read More
Training your child’s character can be likened to tending a garden. Nurturing to life the good character qualities you want to see grow and blossom. It’s about watching over what’s sprouting up and carefully cultivating that which will one day bear fruit. It requires tilling the soil and weeding out anything that is not fructiferous Read More
Narration is a game changer. It’s one of the things we got right in our homeschool. I can say this with confidence because I see in my adult children today that same love for learning that was cultivated through narration early in our homeschool—a love for learning that has carried them through their college studies and Read More
Early in my homeschool journey I discovered that Charlotte Mason’s methods were the most effective way of educating children. So I knew I wanted to apply her principles to my science books, specifically writing living books that delve deep into the subject matter, as well as using time-tested methods such as notebooking, narration, and hands-on Read More
We all know that homeschooling is harder on some days than on others. When tears are flowing and the kids are slow as molasses, just getting through the three R’s can be a huge feat. We find ourselves letting everything else slide—you know, like science and history, or art and literature. It’s okay. It happens Read More
The philosophy behind my elementary science series was born out of my early experiences with science and God’s amazing creation. Here’s how it all began. My father was a geologist who owned an oil company. When I was a child, he would take my brothers and me to the lease. I was always fascinated by Read More
There are various homeschool methods and philosophies people use when educating their children. Some choose one and follow it all the way through, while others mix and match depending on what they want to accomplish. Still, some homeschoolers begin with one then change their methodologies as the years wear on and they begin to understand Read More
The thought of homeschooling can seem overwhelming at first. But like everything, if you take it one day at a time, you’ll find the reward far outweighs the sacrifice. In fact, you’ll discover homeschooling was not a sacrifice at all, but an investment. An investment in your family, your children’s character, and your life. Is it Read More
Some people leave the womb with a natural inclination toward spelling. For others, spelling is a lifelong struggle. I have children in both categories. With my natural spellers, I don’t think it mattered what curriculum I used. Spelling made sense to them. With my poor speller, who also struggled with dyslexia, well, let’s just say Read More
There are several philosophies and methodologies that homeschoolers use when educating their children. Some people choose one and follow it all the way through, others mix and match depending on what they want to accomplish, still others begin with one then change their methodologies as the years wear on and they begin to understand more Read More
Over the years, I’ve shared my story at conferences and workshops about how God led me to teach my son to spell. As a result, I’ve received many queries about the program that I used. In essence, I did not use a program, but a procedure. I want to share it with you in the Read More
Laying a foundation of character is essential if you are to successfully move your child from dependence upon you as the teacher to independence and self learning. Obviously, children that are not yet reading need a lot of supervision. The same is true when teaching elementary students new concepts. In addition, when a Read More
As the idea of self learning in the homeschool began to take hold, I was asked to share some practical tips on how to move your children into a self learning lifestyle. Let me begin by saying I feel the biggest problem we find in government and private schools is that the students are taught to Read More
The benefits of journaling are countless. It was truly one of the best things we implemented into our homeschooling. Not only did my children enjoy journal writing, the time they put into journaling during the elementary years laid the foundation for academic writing in the middle and high school years. However, I did not allow my Read More
Narration is one of those treasures that, if done consistently, has potential for great reward. I believe it’s foundational to a successful homeschool education, reaping benefits far into the high school years. Here are some questions one homeschool mom asked about narration: My oldest is going into first grade and is reading probably at a Read More
When it comes to passion for a child’s educational success, nothing rivals a homeschool mom. We diligently research the latest methodologies and put to test the newest curriculum. We devour books on education, creating sophisticated lessons based on newfangled ideas. Yet Charlotte Mason found amazing success using the age old, timeless and simple tool of Read More
One of the most profound—and often under appreciated—methods of Charlotte Mason is her teachings on habits. How I wish I had known of this extremely influential concept when my children were younger, before they formed the bad habits we invested a lot of time undoing. Mason addresses the fascinating subject of attention: The Habit of Read More
Free time is one of the greatest benefits of a homeschool education. It gives students space to think and create, to pursue and develop their passions fully and deeply. I’m so pleased with how much my daughter accomplished with her free time even during the middle school years. When she was thirteen, she taught herself Read More
We’ve all heard this and that about how children need to get out in nature. Charlotte Mason advocated for nature study ruthlessly—demanding we gather our kids and a book and go sit outside somewhere natural, even if we have to take a twenty minute train ride every day to get there. She was passionate about Read More
I want to share some of the things we did for geography in our homeschool. Our method was not only educational, it was easy, and it included incorporating inspiring living books into our geography studies. Each summer at the homeschool convention we scoped out the YWAM booth. We would purchase all the Heroes of the Read More
Have you ever asked yourself, “Am I doing enough?” I certainly did in the early days of homeschooling. Why do you think every homeschool mom asks this question at one time or another? I believe the problem is that when you are doing enough—it feels too, too easy. So you think, I’m surely not doing Read More
“What do you remember from what I just read?” I ask the gathering of children around me. Looking to the four year old, I encourage him to begin. “I learned that the sun is ninety-three miles away. It’s so far away that it would take a lot of years to fly there in a spaceship.” Read More
So we were all told that nature walks were part of Charlotte Mason’s education. Upon reading this, many of us promptly bought Comstock’s Handbook of Nature Study, packed our pencils and nature journals—one set for each child—and drove to some lovely nature spot to explore and enjoy the beauty of God’s creation. We hoped to Read More
When I first began to homeschool, I read all about a classical and Charlotte Mason education. Soaking up every bit of teaching available, I became increasingly convinced of the merits of memory work. We launched into memory work full speed ahead, memorizing a variety of lists, from poetry to ancient Egyptian kings. My five year Read More