Charlotte Mason homeschooling encompasses everything that is wonderful about homeschooling. Gentle lessons in a literature-rich environment, short lessons that focus on real-life with plenty of opportunity to explore the world indoors and out. And, these are just a few of the reasons I love this style of homeschooling! In these articles, my goal is to share the wonder, joy and creativity of the Charlotte Mason style, while giving you plenty of ideas and practical advice for implementing it in your own home. Enjoy!
Have you ever spotted a striking orange and black butterfly fluttering through your garden? That was likely a monarch butterfly! Monarchs aren’t just beautiful to look at—they’re also part of one of nature’s most fascinating insect-plant relationships. Milkweed, the monarch butterfly’s favorite plant, is vital to their life cycle. But why do monarch butterflies love…
Does your family have a favorite children’s book author? If you find yourself reading book after book from the same author, it’s pretty safe to say that your family may have a favorite! Why don’t you consider a favorite author study to celebrate that author (or illustrator) and learn a lot about the fundamentals of…
Is your family in the car more often than you care to admit? Would you like ideas to creatively homeschool in the car to redeem some time spent riding to co-op, ballet, music lessons, ball practice, chess club, or doctor’s appointments? If so, you’ll love this blog post! Hours spent in the car can make…
If you’ve been around here long, you know I love living math! One part of living math that makes so much sense for kids is connecting math concepts with literature. If you’ve never tried it, you’ll be amazed at the understanding gleaned from a simple book that teaches the topic in a new and fresh way. This…
I love living math—so much that I even wrote a book about it: Loving Living Math. It’s special for many reasons, but I’ll focus on one today. Living math offers opportunities for real-life, meaningful, hands-on learning. One of my favorite methods is using math manipulatives to help children understand concepts and think mathematically. In this post,…
In this episode of the No Sweat Nature Study Podcast, Mrs. Cindy takes kids on a journey inside the human body to explore the fascinating role of cells. Children will be amazed to learn that their bodies contain more cells than people on Earth! With engaging explanations, Mrs. Cindy introduces the basics of how cells…
Art and living math make a fantastic duo. Anytime you combine the creativity of art with the logical side of nature, you’ve got a powerful activity connecting both sides of the brain for meaningful learning. This particular lesson combines art and math through a fun project inspired by the famous abstract artist Wassily Kandinsky. This…
I am so excited to share this unique nature study freebie with you! You’ll love using autumn play dough mats in your elementary homeschool for all sorts of meaningful fun and learning. Play dough mats provide various benefits. At the most basic level, molding and sculpting dough helps to exercise fine motor skills. This is…
Have you ever wondered how nature inspires some of the coolest inventions around us? In the latest episode of the No Sweat Nature Study Podcast, Mrs. Cindy introduces the concept of biomimicry. This fascinating science shows how humans mimic nature’s designs, like how sticky burrs inspired Velcro. As your family listens, your children will discover…
In this episode of the No Sweat Nature Study Podcast, explore an incredible friendship in nature. During a symbiosis nature study, discover the fascinating bond between clownfish and sea anemones. Mutualistic symbiosis is a unique relationship between species that work together to survive and thrive. This episode teaches how clownfish and sea anemones benefit from…
Why would anyone use picture books to teach expository writing? Because picture books are written by master authors who can teach us clearly through their examples. Not to mention, it doesn’t take long to read through most picture books, so you can share examples and get right to the work of writing. What is expository…
What does a typical day in a Charlotte Mason schedule look like? Truthfully, it will look different for each family! While essential aspects should be included in a true Charlotte Mason homeschool, the way you work those into your plan should always fit your preferences and lifestyle. Today, I’m sharing the typical daily pattern our…