# Simple Wonders > Home-Based Education for Families ## Posts - [Ancient Civilization Booklist](https://simplewonders.org/2025/12/28/ancient-civilization-booklist/): This year my boys and I digging into Ancient Civilizations for the first time. It was perfect timing because my eight year old became obsessed with Greek mythology over the summer. So Ancient Greece was on the top of his list. As always, I did an unhealthy amount of research on which books to read. We didn’t make it through the entire list, but that means more for the next time this period comes around! We studied Ancient Civilizations (including Ancient Egypt) the first term and I’ve compiled all the books about these topics and the books we read and […] - [Technology | The Why, What, and How](https://simplewonders.org/2025/12/20/technology-the-why-what-and-how/): With Charlotte Mason living long before computers and the internet, I wonder often how she would have approached technology: Would she embrace it wholeheartedly or would she ban it from the classrooms like a plague? It’s these kinds of questions that keep me up at night 😉 I’ve read most of her books, some of them multiple times. I wouldn’t say I’m an expert or a purist, but I do like to ask myself, “what would Charlotte do?” and make decisions based on her philosophy.  Charlotte was actually very forward-thinking for her day. She loved to read current writings on […] - [Spring Nature Study](https://simplewonders.org/2025/11/01/spring-nature-study/): Spring is the season of new life, of renewal. Plants and animals are waking up from their long rest and hibernation during winter, and we are reminded that the world really is full of life! Trees are budding and blossoming, forest wildflowers are racing to bloom and soak up as much sunshine as possible before they are shaded by the leaves of the trees above them. Birds are courting, singing, and busily building their nests. Baby animals are making their way into the world, and if you have eyes to see and know where and when to look, you may […] - [Object Lesson](https://simplewonders.org/2025/10/28/object-lesson/): Object weekly lessons to focus on a specific plant or animal. You observe  the real, living thing, either at home or in its natural environment. You then ask questions to direct the child’s attention to the subject and have them ask questions (write them down, if you can!) to ignite wonder and curiosity. For lesson material, I reference The Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Comstock. This book is a manual written for school teachers to teach nature, so the lessons are well organized and easy to utilize. It has information on the plant or animals as well as lesson ideas […] - [Nature Notebooks](https://simplewonders.org/2025/10/28/nature-notebooks/): The nature notebook (or journal) is where you record your observations of your special study topic, or anything else you see on your nature walk. The purpose of nature notebooking  is to force the mind to slow down and notice — notice the shape, color, and details. The child  draws a picture and/or writes a narration of the subject. At first, children may not know what to say. Begin by asking the child what they noticed, what they wonder, and what it reminds them of.   I.e. I noticed this flower was growing by the pond. I notice it has 5 […] - [Copywork | The Why, What, and How](https://simplewonders.org/2025/09/26/copywork-the-why-what-and-how/): In this audio lesson you’ll learn what copywork is, why it’s so effective, and how to conduct a lesson. Copywork Lesson Steps - [Handwriting | The Why, What, and How](https://simplewonders.org/2025/09/26/handwriting-the-why-what-and-how/): Before children can begin copywork they need to know how to write their letters. Over the years I’ve figured out a good method and resources for teaching handwriting. In this audio lesson you’ll learn: 1. When to begin 2. Which resources I recommend 2. How to teach handwriting using Charlotte Mason’s methods Resources I use Creative Form Drawing for handwriting and drawing exercises. These exercises help children practice the most basic strokes, like straight lines, curves, circles, and angles. My favorite handwriting program is Italics: Beautiful Handwriting for Children. I’ve tried Good and Beautiful, Handwriting Without Tears, and this by far […] - [Dictation | The Why, What, and How](https://simplewonders.org/2025/09/25/dictation-the-why-what-and-how/): Dictation lessons are the next level of copywork, and is like an all-in-one language arts curriculum. But in this case its a method, not a curriculum. It teaches spelling and lays the groundwork for grammar and writing.  Here’s how it works:  A child of eight or nine prepares a paragraph, older children 1-3  pages. The child prepares by himself, by looking at punctuation and the spelling of words he is not sure of, and then seeing it with his eyes shut.  Before he begins, the teacher asks what words he thinks will need his attention. He generally knows, but the […] - [Narration | The Why, What, and How](https://simplewonders.org/2025/09/25/narration-basics/): Narration is the act of telling back what you learned, or what you remember. And in the act of verbalizing what you learned you solidify that knowledge in your mind.  Although the act of telling back what you learned is not new, Charlotte Mason was the first one to put a name to it and fine tune it to be a core teaching method in her schools. How she discovered this powerful teaching was laying in bed one night trying to go to sleep, she had insomnia, and explaining to herself what she read that evening (the book was Emma […] - [Family Writing Lesson](https://simplewonders.org/2025/09/25/family-writing-lesson/): In this video lesson I show you what a family-style writing lesson looks like. Specifically, we are doing a sentence imitation exercise based on the method by Jeff Anderson. Charlotte Mason (and Karen Glass) both mention studying great writing to learn how to write better. But how do you do that? I tried teaching my son to imitate great writing, but I was missing something. I’d give him a sentence from a book and then instruct him to use that sentence as a guide to write his own. You can probably imagine how that went… I was so excited to […] - [Word Sorts (Spelling + Phonics)](https://simplewonders.org/2025/09/07/word-sorts-spelling-phonics/): “Naturally; for though many of our English words are each a law unto itself, others offer a key to a whole group, as arrow gives us sp-arrow, m-arrow, h-arrow; but we have alternate days––one for reading, the other for word-building––and that is one way to secure variety, and, so, the joyous interest which is the real secret of success.” (Home Education, p. 214) Word Study is the best way I’ve found to teach spelling and phonics, alternating days with reading lessons.  How to Introduce a Word Sort If your child needs help understanding why and how to sort words, explain […] - [The Habit of Reading](https://simplewonders.org/2025/09/07/the-habit-of-reading/): “The most common and the monstrous defect in the education of the day is that children fail to acquire the habit of reading. Knowledge is conveyed to them by lessons and talk, but the studious habit of using books as a means of interest and delight is not acquired.” Home Education, p. 227 In many schools today –from elementary to high school, from public to homeschool– most of the work of learning is not done, not by the students, but by the teachers.  With all the distractions and technology available to us, we are losing the habit of reading. And […] - [Stage Four | Reading Words](https://simplewonders.org/2025/09/07/stage-four-reading-words/): “Lessons in word making help him to take intelligent interest in words; but his progress in the art of reading depends chiefly on the reading at sight lessons.” (pg 204) If your child has not shown a desire in learning how to read, start at 6 years old and treat the first reading lesson as a special privilege, a “rite of passage.” Begin the first reading lesson on their birthday, or another special day, and set aside the morning just to spend uninterrupted time with them for their first lesson. Mason recommends having reading lessons every other day (in tandem […] - [Stage Three | Word Building](https://simplewonders.org/2025/09/07/stage-three-word-building/): “The first exercises in the making of words will be just as pleasant to the child. Exercises treated as a game, which yet teach the powers of the letters, will be better to begin with than actual sentences… Do this with the short vowel sounds in combination with each of the consonants, and the child will learn to read off dozens of words of three letters, and will master the short-vowel sounds with initial and final consonants without effort. Before long he will do the lesson for himself. ‘How many words can you make with “en” and another letter, with […] - [Stage Two | Recognize Letters](https://simplewonders.org/2025/09/07/stage-two-recognize-letters/): “… if the alphabet be taught to the little student, his appreciation of both form and sound will be cultivated. When should he begin? Whenever his box of letters begins to interest him. The baby of two will often be able to name half a dozen letters; and there is nothing against it so long as the finding and naming of letters is a game to him. But he must not be urged, required to show off, teased to find letters when his heart is set on other play.” All quotes are from pages 201-202 of Home Education Your child […] - [Stage One | Recognize Sounds](https://simplewonders.org/2025/09/07/stage-one-recognize-sounds-reading-lessons/): Your child is ready for this stage if they can speak clearly and understand words. Anywhere from three to four years old. Learning to hear the individual sounds that make up words is a foundational step in learning to sound out and read words. To facilitate this development I begin reading nursery rhymes and other books as soon as my babies are born. Once they are speaking well you can begin these activities: Sounding out words. The point of this activity is for your child to hear and recognize the sounds that make up words. Tell them a word, short […] - [Reading Lessons Overview](https://simplewonders.org/2025/09/07/reading-lessons-overview/): The Reading Process Reading is a complex process; multiple brain processes must work together and multiple skills are required to read words and comprehend them simultaneously. The following is a method that works for most kids, but may not work for all. I recommend trying Charlotte Mason’s method first, then adjusting and changing methods to fit the needs of your child. Although all children learn to read the same way, each child is unique in how much instruction they require–some children need more explicit instruction, others may simply need some basic instructions to get started, while a small percentage (about […] - [Scope & Sequence | Geography](https://simplewonders.org/2025/09/06/scope-sequence-geography/): *This is the scope and sequence suggested by Charlotte Mason and how it was taught in her schools. After teaching geography in a family setting I’ve adapted her methods and changed how I teach to fit our needs. You can read how I teach geography HERE. You can teach it by form and I hope this page will give you the tools you need to do that. Physical geography is simply learning about geography in concrete ways. This is usually done through “geotrots” in your area. My family and I try to take a few hikes each year around our […] - [Land + Water Forms Lesson](https://simplewonders.org/2025/09/05/land-water-forms-lesson/): In Charlotte Mason’s schools her students did map drills and map making as a large part of their geography lessons. But before children can begin map drills they need to understand how a map works as well as basic geography terms. They need the concrete knowledge before the abstract. My favorite way to introduce them to these terms concretely is by 1) visiting “mini” examples of these landmarks in real life–creeks are small rivers, hills are small mountains–to understand real life geography and 2) making concrete examples of these land forms with clay and watercolor. During year one we visit […] - [Map Work + Map Drills Lesson](https://simplewonders.org/2025/09/05/map-work-map-drills-lesson/): Map Drills and Map Work Once children finish Elementary Geography and have made maps of places they know (like their neighborhood, a park, or their town) then they are ready to answer map questions. I usually begin in 2nd or 3rd grade.  In form 2 geography lessons consist of map questions (aka map drills), map work, and world culture.  Thinking up map questions can be a real drain of mental energy, so I occasionally  use ChatGPT to generate questions for me, or at least generate the bulk of them, and then I add in a few specific to the atlas […] - [Map Making Lesson](https://simplewonders.org/2025/09/05/map-making-lesson/): At the beginning of a school year, before diving into a study of a continent and it’s countries, we draw a large (blank) map of the continent. Over the course of the year we add geographical landmarks to our map as we study them. During the school year we do map questions and map drills to instill the image in a child’s mind. We do map questions or map drills (if you’re not sure what these are, make sure you watch the recorded lessons) once a week, and the second day of the week we read a book about the […] - [How to Create a Customized Learning Plan (AKA Curriculum) | Week 9](https://simplewonders.org/2025/08/12/how-to-create-a-customized-learning-plan-aka-curriculum-week-9/): There isn’t one “right” way to create your own custom learning plan, or curriculum, for your family. There are as many methods as there are families! This is just one way to design a learning plan, a method I’ve developed from reading many book on learning and cognitive science, as well as applying it in a real-life setting. First, forecast what you’ll study (pick broad topics for the year). I use my planning sheets to plan for sub-topics within the broader topics. I used to try to fit these within terms and weeks, but now I just use a sheet […] - [How to Plan Your School Year -- Simple and Stress-Free | Week 9](https://simplewonders.org/2025/08/12/how-to-plan-your-school-year-week-9/): This week youll take everything you’ve learned in the past eight weeks and put them together to plan our your school year! 🥳💃 Before we begin, lets go over some principles… While there isn’t one right way to plan, I’ve found some timeless principles can apply to everyone.  You don’t necessarily need a planner, although I made my own to help with my own planning, you can use any planner that works for you, even a lined notebook from the dollar store can work with this method. Divide and Conquer I divide up my school year into three 12-week terms. […] - [Essential Supplies and Materials -- What You ACTUALLY Need to Homeschool | Week 8](https://simplewonders.org/2025/08/04/essential-supplies-and-materials-what-you-actually-need-to-homeschool-week-8/): As soon as I get on Instagram my eyes and mind are drowned with a sea of items to buy – Prime Day deals that you MUST GET NOW, handmade math manipulatives, furniture, bookshelves, Montessori toys… Consumerism is no respecter of persons, not even the humble homeschool mama.  When I started homeschooling I was on a tight budget, as my husband was fresh out of school and working on his actuarial exams. I felt that if I couldn’t afford _______ then my children wouldn’t learn. If I could only buy _________ then my home would look and feel more like […] - [Individual Learning Time: How to Teach Skill-based Subjects | Week 7](https://simplewonders.org/2025/07/28/individual-learning-time-how-to-teach-skill-based-subjects-week-7/): Skill-based Subjects My parents live in an area of the US that is experiencing extreme growth. So many people want to live there that houses are being built at unsustainable rates. Shortcuts are being taken to get them built quickly, not only to make money but to get the occupants in as soon as possible. One particular house was built on a poor foundation. The ground was not prepared properly, it wasn’t compacted and the surveying was sloppily done. It wasn’t long before the family noticed cracks in their walls, floor, and their doors weren’t shutting correctly on one side […] - [Family Gather: How I Teach Subjects Family-Style](https://simplewonders.org/2025/07/21/family-gather-how-i-teach-subjects-family-style/): When I was young my mom read aloud the Little House on the Prairie series to me at bedtime . Later I graduated to the Anne of Green Gables series and my mom and I read every book in the series. I was fascinated with the one-room school houses. I played school with my unwilling, but eager-to-please, younger brothers. As an adult that fascination is still with me. I read Understood Betsy a few months ago and was lapping up the ideas being served in that book — how children moved up in grades depending on their level of that […] - [Life + Stories | How to Homeschool | Week 5](https://simplewonders.org/2025/07/17/life-stories-how-to-homeschool-week-5/): For a long time the educational belief (myth) was that the mind was like a vessel, or a bucket that held knowledge and It was the teacher’s job to “pour” knowledge into it. But the more we learn about the mind we know this simply isn’t true. It turns out Charlotte Mason was right (again); she believed the mind is a living thing, a spiritual organism, that feeds on ideas. She said, In saying that “education is a life,” the need of intellectual and moral as well as of physical sustenance is implied. The mind feeds on ideas, and therefore […] - [Discipline + Retrieval | How to Homeschool | Week 5](https://simplewonders.org/2025/07/16/discipline-retrieval-how-to-homeschool-week-5/): The second instrument is discipline. When you hear the word discipline, you probably imagine a one room school house with a class of students lining up to recite their lessons, and the teacher standing there with a wooden paddle to “help the students learn their lessons” with a few quick smacks on the bum. But when I say the word discipline I mean careful execution of a skill over and over until it becomes a habit. Skill-based subjects—like sports, math and musical instruments—are especially suited for this type of learning.  Charlotte Mason said it this way, By “education is a […] - [Atmosphere + Interleaving | How to Homeschool | Week 5](https://simplewonders.org/2025/07/15/atmosphere-interleaving-teaching-tool-1-how-to-homeschool-week-5/): So let’s talk about atmosphere first. Atmosphere is really the first way that we begin learning about the world around us. The human mind is capable of looking at two or more objects and discerning the similarities and differences between them. Even if they are small and seemingly insignificant. When we are exposed to things over and over again before a relationship with it. We get to know it. And this is when we get to notice the similarities and differences. Some cases it is a kind of intuition because of the multiple exposures that we had. Charlotte Mason said […] - [The Three Instruments of Education | How to Homeschool | Week 5](https://simplewonders.org/2025/07/14/the-three-instruments-of-education-how-to-homeschool-week-5/): When I started my quest to understand how the mind learns and apply that in a home setting, I think the best description of learning science is from Charlotte Mason. She said education is an atmosphere, a discipline, and a life. This phrase is seeming simple and straightforward, but there are so many layers and so much complexity I’m still learning more about it.  Here’s what she said about each of these instruments, or tools: When we say that “education is an atmosphere,” we do not mean that a child should be isolated in what may be called a ‘child-environment’ […] - [Daily and Weekly Homeschool Schedules | How to Homeschool Series | Week 4](https://simplewonders.org/2025/07/02/daily-and-weekly-homeschool-schedules-how-to-homeschool-series-week-4/): At the very end of winter, when I feel like I absolutely cannot stand any more cold, dark days, I desperately look for signs of spring. There isn’t a specific day or time that it comes. Little by little the temperature gets warmer, and the trees respond and begin to bud and blossom.  Nature is rhythmic. One event cues the next. The seasons are predictable, but not scheduled.  I’ve discovered that a peaceful homeschool is one that mimics God’s creations. It is rhythmic. It is predictable. One event cues the next.  Just like nature, our minds work by habits, and […] - [Managing a Household | How to Homeschool Series | Episode 3](https://simplewonders.org/2025/06/24/how-to-homeschool-series-managing-a-household-episode-3/): When I was a little girl I went to our church’s program for young children every Sunday. For most of the hour we sang songs about Jesus and families, but one song was not obviously about Jesus and included memorable hand motions: The Wise Man and the Foolish Man. In this song the wise man builds his house upon a rock, and when the rains come down it stands firm. But the foolish man builds his house upon the sand, and when the rains come the house washes away. It’s clear the song is about building your foundation on Jesus, […] - [What Does a Homeschool Day ACTUALLY look like? | How to Homeschool Series | Episode 2](https://simplewonders.org/2025/06/12/how-to-homeschool-series-what-does-a-homeschool-day-actually-look-like-episode-2/): The average homeschool day is not usually orderly, tidy, or picture-perfect. But it can be memorable and life-giving. Here’s what to expect from a typical homeschool day — from how long it will take, how family relationships with change, how to teach multiple ages, and if you can balance all your responsibilities. How Long Should I Expect to Spend Doing Schoolwork? 1 ½-2 hours in elementary school 3-4 hours in middle school 5+ hours in high school You are not doing school for 7 hours a day. You can get so much done in just a couple hours. When I […] - [The Benefits, Challenges, and How to Get Started | How to Homeschool | Week 1](https://simplewonders.org/2025/06/10/how-to-homeschool-the-benefits-challenges-and-how-to-get-started-episode-1/): What’s in a Name? Home Education, Homeschool, Home-centered learning… There are many names for taking your children out of a traditional brick-and-mortar school. There are, however, people who are particular about terminology. If you homeschool you are not tied to the government in any way (meaning your children are not enrolled in a online charter school) and you do not attend a hybrid or micro school. You are 100% the teacher, financier, and administrator of your child’s education. If you are a part of an online public charter school (like Braintree, Open Ed, etc) then you are not considered a […] - [Drawing | The Why, What, and How](https://simplewonders.org/2025/05/26/how-i-teach-drawing-at-home/): Why Should I Teach Drawing? Last month I was reading a sci-fi book, per my husband’s recommendation, called “Project Hail Mary.” It was a fascinating book, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. However, my brain was having a hard time imagining whall the complicated science equipment looked like. Many times I wished there were some illustrations to show what was being described. “A picture’s worth a thousand words” is a worn out saying, but still true as ever. The skill of being able to draw what you imagine for others to see is just as important as being able to write […] - ["Living" Math Booklist | My Family's Favorites Books About Math](https://simplewonders.org/2025/05/06/living-math-booklist-my-familys-favorites-books-about-math/): Mathematician Biographies The Boy Who Loved Math by Deborah Heiligman The Boy Who Dreamed of Infinity by Amy Alznauer Nothing Stopped Sophie: The Story of Unshakable Mathematician Sophie Germain by Cheryl Bardoe Of Numbers and Stars by D. Anne Love The Librarian Who Measured the Earth by Kathryn Lasky Queen of Physics: How Wu Chien Shiung Helped Unlock the Secrets of the Atom by Teresa Robeson Ada Byron Lovelace and the Thinking Machine Laurie Wallmark Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly On a Beam of Light: A Story of […] - [How to Teach Math at Home Using Charlotte Mason's Methods](https://simplewonders.org/2025/04/10/how-to-teach-math-at-home-using-charlotte-masons-methods/): “Why are numbers beautiful? It’s like asking why is Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony beautiful. If they aren’t beautiful, nothing is”Paul Erdos It seems that feelings towards mathematics goes in one of two directions: you either love it, or hate it. How can one person develop an appreciation for math, and another despise the same thing? And why should every person love, or at least appreciate, mathematics? As Galileo said “Mathematics is the language with which God has written the universe.” Math is everywhere. It’s in everything. I didn’t comprehend this until I began learning math with my kids – reading mathematician […] - [Grammar + Writing](https://simplewonders.org/2025/03/03/grammar-writing/): It seems that grammar instruction takes one of two roads – either no instruction at all, leaving the student with little knowledge of how to utilize the English language. Or the other road that involves dissecting, parsing, and boiling it down until nothing is left but a pile of odds and ends that no one knows what to do with.  Up until the 1960’s the English language was taught as a science. Primary and secondary schools borrowed some ideas from the linguists playbook. What began as a way to understand the structure of different languages became the nightmare of children […] - [How I Teach Geography at Home](https://simplewonders.org/2025/03/03/how-i-teach-geography-at-home/): “Geography is, to my mind, a subject of high educational value; though not because it affords the means of scientific training. Geography does present its problems, and these of the most interesting, and does afford materials for classification; but it is physical geography only which falls within the definition of a science, and even that is rather a compendium of the results of several sciences than a science itself. But the peculiar value of geography lies in its fitness to nourish the mind with ideas, and to furnish the imagination with pictures. Herein lies the educational value of geography.” (Home […] - [How to Teaching Writing at Home](https://simplewonders.org/2025/02/15/how-to-teaching-writing-at-home/): This post is written by my good friend and fellow homeschooling mamma, Havalah Turner. Havalah and I had a wonderful conversation about writing on my podcast. You can listen to it HERE. She has put her heart, soul, and experience into this article. I know it will bless your life as much as it has mine! WHY “Writing is thinking on paper” –William Zinsser Writing can be a daunting subject for both kids and adults. Why does it intimidate so many of us? And why is it so important, even if we don’t all aspire to be professional writers? The […] - [Living History Books and How to Use Them](https://simplewonders.org/2025/02/15/living-history-books-and-how-to-use-them/): If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten. — Rudyard Kipling Charlotte Mason used living books as the bulk of history lessons. Instead of dry textbooks or teachers’ lectures, children read well-written, engaging history books. But was this all? Which history books did she use? How did she use the books?  From my own research, as well as gleaning from the research of others, I’ve found that history lessons benefit from three types of books: A Spine This book is an overview of a time period or an event. It doesn’t follow any one […] - [Timelines, Book of Centuries, and Other History Tools](https://simplewonders.org/2025/02/15/timelines-book-of-centuries-and-other-history-tools/): Books and primary sources aren’t the only tools we should use when teaching history. Timelines, century charts, and Charlotte Mason’s signature “Book of Centuries” are all tools to help our kids grasp the abstract concept of time. I’ve read Charlotte Mason’s volumes, blogposts, listened to podcasts, as well as consulted the book “The Living Page” by Laurie Bestvater to understand which charts, timelines, and notebooks Charlotte used in her schools. I’ve tried them all and I’ve chosen to continue using the following charts and books as I feel they had the “most for you buck.” And simplifying is what I’m all […] - [How to Teach History at Home](https://simplewonders.org/2025/01/31/how-to-teach-history-at-home/): “Next in order to religious knowledge, history is the pivot upon which our curriculum turns.” (Vol. 6, p. 273) Why Teach History? A while ago I saw a video of university students being asked simple history questions like, “who won the Revolutionary War?” and “what was the Civil War about?”  Many students couldn’t answer them.  I thought that the creator of the video must  have hand-selected the worst videos for dramatic effect. Surely the majority of American college students were given a better history education than this video implies. After some research I found that  “Just 13 percent of eighth […] - [Children's Books About The Civil War + Slavery](https://simplewonders.org/2025/01/25/childrens-books-about-the-civil-war-slavery/): One of my favorite parts about homeschool is history. Once I learned about “living books” from Charlotte Mason all subjects came alive for me and my kids, but especially history. If you’re not sure what a living book is, it’s simply a book written by an author who tells what they know in story form. They don’t just tell facts, they tell stories. We used Two Miserable Presidents as the spine (a general overview of a time period) and then my first and third grader read some picture books to supplement that reading, while my 6th grader read a biography. […] - [Nature Notebooking (AKA Nature Journaling)](https://simplewonders.org/2024/12/14/nature-notebooking-aka-nature-journaling/): Nature Notebooks If you’ve been researching the Charlotte Mason for even a short about of time then you’ve most probably heard about nature notebooking (AKA journaling). Or maybe you’ve seen some beautiful snapshots of children’s nature journals on social media. You want to begin nature journaling, but… Your kids are not artistic (and neither are you!).  It seems so simple, is it really worth my time?  How do I encourage and inspire my kids to record in their notebooks?  What to Record in Nature Notebooks Nature notebooking is your child’s first science notebook. They learn how to wonder, observe, record, and […] - [Special Study Topics and Object Lessons in Nature Study](https://simplewonders.org/2024/11/29/special-study-topics-and-object-lessons-in-nature-study/): On a warm day this fall I strolled out to my garden to pick some Swiss Chard. As I was folding back the leaves I noticed something large and black, swinging around as if floating in mid-air. As it swung toward my hand I pulled back before it brushed against me. Horrified, I realized it was a large black and yellow spider. Between her body and legs she was the size of a golf-ball. I rushed across the gravel (as quickly as you can run barefoot across gravel) yelling to anyone within earshot “come and see what I found in […] - [Make the Most of Family Nature Walks](https://simplewonders.org/2024/11/01/make-the-most-of-nature-walks/): I began going on nature walks with my boys when they were still infants. I’d strap them to my back with my Ergo and head off into the backwoods of our Connecticut home.  We’d play and explore for hours until my baby and toddler were tired and ready for sleep.  While they explored the world with their five senses I noticed the changes the seasons brought on. I began to notice which birds, fungi, and flowers were native and seasonal. After spending a couple hours in nature I felt refreshed in a way that I hadn’t felt since childhood.  A few years […] - [How to Teach Nature Study](https://simplewonders.org/2024/11/01/how-to-teach-nature-study/): “We were all meant to be naturalists, each in his degree, and it is inexcusable to live in a world so full of the marvels of plant and animal life and to care for none of these things.” (Charlotte Mason) Nature study is one of those subjects that, more often than not, gets pushed to the side of “more important” subjects. For most of us this may not be intentional neglect — maybe we live in the city and our idea of what is required of nature study seems out of reach. Or maybe our own education didn’t include nature […] - [The Foundation of STEM Skills | Why and How to Teach Nature Study w/ Nicole Williams](https://simplewonders.org/2024/09/30/the-foundation-of-stem-skills-why-and-how-to-teach-nature-study-w-nicole-williams/): In this episode Nicole Williams and I discuss why you should be studying nature (hint: it’s the foundation of all STEM skills, but that’s not the most important reason…), how to teach it to different ages, and what kind of book and resources you’ll need. Nicole is the most knowledgeable person I know on nature study and I know you’re going to come away feeling excited and equipped to begin studying nature with your kids! Nicole Williams, a leading expert in Charlotte Mason homeschooling, is the author of the 27-book Living Science Curriculum, founder of Sabbath Mood Homeschool, host of […] - [Boost Brain Power Through Play | How Play and Movement Affects Cognitive Development](https://simplewonders.org/2024/09/02/charlotte-masons-approach-to-child-development-through-play-and-movement/): My second son was born a calm soul. He was content to quietly watch people and smile when they made eye contact . He rarely cried. He was patient and  observant, calm and collected. Then one day everything changed.  Around three years old he asked for more fruit smoothie. He still had a half-full glass, so I told him he needed to finish what he had. And before I knew what had happened, his cup was flying through the air and smoothie was running down the wall.  Another day his younger brother made a facial expression that he must not […] - [26 | Teaching Myths and Time-Tested Methods](https://simplewonders.org/2024/08/27/26-teaching-myths-and-time-tested-methods/): In the last episode I spoke with Amber O’ Neal Johnston about living books and how to recognize them. Charlotte Mason said that lesson material should be based on two things: living books and real things. Not lectures or from the teacher or boring textbooks. Not diagrams or drawings of things. It should be based on living books written by people who are knowledgeable about a subject and preferably experienced what they’re writing about first-hand. As well as real things that the child can gain knowledge from with their five senses.  So we know what lesson content is, but what […] - [Teach ANY Subject At Home with This Simple Method](https://simplewonders.org/2024/08/07/teach-any-subject-at-home-a-simple-method-for-all-ages-and-all-subjects/): Six years ago I almost gave up homeschooling. And my son had just started first grade. He said he hated school lessons. And honestly, I kind of did, too.  We both felt like slaves to the curriculum, but I didn’t know what to do. I wanted to break away from the scripted lessons, but I didn’t know how. I didn’t know how to teach. It was in that moment that I truly wanted in life became crystal clear: I wanted to become a teacher. I wanted to teach people, not lessons. This desire led to years of wondering, researching, and learning. I […] - [The Early Years: What Your Preschool Child Actually Needs From You](https://simplewonders.org/2024/08/02/the-early-years-what-your-preschool-child-actually-needs-from-you/): Charlotte Mason called the years before formal school lessons the “early years.” She believed this time was a special time for children to form relationships with themselves, family members, and the world around them. And current research continually supports this idea. This should not be a time for academics. It is a time for something much more important. What could more important than academics? Listen to this episode to find out what your infants, toddlers, and preschoolers actually need for optimum development and a solid foundation for future academics. Transcript 00:13 – In this episode we are going to talk […] - [Our Summer Rhythm](https://simplewonders.org/2024/07/03/our-summer-rhythm/): “Oh, what do you do in the summertime when all the world is green? Do you fish in a stream, or lazily dream on the banks as the clouds go by? Is that what you do? So do I!” ​This song ​has been stuck in my head all summer as my family has played in creeks and the ocean, roasted smores over a fire, tended the garden, caught fireflies, and binged read book series. There is something so rejuvenating and nostalgic about summers, and I feel that it’s an essential season of life, especially for children. Yet around May stores […] - [Books About Trees: Exploring Tree Species and Seasonal Changes](https://simplewonders.org/2024/06/06/trees-booklist/): This year my family did a year-long tree study. According to the Handbook of Nature Study, we picked a tree in the fall and studied it –what do the leaves look like? Does it have fruit/nuts? If so, what are they? We studied the same tree in the winter and spring. We got to know this tree well and saw it change through the seasons. We read about trees in general as well as individual species in our area. Trees weren’t our only nature study topic this year, but we did dedicate a few weeks of the season solely to […] - [Books about Ancient Greece: Must-Read Books for Young Learners](https://simplewonders.org/2024/05/28/ancient-greece-booklist/): This year my oldest, who is 10 years old, began studying ancient history along with American history. We dedicated one term to Greek history, but didn’t get all the way through the spine, so we’ll begin where we left off when we cycle back to this period. I read some of the picture books to my younger boys at night, but they didn’t do a full study of Greek history. My oldest read Greek Myths last year, and this year he read the books by Rosemary Sutcliff. We read a lot of biographies from Mathematicians are People, Too and The […] - [Westward Expansion Children's Booklist](https://simplewonders.org/2024/05/20/our-favorite-childrens-books-about-westward-expansion/): This year my family studied the historical time period from 1800-1900. There are so many interesting events, people, and topics to study that we only got through the Westward Expansion portion. When we revisit this time period in four years we’ll focus on the topics we didn’t study, like the Civil War. I recommend reading a spine as a family, or at least by forms, and then allowing your child to choose a biography and historical fiction that interests them. For form 1(6-9 years old) children you can either read the spine or simply read a selection of picture books. […] - [Travel-Schooling | How My Family Experiences the World And Homeschools Along The Way](https://simplewonders.org/2024/02/21/travel-schooling-how-my-family-experiences-the-world-and-homeschools-along-the-way/): One of the benefits of homeschooling is that you have the flexibility and freedom to travel any time of the year, and not just during school breaks. Over the past 10 years, my husband and I have traveled with our kids to most of the states in the US, Puerto Rico, as well as Mexico and Canada; and in just a few days we leave for our biggest trip yet– five weeks in Southern Europe! My husband works remotely and can work anywhere in the US, but not outside the country. So although we travel a lot during the year, I […] - [Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy and Enjoyable](https://simplewonders.org/2024/01/15/keeping-the-sabbath-day-holy-and-enjoyable/): “I HATE Sundays” my oldest son announced one Sunday morning. He was angry that he had to wear uncomfortable clothes, take a bath, wash his hair, and sit at church for two hours. And I get it, I didn’t particularly enjoy church until I was older. But still, it broke my heart.  PRINCIPLES That’s when I began really thinking about the principles behind the Sabbath Day and what it means to keep it holy. I went on a search to understand it more fully and hopefully make it a day to look forward to, which is what I believe Heavenly […] - [The War of 1812 Booklist](https://simplewonders.org/2024/01/13/the-war-of-1812/): This year my family is studying the 1800-1900 period of US history and we read so many good books during this time period that I simply cannot fit them into one blog post! So I’m breaking them down into individual topics, and this is just one of the many topics that can be studied during this time period. There aren’t a lot of books about the war of 1812, but we did find a few good ones! This is also a good time to study the Madison: James and Dolly. Other historical figures you can learn about are Chief Tecumseh […] - [Lewis and Clark (Corps of Discovery) Living Booklist](https://simplewonders.org/2024/01/13/lewis-and-clark-corps-of-discovery-living-booklist/): This year my family is studying the 1800-1900 period of US history and we read so many good books during this time period that I simply cannot fit them into one blog post! So I’m breaking them down into individual topics, and this is just one of the many topics that can be studied during this time period. Besides the Corps of Discovery I’m including our favorite books about Thomas Jefferson and the Louisiana Purchase. For those of you who aren’t familiar with Charlotte Mason book terminology… We read the spine as a family during Gather time, but during individual […] - [25 | What Are Living Books with Amber O'Neal Johnston](https://simplewonders.org/2024/01/06/what-are-living-books-and-why-are-they-so-important-with-amber-oneal-johnston/): What Are Living Books and Why Are They So Important? With Amber O’Neal Johnston If you’ve been in the homeschooling realm for long you’ve probably heard the term “living books.” This is a term coined by Charlotte Mason, and has become extremely widespread, for good reason. Living books put the flesh on the dry bones of fact. Mason boldly stated that “ “no education seems to be worth the name which has not made children at home in the world of books, and so related them, mind to mind, with thinkers who have dealt with knowledge. We reject epitomes, compilations, […] - [24 | What Preschool Children *Actually* Need](https://simplewonders.org/2024/01/06/24-what-preschool-children-actually-need/): “In this time of extraordinary pressure—educational and social—perhaps a mother’s first duty to her children is to secure for them a quiet growing time” -Charlotte Mason, Home Education “What should I do with my preschool-age kids to make sure they’re ready for school?” “Which preschool/kindergarten curriculum should I use?” “My first grader keeps getting in trouble at school. He’s so wiggly and disruptive. What should I do?” The Early Years, the stage from birth to six years old, is a special time of immense growth — both physically, mentally, and emotionally. And because of this they require a totally different […] - [Education is a Life](https://simplewonders.org/2024/01/06/23-education-is-a-life/): Why don’t my children enjoy school? How can I increase their curiosity and desire to learn? What kind of subjects should I teach and how should I present them? In this episode I discuss these questions and how they relate to the last instrument of education (and my personal favorite): LIFE. In Charlotte Mason’s 20 principles she says: “in saying ‘education is a life,’ the need of intellectual and moral as well as of physical sustenance is implied. The mind feeds on ideas, and therefore children should have a generous curriculum.” In this episode I’ll discuss big ideas, like how […] - [Education is a Discipline](https://simplewonders.org/2024/01/06/22-education-is-a-discipline/): Which skills do my children need to succeed in life? My house is in complete chaos. How can I make my days smoother? My child’s behavior isn’t meeting my expectations. What can I do? Paula Tough, author of How Children Succeed, was curious what kind of influences or conditions made some children do better in life than others. Charlotte Mason asked a similar question in her day: Why do some children never really succeed in life while others flourish? Is it intelligence? Parents affluence? Level of education? Through they’re extensive research both  authors discovered this same answer: character traits like […] - [Mother Culture with Leah Boden of Modern Miss Mason](https://simplewonders.org/2023/12/06/21-mother-culture-with-leah-boden-of-modern-miss-mason/): In this episode Leah Boden, of Modern Miss Mason, joins me to discuss the big idea of mother culture and self-care. Mothers choosing to educate their children at home have many responsibilities, and burn out is common. Apparently, this is true for every generation of women as Charlotte Mason gave wise advice to weary mothers of her time, and it’s just as applicable for mothers today. In this episode we discuss the following topics: Leah Boden is wife to Dave, mother to four children, and a longtime home educator. With over two decades of experience in church leadership, Leah’s background […] - [Mammoth Cave National Park | Study + Travel Guide](https://simplewonders.org/2023/11/04/mammoth-cave-national-park-study-travel-guide/): This park was one of my boys’ favorites. From the rich history of the cave to the actual adventure inside of it, it definitely became a core memory for them all! Booklist Before Your Visit MAPWORK + MAP QUESTIONS Look at map of USA: Northeast on pg 18-19 of DK Compact World Atlas 7th Edition and ask your child to answer these questions while looking at map: Introduction Read  “A Cave of Make-Believes” on p. 42 of Little Stories of a Big Country by Laura A. Large History and Culture Journey to a Bottomless Pit: The Story of Stephen Bishop […] - [The One Room Schoolhouse and Family-Style Learning with Donna Goff](https://simplewonders.org/2023/09/05/the-one-room-schoolhouse-and-family-style-learning-with-donna-goff/): Episode #20 | The One Room Schoolhouse and Family-Style Learning with Donna Goff One-room schoolhouses are extinct, but it’s not because they were ineffective. On the contrary, one-room schoolhouses were actually more effective than grade-based at teaching multiple-age children and helping individual children advance intellectually than grade-based schools today. So, why were one-room schoolhouses more effective and why are they extinct from the U.S. Education System? What did this model look like in practice? In this episode Donna Goff shares the history behind the iconic one-room schoolhouse, why they were so effective at educating children, and how teachers were able […] - [Biscayne National Park | Study + Travel Guide](https://simplewonders.org/2023/09/01/biscayne-national-park-travel-guide/): This park is unique in that it  is the only national park that is mostly underwater! It must be explored by boat or by snorkeling. You can pay for a boat tour, rent kayaks, or bring snorkel gear to explore this park.  Unfortunately, the day we scheduled to visit this park the weather was not in our favor and boats tours were canceled. Instead, we explored the Dante Fascell Visitors Center, which was packed with interesting, touchable things. We plan on visiting again in the future when our boys are stronger swimmers and the weather is better for kayaking. Since […] - [Exploring the National Parks](https://simplewonders.org/2023/09/01/exploring-the-national-parks/): Early on in our marriage my husband and I decided that we wanted to prioritize traveling our own country before traveling internationally. We want our children to develop an intimate relationship with their country’s geography, and that can only happen when we spend a lot of time traveling and exploring the wonders in our own land. Of course we want to travel internationally, eventually, but only after we’ve become familiar with our own country’s geography and natural wonders, And we feel the best way to do this is by visiting our National Parks. The United States is an amazingly diverse […] - [Everglades National Park | Study + Travel Guide](https://simplewonders.org/2023/09/01/everglades-national-park/): In December 2021 my husband and I surprised our boys with an early Christmas gift: a weeklong trip to Florida, to visit Everglades National Park. We wrapped  a suitcase filled with swimsuits, snorkeling gear, and plane tickets. When they first opened it they were confused, but they quickly realized what it all meant! Our flight left that evening so they had just enough time to pack and get in the car. It was such a wonderful surprise! Our itinerary included Everglade and Biscayne National Parks, Key Largo and Key West, as well as multiple beaches along the Atlantic and Gulf […] - [Education is an Atmosphere (Relationship with the World)](https://simplewonders.org/2023/09/01/education-is-an-atmosphere-relationship-with-the-world/): Episode #19 | Education is an Atmosphere (Relationship with the World) “When we say that ‘education is an atmosphere,’ we do not mean that a child should be isolated in what may be called a ‘child-environment’ especially adapted and prepared, but that we should take into account the educational value of his natural home atmosphere, both as regards persons and things, and should let him live freely among his proper conditions. It stultifies a child to bring down his world to the child’s level.” In this episode I continue discussing the big idea of “education is an atmosphere” — specifically […] - [Video Games and Play with Dr. Peter Gray](https://simplewonders.org/2023/09/01/video-games-and-play-with-dr-peter-gray/): Episode #18 | Video Games and Play with Dr. Peter Gray This is part two of my conversation with Dr Peter Gray. In this episode we discuss what play is, what it is not, as well as modern ways that children play, namely video games. As a psychologist, Dr Gray has done immense amounts of research on the cognitive effects of video games and addiction, and I was surprised at what he has to say about them. Peter Gray is a research professor of psychology and neuroscience at Boston College who has conducted and published research in behavioral biology, developmental […] - [Real Life Learning with Dr. Peter Gray (Part 1)](https://simplewonders.org/2023/09/01/real-life-learning-with-dr-peter-gray-part-1/): Episode #17 | Real Life Learning with Dr. Peter Gray (Part 1) Charlotte Mason said that “When we say that ‘education is an atmosphere,’ we do not mean that a child should be isolated in what may be called a ‘child-environment’ especially adapted and prepared, but that we should take into account the educational value of his natural home atmosphere, both as regards persons and things, and should let him live freely among his proper conditions. It stultifies a child to bring down his world to the child’s level.” To help me understand the educational value of the the natural […] - [Education is an Atmosphere (Relationships with People)](https://simplewonders.org/2023/09/01/education-is-an-atmosphere-relationships-with-people/): Episode #16 | Education is an Atmosphere (Relationships with People) Charlotte Mason famously stated that parents and teachers have three instruments available to educate children: atmosphere, discipline, and life. What did Charlotte mean by “atmosphere?” She explains: “When we say that “education is an atmosphere,” we do not mean that a child should be isolated in what may be called a ‘child-environment’ especially adapted and prepared, but that we should take into account the educational value of his natural home atmosphere, both as regards persons and things, and should let him live freely among his proper conditions. It stultifies a […] - [A Simple Method to Plan Your Homeschool](https://simplewonders.org/2023/08/16/a-simple-method-to-plan-your-homeschool/): This post is a compilation of what I’ve learned from planning my family’s education over the past six years, plus my time as a homeschool student myself. It’s a simple, yet effective method that does not require expensive (or complicated) planners. It doesn’t require detailed spreadsheets or schedules. All you need is a simple calendar and notebook. As a bonus I’m providing FREE downloadable planning sheets and weekly schedules so you have everything you need to begin planning your school year! Principles When I first started homeschooling I had beautiful planners where I planned out EVERYTHING.  I broke down every […] - [Punished by Rewards with Alfie Kohn](https://simplewonders.org/2023/07/11/punished-by-rewards-with-alfie-kohn/): Episode #14 | Punished by Rewards with Alfie Kohn Charlotte Mason advised that we shouldn’t use external motivators  to make children learn. She said “[grades], prizes, places, rewards, punishments, praise, blame, or other inducements are not necessary to secure attention, which is voluntary, immediate and surprisingly perfect” without them. ( A Philosophy of Education, p. 7.) But is this true today? Are rewards really that bad? How will our kids behave and learn if we don’t give them a little incentive to motivate them? And what can we do instead? To help answer these questions I’ve asked Alfie Kohn to […] - [Rewards, Praise, and Punishments](https://simplewonders.org/2023/07/11/rewards-praise-and-punishments/): Episode #13 | Rewards, Praise, and Punishment We can’t discuss the big idea of authority without addressing rewards and punishments. Do they actually contribute to our goal of developing moral, disciplined, and curious kids? What are the temporal and spiritual effects of extrinsic motivation? And if we shouldn’t use extrinsic motivators, what is the better way to motivate children? I’ll answer these questions and more on this episode. Quotes “Do rewards motivate people? Absolutely. They motivate people to get rewards.” (Alfie Kohn, Punished by Rewards) “The principles of authority on the one hand, and of obedience on the other, are […] - [Authority and Docility](https://simplewonders.org/2023/06/20/authority-and-docility/): Episode #12 | Authority and Docility In the last three episodes, I discussed the big ideas of attachment– what it is, why it’s important, and how we can nurture a secure attachment with our children. In this episode I’ll be discussing the second foundational element: authority. Because, as Elsie Kitching wisely observed “mother love is not enough to secure for children that continual progress which is necessary if character is to be achieved.’ (Kitching, Children Up to School Age) In this episode I dive deep into principles 3 and 4:  “The principles of authority on the one hand, and of […] - [The American Revolution Living Booklist](https://simplewonders.org/2023/06/16/1700-1800-american-history-booklist/): My family just spent the past year studying this time period in American History, and I want to share our favorite books we read this year, as well as a list of other living books on the subject. The following is a compilation of living books about the time period in America that includes the Colonial, French/Indian Wars, Revolutionary War, and the birth of the Constitution. I’ve listed the books that my family read this year and enjoyed the most (“Our Favorites”), as well as books other families have enjoyed and recommend. My family studies history in a four-year cycle, […] - [Jesus's Three Directives](https://simplewonders.org/2023/05/24/three-stumbling-blocks/): Let’s discuss some ways parents treat (or don’t treat) their children like people. And for this article I’m going to shift gears to a more spiritual source. To the man who truly saw children as they really were: Jesus Christ. During his earthly ministry Jesus gave adults three simple commandments in regards to children: despise not, forbid not, and offend not.  Charlotte Mason goes over each of these in Home Education, page 14, and I’d like to expand on her ideas by adding some of my own.  Despise not In Matthew 18:10 Jesus tells us to “Take heed that ye […] - [Do I Consider My Child A Person?](https://simplewonders.org/2023/05/24/do-i-consider-my-child-a-person/): Charlotte Mason’s first principle seems so simple and obvious — of course I know my child is a person! But knowing your child is a human is different from seeing them as a person born with a fully functioning mind, heart, and spirit. So I’ve put together some statements for you to consider and think deeply on your view of children. ONE | Children don’t have the ability to reason, so I make the decisions for my child. Or, I’ve noticed my child is very capable of reasoning, but he needs my experience and knowledge to help him understand right […] - [An Introduction to Charlotte Mason](https://simplewonders.org/2023/05/12/an-introduction-to-charlotte-mason/): All of us contributing to Simple Wonders have been introduced to Charlotte Mason and her philosophy at different points in our lives, but one thing is common among us all: we immediately fell in love with her ideas and methods of educating children. Something inside each of us recognized Miss Mason’s ideas as eternal truth, and we have found so many parallels with the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Many of us have been trained as educators and, unfortunately, what we were taught about education clashed with Mason’s philosophy; we loved Miss Mason’s ideas, but we were unsure how to […] - [A Quick-Start Guide For A Charlotte Mason Education](https://simplewonders.org/2023/05/12/a-quick-start-guide-for-a-charlotte-mason-education/): You’ve heard all the wonderful things about a Charlotte Mason education, but have no idea where to start. Her six volumes on education are intimidating, and yo You’ll learn the very basics of Charlotte Mason’s methods and how to get started today, adapting the curriculum you already have.  Obviously, Charlotte Mason’s philosophy and methods are complex and require a paradigm shift and a lot of study, but for the mom new to these methods this blog post will be helpful in getting you started on your journey.  I recommend reading her Twenty Principles to become familiar with her philosophy. You […] - [Punished by Rewards w/ Alfie Kohn](https://simplewonders.org/2023/05/05/punished-by-rewards-w-alfie-kohn/): Episode #14 | Punished by Rewards w/ Alfie Kohn [description] Episode Links - [The Ideal Parenting Style](https://simplewonders.org/2023/05/05/the-ideal-parenting-style/): Episode #15 | The Ideal Parenting Style I’ve spent the last couple months talking about the two foundational elements of parenting: love and authority. These elements may also be known as warmth and expectations, or responsiveness and demandingness. I’ve also talked about how rewards and punishments don’t actually work at meeting our long term goals: to raise kind, honest, hard working people. Children need love and discipline to reach their full potential. But what happens when parents exert too much control and not enough love? Or the opposite: too much love and not enough authority? How can we balance our […] - [Creating an Atmosphere of Love and Learning w/ Dr. Russell Osguthorpe](https://simplewonders.org/2023/03/03/creating-an-atmosphere-of-love-and-learning-w-dr-russell-osguthorpe/): Episode #11 | Creating an Atmosphere of Love and Learning As I’ve studied attachment and love, I’ve wondered how they affect children’s learning. So I asked Dr. Russell Osguthorpe, an expert in both attachment and learning, to come on the podcast to discuss the connection between the two. In this episode we discuss how attachment affects behavior and learning, and how parents can create an atmosphere of love that invites deep, meaningful learning.  Dr. Osguthorpe taught at Brigham Young University for multiple years. He has multiple degrees from Brigham Young University, including a PhD in Instructional Psychology. He is a […] - [Love + Attachment (part 2)](https://simplewonders.org/2023/02/15/love-attachment-part-2/): Episode #9 | Love + Attachment (part 2) “Let your children feel and see and be quite sure that you love them…. dear mother, take your big schoolgirl in your arms just once in the holidays, and let her have a good talk, all to your two selves; it will be to her like a meal to a hungry man. For the youths and maidens — remember, they would sell their souls for love; they do it too, and that is the reason of many of the ruined lives we sigh over” (Charlotte Mason Vol. 5, p. 117) Many of […] - [Love + Attachment (part 1)](https://simplewonders.org/2023/02/03/love-attachment-part-1/): Episode #9 | Love + Attachment (part 1) Why is it so difficult to teach my own children? It feels like my child is emotionally distant. How can I repair our relationship? Why has my child become so defiant? Although these parenting issues may seem unrelated, they all have one thing in common: attachment. Unconditional love is the foundation for parenting and teaching because loving relationships are what keep our children’s hearts tender and teachable. This episode is part one of two episodes where we discuss the big idea of love and attachment and how it affects our authority as […] - [Dr. Jack Beckman on Freedom Within Boundaries](https://simplewonders.org/2023/01/24/freedom-within-boundaries/): Episode #8 | Freedom Within Boundaries Although I’ve been studying Mason’s philosophy of education for a few years now I still had some unanswered questions about her first principle. I invited Dr. Jack Beckman to chat with me and answer a few of those questions. In this episode we discuss how Mason’s philosophy compares to the well-know child development theories today, how parents can give children liberty while still setting boundaries, and what he looks for in schools that respect children as people.  Dr. Jack Beckman began his career as an Early Childhood educator in the classroom, then as an […] - [Children are Born Persons](https://simplewonders.org/2023/01/06/children-are-born-persons/): Episode #7 | Children Are Born Persons It’s important to understand principles, to have a framework, before we move on to applying Mason’s methods.  So for the rest of the season we’ll be discussing the big ideas in Charlotte Mason’s 20 Principles. First, Children are Born Persons.  “We believe that the first article of our P.N.E.U. educational creed—“children are born persons”—is of a revolutionary character; for what is a revolution but a complete reversal of attitude?”  Why is it so revolutionary to think of children as persons? And how does this mentality change how we parent and teach children? In […] - [Teaching Children of All Abilities w/ Julie Christensen](https://simplewonders.org/2022/12/16/teaching-children-of-all-abilities-w-julie-christensen/): Episode #6 | Teaching Children of All Abilities w/ Julie Christensen My child has a learning disability. Can I still apply Charlotte Mason’s methods?  I’m feeling like my child needs more support outside of what the school system can give; where do I start? How do I have a peaceful homeschool when my child’s challenges create so much tension? Because her philosophy is largely based on self-education, Charlotte Mason believed that her educational methods were for everyone – children of all cultures, time periods, and all abilities. Today I’m speaking with Julie Christensen, a mother, home educator, and senior writer […] - [The Connection Between Reading and Thinking w/ Natalie Wexler](https://simplewonders.org/2022/12/09/the-connection-between-reading-and-thinking-w-natalie-wexler/): Episode #5 | The Connection Between Reading and Thinking We all want our children to receive a high-quality education – one that builds knowledge and teaches them how to think. But how do we go about this? Charlotte Mason said that education should be focused on feeding children a feast of living ideas (from books)  then narrating what they learn, by speaking or writing about it. But how does Mason’s method compare to cognitive science today? And why is this method of educating children so effective? I’ve invited the author Natalie Wexler to discuss these questions and more on this […] - [Self-Education](https://simplewonders.org/2022/11/23/self-education/): Episode #4 | Self-Education What makes Charlotte Mason’s philosophy and methods different from others? How do we nurture a love of learning in our children? What should parents look for in a curriculum or school? Over 100 years ago, Charlotte Mason said, “Teaching, talk, and tale, however lucid or fascinating, affect nothing until self-activity be set up; that is, self-education is the only possible education; the rest is mere veneer laid on the surface of a child’s nature.” Charlotte Mason, Philosophy of Education In this episode I’ll answer those questions as we explore perhaps one of Mason’s most profound ideas: […] - [Holiday Gift Guides](https://simplewonders.org/2022/11/18/holiday-gift-guides/): Christmas time can be a complicated time for mommas, especially if you’re trying to live a minimalist, intentional lifestyle. So what can we give a generation of children who has everything? How can we create a culture of minimalism? Here are some ideas based on Charlotte Mason’s philosophy. For the Naturalist For the Engineer For the Imagineer For the Artist For the Chef For the Toddler For the Gamer For the Bookworm For the Child Who Has Everything - [Mothers Work Wonders w/ Cassie Shepherd](https://simplewonders.org/2022/11/11/mothers-work-wonders-w-cassie-shepherd/): Episode #3 | Mothers Work Wonders Families, especially mothers, are devalued in our society. We’re told mothers are replaceable, that we need to modernize motherhood; but all the science says the opposite. In this episode, Cassie Shepherd and I discuss the importance of motherhood and why mothers are the best people to nurture a child’s heart and mind. Episode Links A Modern Day Mother in Zion by Anita HartCarroll Being There: Why Prioritizing Motherhood in the First Three Years Matters by Erica Komisar Simplicity Parenting by Kim John Payne Quotes “I have always believed that part of our strength as […] - [Mothers Work Wonders](https://simplewonders.org/2022/11/11/mothers-work-wonders/): The relationship between mother and child is the most fascinating and beautiful of all human relationships. It’s inspired poets, artists, and authors since the beginning of time. For nine months a mother and child’s spirits and bodies are intertwined; you can’t tell where one ends and another begins. Their hearts pump the same blood and their nervous systems are completely in sync. When the baby’s little heart is ready to beat, six weeks after fertilization, the mother’s body places a few drops of her own blood in the baby’s heart to begin his/her life.  The mother’s blood is mixed with […] - [Gather Together](https://simplewonders.org/2022/11/02/gather-together/): “Verily, verily, I say unto you, as I said unto my disciples, where two or three are gathered together in my name, as touching one thing, behold, there will I be in the midst of them.” D&C 6:32 All subjects can be divided into skill-based or content-based. Skill-based subjects are based on knowledge and skills acquired line-upon-line, precept-upon-precept. These subjects are based on individual growth and don’t usually benefit from learning in a group setting. These include math, reading, spelling, and even drawing. Content-based subjects lend themselves better to discussion and group-projects. Most subjects need a little of both: personal […] - [Artist Study](https://simplewonders.org/2022/10/28/artist-study/): “We cannot measure the influence that one or another artist has upon the child’s sense of beauty, upon his power of seeing, as in a picture, the common sights of life; he is enriched more than we know in having really looked at even a single picture.” Charlotte Mason, Vol. 1, p. 309 Why is artist study important? In one of my first Humanity classes in college, my teacher started off with a story of a boy who asked “why spend time learning and studying art that depicts pagan gods and worldly struggles?”  My teacher responded: Art is more than […] - [Singing](https://simplewonders.org/2022/10/28/singing/): Songs can be some of the best tools for helping your homeschool day go more smoothly. Do your children struggle with transitions? Let a song be your cue to switch gears. Do your children need frequent wiggle breaks? Have an impromptu dance party. Do you need to get your children settled and focused again? Try a hymn. Music is a powerful tool. Here are some thoughts, tips, and resources you can use to get more music into your homeschool.  Sing a hymn each day. Remember what the Lord told Emma Smith? “…[T]he song of the righteous is a prayer unto […] ## Pages - [drawing](https://simplewonders.org/membership-subject-page/) - [writing + grammar](https://simplewonders.org/subjects/writing/) - [nature study](https://simplewonders.org/subjects/nature-study-2/) - [history](https://simplewonders.org/subjects/history-2/) - [geography](https://simplewonders.org/subjects/geography-2/) - [subjects -- blog](https://simplewonders.org/subjects-blog/) - [home educator's academy](https://simplewonders.org/home-educators-academy/) - [Login](https://simplewonders.org/login/) - [Account](https://simplewonders.org/account/) - [Thank You](https://simplewonders.org/thank-you/): Your subscription has been set up successfully. - [math](https://simplewonders.org/subjects/math/) - [reading](https://simplewonders.org/subjects/reading/) - [Subjects](https://simplewonders.org/subjects/) - [Gather](https://simplewonders.org/subjects/gather/) - [Booklists](https://simplewonders.org/booklists/) - [HOME-BASED EDUCATION](https://simplewonders.org/home-education/) - [My account](https://simplewonders.org/my-account/) - [Checkout](https://simplewonders.org/checkout/) - [Cart](https://simplewonders.org/cart/) - [Home - Shop](https://simplewonders.org/home-2/shop/) - [about](https://simplewonders.org/about/) - [Blog - By Categories](https://simplewonders.org/library/) - [Home](https://simplewonders.org/) ## Products - [Student Logbook](https://simplewonders.org/product/student-logbook/): Looking for a simple way to keep your homeschool days flowing smoothly? Struggling to implement Charlotte Mason’s methods on a daily basis? This Student Logbook helps you organize the feast of subjects and helps your child stay focused and confident, one day at a time. Each week includes daily as well as subjects and tasks, based on Charlotte Mason’s thoughtful approach to learning. This logbook is based on the successful idea of “reverse planning.” Underneath most of the subjects there is a space for you to record the lessons you complete or chapters you read, to stay organized and flexible! […] - [Recitation Cards](https://simplewonders.org/product/recitation-cards/): These recitation cards are from my 12-year family gather rotation. Each year includes: beautiful and well-known poetry excerpts from Shakespeare’s plays scripture mastery verses from the Old Testament, New Testament, Book of Mormon, and Doctrine and Covenants. The cards are meant to be printed on 4×6 index cards and can be used in your daily recitation rotation, or however you want! You don’t have to memorize every poem or scripture, you can pick and choose which ones you memorize for the year. Read THIS BLOGPOST to learn more about recitation and how my family’s retrieves (practices) past poems on a […] - [Homeschool Planner](https://simplewonders.org/product/homeschool-planner/): Simple Wonders Homeschool PlannerPlan with purpose. Teach with peace. This simple, yet thoughtfully designed homeschool planner is your all-in-one tool to guide your family through an intentional, connected, and organized school year. Whether you're new to homeschooling or a seasoned pro, this planner helps you align your big-picture vision with practical weekly plans. What’s Inside: Weekly Calendar Pages — Lay out your family’s weekly rhythms, appointments, and activities with plenty of space to customize. Weekly Calendar pages include room for Family Council notes. Yearly Planning Sheets — Map out your homeschool year at a glance—both for your whole family and each individual child. Children’s Goal Planners — Empower your kids with ownership over their learning by helping them set personal intellectual, physical, spiritual, and social goals. End-of-Term Interview Sheets — Reflect on growth, celebrate wins, and gather feedback at the end of each term with guided prompts for parents and children. Weekly Family Gather Planning Pages — Plan your morning time or family devotionals with intentional themes, songs, read-alouds, and memory work.  More than just a calendar, this planner is a framework for building a joyful and purposeful homeschool. Why I Designed This Planner After years of using various printed and digital planners, I finally decided to make one that fitted my needs as a homeschool mom using Charlotte Mason's methods. I wanted a planner that was designed with my teaching philosophy and methods in mind. I wanted just the basics, nothing more.  I also wanted the flexibility to print the different sheets and arrange them in the order that made sense to me and I would use it. THIS IS A DOWNLOADABLE PRODUCT. Each sheet is a separate PDF so you can print the ones you need and arrange them in the order that makes sense for your style of planning and organizing. . I recommend printing the PDFs from home and spiral binding at Office Depot or Staples. - [History Tools (Charts, Timelines, Notebooks)](https://simplewonders.org/product/history-tools-charts-timelines-notebooks/): All the tools you need to teach and organize history -- my own history chart, life history timeline, century chart, general timeline, and book of centuries. - [Fine Arts Alphabet Book](https://simplewonders.org/product/fine-arts-alphabet-book/): Imagine teaching your preschooler their letters while also exposing them to beautiful art! Thanks to Shannon Reid you can do both through this fine arts alphabet book. It's free for personal use; however, we ask that you respect our Terms of Use and do not distribute or sell without permission from author. - [The Early Years Guide (ages 0-6)](https://simplewonders.org/product/the-early-years-guide-ages-0-6/): A parents' guide to the first six years of life--how to nurture your child's natural development, discipline with love and authority, teach kindergarten at home, and more! All based on Charlotte Mason's philosophy and methods. - [Form Two Curriculum Guide](https://simplewonders.org/product/form-two-ages-10-12-curriculum-packet/): This curriculum guide was created by experienced teachers and moms, based on the methods of Charlotte Mason. It includes: curriculum guide, booklists, notebooks, and schedule. This product is set as "Name Your Own Price" with a minimum of $15. The purchase of curriculum guides helps pay for the site fees and other costs associated with keeping this site alive. Any more than $15 is greatly appreciated! - [Form One Curriculum Guide](https://simplewonders.org/product/form-one-curriculum-guide/): For children age 6-9 years old. Do you want to begin a Charlotte Mason education, but don’t know how to start? Tired of buying curriculum only to spend hours tailoring it to fit your needs? This curriculum guide was made for you! These curriculum guides give you the tools you need to create a personalized education for your child. Each subject includes the time and frequency of lessons, book and supply lists, simple tasks to develop skills, and a short summary of how to teach a lesson. Subjects include: reading, spelling, foreign language, drawing, music, arithmetic, nature study, and geography. […] [comment]: # (Generated by Hostinger Tools Plugin)