This post is part of the iHomeschool Network’s 10 in 10 link up. Today’s topic is top 10 websites. I’m going to narrow that down and list ten of my favorite websites for Charlotte Mason homeschooling.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.
I know that when someone is starting out with CM homeschool, it is hard to weed through all the online resources to find the most helpful sites. Some are too general. Others are too abstract. Here are my top ten choices of sites that offer a perfect mix of specific and practical helps.
SCM has a free forum, many helpful articles, free eBooks, plus retail curriculum and helps.
2. Charlotte Mason Blog Carnival
The CM carnival is run by Amy at Fisher International Academy. Her blog is a worthwhile resource in itself. But the carnival will point you to the blogs of other homeschool moms who use CM methods.
3. Barb’s Handbook of Nature Study
Barb’s nature study blog makes regular appearances in the carnival, but it truly deserves its own slot on this list. Her free resources and tips make incorporating nature study an easy and joyous task.
4. Artist Study
This comprehensive guide tells you how to do a CM styled artist study and links to hundreds of resources to aid you along that path.
This webpage is a music companion to the art page linked above. It offers an overview of how to begin CM composer study and sets you on the way with dozens of practical links and suggestions.
Most literary allusions in English literature come from just three books: the Bible, Shakespeare, and Greek mythology. CM encouraged the study of all of them, of course. Here is a guide for introducing Shakespeare to children before they have been prejudiced into thinking it’s boring or complex.
7. Main Lesson; Homeschool Commons; Heritage History
I’m cheating here to place three links together, but these are three top sources of public domain books. The eBooks at Heritage History are not free as they are at the other two, but the easy to read formatting makes them worth the small price for individual titles.
AO is a wealth of CM helps. Don’t let the plain Jane website fool you. The true riches are found in the content — entire schedules for each year of study, the actual text of Charlotte Mason’s Home Education, and many articles.
Very practical articles by LindaFay, a homeschool mom who is a champion of CM principles.
10. Penny Gardner’s Charlotte Mason site
Although this site is a bit dated in its appearance, the quality of the content makes it worth squinting your eyes for. (To increase font size, hold down Ctrl and scroll the wheel on your mouse.)
Even if you’ve been a CM educator for a long while, it’s still good to review from time to time and check to see if you’ve fallen off the CM wagon. These ten sites are a perfect place to find renewed inspiration to continue your homeschool journey with Miss Mason.
This post is linked up at Angie’s Top Ten Tuesday.
If you want to join in, post a top ten post of any topic and link up there.
Love these…. thank you 🙂
Thanks for including the Handbook of Nature Study….in such an honored list. 🙂
I have used every single link over the past few years in our CM high school courses. Thanks for all you do for the CM community.
Jimmie, for #7, did you know that Teresa (from Heritage History) used to work for Mainlesson? 🙂 Great list! We have notebooking difficulties (major ones, special needs) but that should resolve when we start using the Notebooking Publisher!
Hey: I don’t know if you are familiar with the website Homeschool Freebie of the Day. they post a new freebie each day. Some work for me many not. However: today they have a free audio download of “The Methods of Charlotte Mason – Audio Seminar” that I thought might be of interest to you and your CM homeschooling readers. Homeschool Freebie of the day can be found here: http://www.homeschoolfreebie.wholesomechildhood.com/
How timely, and after a year with no composer or art studies, FOR SURE I have fallen off the wagon! It’s been a wild ride, but I look forward to being able to slow down and regroup during the summer and get back on track for the fall. As Barb (Harmony Arts mom) stated, I’ve been to [almost] every one of these sites during my homeschooling journey, and I will echo along with you that they are awesome. Thanks for sharing!
Great list, Jimmie. Several sites I have never visited before so I should have fun this summer exploring. Thanks for sharing these (and all you other wonderful posts-I’ve been a reader for quite a while). Thank you as well for stopping by my site and leaving a comment. I really appreciate it. Be blessed!
I love your blog 🙂 I, too am a Charlotte Mason teacher but my boys really do not like anything fine arts related 🙂 I am always looking for some new way to incorporate this.. thank you for sharing the websites!
Thank you for taking the time to share your top ten CM links! Finally, after two years, I’m beginning to feel confident on the approach for our family and CM will certainly be a big part. Of course, I love anything that’s free!
These are fabulous CM links and I recommend them too. I love the Simply Charlotte Mason emails that pop into my inbox each week. Sonia shares wonderful, deep, yet simple CM truths.
I want to share a “new” CM treasure I found this year:
Patti, a mother of 11, and Grandma to five, shares successive studies of an artist, a composer and a poet each week on her blog called All Things Bright And Beautiful. For those busy (or overwhelmed moms) she has made CM fine arts so accessible.
One of my favorite CM websites is http://www.momentswithmotherculture.blogspot.com/ done by Karen Andreola.
Just found these! Thank you!