Simply Charlotte Mason Homeschooling
450 episodes - English - Latest episode: 19 days ago - ★★★★★ - 423 ratingsThe weekly Simply Charlotte Mason homeschooling audio podcast with Sonya Shafer
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Episodes
Your Questions Answered: Back-to-School Essentials for Mom
July 29, 2020 13:00 - 13 minutes - 14.4 MBThis time of year, it seems like no matter which store you go into, there are lists and lists of back-to-school supplies: these are the things the students will need […] Your Questions Answered: Back-to-School Essentials for Mom originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
How to Do Dictation
July 22, 2020 13:00 - 12 minutes - 13 MBToday we want to talk about how to do formal spelling lessons in a Charlotte Mason way: dictation. If you have been following the previous articles in this How To […] How to Do Dictation originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
2 Ways to Schedule Your Homeschool Day
July 15, 2020 13:00 - 8 minutes - 9.56 MBToday I’d like to walk through two different ways to schedule a school day. Both are viable options. Use the one that fits best during this season of life. Over […] 2 Ways to Schedule Your Homeschool Day originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
4 Ways to Schedule Your Homeschool Year
July 08, 2020 13:00 - 9 minutes - 10.8 MBHere's a look at four possible homeschool year schedules. Choose the one that works for your family! 4 Ways to Schedule Your Homeschool Year originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Getting Started with a Book of Mottoes, or Commonplace Book
July 01, 2020 13:00 - 9 minutes - 10 MBI just pulled a notebook off my little reading table and opened to the first page. And I can’t stop smiling at the diversity of wisdom and wit recorded there. […] Getting Started with a Book of Mottoes, or Commonplace Book originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
How to Do Transcription
June 24, 2020 13:00 - 10 minutes - 11.2 MBToday I want to explain a practice that will help your student develop handwriting fluency, practice beautiful penmanship, encourage correct spelling, and feed your child’s mind with worthy ideas. It’s […] How to Do Transcription originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Finding a Substitute Book
June 17, 2020 13:00 - 16 minutes - 18 MBIn a Charlotte Mason education, it’s the books that shine. They are the teachers, and a lot depends on them. That’s why we are selective when it comes to the […] Finding a Substitute Book originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
A Charlotte Mason Homeschool Dad’s Story
June 10, 2020 13:00 - 7 minutes - 8.7 MBMany times we focus on the mom in a Charlotte Mason homeschool. We usually focus on the moms, because they’re often the ones doing the bulk of the teaching in […] A Charlotte Mason Homeschool Dad’s Story originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
How to Do Copywork
June 03, 2020 13:00 - 11 minutes - 11.8 MBPerhaps you have heard the term “copywork” and wondered what exactly it is. Copywork is a method that Charlotte Mason used to help children learn letter formation. Let’s walk through […] How to Do Copywork originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Give Your Home School a KISS
May 27, 2020 13:00 - 8 minutes - 9.87 MBIn the spring and summer, many of us turn our thoughts to evaluating our home schools. How are things going? What changes might we want to make? Some states or […] Give Your Home School a KISS originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Favorite Modern Times History Books for Grades 10–12
May 20, 2020 12:00 - 16 minutes - 18 MBModern Times (about 1850 to present day) is a jam-packed era in history. So many things were happening all around the world; and thanks to improved technology, we have access […] Favorite Modern Times History Books for Grades 10–12 originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Nature Study in the City
May 13, 2020 13:00 - 8 minutes - 9.23 MBMany of you know that Charlotte Mason was a big advocate of taking nature walks and doing nature study. She scheduled her students to get out into the fields one […] Nature Study in the City originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
How to Do Nature Study
May 06, 2020 12:00 - 8 minutes - 9.88 MBUsually when people describe the Charlotte Mason approach, the one thing they almost always mention is nature study. Time in nature is an integral part of the Charlotte Mason Method. […] How to Do Nature Study originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Your Questions Answered: Prolific Reader
April 29, 2020 12:00 - 19 minutes - 20.2 MBI think almost all of us who use the Charlotte Mason Method have a desire to see our children love to read. We know how much richness good books can […] Your Questions Answered: Prolific Reader originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Favorite Modern Times History Books for Grades 7–9
April 22, 2020 12:00 - 18 minutes - 19.5 MBToday I want to share my top picks for living history books on modern times. These are the books that I recommend for grades 7–9, and in some cases, all […] Favorite Modern Times History Books for Grades 7–9 originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Screen Time
April 15, 2020 12:00 - 14 minutes - 16.8 MBSonya is joined by SCM co-founder Doug Smith to discuss screen time and technology. Screen Time originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
How to Do Poet Study
April 08, 2020 12:00 - 10 minutes - 11.1 MBIf your experience with poetry during your own school years was anything like my experience, you’re going to find Charlotte Mason’s approach to be a breath of fresh air. Let’s […] How to Do Poet Study originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Your Questions Answered: Charlotte Mason with a Large Family
April 01, 2020 12:00 - 27 minutes - 28.2 MBToday I’ve asked two friends to join me: Laura Pitney and Jenn Faas. We’re going to be talking about the unique challenges of home schooling, Charlotte Mason style with a […] Your Questions Answered: Charlotte Mason with a Large Family originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Be Home
March 24, 2020 12:00 - 8 minutes - 8.87 MBAll right, I just have to say that I’m going to miss seeing you in person! I was really looking forward to getting together with you at homeschool conventions this […] Be Home originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Favorite Modern Times History Books for Grades 4–6
March 18, 2020 12:00 - 13 minutes - 14.5 MBI love sharing great book recommendations with other homeschoolers. Today I’ll be sharing my top picks for grades 4–6 who are studying modern times, about 1850 to the present. I […] Favorite Modern Times History Books for Grades 4–6 originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Charlotte Mason with Boys
March 11, 2020 12:00 - 14 minutes - 14.8 MBI have four daughters, no sons. So sometimes I get asked whether a Charlotte Mason approach works with boys. The answer is “Yes, absolutely it does,” but don’t just take […] Charlotte Mason with Boys originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
How to Do Music Study
March 04, 2020 13:00 - 12 minutes - 13.5 MBToday I want to walk you through how to do music study, or composer study. Charlotte Mason believed that “music is a necessary part of education.” It can also be […] How to Do Music Study originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Your Questions Answered: Time to Play
February 26, 2020 13:00 - 10 minutes - 11 MBWelcome to another installment of Your Questions Answered. As usual, my friend and co-worker, Laura Pitney is joining me. Here’s the question we’re going to discuss today: For elementary students, […] Your Questions Answered: Time to Play originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Favorite Modern Times History Books for Grades 1–3
February 19, 2020 13:00 - 19 minutes - 21 MBThere are a lot of books available on modern history (about 1850 to present day). The trick is to find the good ones, the ones that are appropriate for those […] Favorite Modern Times History Books for Grades 1–3 originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Is My Child Learning Enough?
February 12, 2020 13:30 - 8 minutes - 9.53 MBIf you're feeling like your child is behind or not learning enough, take a moment to be encouraged. Is My Child Learning Enough? originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
How to Do Picture Study
February 05, 2020 13:30 - 9 minutes - 10.5 MBPicture study is one of the easiest things to add to your schoolwork and one of the most enriching. Let’s walk through how to do it. What You Will Need […] How to Do Picture Study originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Your Questions Answered: Common CM Homeschool Mistakes
January 29, 2020 13:30 - 17 minutes - 18 MBRecently, Sonya Shafer and Laura Pitney and Karen Smith sat down to discuss this question: What are one or two (or three, four, whichever we get to) common homeschool mistakes […] Your Questions Answered: Common CM Homeschool Mistakes originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Favorite Modern Times History Books for the Family
January 21, 2020 13:30 - 11 minutes - 13 MBI must admit that I’m somewhat partial to old books. But when you’re teaching modern history, you have to find some new favorites. And I’m happy to tell you about […] Favorite Modern Times History Books for the Family originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Winter Nature Study
January 15, 2020 13:00 - 11 minutes - 12.2 MBSonya is joined by Karen Smith to talk about how to do nature study when it's cold outside. Winter Nature Study originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
How to Do Narration
January 07, 2020 11:47 - 15 minutes - 16.8 MBLet’s walk through a foundational method used in many Charlotte Mason-style lessons: narration. You will be using this method for history, geography, Bible, science, and other subjects, so let’s make […] How to Do Narration originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Homeschooling Overseas with the Charlotte Mason Method
December 30, 2019 15:21 - 23 minutes - 25.7 MBIt seems like more and more people are traveling and expanding their horizons around the world. We often get asked for advice and practical tips from families who are planning […] Homeschooling Overseas with the Charlotte Mason Method originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Our Wills and God’s Will
December 23, 2019 11:10 - 10 minutes - 12.3 MBWe’ve spent several blog posts talking about the way of the will and how to strengthen the will so it will be able to choose to do what is right, […] Our Wills and God’s Will originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Favorite Early Modern History Books for Grades 10–12
December 17, 2019 18:26 - 15 minutes - 17.2 MBI remember my high school history books. They were nothing like these beauties! My history textbooks were full of summaries and facts. These are full of ideas and people and […] Favorite Early Modern History Books for Grades 10–12 originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
I Am, I Can, I Ought, I Wish I Did
December 10, 2019 11:31 - 21 minutes - 22.7 MBThis morning my alarm went off as scheduled. I squinted my eyes part-way open and took in the dark room and the cold rain pattering against the window. It was […] I Am, I Can, I Ought, I Wish I Did originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Your Questions Answered: Christmas Season Edition
December 02, 2019 14:43 - 17 minutes - 20 MBA well-rounded Charlotte Mason education involves living ideas from great books, the discipline of good habits, and the atmosphere of our homes. We’d like to focus on that third aspect […] Your Questions Answered: Christmas Season Edition originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
A Chat with Pam Barnhill
November 25, 2019 15:43 - 8 minutes - 10.3 MBMy friend Pam Barnhill stopped by today and she sat down to have a little chat with us. Some of you might know her from her popular podcast, Homeschool Solutions. […] A Chat with Pam Barnhill originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Favorite Early Modern Books for Grades 7–9
November 19, 2019 19:16 - 14 minutes - 16.2 MBI love being surrounded by great books! My father recently made me two more bookcases, so I’ve been happily reshuffling and reorganizing my collection of history and literature books. That’s […] Favorite Early Modern Books for Grades 7–9 originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
3 Ways to Develop Willpower
November 12, 2019 20:53 - 10 minutes - 12.4 MBRight off the bat, some of you may be thinking, “Strengthen my child’s will? I don’t need to strengthen it. He’s a strong-willed child already!” And that may be the […] 3 Ways to Develop Willpower originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
Your Questions Answered: Fitting in the Good Stuff
November 05, 2019 21:09 - 17 minutes - 20 MBMy friend and co-worker Laura Pitney is joining me to talk about all of those wonderful enrichment subjects. Here’s the question to discuss today: “There are so many enriching subjects […] Your Questions Answered: Fitting in the Good Stuff originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.
How to Choose and Use Field Guides
October 29, 2019 16:56 - 12 minutes - 13.4 MBA good field guide can be a very helpful tool when you’re doing nature walks or nature study. Let’s talk about what to look for when you’re choosing them and how to use them. Joining me today is my longtime friend and co-creator of Simply Charlotte Mason, Karen Smith. Karen is my go-to person for anything that is science and nature related. Sonya: So thanks for joining me, Karen. Field guides. What are they? Let’s start there. Karen: A field guide is just a tool to help you identify what you...
Favorite Early Modern Books for Grades 4–6
October 23, 2019 09:58 - 11 minutes - 13.6 MBThe Early Modern time period includes many fascinating people and events. And what better way to study them than through living books—books that make them come alive in your child’s mind; books that touch their emotions and fire their imaginations; books that are well written and brimming with ideas, not just dry facts. Today I want to share some of my top picks for fourth through sixth graders studying this time period, about 1550—1850. You decide whether you want to read them aloud togeth...
Is Your Child Strong-Willed or Weak-Willed?
October 15, 2019 14:51 - 9 minutes - 10.5 MBA few weeks ago I did a post on the Way of the Will as a little refresher course on how Charlotte Mason explained the will and how it works. Many of you responded with requests for more on that subject. So today we’re going to touch on another aspect of the will, and I will sprinkle in more over the coming weeks and months. Today I want to talk about a mental shift that can occur if you change just one word when you think about your child’s will. Parents often refer to a child as strong-will...
Your Questions Answered: Favorite CM Moments
October 08, 2019 20:03 - 14 minutes - 16.6 MBToday my friend and co-worker Laura Pitney is with me to share some of our favorite moments using the Charlotte Mason method. Sonya: I’m thinking back on it, now that I’ve graduated three out of my four kids, and I can see a lot more, I wouldn’t necessarily say, you know, “top moments,” but there are things that come to mind now that I didn’t have back when I was in the thick of things. Laura: That gives me hope. Sonya: It should. Okay, for my oldest, she’s almost 30, and she continually rec...
How to Read History
October 01, 2019 19:25 - 13 minutes - 15.1 MBWhen I was a little girl, I would go visit my grandparents once or twice a year. I quickly figured out that things at my grandparents’ house were different from my own house. They had different-looking furniture; they watched different TV shows and played different games; they had different toys for me to play with; they didn’t have air conditioning; they ate different foods. They even used different words. At my house, we ate “cereal” for breakfast; at their house that box of cereal was cal...
Favorite Early Modern Books for Grades 1–3
September 24, 2019 14:29 - 17 minutes - 19.9 MBToday I’d like to share some of my favorite living books for early elementary students, those in grades 1–3, covering history during the years of 1550–1850 or so. I’m going to share titles for both American history and world history during that era, often called Early Modern. I think it’s helpful to study American history in the context of world history, because the events are often interrelated. American history did not happen in a vacuum, and you can help a child understand the bigger pic...
Nature Walk or Nature Study?
September 17, 2019 17:15 - 11 minutes - 12.8 MBIn a Charlotte Mason Homeschool, we know we should do nature study once a week, or is that a nature walk once a week? What’s the difference, anyway? Let’s figure this out. Joining me today is my longtime friend and co-creator of Simply Charlotte Mason, Karen Smith. Karen is my go-to person for anything nature or science related. Sonya: So Karen, thanks for joining me as we try to figure this out. Nature study, nature walk—what’s the difference? Karen: A nature walk is simply a walk in nature...
Your Questions Answered: Not Repeating Yourself
September 10, 2019 17:04 - 18 minutes - 20.5 MBToday I’m joined by my friend and co-worker, Laura Pitney, to do another installment of Your Questions Answered. The question for today is quite interesting: “You say not to repeat yourself, but I’m wondering how you teach this? I have a five year old. Let’s say I get her attention, look directly into her eyes, and tell her ‘Go put your pajamas in the laundry.’ She starts the journey, but gets sidetracked on the way there. Five minutes later, I notice her pajamas on the kitchen floor, beside...
The Way of the Will
September 03, 2019 18:47 - 12 minutes - 13.7 MBI was recently talking with a group of parents, and in the course of our time together, I mentioned how important it is to make sure our young adults know how the will works. Well, all of the parents in that group wanted a refresher course on the way of the will, as Charlotte Mason called it. So I thought it might be helpful to share a quick refresher with all of you. Here’s a quick overview. And we can dive into more details if you want to. Just let me know in the comments. Think of your ch...
Favorite Early Modern Books for the Whole Family
August 27, 2019 12:00 - 9 minutes - 12 MBToday I’m sharing some great books that will guide your whole family through the time in history that we call Early Modern, about 1550 through 1850 or so. It’s an exciting time period with a lot happening all around the world, including a fledgling country that we now know as the United States. I think it’s a great idea to study American history alongside the world history that was happening at the same time. It’s important for our students to realize that what happened in America did not ha...
Your Questions Answered: Audiobooks in a Charlotte Mason Home School
August 20, 2019 12:00 - 16 minutes - 18.2 MBMy friend and coworker, Laura Pitney is with me today for another episode of Your Questions Answered. Today’s question is What is the place of audiobooks in a Charlotte Mason home school? Laura: That is a great question for sure. Sonya: Let’s talk about benefits first, how they can be very helpful to a homeschool mom. Laura: I would definitely say it’s helpful for me and my voice when I am running thin on everything else I’ve been doing vocally. Sonya: Yes, or if you’re just not available at...