Simple Wonders

Drawing is one of those skill-based subjects that every person should learn, like math and language arts. Knowing how to express your thoughts and ideas visually is so important! But how do you teach it at home? Especially if you’re not confident in your own drawing abilities. Luckily, there are so many drawing resources available to us. Here's how I teach it and the books/resources I've u...

Sentence diagramming, learning the technical terms for parts of language, direct writing instruction... does it REALLY work? NO!The way most of us have been taught grammar -- sentence diagramming, direct instruction, separate writing classes -- isn't actually effective in making us better writers. In fact, it can create paralysis for some people (like me!) and make writing WORSE. So how should...

Teaching math can be DAUNTING. Parents considering homeschool may doubt their ability to teach math if they don't have a degree in math or teaching. But you can do it! And in this video I'll show you how. I share research-based teaching methods that you can use with any curriculum, some basics on how to teach math in a way that is developmentally appropriate, as well as my preferred curric...

Charlotte Mason used a lot of "living" books to teach history. It makes sense since she considered it the "pivot" upon which her whole curriculum turned. So, which books did she recommend? And how did she use them? What purpose did they serve?  In this video I discuss the different books that Charlotte used in her schools  and how to use them, as well as my family's favorit...

Books and primary sources aren't the only tools we should use when teaching history. Timelines, century charts, and the Charlotte Mason's signature "Book of Centuries" are all tools to help our kids grasp the abstract concept of time. In this video I share the tools I use to help my kids keep track of the many centuries (and people and events!) we learn about in history. Not only...

When it comes to teaching history homeschool parents have a lot of decisions to make -- Should I study US or world history? At what age should a child begin learning about history? There is SO MUCH history, where do I begin? How do I teach it? How do I choose a curriculum or how can I make my own? 🤯 In this video I go over why we should teach history and how Charlotte Mason taught it in her schoo...

Nature study is a hallmark feature of a Charlotte Mason education, but how do you teach nature study? What plants and animals should you study? What questions should you ask? And what does a lesson look like? In this video I share what I've learned in my 6 years of experience (and counting!) teaching nature study through OBJECT LESSONS. I use Charlotte Mason's methods and the Handbook of Nature St...

You've heard about nature notebooking (AKA journaling) or seen some beautiful shots of children's nature journals. But you have reservations... 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? Nature notebooking is your child’s first science notebook. They learn how to wonder, obs...

Nature study can be a daunting subject, but it doesn't have to be! Simply start with a weekly nature walk around a park, or even around your neighborhood. Charlotte Mason put a lot of weight on the importance of nature study throughout a person's life, and it can be as easy as taking a weekly nature walk as a family and noticing: 1) seasonal changes 2) plants and animals 3) geography In this video...

Nature study is one of the most important subjects in developing the mind and heart! For this reason it is my FAVORITE subject to teach. It is one of the reasons I was drawn to Charlotte Mason's method of education. In this episode I briefly discuss the principles behind nature study and how I teach it at home with 3 simple steps -- weekly nature walk, object lesson, and nature notebook. Over the...

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 the subject and I know you’re going to come away feeling excited and equipped to begi...

In this episode I get to chat with my friend and fellow homeschool mamma, Havalah Turner.  Grammar and writing can be terrifying subjects for homeschoolers. We either overdo it with stacks of worksheets, or we don’t teach it all.   But there is a better way! Writing is simply putting thoughts down on paper, and grammar is playing with words and finding the clearest and most beautiful way to convey...

“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 troub...

How do I teach handwriting? My child has dyslexia -- will Charlotte Mason's method work for him/her? How can I encourage a reluctant writer? ____ In this episode I invite Penny Gardner to help me answer these questions and more! Charlotte Mason taught handwriting, grammar, spelling, and writing through a simple method called "copywork." We discuss why this is such a powerful tool and...

In this episode I have a conversation with Julie Ross, founder of A Gentle Feast. We discuss the different ideas of teaching reading (AKA "The Reading Wars"), the pros and cons of each, and the research on reading. We also discuss why Charlotte Mason's method of teaching reading was so ingenious and effective! _____ Julie has been teaching for almost two decades in various educationa...

Every parent and teacher should have a philosophy of education, or a set of principles, that drives their behavior and choices. Do you know what yours are? In this episode I go over Charlotte Mason's 20 principles (or 19, in this case) that she spent decades considering and applying. I have found so much peace and confidence in considering and adopting these principles as my own. As an end to...

Charlotte Mason said that lessons should be based on living books and real things. But how do we use these materials once we have them? Create activities? Quizzes? Lectures? In this episode I discuss what we do with books and real things -- three methods that are time-tested and backed by science. Along with some teaching and learning methods that are frequently used, but aren't actually effec...

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...

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...

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 child...

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 e...

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...

"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 chil...

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 an...

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....