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I would love to read about the Charlotte Mason method, but I know there are many books out there to choose from. Is there one you suggest over others? Thanks!

I really enjoyed Karen Andreola's book, A Charlotte Mason companion to get a feel for the CM way of doing things. I really enjoy reading her fiction books Pocketful of Pinecones and Lessons at Blackberry Inn. It's a nice way to see the CM way in action in story form. I guess those are nuts and bolts kind of books but I found them all enjoyable reads.

My favorite Charlotte Mason resource is For the Children's Sake by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay.

I agree with pjdobro. The books she mentioned are excellent!
They also were easier to read, and made the most sense to me.

Melena wrote:My favorite Charlotte Mason resource is For the Children's Sake by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay.

I like this one, and I also like A Charlotte Mason Education and More Charlotte Mason Education by Catherine Levison. These are very simple how-to books to get going with a CM education in your home... quick implementation. Easy to follow for any one (or more) of the areas that Miss Mason spoke about in her original 6-volume series.

That said, all of the above authors tend to make a CM education sound a lot more "relaxed" than it really was. A true Charlotte Mason education was actually pretty rigorous. The idea of "short lessons" and "free afternoons" and for younger children, and "save formal grammar for later", sort of spun off into a "relaxed homeschool" method by most of the above authors. Andreola's book, for example, is a nice fireside type of read with a lot of warm and fuzzies. I have many comments highlighted in my copy. But she does make CM sound very relaxed, so keep that in mind if you read it.

Loved Pocketful of Pinecones for practical nature walk/study ideas!

I like Andreola's books. A Charlotte Mason Companion is a nice intro to CM and her fiction books are a fun read. For something a bit deeper I like When Children Love to Learn.

pjdobro wrote:I really enjoyed Karen Andreola's book, A Charlotte Mason companion to get a feel for the CM way of doing things. I really enjoy reading her fiction books Pocketful of Pinecones and Lessons at Blackberry Inn. It's a nice way to see the CM way in action in story form. I guess those are nuts and bolts kind of books but I found them all enjoyable reads.

This is my favorite one. I did not like For the Children's sake at all. I haven't read Catherine Levinsons books. Also get the free ebook a on SimplyCharlotteMason.com. I love Education Is, Smooth and Easy days. We have Charlotte Mason moms group that meets once a month discussing her principles and implementing them in our homes. It has been a great place to learn. We use Karen Andreola's book for our discussions. We usually cover one or more chapters per meeting. This group has been such a blessing to me. I started when my oldest was 4 and I would just listen and soak up wisdom from the ladies. Now it's changed some, some of the women who used to come are now busy with teens and a new group of women are there. This yer I have led many of the talks.

Thank you, ladies! I've downloaded some of the ebooks from simplycharlottemason.com and my local library has A Charlotte Mason Companion. Now to find the time to read!