Secular Charlotte Mason

You will notice that, even though this is a secular website, many of these links are decidedly not secular. Unfortunately that cannot be helped as, at this time, there simply are not secular resources available online. Sheer frustration with this issue was my impetus for creating the website in the first place! So please bear with the links and take what works for you and your family and leave the rest. :)

Links to sites created by people who are primarily known for having written books about Charlotte Mason or her educational philosophy.

• A Charlotte Mason Education www.charlottemasoneducation.com/ The official website of Catherine Levinson; author of three books about a Charlotte Mason Education. Not secular. Posted at 12:14pm on Tue, Mar 17 2009

• Penny Gardner's "Charlotte Mason" Website www.pennygardner.com/ The official website of Penny Gardner; author of The Charlotte Mason Study Guide. Not secular, although she does have a secular ebook version of her book and is secular friendly. Posted at 12:18pm on Tue, Mar 17 2009

• Homeschool Highlights www.homeschoolhighlights.com/ The official website of Karen and Dean Andreola; publishers of the original Charlotte Mason series and other CM resources. Karen is also the author of several books about CM and her educational philosophy. Not secular, but Karen has great ideas. Posted at 12:23pm on Tue, Mar 17 2009

• Charlotte Mason Research & Supply Company www.charlottemason.com/ I believe this is the original website of Karen and Dean Andreola. Not secular but they have more of CM's original works than anyone else as far as I know. Posted at 12:26pm on Tue, Mar 17 2009

These sites either provide a scope and sequence for how to do a Charlotte Mason education or they sell books specifically for CM and/or classical education homeschoolers.

• Mater Amabilis www.materamabilis.org/ A British Catholic take on CM. I happen to like their nonreligious book choices more than some of the American sites. For example, this site recommends the Leon Garfield books for Shakespeare and not the Lamb book that is so popular in the US. Posted at 3:28pm on Tue, Mar 24 2009

• Ambleside Online www.amblesideonline.org/ Provides a grade by grade scope and sequence for CM homeschoolers. I have a love/hate relationship with this site as it is not secular and I sometimes find it's scope quite limited. On the other hand I do use it for inspiration when I am in the beginning phases of planning for the year or need music, poetry, or book ideas. Personally, I could never use it as is. Posted at 12:54pm on Tue, Mar 17 2009

• The Tanglewood School www.tanglewoodeducation.com/ This site combines Charlotte Mason and more traditional classical education philosophies which appeals to many people, myself included. It is slightly less Eurocentric than some of the other CM sites. Again I have a love/hate relationship with this site due to it's limited scope. I do like their "extras" like the Corebook though. Less religious than other CM sites but not secular either. Posted at 1:00pm on Tue, Mar 17 2009

• Simply Charlotte Mason simplycharlottemason.com/ This site has a little bit of everything. I like their "extras" including the stuff you can have sent to your email. They'd be awesome if they were secular, but of course they aren't. Posted at 1:34pm on Tue, Mar 17 2009

• Pandia Press www.pandiapress.com/pubilcations.htm The only truly secular publisher of CM/Classical Ed. materials that I know of. I strongly support this company and use their materials with my children. Posted at 3:07pm on Tue, Mar 24 2009

• Classical Home Education www.classicalhomeeducation.com/cart.php In their own words: Classical Home Education is a non-sectarian company with no political or religious agenda of its own. CHE products are carefully selected with quality and diversity in mind so you can create a curriculum that is right for your children. They are a vendor for Pandia Press. Another company that I strongly support. Posted at 3:12pm on Tue, Mar 24 2009

• Queen Homeschool Supplies www.queenhomeschool.com/alphapage/alphaframe.html This site is so very religious that I almost didn't include it. The only reason I am is because they have literature guides for books I can't find guides for and folks over on the secular CM group are quite happy with them. If you are opposed to supporting religious homeschool companies than you will want to avoid this one. Posted at 1:06pm on Tue, Mar 17 2009

• Living Books Curriculum www.livingwww.livingbookscurriculum.com/curriculum-intro.htm I keep looking at this site thinking there is something I am missing because it has been recommended to me so many times and so many of my friends love their materials. Once again I am on the fence as to whether these materials would work with my very particular children. I am including it for those with less picky children lol. It's not secular. Posted at 1:15pm on Tue, Mar 17 2009

• Wilderness Awareness School www.wildernessawareness.org/home_study/kamana.html This organization offers a little bit of everything. This link is to their Kamana Homeschool Study Program which is geared toward teens and adults. A good way to focus nature studies during the middle school and high school years. They also sell all sorts of nature guides, books and CDs. Posted at 2:21pm on Mon, Jun 29 2009

• Half.Com www.half.com This company has the best prices and has been quite reliable for us. Doesn't have as wide a selection as some of the other sites. Posted at 3:06am on Sun, Mar 29 2009

• Powells Books powells.com/ About the only thing I don't like about Powells is that they do not give homeschoolers an educational discount. We spend a fair amount of time at these stores. I've always had excellent customer service from them; both in person and online. Posted at 3:10am on Sun, Mar 29 2009

• McKenzie Books www.mckenziebooks.com An up and coming used book service. So far it is focusing on traditional textbooks and adult reading but I heard it is planning to expand it's children's selections. Verdict is still out on this store. Posted at 3:12am on Sun, Mar 29 2009

• Alibris www.alibris.com/ A reliable source for hard to find books. Decent prices. Posted at 3:14am on Sun, Mar 29 2009

• AbeBooks www.abebooks.com/ Another source for hard to find used books. Posted at 1:07pm on Sun, Mar 29 2009

• Project Gutenberg www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page On this site you can find 28,000 ebooks that are in the public domain. The text of many books recommended for Charlotte Mason can be found here. Posted at 11:40am on Mon, May 25 2009

• Gyanpedia gyanpedia.in/tft/Resources/books_e.htm We have this link courtesy of Suji and Sandra. I like that this site includes the pictures and illustrations as well as the text, not all free lit. sites do. It has a healthy education section as well as Newbery and Children's Literature sections. Good stuff. Posted at 1:42pm on Mon, May 25 2009

• Secular Homeschooling Magazine www.secular-homeschooling.com/index.html A *new* truly secular resource for all styles of homeschooling. Always a good read. The kids and I think the editor's writing, in particular, is a hoot. Worth the money! Posted at 12:59pm on Sun, Mar 29 2009

These are websites and blogs that I have come across in my CM research. Note that *I* have nothing to do with any of these. They are simply sites and blogs that I have particularly enjoyed or that I think give a good description of certain aspects of CM's philosophy. I have not listed credits here, not because I don't think the authors deserve it, but rather because I assume that people will go to their sites and blogs and see for themselves. If it is your blog or site and you want credit included in the description here let me know.

• MacBeth's Opinion charlottemason.tripod.com/ This person knows where it is at when it comes to nature studies!!! From a Catholic perspective but I don't thinks she hits you over the head with it. I really enjoy this site when I need nature study inspiration. Posted at 1:30pm on Tue, Mar 17 2009

• Charlotte Mason Basics www.squidoo.com/CMbasics This site may not be secular but it has a little bit of everything CM and is well organized. Excellent for people new to CM and wanting to get the big picture. Includes many links; including some found on SecularCM and others that are too religious to be included on SecularCM. Posted at 11:22am on Wed, Mar 18 2009

• Farm School farmschool.wordpress.com/ This family combines WTM and CM in their homeschooling. Becky is an absolute whiz with book recommendations. Posted at 11:25am on Wed, Mar 18 2009

These are links to some of my favorite forums and yahoo groups that would enhance a CM education.

• Charlotte Mason Home Education charlottemason.ning.com/ This is a relatively new forum from Britain. I think it has great potential. Posted at 12:41pm on Tue, Mar 17 2009

• Secular Charlotte Mason groups.yahoo.com/group/SecularCM/ This is my favorite homeschool yahoo group EVER. When people ask me where I get my book lists, many of them come from recommendations given on this list. Posted at 12:46pm on Tue, Mar 17 2009