Books. Blogs and Sites for Home Educators

For the last five or six years I have been reading, researching and praying about home education and have been led towards the Classical/Charlotte Mason philosophy and method.  

A couple of years ago I wrote this summary of my reading and research on the subject as I was working out and pondering the way forward for my family. I started by reading the usual books on the subject, from Charlotte Mason's six volumes to Karen Andreola, Catherine Levison and Susan Shaeffer Macaulay and Karen Glass.  After that I read 'Teaching From Rest' by Sarah Mackenzie, which I would recommend for any home educating mother, no matter how many years' experience she has!  

Once I had read these books I wanted to see what else was 'out there' by way of 'support' or 'regular updates' from other homes educating families, so I went online.  Here is what I wrote then and I'm posting it here in case it might help others in their search for information and guidance on the journey to 'finding their freedom' in home education:

Further to what is often said about the absence of UK-based blogs about Home Education that discuss the 'bigger questions' or that offer more than just 'what we did today', I wanted to share a few links to blogs that I have been reading lately and have found thought provoking.  The websites can be broken down into 'information, resources, skill sharing', and the more 'blog' type websites, wherein mothers talk about their own experiences as well as 'think aloud' about the big questions and others respond either in the comments or via the use of live 'chats' - video or written text only.  Here are a few of them (my apologies if none of these are new to you!):

Information sites:

amblesideonline.org a free, online Charlotte Mason curriculum and resource site.  The booklists alone are great for any family as well as music appreciation suggestions, poetry and more.  There is also a very active forum linked to the site.  Parents on the forum discuss anything from the nitty-gritty of getting children to listen to resources to group studies, over several years, of Charlotte Mason's books and other titles.

materamabilis.org another free, online, Charlotte Mason curriculum but this one is specifically Catholic.  There is a Facebook group linked to this site and I really value the discussion that take place in that group as the mothers there are faithful Catholics and many of them have lots of years' experience. Lots of sharing of resources and suggestions happens on this group page.

catholiccurriculumonashoestring.weebly.com This one is not American!  Kathryn's website is full of wonderful help, encouragement and information.  I have recommended this site to several friends who have found it invaluable.

crusaders-for-christ.com A site with lovely resources to download for free to help with catechism, handwriting practice and early reading materials for primary children.

classical-homeschooling.org a list of 1000 book titles arranged by age-group.

classicalreader.com another lovely, searchable, booklist.

classicalacademicpress.com a wealth of thought-provoking information and gateway to interesting blogs as well as 'mother culture', educational materials and suggestions for HE parents.

Blogs written by HE mothers to share, encourage, brain storm and uplift one another:

www.scholesisters.com a regular podcast hosted by one of three mothers who all write their own blogs.  The subjects are discussed with another mother or father who has some experience in that area or an author of a book.  The talks also come with a list of links to various sites or titles mentioned during the podcast.

afterthoughtsblog a mother who covers educational philosophy, home education, mother culture (ongoing learning for mothers!) and more.  With plenty of 'big questions' and things to ponder.

edsnapshots.com/blog another interesting mother who covers lots of different areas from planning to morning time.  Pam also hosts a couple of regular podcasts, including yourmorningbasket.com and The Homeschool Solutions Show

amongstlovelythings.com/blog this is the blog by Sarah Mackenzie, mentioned above.  She mostly writes about books, poetry,reading to children and encouraging reading in reluctant readers.  She is also linked with another venture known as the Poetry Teatime, which my children love and beg to do as often as we can! 

simplyconvivial.com another Classical Education blog, again with things to ponder and plenty of recommendations for reading.

betweenthelinens.com a new discovery and I am enjoying exploring her very thought provoking insights into what she calls 'monastic' or 'liturgical' living.  She has a philosophy background and you can tell through her writing as it is very rich indeed!!