We’ve been homeschooling our four kids for over a decade now, and most of those years have included the books mentioned in the AmblesideOnline.com curriculum. Ambleside Online is a free Charlotte Mason curriculum with full lesson plans for K-12. It was created by homeschooling mothers to offer a curriculum similar to what Charlotte Mason, the 18th century educator, used.
At Ambleside Online, you’ll access an entire curriculum for each grade level. There are resource pages with links to many of the free classic books online, and there is a school calendar with full daily schedules.
If you use the curriculum fully, your child will have a rich, literature-deep, beautiful education.
But if you use the curriculum loosely, you’ll also do well. I’m teaching four grade levels, and am easily distracted by other fun things to learn, so I don’t use the curriculum exactly as it is laid out. I use it loosely, taking from it with what we wish to study that term.
Our eldest is in college, and not only does he love to learn, but he knows what his professors are talking about when they refer to classic books and ancient works of art. I believe his love of learning – and that of his three siblings – is due to the rich, beautiful education they received through the booklists, art study, composer study, and nature study at Ambleside Online.
I encourage you to check out Ambleside Online’s free Charlotte Mason curriculum.
It may be just the curriculum you’ve been looking for; and in any case, it will provide you with book lists that will give your child a love of reading.Ambleside Online is a free curriculum to use; there are even daily schedules for each grade. Since many of the books are copyright-free classics, most of them are also free online. You may find some of the books at your local library, but you’ll probably wish to own most of them.
want more charlotte mason material?
Look through my Charlotte Mason collection and see if anything there would work in your homeschool.
We are Ambleside fans here too.
It’s the core of much of our home ed.
I have to agree which is why 4 years ago we took a step back and stopped forcing mandatory reading and started just enjoying reading as a family. We discovered that kids learn to read and even expand their vocabulary on their own when they enjoy what they are reading.
I’d have to agree. Learning is a moot point when your child is excited about what they are doing, whether it’s reading or any other subject. It can be hard to find the right opportunity to make every subject exciting. Given the ease with which the process unfolds when your child is deeply engaged, it’s worth the effort to try.
I wholeheartedly agree. It’s a shame that the standard has been dropped to ‘at least they’re reading’ without our considering that what they’re reading could be entirely worthless.
Ours is an unabashedly non-politically-correct family when it comes to reading. Our four children quickly grew into voracious readers because we (parents) filled our shelves with what we consider good books. We are grateful that we did this when we began homeschooling in the very early 1990s. Those worthwhile, enjoyable books are, for the most part, gone from the stores, replaced by “print items”, but not by good books. I doubt that our children could (never mind “would”) have developed into strong readers of “real” books (a nod to Charlotte Mason), had only today’s nutrient-depleted pap been available. Occasionally, rarely, I still find a delightful surprise among recent publications. These I snap up before they, too, vanish. The viewpoint is NOT a knee-jerk “older is better”. Not at all !
Such a great comment, Antonia! I hadn't thought much about when our books were published, but you're right – they tend to be older books. Maybe we'll raise some writers!
“In concentrating exclusively on teaching the child how to read, we have forgotten to teach him to want to read… somehow we lost sight of the teaching precept: What you make a child love and desire is more important than what you make him learn.” ~ Jim Trelease in the Read-Aloud Handbook
I have always loved Charlotte Mason and found her method to be a really great fit for our family. I love her nature studies and living books especially. Also what she teaches about how to parent with Habit really rings true in our family.
I love her views on habits too! I've learned so much from her in that. Thanks for dropping by!
Lori
I’m a homeschooler following the Charlotte Mason method. We’ve used Ambleside for several years. While I don’t use all the books recommended (I substitute my own selections), I use many of them. The AO site is where I turn when I have questions or just need a nudge in the right direction. And the email lists are very active – great source of support and ideas.
I love Charlotte Mason thanks so much for sharing this.
So do I!
Thank you for sharing. We LOVE Ambleside Online and I use it as supplementary reading for all 6 of our children, as we only homeschool 2 at this time. The readings are just so rich in vocabulary, not to mention ideas, and the children absorb so much information!
That's how we use Ambleside now, too, by using the reading lists only. 3 of our 4 children — the ones old enough — are SUCH avid readers and love deep, good books.
But Ambleside Online and Charlotte Mason’s methods encompass far more than merely a book list. I have been using AO with my children nearly 7 years now. It is rich, varied, challenging, enriching and while of the highest educational standards, also speaks to the soul of the child. Charlotte Mason was so far ahead of her times. Her methods and ideas continue to be born out in modern research.
I agree! I have learned so much from Charlotte Mason. I should highlight her books on FreelyEducate.com. Thanks for the idea!
Thank you so much for this!! You’ve given me a great resource for when my husband and I move to Jamaica with my daughters for 6 months!
We’ve used AO since the beginning and love it! WE are now in Year 6. I love that the children can complete their work in a timely manner and that the materials make for a rigorous education.
I would love to know if I can rely on this method when my kids are much older….like 6th grade and high school, if there is a lack of creativity, little or no self-motivation, and lazy in completing project tasks? I know there has to be discipline and no method is an answer to that problem, but I don’t want to add to or promote more laziness for lack of structure. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Anyone? Plus…how would I know in what year to begin?
Ambleside Online is a wonderful Charlotte Mason curriculum if you have time to put it all together. AO is a great site to learn about the CM method. You’ll also find all Charlotte Mason’s works on AO, either in the original English, or in simple English, and lots of discussion about how to implement the methods she spoke of. Even if you don’t use the curriculum, the book lists are great. Enjoy this wonderful, gree resource.
Can you tell me where you post your homeschool schedule? Or even the way you reach amble side? Thanks
Sorry..how you teach ambleside
I’m confused. Ambleside is a free curriculum. I followed the links to math, but it took me to Adaptive Math, which isn’t free? I must be missing something. Thanks for clarifying.
Thank you for mentioning this, MissMimi! I found the math options page and see that they did list several paid programs (I do wish they were more obvious!). Of that list, MEP is free. My personal favorite is not on their list (because it is not taught as Charlotte Mason teaches), http://khanacademy.org .