Pros and Cons of Charlotte Mason Method

I love integrating CM with Classical, but no philosophy is perfect. Overall I love the approach and aspire to it. Here is my pros and cons list for the Charlotte Mason method. I hope this helps if you are considering different homeschool styles and philosophies.
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About Me
Hey there, I'm Demetria-Mompreneur, Blogger, Author, & Homeschooling Mom of 2 daughters for over 15 years. I offer homeschooling coaching for moms - helping you to start homeschooling and create a sustainable plan for teaching your kids at home. For business moms and mompreneurs, I also help you start and sustain online business growth and create passive income for your blog.
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From time to time, I will accept sponsorship or other forms of compensation with companies that I truly believe in. The views and opinions expressed on this vlog are purely based on my personal experience, so be sure to check on these companies for yourself to ensure that their products match what your particular needs are for your family.

[@MsElizabeth05212005]

Thanks so much for your guidance. My littles are 3 and 4 1/2. I've decided not to send my brown babies to public school at this time, especially my son. I love your content. It keeps me feeling like I can tackle this homeschool "thang".

[@momzestlife]

MsElizabeth05212005 I’m so glad you find the videos helpful. I remember making the decision not send my kids to public school and I am so grateful we chose this path. Thank you for watching!

[@livmuller7109]

so good! thank you for this video and you made me laugh, “I am not going to be picking up pine cones.” lol

[@momzestlife]

😂 thanks for watching❤️

[@rebeccat9389]

Really helpful video. I feel you on the "bringing nature in" - it's not always easy and the weather's sometimes not cooperating! :)

[@Commonfolk8989]

Being a full time and Having a full-time job has been mentally affecting me because I have been wanting to homeschool my little ones for so long but coming to your page and seeing that you are a full-time mom doing homeschooling gives me so much hope that I can do the same

[@momzestlife]

I hope that you find just the right balance in work and educating your children. There are many different ways to homeschool (even part-time or after-school). Thank you for stopping by to watch and leaving a comment 🙂

[@debk3105]

Thank you. I appreciate all this information from your honest perspective.🌷

[@momzestlife]

Deb K I appreciate that and thanks for watching!❤️

[@lizguz2771]

Thank you! I'm just getting started and your channel is so informative, straight forward and easy to apply. Please keep it coming 🙏

[@momzestlife]

Liz Guz thank you so much for watching!!😀

[@beccadoo1121]

Really loved this video. You communicate both the pros and cons so well.

[@momzestlife]

Becca’s Homeschool Journal thanks - I’m so glad this was helpful! Tfw :-)

[@lbtk]

This was SO helpful, and I'm so glad I stumbled upon your channel!! I'm thinking about Charlotte Mason and Classical Conversations for my girls, and it was so great to hear your honest perspective on everything. Thanks so much!!

[@momzestlife]

I'm so glad this was helpful to you! I hope you have a wonderful experience with CC and CM for your girls :-)

[@Elemenohpea440]

Thank you SO much for this awesome video. This is so helpful to me. We have just started homeschooling and I’m exploring all of our options:-)

[@momzestlife]

J M i’m glad this was helpful!

[@wilterjuliacherry]

Thank you so much for sharing your opinions and informations. Such a big help for a Mother like me who's just starting to do homeschooling in dis time of pandemic. God bless you and your family more :)

[@momzestlife]

So glad this helped you!

[@delphinegasnier]

Very honest reviews on Charlotte Mason curriculum, it makes me want to try it more as my children are still young and I am craving for more nature study and being even more outside, we are also lucky to be in the right settings at the right time so it makes sense ! Thank you

[@momzestlife]

I found it so much easier to implement CM when my girls were younger. It's a perfect time! Thanks for watching.

[@carriedolly79]

Thank you! Very helpful❤

[@JustSewTrish]

This is a great topic. Well done. I agree, i was originally afraid of classical at first. We are moving into the same direction of a classical charlotte mason approach.

[@momzestlife]

Just Sew Trish thanks! Yes classical was completely intimidating to me at first but I’m finding so many gems in the method now that I understand it better. I’ve been enjoying your videos on Classical also 👍🏽

[@abigailbrown2147]

So helpful! Thank you!

[@bayamonrican]

Thank you so much for this video. I found it to be very informative and help with my decision:-)

[@momzestlife]

bayamonrican you are welcome! I’m really glad this helps.

[@thecramptons]

I am so “Type A” and “not” Zen and probably have my brown babies working more during the Covid School closure than when they were actually attending , but I appreciate and admire your centered laid backness and have Been inspired by you to incorporate a tea time and poetry with my 3rd and 6th grader In an effort to slow down. Thank you for your influence

[@momzestlife]

I'm glad this video was helpful to you. Sometimes it's great to slow down :-)

[@Trinityproductions777]

Super helpful video! We do CC and I'm looking to blend in some Charlotte Mason! Thanks for your perspective.

[@momzestlife]

Andrea Ramstedt Evers I’m so glad you enjoyed the video 😀

[@janetsadeghi1501]

You are inspiring. Thanks for your videos.

[@momzestlife]

Janet Sadeghi thank you for watching!

[@homeschooledaroundtheworld4660]

I Love the Charlotte Mason approach and it is the backbone of my homeschool. The problem we are facing now is the lack of time for it after my daughter went into the middle school curriculum and pre-algebra..and a puppy🤣🐶..but still we integrate it in our daily homeschool life. We are now following a more minimalist lifestyle and bringing nature inside our home with plants, taking care of the environment, composting etc. CM shaped the way we homeschool and the inspiration to homeschool in spite of our secular homeschool approach. Great points🌺Thank you!

[@momzestlife]

Homeschooled Around the World Homeschooled Around the World I love the idea of composting and bringing in more plants. I am going to try to incorporate more of this in the upcoming school year. Pre-Algebra and a puppy sounds like quite an eclectic mix- lol! Like you, we do CM where and how we can. For me it’s more about the ideas behind it than it is following a CM plan. Thank you again for watching!

[@LampWaters]

We have our indoor garden in that room. Fresh veggies even.

[@teachingtidbitsbytakenya6373]

I plan on using CM approach for history and language arts. I'm using text books and standardized test for math and science.

[@Eclipse24696]

Loved this! Thank you!

[@momzestlife]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Kakuzii]

Nice, thank you from BC, Canada 🇨🇦 I have homeschooled our 8 year son since his kindergarten year and I love his sweet heart and compassion for life . People are always complimenting his mannerisms and witty communicational side. He is able to carry a conversation on with adults and keeps it actively entertaining. He is kind and playful with children , animals and enjoys watching story books for kids , what would you do , guava juice, Ninja and Dan TDM (U tubers/channels). We do a mix of Charlotte Mason and work books because we have to meet the ministry of education curriculum which is understood. I’m big on nice hand printing and eventually writing ✍️ he is definitely improving with my pushing the importance. Gathering , I have a child who loves to play video games such as Fortnite in which I have to keep a watchful eye on his time and consumption. All in all, I love the Charlotte Mason educational lightness of learning and being free from the conditioning of thought and growth of ones own spirit to feast on his or hers own ideas and greatness in learning . We just moved to the Country and we will begin our outside nature study , gardening and more . Mom has many books on plants and holistic solutions to health and care. I as well love to keep a well balanced healthy and hardy meals regime! Vitamins supplements and minerals in turn this gives our children the nourishment for good brains and strength in body this is part of his growth in learning. I wish there was more opportunities for our children in learning schools that provide the nature which exists naturally in humanity. I can’t imagine how difficult it must be for many children who have to sit in a desk without having nature a part of their precious lives. It’s a no wonder so many fall through the loopholed practice of indoctrination in our educational system . Nevertheless, if one can homeschool it’s a beautiful thing to have your child or children in the comfort of their homes for it is of a short time we have our children as children. 😢 I absolutely love that our son has been able to grow and learn by mamas side. All the blessings to you all and your children they are such a blessing and gift from our creator Father. Thank you 🙏 again ❤️🌻🐝❤️🌻🐝 in Grace name .

[@momzestlife]

Shannon Mills-Leblanc it sounds as if you have cultivated a beautiful atmosphere and lifestyle for your son and he is thriving in this rich environment. You are doing such a great job with him. TFW!

[@Kakuzii]

Thank you kindly mom zest❤️❤️❤️

[@melaniehancock2210]

We did classical conversations for my 4 year old for 2019-2020 and it was great, but I needed something with more teachers guides for my busy life. Then I did Abeka Kinder for 2020-2021 (we are almost done already and it’s only March). I’m just not thinking that Abeka will be right for us moving forward into first grade. Way too much seat work!! Thanks for your honest opinions. I really like how CM is layered for multiple ages to partake in so I’m really considering it for this year. Ahhh! Choices choices!

[@mollytal7099]

Thank you for this video

[@momzestlife]

You’re welcome! Thanks for watching.

[@Dreblueskies]

Thank you so much for this video, this information has nudged me towards Classical Conversations. I'm still learning so videos like yours are very beneficial 🙂

[@momzestlife]

Andrea Ann I’m so glad this video helped you! We have really enjoyed our year at Classical Conversations which has been a true blessing for us. Let me know if you have any questions about it- it’s our third year but our first year back after a long break.

[@Dreblueskies]

@@momzestlife I lean towards Classical Conversations but I'm also looking into Charlotte Mason. It's such a tough choice! My sister in law recommended CC because she has met many successful and well educated adults that we're educated in the CC. I wish I could ask you a ton of questions but I'm sure KZbin isn't the format for that 😉.

[@momzestlife]

Andrea Ann My CC experience has been different with each campus I’ve been a part of and so far this has been our favorite campus. We love it and are really enjoying our experience there. My kids are learning so much. Here’s my email if you ever want to send your questions. I would love to help: [e-mail].

[@Dreblueskies]

@@momzestlife You are so kind! I will definitely email you ☺️

[@Glock19Atlanta]

Thank you for your video!

[@momzestlife]

TFW! :-)

[@crystalann4700]

This is a great video. Thanks!

[@momzestlife]

So glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching :-)

[@CD12VIDEOS]

This is a great review!!

[@momzestlife]

Christine Tignini awesome- I’m glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching!❤️

[@anonymous1984y]

Hello. I know you posted this two years ago, but I wanted to let you know I think you did a really good job of listing pros and cons. I'm a strong CMer with a classical twist and my sister is the opposite. You listed all of the things that eventually don't fit for her.

[@momzestlife]

Thanks and I’m glad this was helpful to you!

[@SaraMaysDC]

This is great. Thank you

[@momzestlife]

I’m glad it’s helpful! 😀

[@Mother_to_Mother]

Have you read Charlotte Masons last book? It talks more about teaching older children, apparently it is quite different to the way she teaches under 9s, for the younger years she is quite slow and relaxed but the older years are much more intensive and more like classical I think. But definitely you can’t teach the way she talks of in her first book the whole way through, i think one really has to read all her works. If you would like to see how to do Charlotte Mason for older children definitely check out her last book

[@momzestlife]

Hi, thanks for your response. Can you share the name of her last book? Thanks so much!

[@wildolive53]

MomZest I suppose she was talking about this one: www.amblesideonline.org/CM/toc.html#6 🙂 haven’t read it myself.

[@rikkinihalani8878]

You should listen to A Delectable Education podcast. Such great information on CM approach to high school and everything CM. Also Charlotte Mason Poetry. ❤️

[@momzestlife]

rikki nihalani thank you for this resource- I will definitely check it out!

[@roxanaheath6778]

yes!! ADE has been a game changer for me!

[@lynnb2562]

You bring up a great thing about it not necessarily working that well in high school and I think I have a thought about that. It occurs to me that Charlotte Mason was teaching in the eighteen-hundreds when most students didn't actually go past what we would now consider the eighth grade and if they did they went to what we would consider more of a college type of school or a trade. It may just be that it's not really formulated for that last phase of Education. I love the idea of combining some of Charlotte Mason principles and ideas with a more classical structure.

[@momzestlife]

I'm always a fan of combining components and principles of each idea. :-) Thanks so much for your comment and for watching.

[@thartwig26]

I think to do a Charlotte Mason High school, it would be helpful to look at state standards for grade levels and modifying to meet those needs. I think it would work for language arts, history, art and music. I think it would be harder for math and science.

[@momzestlife]

I agree with you. We ended up letting go of this method altogether once our kids got a bit older, but as you've said, it the CM method could work more easily with language arts, history, art and music. Thanks so much for watching!

[@karolinaska6836]

I could never get on board with mandatory short lessons. We love our rabbit trails. We keep lingering in CM territory bc I oscillate between classical and unschooling! Lol they tend to cancel each other out. But really, we're eclectic.

[@momzestlife]

I agree, it's hard to stick with one or the other, so we, too, ended up being eclectic 🙂Rabbit trails makes learning all the more fun!

[@lauramatthew9726]

Thank you! I’m about to start homeschool with a 3rd header and 1st Fraser. I’m interested in doing a CC/CM blend. I like the memory work of CC but I love the reading, nature, music, etc of CM. But what to do about math and phonics?

[@momzestlife]

Laura Matthew I’ve always made math and phonics (and faith) my base curriculum (everything else is second tier with younger kids). Choose a math program you enjoy teaching with- same goes for phonics. If you enjoy using it your kids will enjoy learning with it. ❤️

[@emilygail3545]

@@momzestlife Oh this helps me more than you realize!! I’ve watched so many SCM videos here on YT, poured through the CC website, Abeka, etc and my head is spinning wondering how I can effectively teach “all the things”. But this is what I needed to hear/read - that I don’t NEED to teach everything at once. Public school has made me feel so inferior. I know this wasn’t very eloquently stated, but thank you! ❤️

[@momzestlife]

@@emilygail3545 I'm so glad this was helpful to you! We definitely don't need to teach it all. Our kids are constantly learning and engaging with the beautiful and rich materials that we place before them. You will be just fine!

[@doulaolgamke]

Another option for anyone reading this who will be homeschooling multiple kids is to teach science, social studies, Bible, health, art, etc together as a family. Its what I have always done. As it was already mentioned math and phonics/language arts are the subjects I have each kid focus on at their own pace and I guve them one on one time for those. And every thing doesn't have to happen in one day. Some people rotate the subjects they focus on each day. Others find a topic of interest and find ways to discover science and history in it.

[@juliepena1019]

Hi MomZest!! I loved your video! I'm very new to homeschooling and am scouring the net learning as much as I can. I'm having some issues with finding a good program for my daughter. I love the Charlotte Mason approach but as you said it seems that it will be difficult for my Junior. Classical seems the approach we are leaning towards. I've looked at Acellus but again I'm so new to it all. Do you have some high School suggestions? I also work from home and stay fairly busy so something for her to do on her own would be great in addition to some of the artistic aspects of CM.

[@mycupoverflows7811]

Look into ACE or Robinson Curriculum for more independent learning for your high schooler. Best to you as you start your journey!

[@momzestlife]

Hi Julie. I know it has been a while since your comment, but hope you have found what works for your daughter this year. There are so many different ways to homeschool and I understand the overwhelm. Please update us on how your year has gone.

[@amandarenee6062]

What do you use for testing?

[@momzestlife]

Amanda Villanueva well at the time I recorded this we were required to participate in state testing with our charter school- using CAASPP - and also iReady. Now we’re independent so thinking of CAT or Iowa for next year.

[@MsMegancarter]

What about religion? I’m researching methods at the moment, and while I love the nature study, art and music incorporation and slowing down of CM, I still want to incorporate puzzles and I think Right start math is a good option, and logic English for English. But.. I don’t want religion injected into the other subjects, I’d like that to be a separate class that teaches my kids about all the philosophies. I don’t want it put into the other subjects, is that the case with CM? Thanks for the video, very helpful ✨

[@momzestlife]

I understand, and I feel the same. I used CM for the slowing down aspect also but not so much for the religion (which we added on our own family time). Thank you so much for watching!

[@simplyraisingarrows7369]

Hi ! New subscriber!

[@momzestlife]

Thanks for subbing!

[@misfithomemaker3683]

My family needs to see those tangible things like tests. They are only comfortable with me homeschooling because I've been a teacher. I only test 2 times each, for math and language arts in A 9 week period. I think it's great to include Charlotte Mason elements, we definitely do read alouds. I don't do the morning basket thing, but I'd like to understand it more. Can anyone share their knowledge about morning basket? How long does it take to do a morning basket? I've seen videos of what different moms include...it's seems like alot. Can you do it but keep it very simple? 1.poem, 1.painting, 1 music. Built around our unit study? Can I do it digitally? On her tablet? My child is ADHD. Morning basket might work if I keep it to 3 things. If I did morning basket, do you have to stay with it week to week? Or could I do a week of basket?, journal in the morning for a week? Play educational games like money bingo, fraction go fish, for a week? Just cycle between the three. My child gets bored easily. Ahh, the modern age, we are butchering the Charlotte Mason method. I bet she did not see the I generation coming. Lol Thanks for the video, you are a smart lady.

[@momzestlife]

Aww thanks so much for watching and as for CM I really haven't done morning basket in about year since we began our classical journey. I definitely suggest you check out the "Your Morning Basket" podcast with Pam Barnhill. So much good stuff there to learn about setting up your morning baskets. :-)

[@misfithomemaker3683]

@@momzestlife yes I've seen Pam Barnhill and she has a good channel. As an update, it took 49days in for me to decide to change to a six week on one week off schedule instead of 9 weeks. I think it will work out great, we will see...I'm still a noobie homeschooler. I might make a video just to say hi to the community, everyone has been great.

[@momzestlife]

Cheryl Jeffali It takes trial and error to figure out what works. Also I do hope you make a video to say hi 👍🏽

[@mycrazyfamilyid]

Biggest con for me is writing. Sure, there are natural-born writers who will thrive with just written narrations with minimal guidance... but there isn't much CM-based help for those who don't want to write. The only advice that's given is "Just trust the process" or "scale back" (how do you scale back from nothing because the child utterly refuses to write?!). If you look to other philosophies for writing instruction (I've looked at Cottage Press, Classical Writing, Writing With Ease, IEW, Essentials in Writing...) then the CM police accuse you of not really doing CM and you're somehow doing the child a disservice by having a formal writing program. 🙄

[@momzestlife]

Yes, that is tricky. Finding the right writing programs has always been a struggle for me, but the ones that worked, really truly worked. I loved IEW for my kids and just figured somehow between CM and classical we would find our happy balance at the time.

[@rb7454]

Is it possible to merge Charlotte mason with classical conversation? And how?

[@momzestlife]

The two styles have similarities. In the past I have picked a few elements from CM while attending CC. Such as: they both timeline and learning history chronologically. Picture study can be used in both CM and classical. CC focuses on fine arts, including art appreciation (in both arts and music) while CM also adheres to embracing art appreciation. I do think it is possible to have a bit of both in the homeschool :-)

[@ASmith-jn7kf]

Did you read the actually anthology?? I don't see how her method has flaws. ....

[@momzestlife]

A. Smith hi thanks for your reply. I don’t think her method has flaws. I actually like CM but it just hasn’t been working for us in upper grades. Are you using CM?