Guiding with Grace

Mason pointed to Matthew 18 and 19 as containing a “Code of Education… expressly laid down by Christ… Take heed that ye offend not - despise not - hinder not - one of these little ones.” She claimed that these three instructions cover “whatever is included in training up a child in the way he should go.” Let’s consider Mason’s most fundamental guidance together. How did these words inform her entire method? And how should they nurture the relationships in our homes and communities today?

Charlotte Mason’s philosophy is not merely a method of education; it is a way of life that shapes not just the students, but the teachers as well. In this session, we will explore Mason’s profound expectations for her educators, drawn from her letters, volumes, and Parents’ Review articles. What does it mean to live as a Mason educator, embracing her philosophy as a full participant rather than simply a practitioner? Together, we’ll uncover the vision Mason had for teachers—those who cultivate their own minds, nurture their spirits, and engage deeply with the ideas they present. This session will provide thought-provoking insights and practical encouragement for embracing the call to be lifelong learners and living examples of the rich, full life we desire for our children.

Should we base our philosophical principles of education on the ancient Greeks or on the things that some believe that every child should know or should we base our educational principles on hands-on/physical training? Or further, because we have so many problems to solve, should we use problem-based learning with children? Or shouldn’t we use STEM extensively so that we are ahead of other countries technologically?  Why is it in Christendom that we pursue Jesus in church and other philosophies when it comes to education?  We seem to look to the ancients or other philosophies as if Christianity has nothing to say to us about education except to provide us with a moral code to guide our moral behaviour.  However, the very foundation of our educational thinking should be grounded in Scripture.  We will explore in this session what that grounding is and consider how to actualise that grounding in our day to day educational processes.

All attendees are cordially invited to the Eve Anderson Tea on Friday afternoon during the conference. We will live out the method ourselves by experiencing lovely music, moving our bodies, and learning about some of the local trees and our connections to them, while enjoying delicious snacks and refreshments, with gratitude to The Herzog Foundation for their sponsorship.

The Art of Listening with Hazel Millar

In Charlotte Mason’s Philosophy of Education Vol. 4, Mason states that once you “use every chance you get of hearing music... you will find out that one composer has one sort of thing to you; another speaks other things; these messages of the musicians cannot be put into words, so there is no way of hearing them if we do not train our ear to listen.” Learning to appreciate Classical Music may seem daunting to the untrained listener. The goal of this presentation is to provide attendees with a brief overview of how to appreciate classical music by providing some historical context and an overview of what to listen for. Music is often harder to interpret than, say, visual art or poetry, as pitch, tone and harmony are more abstract concepts than color, texture, speech and story. But with the right tools, every person, no matter their skills in actually playing music, can learn to appreciate even the most daunting symphony, concerto, or art song. In this presentation, you will have the chance to practice some listening techniques that I will instruct you in while I perform some of my favorite Bach compositions. We will notice how certain musical elements are tied to different emotions or storylines. By understanding how classical music makes us feel, we can start to understand what the composer is trying to tell us.

Terrific Trees with Judie Ponciano

"Children should be made early intimate with the trees, too; should pick out half a dozen trees, oak, elm, ash, beech, in their winter nakedness, and take these to be their year-long friends." - Charlotte Mason (Vol 1, pg 53)   

One should know trees by their bark, buds and shape of limb as well as by their foliage. This knowledge is part of the knowing that encourages children in their friendships of these lovely gas exchangers that God created. Isn't it amazing that trees breathe out oxygen and breathe in carbon dioxide? During the Eve Anderson Tea, attendees will be invited to participate in a study of a tree native to St. Simons Island, GA. Using close attention, narration and observation, as well as nature journaling; we will learn more about a tree and learn how to teach children to do the same, using Charlotte's Methods. 

Delve into the practical implications and processes of the “Way of the Will”, the “deputed authority” mothers have been given by God, habit formation, and why we must “keep the end in view”. Come ready to put pen to paper and create a prayerful, powerful strategy to “make the most of every opportunity” God is giving you with your children, home, family, and ministry. Min will share the principles and equip you with the process she uses (as much as time allows) so you can (1) to stay in step with the Holy Spirit, (2) to stay consistent and confident in your identity in Christ, (3) to live with daily clarity, (4) to not miss God’s invitation to make bold moves in trusting Him, and (5) to discern God’s will as you live intentionally with gratitude during this season of homeschooling your children. Min is a pastor’s wife of 25 years, spiritual director, homeschool mother of four, nonprofit founder x2, speaker, podcaster, writer, artist and entrepreneur. Workbook included.

Join us by the water to create a scenery in any medium of choice. Discussion and instruction will center around the horizon, figuring out the picture plain using a view finder, setting up a composition, and time management when onsite.

Maybe you struggled with math and worry about how to help your child avoid the same challenges. Or perhaps math comes easily to you, yet you’re unsure how to teach it effectively. What manipulatives do you use? What does it take to be the best teacher for your child? In the spirit of Charlotte Mason’s wisdom, "The mother who takes pains to endow her children with good habits secures for herself smooth and easy days," this session will equip you with the tools to cultivate good habits of hard work and independent thinking. The science and the art of teaching math will also be discussed. Explore how living ideas, meaningful tools, and an atmosphere of encouragement can transform math into a subject of joy and discovery for both you and your child. You CAN become a great math teacher!  

In this session, the presenters will discuss the current thinking behind social and emotional learning. What is it? Why does it matter? And, does it exist within Mason’s theories and practices? Join Olga Robbins and Carroll Smith as they explore this topic.  During this session, the presenters will define social and emotional learning, discuss what it is in a school setting, and point out how social emotional learning fit into the Mason model of education.

Much if the world of education, at home or school, is oriented toward the commodification of knowledge for the sake of power. This presentation invites parents and teachers into a conversation exploring the ways in which Charlotte Mason cleared a path for mankind to return to a communal education, where subjectivity, not objectivity, is paramount. We will begin with a 45-minute presentation about "Eucharistic Subjectivity vs. Serpentine Objectivity" to establish a foundation of thought and build upon the practical ways in which parents and teachers can deploy subjectivity as a means to cultivating a love of learning. The last fifteen minutes will be spent answering questions and posing questions for the group to consider for further exploration and identification of lingering objective tendencies in our practices at home and school.

If it is rooted in the Gospel, then a Charlotte Mason education must be for all persons. How can we possibly work toward a curriculum or even a lesson that meets the needs of all learners rather than expecting the learner to fit into our preconceived plan?  Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a way of thinking about our plans with flexibility. In this workshop, classroom teachers and home educators will learn about UDL, examine how UDL naturally coincides with Mason’s practice, and consider a sample lesson using UDL.

Throughout Charlotte Mason’s writings is the foundational idea that "knowing is doing."  In volume six she writes, “There is no education but self-education and only as the young student works with his own mind is anything effected.”  Keeping notebooks is an essential part of self-education. It is important for both the assimilation of ideas and the formation of habits. Together we will explore the ideas presented in Mason’s writings, as well as the Parents’ Review. We will also review the most common types of notebooks and how they are used. The session will wrap-up with a time for questions.

New for 2025: Alveary Immersion Track! Each breakout, there will be an opportunity to experience Alveary lessons as a student, taught by lesson plan/curriculum developers and seasoned CM educators. Whether you're a long-time Alveary user or just curious about how it looks to implement rich, relational lesson plans - these breakouts are for you!

Nancy will present an in-depth look at how Charlotte Mason and the PNEU schools approached the subject of citizenship and character development, an area she has been researching and practicing for years. Through Mason’s own words, a Plutarch overview, and an Ourselves immersion she will explore Mason’s claim that our function as teachers is “to supply children with the rations of knowledge which they require; and the rest, character and conduct, efficiency and ability, and that finest quality of the citizen, magnanimity, take care of themselves.”

Join Erin Day as she guides you through modeling some objects found in nature right on St. Simons Island.

This practical immersion workshop brings Charlotte Mason’s tradition of the commonplace notebook into the modern age using Canva. In the first 45 minutes, participants will learn the history and purpose of the commonplace notebook, discover tips for fitting it into a Charlotte Mason school day, and explore basic Canva tools to create a digital version. In the final 15 minutes, participants will select a photo from their phones—perhaps inspired by a talk, a book, nature, or a meaningful moment—and use a Canva template provided by the presenter to create their first visual entry. They will also add a quote or reflection to complement the image, encouraging thoughtful observation and connection. This practical immersion experience, taught in Spanish, will allow educators to better understand how to guide students in incorporating this practice into their own lives, fostering a deeper connection with the world around them. For this practical immersion you will need the following tools:  A device with internet (a laptop, tablet, or smartphone with internet access, a Canva account - if you don’t have one please create one at www.canva.com - and a notebook (paper or digital) to jot down any ideas, quotes or reflections you might want to include in your digital entry.

One of Charlotte Mason's many strengths can simply be described as being a keen observer of children. This skill is relevant today for educators to best understand, plan and interact with the students they serve. Sometimes a student's actual abilities and behaviors don't seem to match what is age appropriate, or do they? This workshop will discuss the fundamental basics of early childhood development and how that knowledge can better shape an educator's mindset and posture toward their students. Refreshing one's knowledge of children's developmental stages can aid educators to fulfill their desire to lead with Grace as they honor children as born persons.

Join Alveary Program Director, Dr. Shannon Whiteside, for a discussion on Charlotte Mason’s approach to history—delving into the books she used and how her ideas can be thoughtfully applied in our present day. The session will conclude with a panel of diverse families sharing how they implement these ideas in their context.

In the midst of growing possibilities in the field of education, Cimarron School of Living Education, established in 2021, quickly became a catalyst for educational change in our community. Families needed more for their children than the “one size fits all” learning model in traditional education. A movement began, leading parents to search for alternative school models and educational philosophies. CSLE has seen great interest as it delivers the Charlotte Mason Philosophy of Education to the community. Charlotte Mason schools emphasize a rich, whole child approach to education, which requires careful attention to academic, personal, spiritual, and social design and implementation, while also attending to mission focused operations and strategic planning. Balancing the integrity of the Charlotte Mason philosophy with practical administrative tasks can be complex, but also deeply rewarding when done well. During this session, Kate and Minda will discuss pragmatic challenges and functions of the Mason administrator, while sharing our experiences and providing key steps and takeaways for implementing a well run Charlotte Mason school in your learning community.

What postures do we take in our homes, schools, and communities? There are many lessons to be learned from L’Umile Pianta (The Humble Plant), the publication by the alumni from Charlotte Mason’s House of Education and the badge chosen by the Old Students’ Association. In this session, Nancy will explore how the lessons shared back then can help us today as we examine Mason’s thoughts on humility. This session will make you stop and think about how you approach education in any venue.

During this workshop, participants will explore the art of selecting books based on principles of living books and their personal preferences. Attendees will hear Heather's story of family reading culture from pre-kids to adult kids. Then the principles of choosing the best books from Charlotte Mason's Works and QR codes featuring current thought on choosing books from many voices will be introduced. Then it will be time for fun. Attendees will have 20 minutes to browse from a curated display of books that are circulated through River City Library or are being considered for the library. Using the principles reviewed through Heather's story and presentation, attendees will determine if they would share titles with their family. Sharing and discussion of books that made or did not make the cut will be followed by a time to discuss ways to secure time at different stages of family life for the culture of reading, both aloud and independently.

Literature is a rich source of Knowledge of Man, a sort of social laboratory in which we can safely reflect on the thoughts, feelings, and motives of the characters. Jane Austen tells us that a good novel, in particular, exhibits “the most thorough knowledge of human nature” and “the happiest delineation of its varieties.” With its well-developed and neurodiverse cast, Pride & Prejudice provides both typically-developing and neurodivergent readers an excellent opportunity to gain knowledge of self and other. Let’s dive into this classic story, written by a master who almost certainly loved and appreciated a great variety of persons.

New for 2025: Alveary Immersion Track!  Each breakout, there will be an opportunity to experience Alveary lessons as a student, taught by lesson plan/curriculum developers and seasoned CM educators.  Whether you're a long-time Alveary user or just curious about how it looks to implement rich, relational lesson plans - these breakouts are for you!

Adding numbers to our nature journals helps us be more precise than ‘a lot’ of ducks or ‘some’ geese. Was it more or less than yesterday or last week? Last year? How do we know without quantifying what we observe? In this workshop, we’ll go beyond counting flower petals to incorporate more ‘numbers’ into your nature journal. Angles, proportions, biometrics, graphs, fractals, and Fibonacci all enrich the nature journaling experience and add in some fun! Learn how to guide students to develop a relationship with maths through nature journaling.

Charlotte says that without wonder the value of science is strictly utilitarian, not spiritual. She challenges us to go beyond acquiring science knowledge by only studying the dry bones of the laws of our universe. In this session, we will explore what Charlotte had to say about the benefits of bringing wonder into science. We will explore how science and spirituality are intertwined and look at practical ways to stir up wonder in our students. We will end with a time for questions.

“Narrating is not the work of a parrot, but of absorbing into oneself the beautiful thought from the book, making it one’s own and then giving it forth again with just that little touch that comes from one’s own mind.” - The Story of Charlotte Mason, p. 125

This immersive workshop will dive into the “act of knowing” through a variety of subjects and ages in a Charlotte Mason curriculum. Narration is not a trick or device, but It is a process which makes all the difference between a child knowing a thing and not knowing it. Attendees will experience lessons and then practice various types of suitable narration together. Guided by Nancy’s and Kerri’s combined experience in relational education of over 50 years, attendees will learn how narration progresses through the years, how to troubleshoot when it doesn’t go as expected, and how it prepares students for life beyond high school. Join us if you are new to narration, if you need reorienting, or if you want encouragement and a deeper understanding of this lifelong process.

Teaching a classroom filled with many “born persons” can be challenging when they have varied needs, bents, neurological makeups, and learning styles. In this workshop, Olga and Ann will discuss the unique needs of classroom teachers and discuss some strategies that can be used in the classroom to foster learning among a varied group. Ann and Olga have partnered together in the classroom to serve students with many unique needs. Ann’s training as an Occupational therapist, paired with Olga’s experience as a Charlotte Mason teacher, will bring a variety of practical tips based on current neuroscience and experience. Participants will learn the basics of how The Autonomic Nervous System protects the body through management of Energy and arousal levels and how this translates in the classroom. The sensory systems (Fight, Flight, Freeze, Fawn) are the foundation of learning and behavior and what teachers can do to foster the development of those systems. Teachers, as born persons themselves, need to be mindful of their own nervous systems and sensory makeup to best foster connection with their students. Connection is essential to learning and development and how teachers can nurture relationships as a foundation for learning.

Why do we sometimes feel that even when we do our best to stay true to a “bonafide” Charlotte Mason curriculum, there’s always something that feels lacking or dull? (And yet, we feel guilty if we dare admit it, fearing we are deviating from a CM education altogether!) Rest assured, this is actually Charlotte Mason's principles at work: specifically, Children are Born Persons and Education is a Science of Relations. In this session, we will explore an overlooked application of those principles: the child’s relations with his family and place in their storyline. Going further than just adding diverse books, Miss Mason’s principles give us permission for a child’s education to be deeply shaped by the stories, living ideas, values, and pursuits of his own family, his inherited storyline; something that no one curriculum can ever provide. Let’s discover which storylines are truly ours to inherit, preserve, and pass down for the flourishing of our children’s education. Together we will:

1. Revisit CM’s philosophy as a basis for integrating your family’s inherited storylines and living ideas (10 min)

2. Review highlights of current research on the benefits of sharing stories about your family and values (10 min)

3. Discuss how this approach informs how we prioritize our curriculum choices and resist turning the “feast” into a buffet (10 min)

4. Learn tips on how to encourage the science of relations through subject scope and sequencing as it relates to your family’s inherited storylines and living ideas (10 min)

5. Discussion in small groups, Q&A, and personal application (20 min)

The inclusion of Church History as part of a Charlotte Mason education is a gift to students and educators. Mason advocated for several streams of history to be taught and Church History is one that ought to be considered. Especially for those who adhere to the Christian faith, understanding the link between the Bible and the present time is key. Church History is the story of the Christian church as it continues from the Gospels in the first century all the way through to the 21st century. Mason’s approach to the study of history is an ideal one - with an emphasis on “reading and thinking of the lifetime of a single man [person]” and getting to know people in their context. One of my favourite things about teaching Church History is the chance to meet mothers, aunts, sisters of the faith who can act as spiritual midwives. Just as physical midwives help usher in new physical life, Church History introduces us to spiritual midwives who can accompany and guide us today as we tend to the new spiritual life that God is birthing within us. As mothers, we know that pregnancy can be a time of waiting and uncertainty and that labour is often a time of vulnerability and discomfort. To know that we have women of faith with a wide range of experience who can gently walk beside us and wisely offer instruction is a gift we don’t want to miss.

Every place holds a story, waiting to be discovered. In this session, Amber O’Neal Johnston will share how she intentionally seeks out meaningful places—both in her own community and while traveling—to engage with history, culture, and diverse perspectives in a tangible way. By stepping into these spaces with curiosity and awareness, we deepen our connection to time and place, broaden our understanding of people and events, and open ourselves to voices we might not otherwise encounter. This practice cultivates wonder, empathy, and a habit of seeing the world with fresh eyes. Join us for a conversation about how place-based learning can enrich our lives, shape our understanding, and make every journey—near or far—an opportunity for discovery.

Join us by the water to create a scenery in any medium of choice. Discussion and instruction will center around the horizon, figuring out the picture plain using a view finder, setting up a composition, and time management when onsite.

New for 2025: Alveary Immersion Track!  Each breakout, there will be an opportunity to experience Alveary lessons as a student, taught by lesson plan/curriculum developers and seasoned CM educators.  Whether you're a long-time Alveary user or just curious about how it looks to implement rich, relational lesson plans - these breakouts are for you!

Miss Mason speaks of the atmosphere as one of the main principles of education. Where does grace fit into that framework? Part of that atmosphere begins with the educator. Creating a mindset of grace enables the educator to relate and support their students in daily classroom activities and moments of emotional distress. Through the lens of grace, the educator increases their ability to conceptualize the needs of their students. Join Christy and Cathy as they discuss ideas and strategies to implement in the classroom and homes.

In this workshop, Nancy will examine how and why Charlotte Mason’s PNEU students were immersed in Shakespeare. She will be sharing her 30 years of experience in teaching Shakespeare to children, high schoolers, and adults – often all at the same time. The results of her extensive research, personal anecdotes, recommended resources, and audience participation will be part of this session for newcomers and aficionados alike. (Full disclosure – this is her favorite subject!) Tips for large co-ops as well as moms with a few children at home will be addressed.

Poetry captivates us with its rhyme, reason, and pattern, painting a picture that stirs the soul. In much the same way, math is so much more than numbers. When explored and understood, math becomes its own kind of poetry, full of elegance and meaning. In the words of Charlotte Mason, “We take strong ground when we appeal to the beauty and truth of Mathematics.” This session invites you to uncover the patterns and beauty within math that often go unnoticed. Come and discover how math paints a picture, tells a story, and inspires wonder. Whether you already love math or find it elusive, you’ll leave with a renewed perspective on its place in your child’s education.

Homeschooling parents often feel the weight of responsibility—delivering lessons, explaining concepts, and ensuring their children learn everything they need to know. But Charlotte Mason offers a different vision—one that trusts a child’s ability to learn from excellent living books and calls the parent to be a guide, philosopher, and friend along the way. In this session, Nicole Williams will explore how the educator’s role evolves from early childhood to adolescence. Parents will learn how to support their child’s individuality while fostering independence, shifting from hands-on guidance in the early years to meaningful mentorship in the teen years. Attendees will leave with a clear roadmap for adapting their role at every stage, ensuring children grow in both knowledge and confidence.

The workshop will include a brief overview of what Charlotte Mason said about the Kindergarten and how this might look today. A review of subjects taught and methods of teaching which incorporate story and hands on activities as well as out of doors education. The question of how the kindergarten year can prepare the young student for future CM lessons in subsequent grades will be explored. Ideas will be shared as to how to plan these lessons based on eight years of experience teaching a kindergarten enrichment program for home educated families. Topics such as how to choose worthy picture books and chapter books for this age and how picture books can be utilized to teach different subjects will be included.

Teachers often drop nature journaling from their schedules because they feel they lack the skills to journal. So why did Charlotte value it when other educational methods do not? How can nature journaling prepare students of all ages for many subjects, both in school and beyond? In this immersion, Amy will guide participants to create their own nature journal pages while demonstrating how nature journaling develops curiosity, hones powers of observation, and becomes a meditative practice for teachers as well as students. Bring a nature journal or something to write on, as well as a pencil or pen. Optional: colored pencils or watercolors.

In this session, teens will have the opportunity to talk with CM graduates who are now young adults and learn about the paths they have taken since completing their home/high school journey.

New for 2025: Alveary Immersion Track!  Each breakout, there will be an opportunity to experience Alveary lessons as a student, taught by lesson plan/curriculum developers and seasoned CM educators.  Whether you're a long-time Alveary user or just curious about how it looks to implement rich, relational lesson plans - these breakouts are for you!

In the society that is becoming increasingly more secular, we sometimes might wonder if our children will miss the voice of God as it is drowned out by a variety of messages that contradict faith. Olga's story will encourage you: having grown up in a society where humanism was the highest value, Christianity was prohibited, and Bibles could not be obtained, Olga saw points of light through the avenues available through education, such as art, math, and classical literature. This story is a testimony and a reflection of how goodness and beauty can be avenues that ultimately pave way for the Truth.

The purpose of this Fireside Chat is to identify ways fathers can meaningfully contribute to the educational atmosphere of their families. Often fathers have a difficult time understanding their role as it pertains to being a homeschool dad. Mothers tend to do most of the planning, purchasing, and execution of the curriculum while fathers focus on being providers. Providing for the family is one of the primary responsibilities of the father, but he is equally responsible for the education of his children. For some dads, this may come as a shock to them. For others, they may want to take a more active role but are not sure how to get involved. Moms can struggle with incorporating dads into the homeschool atmosphere if the dad works outside of the home during “normal” school hours, if both parents have a different philosophy of education, or if both parents are not committed to homeschooling. What is needed is for both parents to understand that they are a team, and together, they share the responsibility of educating their children.

Whether a parent has an only child or they're homeschooling one student because of a significant age gap, homeschooling one child has its unique challenges. Thankfully, Charlotte Mason’s philosophy works just as well with only one student. It merely requires more creativity and intentionality in how to go about it. This workshop will provide helpful recommendations straight from The Parents’ Review as well as practical ways to socialize "only" students and implement Miss Mason’s methods in their unique setting.

Building a living books library in your home can be a huge blessing to your family as well as your community. How does one start such a library? What is involved in becoming a lending library? Where does one find the books? What books does one look for? We will share ideas on these topics and discuss why you would even want to become a crazy book lady!

Nature study is so much more than time spent out of doors (where Charlotte Mason said we should be)—it is a transformative practice connecting children with the natural world, cultivating their natural curiosity, and deepening their connection with the Author of Creation. In this fireside chat, Angelica Kajiwara will lead an engaging discussion on the role of nature study in Charlotte Mason’s educational philosophy. Participants will explore how Mason’s vision of nature study inspires a sense of wonder in both students and educators. This interactive session will include personal reflections, historical insights, and practical strategies for incorporating nature study into daily learning. Attendees will be invited to share their experiences, ask questions, and collaborate on ways to make nature study an integral part of their educational communities. By the end of the discussion, participants will walk away with a renewed appreciation for the power of nature study and its ability to cultivate a deeper connection with creation and the Creator.

Charlotte Mason wrote to numerous people during her life time. What can we glean from these letters about her, about her leadership styles, and about her relationships with other people? During this session, we will explore some of the letters of Charlotte Mason and analyse them to see what the letters tell us about Mason. We will include letters to her “sweet friend” Lienie Steinthal, to her Chela (keela), Henrietta Franklin, and to her “son in the faith,” Horace Household, as well as others.

When Elizabeth began reading through women’s spiritual autobiographical writings, she discovered Susannah Wesley. A great woman of faith from the 1700’s, Susannah was a wife and mother to 10 living children, who later became known as the “Mother of Methodism.” While reading her journals with mothering in mind, two things caught her attention: the intention in which she conducted her daily life and her dependence on the Holy Spirit. It reminded her of another great woman of faith and educator who lived almost 200 years later – Charlotte Mason. Mason’s emphasis on the Spirit as the Supreme Educator and the habit of attention is woven throughout her philosophy of education and facilitates an approach to education (and life) that rings with joy and freedom from anxiety. Perhaps this is the secret to raising and educating children in a way that is almost carefree, and at the same time, diligent and purposeful. The weight we feel as parents almost feels crippling at times as we so wish for our children to make good choices and to love and honour God. As mothers and fathers in the 21st century, Elizabeth proposes that Charlotte Mason and Susannah Wesley can teach us how to live with ease and intention.

Ms. Mason wisely observed, “Thought breeds thought; children familiar with great thoughts take as naturally to thinking for themselves as the well-nourished body takes to growing.” How do we raise teens who naturally think for themselves? How do we equip them with the skills to grow and flourish in mind, body, and spirit? What tools do teens need to go out into the world as confident, capable, compassionate young adults? What does that look like, whether their next steps are college, vocation, ministry, continued education, travel, or something else entirely? Whether you are surrounded by teens (like Nicole!), raising a new teen, or planning ahead, you will find practical wisdom and guidance in how to help empower your teen in their present and future growth. As a group, we will uncover what teens need to feel secure and competent, what we as parents can do to support them, how to measure “success,” and embrace the idea of graduating as “just the beginning.” You will leave with a roadmap on how to best support your teen and a clearer vision of their passion and purpose. This is designed for both the teen and educator. Come and be inspired together.

This fireside chat will explore community building and host a panel of several home educators to share how they have cultivated a Charlotte Mason community for themselves and their children.

What happens when there are no more students? What are the options for home educators who have graduated or ended homeschooling of their students? Casual conversation pointing to the BHAG a retired or unemployed homeschool parent can set and achieve.

Knowing is interacting with God’s good creation, including the creations of the special creature that is man. These relationships develop and grow through a wide range of activities. A too narrow epistemology misses the cognitive significance of certain forms of participating with the known. Hands-on practical knowledge may be lightly esteemed, book learning may be despised, or math and theoretical science may be dismissed. Such prejudices distort what occupations are honored and what things are considered appropriate for schooling. Seeing knowing as participating with the known illuminates the cognitive value of a large range of activities from fixing cars to enjoying calculus to understanding an organization’s dynamics. Mason’s pedagogy resists epistemological prejudice by providing a broad curriculum and by having students participate with the known through a wide range of methods from oral narration to algebraic manipulation to physical construction. Highschool chemistry provides a case study for confronting subject prejudice and illustrating the importance of varied modes of participating with chemicals. Workshop participants will be invited to discuss how they respond to epistemological prejudice in education and what they have gained by embracing a wide range of learning activities.

Mathematics is an oft-maligned subject. Charlotte Mason even declared that “… no subject is worse taught; chiefly because teachers seldom have time to give the inspiring ideas, what Coleridge calls, the ‘Captain’ ideas, which should quicken imagination.” Shall we despair? Certainly not! After all, as Galileo Galilei said, "mathematics is the language with which God has written the universe.” We can observe patterns, order, and precise structures in the natural world, from the arrangement of scales on a pinecone to the orbits of planets, that are so intricate and mathematically consistent that they point to a deliberate design. These observations delight young and old minds alike and can serve as the very Captain Ideas of which Charlotte was writing. Julie and Tabitha will share some Captain Ideas that can be springboards into mathematical discussions for the whole family. Warning: you will no longer be able to take a nature walk without hearing, “It’s a Fibonacci number!”

This workshop will be geared towards teachers in a co-op or other classroom setting. We hear often that children are born persons, but here we will discuss that parents are persons, too. Caring for a student will include regular communication with parents and hopefully the opportunity to spread the feast of a Charlotte Mason education for them as well. A thriving Charlotte Mason community is one where the parents are knowledgeable and “on board” about the philosophy and practices of a Charlotte Mason education. Parke will share her experiences, resources, and ideas about how to bring parents alongside.

Teens will have the chance to showcase any work they have done this year or talk about their passions.

We all get a call—a call to "bear one another’s burdens” (Gal. 6:2) and step into the needs of others when life is hard. Last year, Ana began with plans in place—curriculum chosen, books stacked, and schedules ready. Then the phone rang. A dear friend, a single mother, was diagnosed with cancer. Ana reassured her, “Don’t worry—I’ll take care of your child.” She now had her two children plus her friend’s child to homeschool. But soon after, three students became five when her sister needed help homeschooling her middle two children so she could balance therapies for her youngest child with special needs. Then, when a grieving sister in Christ couldn’t homeschool after losing her husband, one more student was added. By the end of two months, four additional students were entrusted to Ana. The distance added to the challenge, requiring both resourcefulness and flexibility. What began as interruptions turned into a testimony of God’s grace. His strength, a bit of ingenuity, and the beauty of a Charlotte Mason education allowed Ana to say “yes” to each call, even when it felt extremely challenging. In this workshop, Ana will share how she built a grace-filled online classroom that meets families where they are. For the first 45 minutes of the workshop, participants will explore adapting Charlotte Mason principles to online instruction via Zoom (or similar platforms), considerations to help discern next steps, and strategies for setting clear boundaries to safeguard their sanity. In the remaining time, attendees will hear the testimony of a mom whose child Ana homeschooled last year, followed by a Q&A session. When the call comes—if someone asks you to homeschool their child for a class, an entire grade, or anything in between—this workshop will help you assess whether it’s the right move for you and your family in your current season. If it is, this session will provide practical steps and encouragement to homeschool other students with confidence and grace.

Join several Alveary curriculum and team members to get your Alveary curriculum questions answered!