What Reviewers Say

Heart of Dakota is consistently praised by reviewers for its "open-and-go" structure that blends a Charlotte Mason philosophy with a deeply Christ-centered worldview. Users on The Homeschool Mom highlight the high quality of the "living books" and literature selections, noting that the curriculum is easy to implement without extensive daily prep. A major theme across the Well-Trained Mind forums is the program's effectiveness at fostering student independence; reviewers appreciate how the guides transition from teacher-led activities in elementary school to self-directed study in high school. However, the curriculum does have notable trade-offs. While the literature is rich, some users on the Well-Trained Mind forums caution that the "providential" historical perspective in certain texts may require parental adjustment. Additionally, a common critique from the Simply Charlotte Mason community is that Heart of Dakota is difficult to use when teaching multiple children of different ages simultaneously, as each "guide" is specifically tailored to a narrow developmental window. Parents also note that the lack of a comprehensive master supply list in the teacher’s guide can lead to last-minute scrambles for science or craft materials.

How It Works

The curriculum operates on a 4-day-a-week schedule, leaving the fifth day open for enrichment, field trips, or co-ops. Each day, the parent and student open a physical Teacher’s Guide that features a two-page spread organized into boxes for different subjects. In the younger years, parents lead 1.5 to 3 hours of hands-on activities, read-alouds, and oral narrations using physical "living books." By middle and high school, students use the guide's checkboxes to complete reading, notebooking, and science labs independently, meeting with the parent for short discussions or grading.

Switching to This?

Heart of Dakota provides detailed "Placement Charts" on their website, which are essential because levels are based on a child’s skill development rather than strict grade levels. Families can easily start mid-year because the curriculum is self-paced and print-based. When switching from a broader Charlotte Mason program like Sonlight or Simply Charlotte Mason, parents should expect a more rigid, checkbox-oriented daily structure that emphasizes specific skill-building over combined-age learning.

Curriculum Details

Price

$125 - $1500

~$125–$185 per Teacher's Guide; $300–$600 per full level package; a high-school full year can exceed $1,500.

Grades

PRE-K - 12

Available As

Print

Coverage

All subjects

Subjects

Reading/Language Arts Writing Art Music Math History/Social Studies Logic & Critical Thinking Science

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Pacing

Self-paced

Parent Time

90-270 min/day

Student Independence

Semi-independent

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Academic Level

Above grade level

Worldview

Christian

Engaging for Reluctant Learners

Yes

Parent Role:

The parent begins as a primary instructor in the early years, facilitating "open-and-go" lessons. As the student progresses, the parent shifts into a facilitator and grader role, supporting the curriculum’s intentional design to build self-directed learning habits.

Videos

Reviews We Consulted

Updated: June 2026 by Claude (v2 research)

How This Compares

Sonlight: Both are literature-heavy, but Sonlight allows for easier combining of multiple ages, whereas Heart of Dakota is developmentally leveled for individual students. - My Father's World: Both use a "living books" approach, but My Father’s World is designed specifically to teach multiple grades together for history and science. - Simply Charlotte Mason: Simply Charlotte Mason is more flexible and less "checkbox" oriented than Heart of Dakota’s structured daily guides. - Beautiful Feet Books: Both focus on history through literature, but Beautiful Feet Books is a supplemental guide rather than a full-subject, "open-and-go" daily curriculum.

Getting Started