What Reviewers Say

Reviewers consistently praise Simply Charlotte Mason (SCM) for making a complex educational philosophy accessible through highly organized lesson plans and helpful instructional videos. According to Cathy Duffy (via Confessions of a Homeschooler), the history series is a standout for its "thorough implementation" of Charlotte Mason’s methods, though she notes it prioritizes deep narrative immersion over an exhaustive survey of every historical event. This "depth-over-breadth" approach is a hallmark of the program, but it does present trade-offs. Experienced users on the Well-Trained Mind forums caution that the curriculum’s methodical structure, while helpful for the parent, can occasionally feel rigid enough to stifle a child’s organic interest in the reading material. Overall, the feedback suggests that SCM is an excellent bridge for parents who want the "living books" experience without the stress of self-curating materials, provided they are comfortable with a slower, narrative-driven academic pace.

How It Works

A typical week with Simply Charlotte Mason centers on "living books"—high-quality narratives rather than dry textbooks. Each day, the parent reads a selection aloud to the children (often grouped together for History, Bible, and Geography), and the children respond through oral or written narration to demonstrate understanding. For individual subjects like Math or Language Arts, students work through short, focused lessons (15–20 minutes) designed to cultivate the habit of attention. Throughout the week, the parent uses SCM lesson plan guides to incorporate "riches" such as picture study, music appreciation, and nature walks using specialized portfolios and kits. The parent’s primary role is to facilitate these interactions and track progress using the CM Organizer, while the child focuses on listening, thinking, and narrating.

Switching to This?

Simply Charlotte Mason does not offer traditional "placement tests" because the curriculum is organized by "Forms" rather than strict grade levels, allowing children of different ages to study History and Bible together. Families starting mid-year can easily jump in by purchasing the specific lesson plan book for their current historical era. If switching from a traditional textbook program like BJU Press or Abeka, parents should expect a significant shift away from worksheets and toward oral discussion and literature. SCM provides a "Learning Library" of videos to help parents transition into the role of a Charlotte Mason educator.

Curriculum Details

Price

$50 - $300

Lesson plans ~$150–$300/yr; individual course bundles $50–$100; CM Organizer planner $7.95/mo or $95.40/yr. Book costs extra.

Grades

PRE-K - 12

Available As

Print Digital

Coverage

All subjects

Subjects

Reading/Language Arts Art Music Bible History/Social Studies Science

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Pacing

Self-paced

Parent Time

30-60 min/day

Student Independence

Needs instruction

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Academic Level

Grade level

Worldview

Christian

Teach Multiple Ages

Yes

Engaging for Reluctant Learners

Yes

Parent Role:

The parent acts as the primary instructor and facilitator, leading daily read-alouds, conducting oral narration exercises, and managing the schedule via the CM Organizer. While the curriculum is well-planned, it requires the parent to be present for the majority of the school day, especially in the elementary years.

Videos

Reviews We Consulted

Updated: June 2026 by Claude (v2 research)

How This Compares

Ambleside Online: While Ambleside Online is a free curriculum resource, SCM provides paid, pre-scheduled lesson plans and physical book bundles that make the method much easier for busy parents to execute. - My Father's World: My Father's World combines Charlotte Mason with unit studies and a more global mission focus, whereas SCM remains strictly dedicated to original Charlotte Mason principles. - Sonlight: Both use living books, but Sonlight is significantly more "book-heavy" with a faster reading pace, while SCM follows a slower, more "gentle" pace with shorter lessons. - A Gentle Feast: Both use a four-year history cycle and CM methods, but A Gentle Feast is organized around "Morning Time" cycles that some families find more flexible than SCM’s specific subject guides.

Getting Started