What Reviewers Say

Wildwood Curriculum is consistently lauded by reviewers as the gold standard for secular families seeking a Charlotte Mason education. According to sources like Secular Charlotte Mason and Reddit's homeschooling community, it serves as a modern, inclusive alternative to older, religious-leaning CM programs. Reviewers frequently praise the 'living book' selections for their diversity and global perspective, moving away from the Eurocentric focus typical of the movement. However, a common trade-off noted across forums is that the curriculum is a 'work in progress'; while lower forms (elementary) are robust, upper forms (high school) are still in development or beta testing. Parents appreciate the zero-cost entry point but caution that the method requires significant parent involvement and a love for reading, which may not suit reluctant learners or families seeking a 'grab-and-go' workbook approach.

How It Works

A typical week involves the parent and child gathering high-quality literature, known as 'living books,' for short, focused study sessions that range from 15 to 45 minutes. Parents of younger children read these books aloud and listen as the child 'narrates,' or summarizes the story back in their own words, while older students read independently and keep written journals. Daily activities include practicing handwriting through 'copywork' (transcribing passages from books) and spending time outdoors for nature observation and sketching. Because there are no pre-printed workbooks, the parent’s primary role is to act as a facilitator, sourcing books from the library and following the reading schedules provided on the Wildwood website.

Switching to This?

Wildwood does not offer formal placement tests, as it uses a flexible 'Form' system instead of strict grade levels; families typically place children into Form 1 for ages 6–9, Form 2 for ages 9–12, and so on. Most families find it easy to start mid-year by simply beginning at the first week of their chosen year's book list, though they should be prepared to spend time teaching the skill of 'narration' if the child is used to multiple-choice worksheets. If you are switching from a traditional school or a workbook-heavy program, expect a transition period where the child builds up the mental stamina required for deep listening and summary. Since the curriculum is free and available online, the community recommendation is to review the book lists for your child's age group to ensure the reading level is a comfortable fit before officially starting.

Curriculum Details

Price

$0

The curriculum guides and booklists are provided entirely for free. Parents must purchase or borrow the recommended 'living books' and resources separately.

Grades

1 - 12

Available As

Digital

Coverage

All subjects

Subjects

Reading/Language Arts History/Social Studies Science Art Music Physical Education Foreign Language Writing Logic & Critical Thinking

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Pacing

Flexible

Parent Time

60-180 min/day

Parent Involvement

Moderate

Student Independence

Semi-independent

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Academic Level

Above grade level

Worldview

Secular

Teach Multiple Ages

Yes

Videos

Reviews We Consulted

Updated: March 2026

How This Compares

Compared to AmblesideOnline, Wildwood provides a similar Charlotte Mason structure but intentionally replaces religious content and Eurocentric history with secular, modern, and diverse book selections. While Blossom and Root also offers a secular, nature-based education, Wildwood is more academically traditional, focusing on oral narration and classic 'living books' rather than the hands-on crafts and creative projects found in Blossom and Root. When weighed against Simply Charlotte Mason, Wildwood is a free, community-driven resource that requires parents to do more organizational legwork, whereas SCM offers paid, highly polished lesson plans and video demonstrations. Parents comparing Wildwood to Torchlight will find that Wildwood follows the specific Charlotte Mason pedagogy of short lessons and specific 'Forms,' while Torchlight is a more eclectic literature-based program organized by standard grade levels. Ultimately, families choose Wildwood when they want the rigorous, literature-heavy style of a classical education without the religious or colonial perspectives often found in older programs.

Getting Started