Our blog

A few basic supplies can facilitate peace and joy in your home or classroom. Here are some we recommend in Alveary.

Readings, music, art, and even a poem by Charlotte Mason on themes from Holy Week.

Enjoy the spring with these poems, musical pieces, and nature walks adapted from Alveary lessons!

A Charlotte Mason education involves lots of reading, but students with low working memory can struggle with reading comprehension. Andy gives ideas on how to help!

How does low working memory affect key methods such as narration in a Charlotte Mason education? How do we support students and help them grow?

Explore the world of working memory and neurodiversity to learn how we can support students with low working memory (often ADHD) within a Charlotte Mason education.

Alveary info, news, and updates for the 2025-26 school year. Registration is open!

What does a Charlotte Mason education look like? How can Alveary help you implement Charlotte Mason's ideas in your homeschool, co-op, or classroom?

Sarah-Beth Gould discusses the importance of asking students to read, think, discuss, and write about ugly and uncomfortable things.

Join Dr. Smith as he sits down with Dr. Thorley, the last principal of Charlotte Mason College, to delve into the depths of the Charlotte Mason archive.

Many of you have enjoyed our advent guides over the last few years...we hope you enjoy the 2024 edition just as much!

Join Dr. Doug Sikkema and Dr. Matthew Mullins as they dive into the ‘how,’ ‘what,’ and ‘why’ behind living books.

Dr. Donna Johnson gives final thoughts on reading instruction - the essential ingredients to include and the importance of personhood.

Do kids who start reading in kindergarten really have a head start?

When is a student ready to learn to read? Dr. Donna Johnson talks about reading readiness in this video and transcript.

Let's get practical. How do we assess reading curricula? Dr. Donna Johnson helps us think through these questions to get at what is beneficial for every student.

What does it look like to spread a wide variety of rich books for our students? Amber O'Neal Johnston leads us in considering this topic through this session.

Has the research on reading reached teachers and students at a practical level? Dr. Donna Johnson talks about obstacles and signs of change.

Try this Alveary science lab with your students to learn about the weather. Only home supplies needed!

How does current science relate to Charlotte Mason's approach to reading instruction?

Let's talk about reading - Dr. Donna Johnson continues her overview of the history of reading instruction in the U.S.

From attention deficit and individualism to hope and the impact of technology, Dr. Sikkema challenges us to reflect on how we live and engage with the world.

The first post in a series on reading instruction - its history, science, Charlotte Mason's approach, and more.

Eight common questions about narration, Charlotte Mason's foundational method for learning.

How can Charlotte Mason's insights enrich your Sunday schools? Join Min as she shares her experience and offers practical steps forward.

Christine Smith shares her reflections on homeschooling in New Zealand.

Pat Farrington shares about her experience at a PNEU school in the 1950s which her father founded.

Laura Young shares her experience at Joy of Making.

Meet and hear from our new Executive Director!

Danielle interviews Savannah, who shares her experience with dyscalculia, anxiety, and her passion for supporting others.

Danielle and Rae discuss how a Mason education benefited her and her neurodivergent needs.

What does Charlotte Mason's idea, "The Science of Relations," actually mean? Join Dr. Smith and Danielle Merritt-Sunseri to explore this question.

A list of speaker-recommended conference reads for The Joy of Making!

Danielle and Dr. Smith discuss the importance of a living curriculum and keeping the personhood of a child at the center of that curriculum.

Danielle and Dr. Smith discuss "the child is a born person" and the implications this principle has on educating neurodivergent children.

Danielle and Dr. Smith discuss following Mason's method with the neurodivergent child.

Danielle interviews Jack about his experience as a neurodivergent child. This is Part Two of Jack's heartfelt story.

Danielle interviews Jack about his experience as a neurodivergent child. This is Part One of Jack's heartfelt story.

An interview with Jack about the history of the College.

An interview with Adrian about the importance of reading as a life-giving process.

An interview with Jen and Heather about the beauty of the outdoors.

Meet Lighthouse, an Alveary micro-school making a relational education accessible to students with disabilities.

What is a living book? How should I evaluate books for my students? Alveary team member Kerri Forney explains the process Alveary uses to select books.

Dr. Whiteside talks about key questions the Alveary team considers when choosing books History, Literature, and Science.

A collection of activities to enliven your winter - from watercolor to what we're reading.

A round up of upcoming opportunities!

An interview with Dr. Sikkema's about learning to love creation, Charlotte Mason, and his centenary monograph.

Dr. Elliott Shaw, one of the Centenary Series authors, shares his thoughts on Charlotte Mason's view of spirituality within current scholarship.

We hear the term thrown around a lot but don't always stop to understand what it actually means. What is Orton-Gillingham?

Elizabeth Millar shares about her book on Charlotte Mason, generosity, and a practical theology of joy.

An interview with Professor Hilary Cooper about her centenary monograph.

Read, listen to, or watch this discussion on the book Ungifted: Intelligence Redefined by Scott Barry Kaufman!

"I started to become really uneasy that there was something not quite right." Learn from LeAnn's story about Charlotte Mason and dyslexia

"Narration is the hallmark of a Mason education," Dr. Shannon Whiteside claims. Explore narration in this interview and related monograph.

Emily Rodgers Bowyer and Brynn Dickie Bowyer coauthored the monograph titled A Feast of Living Ideas in a World of Bytes. Enjoy this interview with them both!

Danielle Merritt-Sunseri discusses how we can understand and care for each other through the books we keep on our shelves.

Designed to inspire both young and old, this Advent Guide is a feast of Bible readings, music, poetry, art, handicrafts, nature activities, and more.

An interview with Elaine Cooper about her centenary monograph on Charlotte Mason's life and influence.

Deepen your nature study with a term of tree-themed nature walks and activities.

Join Kerri Forney & Danielle Sunseri as they discuss high school preparation and planning, specifically for neurodivergent students.

What is a Charlotte Mason education? Some refer to it as a living education. Others as a relational education. Let's talk about its key components.

Save the date for our 2024 gathering - The Joy of Making from July 25-27 in Wilmore, KY.

First published in 2021, this interview by Danielle Merritt-Sunseri with Kristin about her son's journey with autism is now available with a full transcript!

Alveary team member Erin Day writes on how to use everyday activities to teach the principles of art.

Danielle and two other colleagues discuss the book they are reading entitled Neurotribes by Steve Silberman.

You are invited to our first publicly available observation and training event at Blue Willow Tutorial from October 26-28th near Knoxville, Tennessee.

Looking to build or find community in your area? Start a Natural History Club and embark on guided outdoor adventures with friends.

We're re-releasing some of your favorite Blue Orchard Bee resources. This first one features a conversation with Dr. Christy Maher.

A collection from Kerri of favorite picture books for your home or classroom

New monographs available! 24 scholars from three countries came together, and collectively authored 18 individual monographs on Charlotte Mason's insights.

A Parents' Review article for the busy Charlotte Mason mom who is homeschooling multiple kids, trying to keep the house organized, working part-time, and...

A Juneteenth-themed sneak peek of Alveary Music, Poetry, and Art lessons!

Enjoy a series of new videos on important topics such as parenting, notebooking, pre-school, Alveary FAQs, choosing quality books, narration, and more!

Part 2 of a series with Dr. Donna Johnson thinking through dyslexia from within the framework of Charlotte Mason's relational education.

Part 1 of a series with Dr. Donna Johnson thinking through dyslexia from within the framework of Charlotte Mason's relational education.

Delight in these artistic pieces from the 1908 PNEU conference and, incidentally, gain an understanding of the artistic and literary PNEU atmosphere.

An unpublished excerpt from the Parents' Review of a message from Charlotte Mason at the opening of the 1908 PNEU conference.

As part of the "What We're Reading" series on the Blue Orchard Bee, Danielle discusses the book "The Enabled Life."

A collection of poetry, music, art, and more for your March inspiration.

See how one school implements Charlotte Mason's relational philosophy in Texas!

First shown at CMI's 2022 annual gathering, this video gives an exciting glimpse at the way relational education is taking root in France.

Join these conversations from the Blue Orchard Bee on habits, anxiety, and advocacy, especially in a neurodiverse home or classroom.

A conversation with Danielle Merritt-Sunseri and Dr. Donna Johnson on Orton-Gillingham and how to support our students with dyslexia.

A collection of readings, poetry, music, and more centered around Charlotte Mason and her home in the Lake District.

First shown at CMI's 2022 annual gathering, this video gives an exciting glimpse at the way relational education is taking root in South Africa.

How one woman’s counterintuitive approach to learning is inspiring a new generation of educators.

Week 6 of the CMI Advent and Christmas series of resources for families, classes, neighborhood, etc. Read or download.

Week 5 of the CMI Advent and Christmas series of resources for families, classes, neighborhood, etc. Read or download.

Week 4 of the CMI Advent and Christmas series of resources for families, classes, neighborhood, etc. Read or download.

Week 3 of the CMI Advent and Christmas series of resources for families, classes, neighborhood, etc. Read or download.

Week 2 of the CMI Advent and Christmas series of resources for families, classes, neighborhood, etc. Read or download.

Week 1 of the CMI Advent and Christmas series of resources for families, classes, neighborhood, etc. Read or download.

Danielle Merritt-Sunseri talks about bringing neurodiversity to our bookshelves in this video from the Blue Orchard Bee.

Citizen science projects, Thanksgiving sonnet, acorn whistling and more to enjoy yourself or with others.

What makes a good toy? One of the writers in the Parents' Review, the journal of which Charlotte Mason was editor, offers some guiding principles.

This video featuring Johanna Peréz Ray gives an exciting glimpse into the efforts to create Mason resources in Spanish!

Geography games, Music, Art, and Poetry to enjoy yourself or with your students.

I’m excited to talk about one of my favorite ways to go hunting for literary beauty: a common place book.

A September collection of small things to enjoy alone or with your students.

Registration is open and details about speaking posted for the Charlotte Mason Centenary Conference in Ambleside, England!