A commonplace book is a personal collection of quotes, ideas, and pieces of wisdom that you create while reading. It's a way to actively engage with what you read and track your thoughts over time.
Most homeschool families report completing core academic subjects in 3-4 hours per day for elementary students, compared to the 6-7 hours typical of traditional schools, due to the one-on-one instruction and absence of classroom management overhead (NHERI, 2024). According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), approximately 3.3 million students were homeschooled in the United States as of 2023, representing roughly 6% of the school-age population.
What’s a commonplace book?
A commonplace book, or what Charlotte Mason called a 'Book of Mottoes,' is a personal collection you make. Instead of buying a book, you fill it with quotes and ideas that resonate with you while reading. This could be a wise saying, a beautiful sentence, or anything you want to remember. Over time, it becomes a unique snapshot of your thoughts. The term 'commonplace' comes from Latin, meaning themes that everyone can relate to. Famous figures like Thomas Jefferson and Virginia Woolf kept these books, and the practice goes back centuries.
Why it’s important
Charlotte Mason believed that a well-kept commonplace book would be a fascinating record of a writer's thoughts. It turns passive reading into an active experience. When you write down ideas in your commonplace book, you pay attention and engage more deeply with the text. Handwriting these quotes makes them personal and helps you remember them better. Years later, your book will show how your thinking has changed.
Commonplace books vs. journals
Journals are for your thoughts and daily events, written in order. Commonplace books, however, gather wisdom from others, organized by topic. A journal is about your feelings; a commonplace book is a collection of ideas you find valuable. For example, you might write in your journal about a tough week but add a Stoic quote to your commonplace book that inspired you. Both are useful but serve different purposes, and many people use both.
How to start your commonplace book
Grab any simple composition notebook—they're cheap and easy to use. Your first entries might feel strange, and that's okay! Trust your gut about what’s worth copying. If a quote makes you think or feel, write it down. Include the date, title, author, and page number. Some families organize by topics like literature or nature; others just go with the flow and create an index later.
Age-appropriate tips
Charlotte Mason suggested starting commonplace books around age 13, when kids can choose their own content. Before that, kids can do copywork by transcribing selected passages, which helps build penmanship skills. As kids grow, they move from copying to curating their own ideas. Younger kids focus on neat handwriting and good language, while older students select the material that truly speaks to them.
Wrapping up
The longer you keep a commonplace book, the more valuable it becomes. Starting may feel awkward, but soon you'll have a rich collection of wisdom and ideas that have influenced you. For BetterSchool families using the Charlotte Mason method, it’s a great step after years of copywork. It’s where kids start choosing their own content. Just keep it simple: a notebook, a pen, and the habit of writing down what inspires you.
