Simply Charlotte Mason is a curriculum company offering resources based on Charlotte Mason's educational philosophy. Founded by experienced homeschool mothers, it provides ready-to-use lesson plans that focus on living books, narration, and nature study.
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 is Simply Charlotte Mason?
Simply Charlotte Mason is a curriculum company started by Sonya Shafer and Karen Smith. Both are experienced homeschool moms who used Charlotte Mason methods with their kids. They create easy-to-use lesson plans and resources. Their focus is on living books, narration, short lessons, and nature study. They aim to make the Charlotte Mason approach accessible, so you don’t have to spend hours planning.
The six-year history cycle
SCM's curriculum follows a six-year history cycle that blends Bible history with world history. Year 1 covers Genesis through Deuteronomy and Ancient Egypt. Year 2 includes Joshua through Malachi and Ancient Greece. Year 3 pairs the Gospels and Acts with Ancient Rome. Years 4-6 continue with the Epistles and Revelation while exploring the Middle Ages, Renaissance, Reformation, and modern times. Students go through this cycle twice over 12 years with age-appropriate books. This setup allows families to study history and Bible together, saving time.
Pricing and getting started
Individual SCM products range from about $9 to $40, mostly between $20 and $35. A full year of new curriculum materials costs around $380 before shipping. You can save money by using library books or buying used materials. SCM offers free shipping on U.S. orders over $129 and a 60-day return guarantee. Their website has a free 'Build Your Own Curriculum' section with printable forms, sample schedules, and book lists to help you start.
The Simply Charlotte Mason approach
SCM makes Charlotte Mason practical for real families. Their lesson plans are 'open-and-go', needing little prep. The family-style learning keeps everyone on the same history and enrichment topics, with multi-level book lists for different ages. Sonya Shafer’s podcast has over 450 episodes for ongoing learning and support. The idea is that Charlotte Mason should not feel overwhelming. When done right, it actually simplifies homeschooling with a clear approach.
The bottom line
Simply Charlotte Mason serves families who love Charlotte Mason's philosophy but lack time to create their own curriculum. Their ready-to-use lesson plans and family-focused learning can cut down planning time a lot. However, expect to pay more and have less strict book choices compared to free options like Ambleside Online. For families wanting structured Charlotte Mason with Christian integration and solid support, SCM is a great choice.
