Mixing Charlotte Mason’s Principles with Brains
By the Alveary Team
The Parents’ Review was a magazine founded by Charlotte Mason as a forum for parents and educators. The magazine often included queries from those using her materials. In 1928, a few years after Mason’s passing, one frustrated query read, “I subscribed for the material for one year so that I could see what value it had to offer us… I was unable to get any particular value from it.” The published reply was blunt: “A subscription for a year’s programmes is of no value… There is no intrinsic merit in Miss Mason’s method apart from the principles on which it is based.”
Understanding the principles is what brings Mason’s ideas to life. As she often reminded her students, “Teachers must… mix their work with brains.” In her classroom, that meant recognizing that each child is different and adjusting thoughtfully so every student can flourish.
The Alveary is here to support you in making Mason's invitation a reality. Our lesson plans, Foundations Courses, and resources aren’t rigid rules. You get to make them your own, adapting them to suit your students, schedule, and context. You don’t have to be a Charlotte Mason expert to use Alveary, but when you understand the philosophy behind it, everything clicks, and you can teach with confidence and creativity.
We’d love for you to join us for Alveary Office Hours on September 11, where we’ll explore Mason’s first principle together: children are born persons. We’ll share ideas, dig into case studies, and talk through ways to apply the principles in real life—using brains, just like Mason suggested!
Lesson Plan Spotlight
The Bookshelf offers hundreds of extra living books for your students to explore as free reads. You’ll find it on your dashboard under Resources, where you can effortlessly search by topic or grade level.
Notes
- Giveaway: We’re giving merch to three lucky winners who can pick a shirt or tote bag! Check out this Hive post for details. Open through August 31 → Winners announced September 1 in The Hive.
- Office Hours: To watch this week’s Office Hours, go here. Be sure to download the handout we talked about!
- Read with us: In the Company of Ideas kicks off in September! Our first book is A Little Book for New Historians by Dr. Tracy McKenzie. Grab your copy and join us for the first discussion prompt next month.
- Job posting: The Alveary team is looking for lesson plan writers for French and Sol-fa. If you are interested, please send your resume to Melissa Ferguson at melissa@cminst.org.
- CMI Courses: Registration is now open for CMI’s Fall Courses! Explore our full lineup and find the perfect course for you.
- Conference: The Guiding with Grace Virtual Conference Ticket is still available! Gain access to all keynote sessions plus 23 professionally recorded workshops. Want a preview? Enjoy these short snippets for a taste of what’s waiting for you. The Role of an Educator with Kerri Forney and The Great Recognition with Dr. Deani Van Pelt
- Commonplace Quarterly: A magazine to encourage families in the practical application of Charlotte Mason’s principles. Get all past digital issues + new releases (digital) for just $25/year with code CMIDigital25.
