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A homestead is about more than growing vegetables, baking sourdough, or tending chickens. It's about cultivating a life rooted in intention, curiosity, and simple rhythms. For our family, homeschooling has become a natural extension of that lifestyle: a way to slow down, learn together, and nurture not only our children's minds but also their character.

Over the years, I've received so many questions about the homeschool curriculum we use. We began our homeschooling journey with The Good and the Beautiful, and while it served our family well for several years, we eventually found ourselves longing for something different.

Today, we've been using Ambleside Online for the past two school years, and it has completely changed the atmosphere of our homeschool. Instead of spending most of our day filling out workbook pages, we've embraced rich literature, living books, nature study, poetry, art, music, and meaningful conversations.

If you're wondering whether Ambleside Online or the Charlotte Mason method might be right for your family, here's a look inside our homeschool and why we've come to love this gentle, literature-rich approach. And if you're looking for more homeschooling resources (including books for parents!), check out my Amazon homeschooling resource list.

Why We Switched from The Good and the Beautiful

For 1-2 years, we used The Good and the Beautiful curriculum. It's beautifully designed, easy to follow, and gave us a solid foundation during our early homeschooling years.

But as my children grew, I realized I wanted our homeschool days to feel less like completing assignments and more like discovering ideas together.

I wanted our mornings to be filled with beautiful stories instead of worksheets.

I wanted learning to happen through conversations, great books, and experiences rather than simply checking boxes.

That's what ultimately led us to Ambleside Online, a free curriculum inspired by the educational philosophy of Charlotte Mason.

What Is Ambleside Online?

Ambleside Online is a free homeschool curriculum created by a group of homeschooling mothers who adapted the educational philosophy of Charlotte Mason for modern families.

Instead of relying heavily on textbooks, students learn through carefully selected "living books": well-written stories and biographies that bring history, science, geography, and literature to life.

One of my favorite things about Ambleside Online is that it's completely free to access. Many of the classic books are in the public domain, so we download them to a Kindle or borrow them from our local library, making it an incredibly affordable option for homeschooling families.

What Is the Charlotte Mason Method?

Charlotte Mason believed that children are capable of engaging with rich ideas from a very young age.

Rather than feeding children dry facts, she encouraged parents to offer them living books filled with beautiful language, memorable stories, and meaningful ideas.

One comparison I often think about is this:

Feeding children rich literature is a lot like feeding them nourishing whole foods.

Just as we carefully choose wholesome foods to nourish their growing bodies, we can also choose books that nourish their minds.

Beautiful language, compelling stories, and timeless ideas leave a lasting impression in a way that traditional textbooks often don't.

Our Favorite Part: Living Books

One of the biggest changes in our homeschool has been replacing textbooks with living books.

Instead of simply reading facts about history, my children get to experience the people and events through engaging stories.

Some of our favorites include:

• The Wind in the Willows
• Pilgrim's Progress/Little Pilgrim's Progress
• Understood Betsy
• The Chronicles of Narnia Series
• The Little House Series
• James Harriot's Treasury for Children

These books spark conversations long after we've closed the pages.

I've found that my children remember far more because they're emotionally connected to the stories they're reading.

Reading Above Grade Level

One thing that often surprises people is that many of our read-aloud books are written at much higher reading levels than my children could read independently.

And that's intentional.

Even though my younger children aren't reading these books themselves yet, they can understand them when they're read aloud.

Listening to advanced vocabulary, rich storytelling, beautiful language and practicing narration stretches their minds and builds vocabulary naturally.

Shakespeare in Elementary School?

One of the most unique aspects of Charlotte Mason education is introducing Shakespeare to children at a young age.

That might sound intimidating at first, but we don't begin by handing first graders a copy of Hamlet.

Instead, we read story versions of Shakespeare's plays so they become familiar with the characters and plots.

As they grow older, they'll already know the stories and will be ready to enjoy the original plays with much greater understanding.

Music, Art, and Poetry Matter Too

Our homeschool isn't just focused on math and reading.

We also make time for:

• Composer study
• Hymns and folk music
• Musical instrument lessons
• Artist study
• Poetry
• Nature study
• Handicrafts

These subjects help create a well-rounded education while encouraging creativity and wonder.

As a classically trained musician, classical music has always been part of our home, so it feels natural to include it in our homeschool rhythm.

Building Strong Readers

While we've switched most of our curriculum, there are still a few resources we continue to use because they've worked incredibly well for our family.

For beginning readers, I start with:

Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons

Then we continue with:

The Good and the Beautiful Language Arts Level 1

Together, these resources have consistently prepared my children to transition confidently into independent reading.

Our Math Curriculum

One thing I appreciate about Ambleside Online is the flexibility it offers.

Families are free to choose the math curriculum that works best for them.

For our homeschool, we use Singapore Math.

I appreciate its challenging approach and strong focus on conceptual understanding.

It's a wonderful fit for children who enjoy math and are ready for a rigorous program.

Learning History Through Stories

History has become one of our favorite subjects.

Rather than memorizing dates from a textbook, we read biographies and historical narratives that help the past come alive. We also keep what Charlotte Mason called, a Book of Centuries.

Ambleside Online follows a six-year history rotation covering:

• American history
• British history
• World history
• Church history

This broader approach helps children understand how different cultures and historical events connect with one another.

Geography Beyond Maps

We also enjoy studying geography through travel narratives, atlases, and map work.

Books about explorers like Marco Polo help children experience geography through adventure instead of simply memorizing locations.

We often turn map lessons into games, making learning feel both fun and meaningful.

Learning Foreign Languages

Foreign language is another enjoyable part of our homeschool rhythm.

Currently, we're learning both French and German using the curriculum from Cherrydale Press and the First Thousand Words books alternating between the two languages throughout the week.

Instead of memorizing vocabulary lists, we use stories, songs, and conversational phrases that make language learning feel natural.

As my older daughter has grown, we've also begun studying Latin through the Memoria Press Curriculum, which Charlotte Mason recommended beginning in the upper elementary years.

Science Through Observation

Rather than relying solely on textbooks, much of our science learning happens through observation, living books, conversation, and nature.

We swap out some of the Ambleside Online science books with Building Foundations of Scientific Understanding while also spending plenty of time outdoors observing birds, animals, insects, weather, and plants.

Living on a small homestead gives us countless opportunities to connect science with everyday life.

We Make the Curriculum Our Own

One thing I always tell new homeschoolers is this:

You don't have to follow any curriculum exactly as it's written.

We certainly don't.

Ambleside Online serves as our guide, but we adapt it to fit our family's needs, our children's interests, and the season of life we're in.

Some families follow every recommendation. Others simplify.

Neither approach is wrong.

The beauty of homeschooling is that you have the freedom to create an education that works for your family.

Homeschooling and Homesteading Go Hand in Hand

For us, homeschooling isn't separate from homesteading because it's woven into it.

Math happens while measuring ingredients for sourdough bread. Science unfolds while tending the garden or observing honeybees. History comes alive through stories shared around the table.

Learning doesn't stop when the school day ends because education becomes part of everyday life.

That, more than anything else, is what drew us to the Charlotte Mason philosophy.

It's not simply about finishing lessons. It's about cultivating curiosity, wisdom, and a lifelong love of learning.

Watch the Full Homeschool Curriculum Tour

If you'd like to see the books we're currently using and hear more about how our homeschool day flows, be sure to watch my YouTube video, where I share our favorite resources, curriculum choices, and why we've made the switch to Ambleside Online.

And if you enjoy simple living, gardening, sourdough baking, homeschooling, and small-scale homesteading, I'd love to have you subscribe to my channel and follow along.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ambleside Online really free?

Yes! The curriculum is completely free to access online. Many of the recommended books are also available in the public domain or through your local library.

What is a living book?

A living book is a well-written book that teaches through engaging stories, biographies, or narratives instead of dry textbook facts. Charlotte Mason believed these books inspired curiosity and helped children retain information more naturally.

Can you customize Ambleside Online?

Absolutely. We use Ambleside Online as a guide but adapt it to fit our family's needs, adding our preferred math curriculum, Bible reading plan, and handwriting practice.

What math curriculum do you use?

Our family uses Singapore Math because of its strong conceptual approach and challenging lessons.

What ages is Ambleside Online best for?

Ambleside Online includes curriculum plans from elementary through high school, making it suitable for families with children of many different ages.

Do you still use The Good and the Beautiful?

Yes. We still use Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons followed by The Good and the Beautiful Language Arts Level 1 to help our beginning readers build a strong reading foundation.