Finding a Catholic Homeschool Curriculum That Works for You

In general, you will find that we include elements of Montessori, the Classical Approach, and Charlotte Mason. Now that I have had four children and some experience homeschooling, I am beginning to fall in love with Charlotte Mason's philosophy of education, which is classical in the ideal sense. This post is to offer reading suggestions on finding what works for you based on what we have loved.

After you decide to homeschool, I think a great second step is to read what is out there. What approaches exist for home education? What curricula exist? What am I ready to do myself, and with what should I recruit help? This is the list of books that I found most helpful when I was at this phase, and I list them here first for my records, but also as a help to others now researching.

1. A Charlotte Mason Companion: Reflections on the Gentle Art of Learning by Karen Andreola


2. Catholic Homeschooling by Mary K. Clark


3. Designing Your Own Classical Curriculum by Laura Berquist


4. Home Education by Charlotte Mason


5. Raising a Bilingual Child by Barbara Pearson


6. Teaching Montessori in the Home: The Pre-school Years by Elizabeth Hainstock


7. The Child in the Church by Maria Montessori


8. The Year and Our Children: Catholic Family Celebrations for Every Season by Mary Reed Newland


9. The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home by Susan Wise Bauer and Jesse Wise.


10. When Children Love to Learn: A Practical Application of Charlotte Mason's Philosophy for Today by Elaine Cooper

TIP: Do not wait until your first child is 5 to start researching homeschooling curricula. Go ahead and get started by reading books from your library, looking at curriculum providers on the internet, and talking with mothers who have been there and done that. My oldest was one when I started collecting materials, and by the time she was ready for Kindergarten I did not need to panic.