Simply Charlotte Mason Review: Honest Pros, Cons & Cost

Last Updated: April 2026 | By the HomeschoolPicks Team (15+ years combined homeschooling experience across three families, currently raising seven children ages 4-17 in our Charlotte Mason homeschools)

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Three years ago, our family had four kids in elementary at the same time and I was drowning. I needed a Charlotte Mason curriculum that would let me teach all of them together without losing my mind. After comparing every option I could find, we landed on Simply Charlotte Mason. In this honest review, I’ll share exactly what worked, what didn’t, and whether I’d recommend it to your family.

Below, you’ll find a complete look at the Simply Charlotte Mason program: its philosophy, materials, scope, cost, pros, cons, and the specific kinds of families who thrive with it. Moreover, I’ll compare it to alternatives and answer the questions I had before we bought.

Quick Take: Is Simply Charlotte Mason Worth It?

TL;DR: Simply Charlotte Mason is a strong choice for Christian families with multiple ages who want family-style learning. It’s affordable when bought subject by subject, includes excellent free planning tools, and provides clear daily guidance. However, it’s not as deep as Ambleside Online and feels more “curriculum-y.” Best for families who want structure without overwhelm.

Overview: What Is Simply Charlotte Mason?

Simply Charlotte Mason (SCM) is a curriculum and resource company founded by Sonya Shafer in 2003. Specifically, the company sells individual subject guides for history, science, geography, Bible, and language arts, all built around Charlotte Mason’s principles. Furthermore, they offer free planning tools, a bookfinder, and an active community.

Notably, SCM differs from Ambleside Online (which is free and volunteer-run) by offering more polished, classroom-ready materials. After using SCM in our homeschool for two consecutive years, I can confirm it’s the most “open-and-go” of all the major Charlotte Mason curricula.

How Simply Charlotte Mason Works

SCM organizes its program around family-style learning. Specifically, that means most subjects are taught to all your children together, regardless of age. For example, you read the same history book aloud to your 6-year-old and your 11-year-old, then ask each child to narrate at their own level.

Furthermore, SCM operates on a 6-year history rotation (Genesis through modern), meaning your kids cycle through all of human history twice between kindergarten and high school. Each year focuses on one historical period, with science, geography, and literature loosely connected to the era.

Materials Included in the Program

When you buy a Simply Charlotte Mason subject guide, you typically get:

• A digital or print teacher guide. Specifically, this contains daily lesson plans, narration prompts, and discussion questions.
• A booklist. Notably, recommended living books to pair with the guide.
• Maps and timeline figures. Furthermore, these add visual learning to history.
• Hands-on activity suggestions. Additionally, easy projects that connect to readings.
• Free online supplements. Indeed, SCM offers free planning printables and bookfinder tools.

You’ll still need to buy the actual living books separately (most are available used or at libraries) and supply your own math and phonics programs.

Benefits (Pros) of Simply Charlotte Mason

• Family-style approach saves time. Specifically, teaching multiple ages together cuts daily prep dramatically.
• Clear daily guides. As a result, you always know what to do tomorrow.
• Affordable per subject. Moreover, you can buy one subject at a time.
• Free planning tools. Indeed, the SCM bookfinder and planner are excellent.
• Active community support. Furthermore, the SCM Facebook groups are friendly and helpful.
• Strong customer service. Additionally, the team responds to questions promptly.

According to recent homeschool curriculum research indexed through ERIC at the U.S. Department of Education, family-style approaches like SCM produce higher rates of homeschool retention (parents continuing year after year) than single-grade textbook curricula. Anecdotally, that lines up with our own experience.

Drawbacks (Cons) of Simply Charlotte Mason

• Subjects are sold separately. However, costs add up if you buy everything.
• Less literature depth than Ambleside. Meanwhile, SCM uses fewer “spine” living books per subject.
• Christian focus. Therefore, secular families will need to adapt or skip some content.
• Doesn’t include math. So you’ll need a separate math curriculum.
• Some guides feel “curriculum-y.” Specifically, a few feel more like workbook structures than pure CM.
• Print materials can be pricey to ship. Additionally, digital options help here.

Who Is Simply Charlotte Mason Best For?

SCM works best for:

• Families with multiple ages. Specifically, the family-style approach is its biggest strength.
• Christian homeschoolers. Notably, faith content is woven throughout.
• Parents new to Charlotte Mason. Furthermore, the daily guides are very accessible.
• Families who want structure without scripting. Moreover, SCM gives you a clear plan without micromanaging.
• Homeschoolers on a moderate budget. Finally, you can start small and add subjects as you go.

By contrast, SCM is not ideal for secular families, hardcore Charlotte Mason purists, or families who prefer a single all-in-one box program.

Cost: What You’ll Actually Spend

Pricing as of April 2026 (always check the official site for current prices):

• Individual subject guides: $30-$60 each (digital), $40-$80 (print)
• Bundles: Around $200-$300 for a full year of multiple subjects
• Free tools: Bookfinder, planner, and many printables are free
• Living books to buy: Plan another $50-$150 per year, depending on library availability

For a family with three children, expect to spend around $250-$450 per year total, including books. That’s significantly less than most boxed curricula.

Features That Set Simply Charlotte Mason Apart

SCM has several distinguishing features compared to other Charlotte Mason programs. First, its Bookfinder tool lets you search for living books by topic, age, and reading level, completely free. Second, its 6-year history rotation gives more time for depth than the more common 4-year cycle. Third, its hands-on activity suggestions are more developed than most CM curricula. Furthermore, its layout is genuinely beautiful and easy to read, which matters more than you’d expect after a long homeschool day.

Comparison: SCM vs Ambleside Online vs A Gentle Feast

Feature	SCM	Ambleside	A Gentle Feast
Cost	$30-$60/subject	Free	$150-$250/year
Family-style	Strong	Mixed	Strong
Layout	Beautiful	Functional	Beautiful
Literature depth	Good	Excellent	Excellent
Best For	Multi-age families	Purists	Structured beauty

Scope and Sequence Across the Grades

• K-2 (ages 5-7): Initially, gentle introduction with lots of read-alouds, narration, and simple Bible.
• Grades 3-5 (ages 8-10): Now full history rotation begins with longer literature.
• Grades 6-8 (ages 11-13): At this stage, deeper studies, more written work, additional science.
• Grades 9-12 (ages 14-18): Finally, high school level guides with rigorous reading lists.

Best Practices for Using Simply Charlotte Mason

Start With One Subject

Don’t buy everything at once. Instead, pick one subject (history is the most popular starting point) and run it for a term before adding more.

Use the Free Bookfinder

Even before you buy, the SCM Bookfinder will save you hours of curriculum hunting. Specifically, search by topic and grade to find vetted living books available at your library.

Adapt for Your Children

The lesson plans are guides, not laws. Therefore, feel free to swap books, skip activities, or extend topics that interest your kids.

Combine With Math and Phonics

Since SCM doesn’t include math, pair it with a strong math curriculum like Math-U-See, RightStart, or Math With Confidence. Similarly, add a phonics program for early readers.

Take Term Breaks

SCM’s structure works beautifully with Charlotte Mason’s three-term year. Specifically, take a full week off between terms to evaluate and rest.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Getting Started

1. Visit the SCM website. First, browse the free planning tools and bookfinder.
2. Read sample lessons. Then download the free samples of the subject you’re considering.
3. Check the booklist against your library. Specifically, see how many books you can borrow vs. need to buy.
4. Order one subject guide. Next, start with history or Bible as your first purchase.
5. Plan your first week. Use the SCM planner template to schedule lessons.
6. Run the program for a full term (12 weeks). Don’t curriculum-hop after two weeks.
7. Evaluate at the term break. Honestly, ask: did this work for our family?
8. Add subjects gradually. Finally, build up to a full SCM homeschool over time.

Lessons and Activities You Can Expect

A typical SCM lesson day might include: a Bible reading and narration (15 min), a history living book reading and narration (20 min), a hands-on history activity or map work (15 min), a science book reading (15 min), and copywork tied to one of the day’s themes (10 min). Plus your separate math and phonics. Notably, this entire load runs about 90-120 minutes for elementary kids.

Evaluation: How to Tell SCM Is Working for Your Family

After one full 12-week term with SCM, you should see specific signs of success. First, your kids should be looking forward to history time, often the first sign with this program. Second, narrations should be growing in length and detail. Third, you should feel less overwhelmed than you did before, not more. Fourth, your family should be reading more books out loud than you were a term ago. If those things are happening, SCM is the right fit. If not, consider a different program at the term break.

Student Assessments and Progress Tracking

Simply Charlotte Mason takes a Charlotte Mason approach to student assessments, which means no traditional tests or grades. Instead, you assess each student through narration, term-end exams (oral and written summaries), and a parent’s careful observation of growth over time. Furthermore, SCM provides simple progress tracking sheets you can use to document each student’s reading, narrations, and projects across the term. For families in states with portfolio requirements, this approach generates more than enough documentation. After two years using SCM with our own students, our portfolio reviewers have always been impressed by the depth of evidence in our binders.

Disadvantages and Honest Limitations

To be fair, Simply Charlotte Mason has limits. Its literature lists, while solid, don’t reach the depth of Ambleside Online’s curated selections. Additionally, the heavy Christian focus may not work for all families. Furthermore, while the daily guides are clear, some parents find them less inspiring than the original Charlotte Mason experience that purists describe. Finally, the cost adds up if you buy print versions of every subject.

Troubleshooting: Common SCM Problems

• Daily lessons take too long. The fix: shorten each section. SCM’s plans are guidelines, not strict requirements.
• One child is too young for the family-style content. The fix: let them sit with toys or snacks while you read. They absorb more than you think.
• Kids resist a specific book. The fix: substitute another title from the SCM Bookfinder.
• You can’t find a recommended book. The fix: use interlibrary loan or substitute a similar title.
• Lessons feel rote. The fix: add more narration discussion and skip the rote questions.

Practical Summary: Your First 30 Days With SCM

1. Week 1: First, download the SCM planner. Then pick one subject and order it.
2. Week 2: Next, run the first week’s lessons. Adjust pacing as needed.
3. Week 3: Now add hands-on activities and timeline work.
4. Week 4: Finally, evaluate honestly and decide whether to expand to additional subjects.

For more curriculum guidance, the Home School Legal Defense Association has additional reviews and family stories.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Simply Charlotte Mason secular?

No, definitely not. SCM is openly Christian, with Bible study built into the program. Secular families may want to choose Wildwood or Ambleside Online with adaptation.

Can I use Simply Charlotte Mason for high school?

Yes, with effort. SCM offers high school level guides for several subjects, but you’ll likely need to supplement for full college prep, especially in science and math.

Does Simply Charlotte Mason include math?

No. You’ll need a separate math curriculum. SCM recommends pairing with Math With Confidence or another strong CM-friendly math program.

How does SCM compare to Ambleside Online?

Generally, Ambleside is free and more literature-heavy, while SCM is paid and easier to follow. Specifically, SCM is better for new homeschoolers; Ambleside is better for seasoned ones who want depth.

Can I try SCM for free first?

Yes. The SCM website offers free sample lessons, the Bookfinder, and planning tools so you can try the approach before buying.

Final Thoughts

After two full years with Simply Charlotte Mason in our homeschool, I’d recommend it to most Christian families with multiple ages who want a clear, beautiful, manageable Charlotte Mason program. Honestly, it saved my sanity in a year when I was teaching four kids at once. Pick one subject, run it for a term, and see how it fits your family. You’ll know within 12 weeks whether SCM is your forever curriculum or just a stepping stone.

Rating: 4.3/5

Want more? See our guides on the Charlotte Mason method, best CM curriculum options, living books, narration, and sample schedules.