Nicole Williams is an expert in all things Charlotte Mason. She is the author and creator of the Living Science curriculum and nature study course at SabbathMoodHomeschool.com and co-host of the podcast “A Delectable Education.” She has homeschooled seven children using Charlotte Mason’s principles and methods.
Nicole first started homeschooling in 2004 when her oldest child started kindergarten. She had a toddler at the time and a baby on the way, but it was just the two of them at the kitchen table for those simple years. Things got more complicated three years later when a string of Nicole's adopted siblings entered their little home school. The same year she adopted Charlotte Mason's philosophy of education. Homeschooling so many children (up to 7 at one time) was like a trial by fire. Still, the process, especially its power to work around learning difficulties like dyslexia, proved the worth of the method.
Each term, she added a few more subjects to the curriculum until she had incorporated the whole feast. Yet, years later, she still had not replaced the textbook for science — something Charlotte Mason spoke harshly about. It's odd to say, but fortunately, her high schoolers failed every test, and they had begun to hate science. That forced her to start applying Miss Mason’s natural method for teaching science. Her students thrived! Miss Mason's method opened their eyes, and they began to appreciate the beauty of the world around them. Most importantly, they began to think.
Today, all but one of Nicole's students have graduated, and she shares her experience with you, hoping her words will allow you to confidently understand Charlotte Mason's philosophy and easily implement her methods.
Ryan & Stephanie Lee Ryan and Stephanie enjoy life with 2 sons, Bergen (12) and Cabot (10), a college-age nephew, 22 chickens, 3 rabbits, 2 pigs and 1 dog. Stephanie was an art teacher in the public schools before she became a stay-at-home mom. She was introduced to Charlotte Mason with a nudge from Micah Pettes and hasn't looked back. She thrives on learning alongside her children, no matter how imperfectly, fueled by her morning meditations, coffee, and time outdoors. Ryan works in agriculture, consulting with farmers in Northern Indiana and Ohio. Formerly a professor at Indiana University, he is a botanist, geneticist, maker, and steward of the land. This rich, full, life-giving journey has introduced the Lees to some of their favorite authors: Aldo Leopold, Wendell Berry, and Gene Stratton-Porter, just to name a few.
Brad & Micah Pettes Brad and Micah have four children ages 10-16 that they have homeschooled using the Charlotte Mason philosophy of education. In addition to being homeschooled herself, Micah has 10+ yrs of homeschool experience and has become intimately familiar with CM philosophies thru reading and numerous book discussions, as well as attending 4 CMI conferences. Micah is the founder and owner of Juniper Grove Journals, which is a small business she started after transforming her own family’s notebooking habits using a travelers-style journal. Brad is an accountant for the federal government, church treasurer, homeschool “support staff” and Vice President of Juniper Grove Journals. In his free time, he enjoys fishing and coaching his son’s basketball team. Together they enjoy home improvement projects and turning their 3 acre property into a place for gatherings.
Heather Ray Previously a kindergarten teacher, Heather became a full-time mama in 2010. She and her husband Joe are blessed with 6 precious daughters, ages 1-11. When she's not spending time with her wonderful family, she loves reading, writing, crafting, hiking and living a life purposed to bring glory to Jesus Christ! You can find her online at Wholehearted Homemaking where she shares her journey with homemaking, homeschooling, health, nature, and of course God’s word!
Kelsi Rea Kelsi and her husband Rusty reside in South Bend, IN with their four children. In 2019, she founded Heritage Christian Academy, Indiana's first Charlotte Mason micro-school. The Academy has since tripled in size and in 2022, Kelsi and Rusty opened Heritage Meeting House, which is also the home of Heritage Children's Library, an 8,000+ volume Preservation library that is now open to the public.
Kaiti Shannon A blessed CM graduate, Kaiti is currently a Master's Student finishing her thesis in Applied Communication. Her CM education inspired her to pursue a career as an educator, and she is currently an associate professor of public speaking at IUPUI. Kaiti plans to continue teaching college students until she transitions to teaching her own children (with the CM philosophy, of course). Her education fostered a deep love for nature and writing, which she has harnessed in the form of publishing her own poetry ("Life is Poetry") and creating a YouTube channel ("Indiana Adventure Tour Guide") to share about Indiana's many opportunities for nature exploration. Kaiti also has a passion for folksong and astronomy and runs a local dancing/stargazing group called "Dancing Til the Stars".