Homeschooling Curriculum and Resources
The Ambleside Homeschooling Programme has helped my husband and I practice a consistent philosophy of education with a clear method. This has freed us from the morass of the often conflicting and confusing messages to homeschool families. Through Ambleside’s excellent training and curriculum, the Mentor Programme has freed me to focus on educating my children, rather than trying to “reinvent the (education) wheel” year after year. After five years of engaging with Ambleside Schools International’s Homeschooling Programme we can confidently say our investment has reaped enormous dividends for our family life and our children’s education.
Charlotte Mason recognised in children a natural hunger to know, a profound craving for relationship with persons present and past, historic and fictional; with plants and animals; with earth, sea and sky; with great story, poetry, art and music. In accord with her vision, Ambleside Schools International created a rich, formative, and deeply satisfying curriculum for students from preschool to high school.
The Ambleside curriculum is comprised of skill-based (disciplinary) and content-based (inspirational) texts and resources. These are not mutually exclusive forms of instruction — each discipline is infused with inspiration and each inspiration requires its discipline. Disciplinary and inspirational instruction work in tandem, enlivening students’ engagement with ideas and rigorous knowledge.
As the children mature, the curriculum they encounter broadens and deepens. It moves beyond fundamental skills to advanced work that prepares them to cultivate a rich intellectual life through varied subjects, regardless of their post-secondary paths.
The curriculum consists primarily of books, books they can live upon; books alive with thought and feeling and delight in knowledge, nutriment for the mind. These texts have stood the test of time and contain beautiful language, universal themes, rich characters, intricate plots. Still others offer disciplinary information in an inspirational, accessible format with plenty of practice.
Whenever possible, Ambleside Schools International selects books that are in print and readily available to accommodate the broadest possible audience. Some resources are selectively available via used bookstores and websites; these have been chosen because they will most effectively reach the mind of the student.
The Ambleside curriculum provides:
- A wide and varied course of study (16 – 22 varied subjects weekly).
- A daily plan for skill development and content mastery.
- Knowledge characterised as vital, fruitful, interesting, and ideas-rich.
- Books characterised as representing “the best thought of the best writers”.
- Materials that aid in understanding and exploring, without diluting, the discipline.
- Grade-level sequences in select studies.
- Grade-level sequences for inspirational subjects, among them citizenship and science.
- Science observations and experiments correlated with science studies.
- An unabridged Shakespeare play read yearly from grade 4 to grade 8.
- Art in various mediums and handwork.
Our Core Subjects include:
Bible, Mathematics, Phonics, Spelling, Afrikaans, Xhosa, Literature, Composition, History, Science, Geography, Citizenship, and Grammar. We also emphasise the arts and practical skills through Poetry, Nature Study, Music Appreciation, Picture Study, Art, Handwork, and Dictation.
To support our homeschooling families, we provide customised schedules tailored to each family's specific age groups and requirements. This includes combined family learning for certain subjects alongside grade-specific support for individual student needs.
Our mentors are Ambleside-trained and have a compelling interest in serving homeschoolers and conveying the integrity of an Ambleside Education at home.
If you are considering forming a group in your community, we encourage you to watch our videos.
These include corresponding study guides for discussion.
Training provided by Ambleside Southern Africa.
Ambleside Schools International maintains a library of resources for teachers, parents, and all others interested in exploring the Charlotte Mason Educational Philosophy.
Please note we are not affiliated with Ambleside Online. Ambleside is a registered and trademarked name belonging to Ambleside Schools International. Our experience, both in the classroom and at home, are what set us apart from other homeschool programmes. We believe you will find this distinction significant and the expense well worth the investment.