

A Delectable Education Charlotte Mason Podcast
Liz Cottrill, Emily Kiser and Nicole Williams
Through twice monthly conversations, three moms who have studied the Charlotte Mason method of education and put her ideas into practice in their homes join together to share with one another for the benefit of listeners by giving explanations of Mason's principles and examples of those principles put into practice out of their own teaching experience. These short discussions aim at providing information, support, and encouragement for others by unfolding the myriad aspects.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 5, 2025 • 24min
Episode 307: The Bible Part 3, Forms 3-4
How do Charlotte Mason Bible lessons change as students get older? Join us for today's discussion on the podcast as we turn to middle school students and answer some common questions like, why can't we continue Bible lessons with the whole family? And how can I help facilitate separate Bible lessons for my older students? Tune in to hear some insight to help navigate these issues, and more! Charlotte Mason, Volume 6 (Amazon) (Living Book Press - use code DELECTABLE for 10% off!) ADE Vol 6, Chapt 10 Reading List The Old Testament History by Costley-White and Hardwich (online version or hard copy at Living Library Press) Commentary on the New Testment: The Four Gospels by W. Walsham How* Scripture Journals (ESV and CSB options) on Amazon or here Acts of the Apostles by Ellen M. Knox The Gospel History of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ by C.C. James The Saviour of the World by Charlotte Mason (Amazon for Vol 1-3 or Riverbend Press for all 5 volumes) ADE Bible rotation Bible: Forms 1-2 Lesson Breakdown Episode 128: Form 1 Bible Immersion Lesson ADE on YouTube *For OOP (out of print) or hard to find texts, try BookFinder.com

Aug 29, 2025 • 23min
Episode 306: The Bible Part 2, Forms 1-2
This episode of the podcast focuses on what Bible lessons look like in elementary school. You'll learn how often and for how long Charlotte Mason Bible lessons last at this age, how to teach the lessons, and we will share some of our favorite resources with you. Charlotte Mason, Volume 6 (Amazon) (Living Book Press - use code DELECTABLE for 10% off!) ADE Vol 6, Chapt 10 Reading List Paterson Smyth commentaries Scripture Journals (ESV and CSB options) on Amazon or here Bible Art Resources: Bible Picture Portfolios Bible in Art: New Testament, Richard Muhlberger* Bible in Art: Old Testament, Richard Muhllberger* Bible Atlas Favorites: Holman Bible Atlas Golden Bible Atlas* ADE Bible rotation Bible: Forms 1-2 Lesson Breakdown Episode 128: Form 1 Bible Immersion Lesson ADE on YouTube *For OOP (out of print) or hard to find texts, try BookFinder.com

Aug 22, 2025 • 16min
Episode 305: The Bible, Part 1
Why did Charlotte Mason think that the Bible was the most important subject in a child's school lessons? What portions of the Bible are appropriate for children to read? And why should I include Bible as a lesson if our family already does regular Bible reading or devotions? In today's podcast we are tackling these questions and more as we look at the Bible as a school subject in the Charlotte Mason curriculum. Charlotte Mason, Volume 6 (Amazon) (Living Book Press - use code DELECTABLE for 10% off!) ADE Vol 6, Chapt 10 Reading List Episode 17: Bible 2.0 ADE on YouTube

Aug 15, 2025 • 18min
Episode 304: The Curriculum, Part 2
Are you lacking confidence in choosing your Charlotte Mason curriculum? In today’s podcast we are talking about what a Charlotte Mason curriculum isn't by examining the principles Miss Mason gave us, so we can spread the feast of a living education with confidence. Charlotte Mason, Volume 6 (Amazon) (Living Book Press - use code DELECTABLE for 10% off!) ADE Vol 6, Chapt 10 Reading List Episodes on the curriculum: Episode 193: The Interdependence of a CM Curriculum Episode 266: The Utility of the Charlotte Mason Method Episode 280: The Simplicity of the Charlotte Mason Method Episode 168: Habit Training Episode 264: The Time-Table ADE on YouTube

Aug 8, 2025 • 24min
Episode 303: The Curriculum, Part 1
Have you ever wondered what makes a curriculum Charlotte Mason or not? Charlotte Mason herself gave us principles based on her idea that children are born persons. This season of the podcast, we are going to be working our way through chapter 10 of volume six and answering that question: What is a Charlotte Mason curriculum? Join us in this episode as we start to answer that question by exploring points 11-15 of her educational principles. Charlotte Mason, Volume 6 (Amazon) (Living Book Press - use code DELECTABLE for 10% off!) ADE Vol 6, Chapt 10 Reading List ADE's Short Synopsis Episodes Episode 204: Short Synopsis Points 9-12 Episode 206: Short Synopsis Points 13-15 Episode 5: The Science of Relations Episode 8: Narration ADE on YouTube

Aug 1, 2025 • 10min
Episode 302: Introduction to Season 11
We're back for season 11 of the podcast! Listen to hear about everything that is new at A Delectable Education along with a unique opportunity to read Charlotte Mason along with us. Charlotte Mason, Volume 6 (Amazon) (Living Book Press - use code DELECTABLE for 10% off!) ADE Vol 6, Chapt 10 Reading List ADE on YouTube! Teacher Helps 10 Minute's Map Exercises Scansion Lessons - Extra Practice Literature Forms 3-4 (English Literature for Boys & Girls and Age of Fable) Citizenship Forms 3-4 (The Young Citizen's Reader and Ourselves) Teacher Training Videos High School Algebra demonstration lesson Form 1-2 Bible demonstration lesson A Method for the Madness: Organizing Home and School workshop Imagination, The Missing Ingredient workshop Conducting a Special Study workshop A Point or Two of Correction and Critique: Assessing Your Students’ Compositions workshop The Habit of Remembering workshop School Planning, One Bite at a Time workshop ADE’s Patreon Community ADE at HOME {Virtual} Conference (First weekend in February, access for 3 months following) Theo of Golden, Allen Levi Every Moment Holy, Vol. 3, Douglas Kaine McKelvey

May 16, 2025 • 20min
Episode 301: Season 10 Closing Ceremonies
The end of the school year and the end of this podcast season is cause to pause and reflect. The ADE ladies review the past year and encourage you to not just slam the books closed, but pause to remember the good and give thanks. We also encourage you to take some time this summer to listen to old episodes as you plan for the upcoming school year. Finally, we have a big announcement to make about the coming season. We close this episode with a fitting devotional to help you gain perspective on the value of the past year and inspire you for what lies ahead. Episode 241: Seasonal Reflections Seasonal Reflection Questions Episodes by Topic Numerical Listing of Episodes ADE at HOME {Virtual} Conference (First weekend in February each year, access for 3 months following) Teacher Training Videos Teacher Helps ADE's Patreon Community

May 2, 2025 • 47min
Episode 300: Balancing Life Outside of School
As Charlotte Mason Homeschoolers, we all know the challenge it is to find balance in all the other parts of life besides our school lessons. With so many priorities and responsibilities, it is imperative that we continue to evaluate and seek to find balance in our lives. In this podcast episode Emily, Liz, and Nicole discuss the challenges, mistakes, and tips they have for balancing relationships, home responsibilities, service, and ministry opportunities. CM Simple Languages www.livingbookpress.com Use code "delectable" at check out to receive 10% off your order Melissa Petermann's Video: Mindset, Margin, and Tactics ADE's Teacher Training Videos ADE's Patreon Community

Apr 18, 2025 • 23min
Episode 299: Finding Balance in School with Sarah Potter
This season, as we explore finding balance in the Charlotte Mason Method, we are interviewing people who have been able to find balance in their various contexts. This episode is an interview with Sarah Potter who made a big change in her homeschool after graduating the first of her six children and enrolling her remaining students in a not-so-local hybrid CM Cottage School. Sarah shares the factors that led her to make this decision, the hard parts as well as the wonderful benefits her family has experienced being a part of Living Education Academy. www.livingbookpress.com Use code "delectable" at check out to receive 10% off your order Living Education Academy ADE's Teacher Helps ADE's Patreon Community

Apr 4, 2025 • 42min
Episode 298: Balancing Expectations
Often when we encounter a difficulty in our Charlotte Mason education, the problem lies not in the books and materials, but rather in a mismatch between our expectations and the reality we see before us. In this episode of the podcast, we explore the unbalanced expectations we consciously and unconsciously embrace that are at odds with the outcomes Charlotte Mason expected. In returning to the principles of our educational method, we can find balance, and thereby, peace. "If we realise that the mind and knowledge are like two members of a ball and socket joint, two limbs of a pair of scissors, fitted to each other, necessary to each other and acting only in concert, we shall understand that our function as teachers is to supply children with the rations of knowledge which they require; and that the rest, character and conduct, efficiency and ability...take care of themselves." (6/241) "We need not ask what the girl or boy likes. She very often likes the twaddle of goody-goody storybooks, he like condiments, highly-spices tales of adventure. We are all capable of liking mental food of a poor quality." (3/168) "It is a wide progamme founded on the educational rights of man; wide, but we may not say it is impossible nor may we pick and choose and educate him in this direction but not that...Our part it seems to me is to give a child a vital hold upon as many as possible of those relationships proper to him." (6/157) "Therefore, if the business of teaching be to furnish the child with ideas, any teaching which does not leave him possessed of a new mental image has, by so far, missed its mark. It is not too much to say that a morning in which a child receives no new idea is a morning wasted, however closely the little student has been kept at his books." (1/173)"If it is the best a child can do and shows interest and effort, then it is satisfactory or 'good'" (Exam Pamphlet) Beauty & Truth Math Episode 272: CM on Children Liking Their Books Notes of Lessons: Sample lessons from CM trained teachers in her training college Episode 233: Method of Lessons Episode 229: Exams Examination and the P.U.S.Pamphlet ADE's Exam Planner: A Teacher Help for preparing and executing exams for all Form Levels Living Book Press ADE Teacher Training Videos