Lauren Ducommun

“For every mother who desires to cultivate a lasting foundation of curiosity and wonder for her children from home, whilst continuing a rich life of learning for herself.”

– Modern Miss Mason

Book Review:
Modern Miss Mason: Discover How Charlotte Mason’s Revolutionary Ideas on Home Education Can Change How You & Your Children Learn & Grow Together by Leah Boden
Tyndale, 2022

I was a little skeptical when I saw another Charlotte-Mason-inspired book floating around on Instagram. I finally put it on hold from our library and read it pretty quickly while planning our Year 5 curriculum, which was just the inspiration I needed at the time. Modern Miss Mason is a lovely and gentle introduction to the ideas of Charlotte Mason but also an encouragement and reminder to those who already have a few years under their belt.

Leah Boden did a beautiful job at passing on the heart of Charlotte Mason in such a friendly way. She took the time to explain several methods, such as narration, nature study, the habit of attention, and living books. She also reminds us of the end goal of a Charlotte Mason education, one of which is raising children to live well and enjoy and care for the world we live in. At the end of each chapter, there are suggestions on how one can start incorporating these methods into their daily life.

Boden weaves in her own journey into homeschooling along with her experiences along the way, so it feels like sitting down with a cup of tea with an older woman who has wisdom to share.

Today Leah can be found on Instagram (@modernmissmason), but she also has a podcast and hosts The Modern Miss Mason Conference.

Modern Miss Mason is a lovely and enjoyable book that I would recommend to someone interested in Charlotte Mason homeschooling or who is in need of encouragement to press on in their journey. True to her tagline: “Discover how Charlotte Mason’s revolutionary idea on home education can change how you and your children learn and grow together.”

Favourite Quotes:

• “Reading isn’t just for developing academic competence but truly plays a part in developing our children’s moral guidance, emotional development, and sense of self.”
• “Nature study is not an extracurricular exercise but is fundamental to shaping the scientific skills children need to enhance study, observation, attention and recall.”
• “To truly turn our children’s hearts and thinking towards the beauty of the world around them, they must be in it on a regular basis.”
• “Charlotte Mason taught that ‘thought breeds thought.’ If we want our children to think for themselves and to be creative and inventive, we must introduce them to people of great thought and creativity.”
• “We must remember that connection and character trump curriculum every time…”