What is Fun-Schooling and Why We Switched? Blending Charlotte Mason with Child-Led Learning for My Three Boys

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When I first started homeschooling, I fell in love with the Charlotte Mason philosophy. Her emphasis on beautiful literature, nature walks, habit training, and nurturing a love for learning felt like a dream. I imagined cozy mornings reading poetry, sketching in nature journals, and savoring living books under a tree with my three boys.

And while I was enchanted…

My boys weren’t.

They didn’t want to spend hours reading books they had no interest in. They weren’t drawn to copywork or narrations about people and topics they didn’t care about. I started to feel like I was forcing them into a method that, while lovely in theory, wasn’t sparking joy or curiosity in them.

That’s when I discovered The Thinking Tree Fun-Schooling Journals.

✨ A Fresh Approach to Delight-Directed Learning

What drew me to the Thinking Tree was how it marries the beauty and freedom of Charlotte Mason with the flexibility of child-led learning. The journals offer gentle structure, creativity, and a way to guide kids through learning about what they love—without sacrificing important academic skills.

Each journal encourages children to explore their interests through:

Reading (living books!) Copywork and creative writing Drawing and doodling Independent research Critical thinking All of this is done through the lens of their favorite subjects—whether it’s rocks and minerals, nature, Minecraft, poetry, or foreign languages.

📚 Why It Works for My Boys

As a homeschool mom of three energetic boys, here’s what I noticed when we made the switch:

1. They’re actually excited to open their journals.

Instead of me chasing them down to finish a worksheet or sit through a dry lesson, they now bring me their journals and want to show me what they’ve discovered. Curiosity leads the way.

2. They’re learning how to learn.

This has become one of my biggest goals as a homeschool mom: not to just teach my boys facts, but to teach them how to learn. The journals guide them through researching topics, finding books, documenting discoveries, and thinking critically—all skills they’ll carry with them for life.

3. It honors their interests and personalities.

Each of my boys is so different. What excites one, completely bores the other. The Thinking Tree lets them dive deep into what they care about, and that respect for individuality has changed the atmosphere of our homeschool.

🌸 It Still Feels Beautiful & Intentional

Even though we moved away from a “pure” Charlotte Mason approach, I don’t feel like I’ve abandoned it. We still:

• Read great books

• Spend time in nature

• Embrace slow, meaningful routines

• Prioritize habit training and character formation

The difference now is that there’s more joy, creativity, and ownership—for them and for me.

📌 Final Thoughts: Following Peace, Not Perfection

Switching to the Fun-Schooling Journals was less about finding the perfect method and more about following peace.

I still love Charlotte Mason. I still swoon over beautiful booklists and watercolor nature studies. But I’ve learned that homeschooling isn’t about fitting a mold—it’s about nurturing the hearts, minds, and souls of my boys. Remembering they are born persons, as Charlotte Mason says.

If you’re feeling stuck, burned out, or unsure if your current approach is working, I encourage you to look into The Thinking Tree. It might just be the bridge you need between structure and freedom, between philosophy and real life.

📥 Our Favorite Thinking Tree Journals

(Click the links below to explore or purchase!)

🪨 Rocks & Minerals Science Activity Handbook