What Is AmblesideOnline?

Updated

AmblesideOnline (amblesideonline.org) is a free homeschool curriculum built on Charlotte Mason's classically-based principles. It provides detailed schedules, time-tested methods, and extensive teacher resources so parents can focus on each child's individual needs. It is best suited to homeschooling families who want a structured, literature-rich plan grounded in Mason's philosophy, and who are willing to work from published schedules rather than a boxed, all-in-one program.

What the curriculum includes

The site centers on a main curriculum that is organized by year and subject, with quick links to each. Rather than a single packaged product, AO presents schedules and book lists that parents implement themselves.

Key components described on the site:

  • Overview of the Main Curriculum – the core plan, with quick links to each year and subject.
  • AO for Groups – a version of the curriculum designed for co-ops and cottage schools.
  • AO-HELP (Emergency Lesson Plan) – a minimalist approach for families homeschooling during emergencies or crises. It was originally inspired as a response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and has since been used during the pandemic, natural disasters, and other difficult periods.

Charlotte Mason resources

AmblesideOnline hosts a large collection of original Charlotte Mason materials that have been digitized by volunteers. These include:

  • The Charlotte Mason Series – the original book series plus modern English paraphrases, freely available online.
  • Parents' Review Articles – vintage articles from the Parents' Review magazine.
  • PNEU Programs & Exams – vintage schedules from the Parents' National Education Union.

These resources are useful if you want to read Mason's ideas directly rather than only follow a schedule.

Community and support

AO offers several ways to get help and connect with other families:

  • A support forum (free to join) for help and discussion.
  • An archive of wisdom from experienced Charlotte Mason educators.
  • Original and current books and articles about Mason's living ideas.
  • Reviews from users, plus an FAQ covering most common questions.

Getting started

If you are new to AO, the site points you to a "Start Here" path:

  1. Read Getting Started With AmblesideOnline.
  2. Read An Introduction to Charlotte Mason to understand the philosophy behind the schedules.
  3. Check the FAQ for common questions.
  4. Join the forum for free help and support.
  5. Then move into the Main Curriculum overview and the year you need.

If your family is in the middle of a crisis, look at AO-HELP or the Getting Started page instead of trying to run the full schedule.

Cost and practical notes

The site describes AmblesideOnline as a free homeschool curriculum, and the Charlotte Mason series and other vintage materials are freely available online. The site also mentions a book about AO's history, Six Voices, One Story: The Heart of AmblesideOnline, sold separately through amazon.com in paperback, hardcover, and Kindle formats. The homepage references a "subscribe" option, but no pricing details are given in the available information, so check the site directly for what any subscription covers.

One practical point: AO is a curriculum framework and schedule, not a complete boxed kit. You will still need to source the books and materials listed for each year, which is a normal part of using a Charlotte Mason approach.