It’s here! The complete book list for Journeying Through the Classics – our free 700+ page Charlotte Mason high school literature curriculum.
700+ pages(?!?!) you might be asking?
Is that a typo? Nope.
Are you actually nuts, you might venture? No, I don’t think so…
And, this is a free, no-credit-card needed, 100% free? Yes, absolutely!
Why in the world is this free? I’m passionate about helping your homeschool be joy-filled and this is a giant project I’ve been doing to help make that possible, using my educational and professional background to serve the homeschool community the best way I know how.
If you downloaded the Scope & Sequence last week, you’ve already seen the learning outcomes for each unit. Now you get to see exactly which books your student will read over four years.
Spoiler alert: Every single one of these books is available FREE at your local library. (Or should be if your library is worth its salt. Interlibrary Loan is also your friend!)
When I set out to create this curriculum, I had three non-negotiables:
They had to be living books.
Charlotte Mason believed in feeding students’ minds with ideas, not dry facts. These aren’t textbooks. They’re stories that have captivated readers for generations – some for thousands of years.
They had to build actual skills.
Each book is paired with specific writing instruction. Your student will learn research papers, literary analysis, creative writing, comparative essays, and persuasive writing – all using MLA format. By the time they finish, they’ll have been given the full toolbox to write at a college level.
They had to be freely available.
I’m a homeschool mom. I know what curriculum costs! Every book on this list can be borrowed from your library, downloaded free on Project Gutenberg, or purchased used for a few dollars.
No $1,500 literature program required.
Comparable 4-year high school literature programs can be over $1,000:
Sonlight Literature 100-400, ($425 per year): $1,600
Memoria Press Literature & Humanities ($165 per year): $1,000
It was also important to me to choose books that students would love reading and not be forced into trudging through. These books and essays all have a spark of joy about them that make them worthwhile reading.
I wanted each selection to be compatible with my mission of creating an environment of joy and optimism in the home.
Thus, Lord of the Flies is out! No Scarlet Letter, either. Sorry, Hawthorne and Golding! (Actually, not sorry! I read them. Didn’t want to. Never want to again. Wouldn’t wish them on anybody.)
Plus, when you buy a boxed set type of curriculum, you have to purchase all the books in that whole set – you generally cannot pick and choose. Inevitably, you end up with books you don’t want and aren’t going to read.
With Journeying Through the Classics, you are presented with a feast of options and you can decide what you want your children to enjoy reading and what you don’t want to cover.
Ancient Adventures. Your journey begins with Homer. Two epic poems that have shaped Western literature for thousands of years. Think gods, heroes, war, and homecoming.
Shakespeare’s Greatest Hits. Three of the Bard’s most powerful plays – tragedy, comedy, and his masterpiece that asks “To be or not to be?”
The Heroines Who Changed Literature. Elizabeth Bennet. Jane Eyre. Anne Shirley. Jo March. Scout Finch. Your daughter will meet the literary women who shaped how we think about courage, independence, and standing up for what’s right.
Adventure & Mystery Pirates. Detectives. Deserted islands. Revenge plots spanning decades. Your student won’t be able to put these down.
The Fantasy Epics Tolkien. C.S. Lewis. Madeleine L’Engle. T.H. White. The books that created entire genres and still inspire movies today.
The Books That Make You Think. Thoreau on reading. C.S. Lewis on education. Mark Helprin on art. E.B. White on time and place. Essays that will shape how your student sees the world.
And that’s just scratching the surface.
What’s Included in Each Unit?
Every single unit (all 34 of them) includes:
Author Biography – Who wrote this and why does it matter?
Historical & Cultural Context – When and where does this fit in history?
Weekly Reading Schedule – Manageable readings with no overwhelm
Vocabulary Lists – 45 words per unit with phonetic pronunciations
Spelling Practice – Extended lines for writing practice
10 Sentence Examples – See vocabulary in context
Reading Comprehension Questions – Check understanding as you read
Discussion Questions – Go deeper, think critically
Art Integration – Links to suggested supplemental watercolor & chalk pastel lessons
Grammar & Editing Focus – Different skills in each unit
Essay Assignment – Detailed instructions with MLA formatting
Parents Answer Key – Complete answers for comprehension AND discussion questions
The full 700+ page curriculum with all 34 complete units was released in Feb. 2026!
Not a subscriber yet? Subscribe here to get instant access to your Resource Library with the Scope & Sequence, the gorgeous book list PDF, and the full curriculum when it releases on February 20.
All 100% free. Forever.
Your high schooler is about to fall in love with reading again.
See you February 20 for the full curriculum release!
There is a pervasive myth that for a high school curriculum to be “rigorous,” it has to come in a box that costs as much as a vintage upright piano.
I’ve spent years in the professional world of editing and writing, and if there’s one thing I know, it’s that the stars don’t charge for their light, and neither should the classics.
When you look at big-name classical programs, you’re often paying for the brand name, the heavy binders, and a lot of administrative overhead. It is exciting to open the box when it comes in the mail and get that shiny New Curriculum Feeling but not all of the books are approachable, and sometimes kids end up stalling out on one. Then you feel guilty having spent so much money…
While those programs are lovely, they can be financially draining for a family trying to live a creative, joyful life.
Enter my new curriculum that will come out February 20th!
What do you think of my cover design? Please let me know in the comments! I was going for watercolor aesthetics, reminiscent of those gorgeous seasonal checklist kinds of art we have all probably seen floating around Pinterest. The notebook cover will have an option labeled with character names and one without.
My Journeying Through the Classics curriculum covers the same heavy hitters – Homer, Shakespeare, Austen, Lewis, and many more greats – but with a focus on the Soul of the student, not the depth of the parent’s wallet.
As a person who has worked in the literary world, I know what skills are important and which are filler. I also know what books alight the imagination and which ones we read because we are forced to!
Why I Created This Curriculum As homeschool parents, we want our children to fall in love with great literature—not just analyze it to bits and take the beauty out of it.
We want them to know Elizabeth Bennet’s wit, Anne Shirley’s imagination, and Jane Eyre’s strength. We want them to understand how these stories connect across centuries and cultures.
But we also know that high school needs to be rigorous. Students need to learn to write compelling literary analysis, know grammar rules, be able to spell well, craft persuasive arguments, and conduct serious research. They need vocabulary that stretches them and art that helps them remember what they’ve read.
So, I created a curriculum that does both: nurtures a love of reading while building serious academic skills.
Unlike many paid programs that focus strictly on “read and repeat,” this curriculum integrates art lessons, deep-dive literary criticism, and twelve different types of essays. I wanted my kids to be college-ready, so I made this with them in mind and am sharing it with you for free!
It’s as thorough as any “Name Brand” program, but it leaves you with enough in the budget for a few extra almond milk lattes and that plushy chair you’ve been eyeing for your book nook.
I’ve built in vocabulary development, MLA citation instruction, and character analysis that rivals the most expensive sets on the market. Because education should be a light that guides your child, not a burden that weighs down your family budget.
Honestly, I want to grow my blog (yes!) and I want to help you homeschool with joy (yes!) so this option checks all my boxes.
I don’t feel that I’m devaluing my work by giving this away for free, even though I have worked countless hours on it. I want to add joy to the world and help homeschoolers, so this fulfills my mission.
🫖 Want more tea time inspiration? Subscribe to get free seasonal printables, poetry resources, 700+ pages of high school literature curriculum, Squishmallow Valentine’s cards, music playlists, and American Girl activity ideas! Get free tea time resources →
There’s something about February mornings that makes me want to slow down. Maybe it is the way that January forces us to begin school again after the Christmas holidays and February is the peak of the hill we have been climbing, or maybe it is the fact that it is finally cold here in Texas!
I’m a huge believer in Charlotte Mason’s approach to education and seeing the child as a whole person worthy of joy and respect. One of the loveliest Charlotte Mason practices is poetry tea time. Poetry makes your homeschool feel fancy, when really it is simply a way to communicate a feeling without the natural restraints of a page or even of complete sentences.
Julie Bogart of Brave Writer popularized the idea of Poetry Tea Time and made it a huge part of the common homeschool vernacular. I love her ideas! You can get her free ebook guide and make anything you want into a tea time for your family. Some people do it once a week, once a month, or whenever the mood strikes!
We have also used Pam Barnhill’s plans for Morning Time! I think we did every single Morning Time plan she has, starting when the kids were little. The only ones we didn’t do were the ones for preschoolers and any new ones she may have come up with now that my kids are older. Morning Time lends itself to Poetry Tea Time and there is lots of crossover.
To me, Poetry Tea Time just means intentional time to read a poem, drink some tea, maybe do a snack or craft – or both! – together in an intentional slowing down.
There is no time limit. There are no rules. It is just a time to focus on one another and break up the normal curriculum you are already covering.
This year, I had the idea of combining two of my favorite things – poetry tea time and American Girl history – into one magical morning time celebration.
And the timing couldn’t be more perfect. American Girl just released their 2026 Girl of the Year, Raquel Reyes – and here’s the beautiful connection: Raquel is Samantha Parkington’s great-granddaughter! She comes with a heart-shaped locket just like Samantha’s. It is not supposed to replace Samantha’s but of course it is easy to pretend it is her grandmother’s, passed down to her.
If your family has been following American Girl dolls, you know that Samantha was one of the original three historical dolls when the line launched in 1986. Seeing her legacy continue through Raquel makes this the ideal moment to revisit Samantha’s world and celebrate her story.
Charlotte Mason wrote: “Let children have tales of the imagination, scenes laid in other lands and other times; heroic adventures, hairbreadth escapes, delicious fairy tales, even where it is all impossible, and they know it, and yet they believe.”
That’s exactly what happens when we step into Samantha’s world. We’re transported to 1904, to a time when electricity was a new invention, of proper manners, of high lace collars and lots of velvet and silk. And Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse to make this journey.
Why Samantha Parkington for Valentine’s Day?
Samantha Parkington was one of the original three American Girl dolls when Pleasant Company launched the line in 1986 (along with Kirsten and Molly). For many of us who grew up with American Girl, Samantha holds a special place in our hearts. Her stories of 1904 opened our eyes to history, fashion, and social justice in ways textbooks never could.
While I didn’t have the Samantha doll, I had the “me” American Girl Doll of Today (where you got to choose the hair, eye color, etc.) and since my doll has long dark hair and bangs, my daughter seamlessly transforms my doll into Samantha, using some of her outfits. This was the earlier version of the Truly Me doll or the more expensive and more detailed, Create Your Own doll now.
Samantha’s era – the turn of the century, the Edwardian period – was all about elegance, beauty, and refined social graces. Valentine’s Day celebrations then were elaborate affairs with handmade cards, proper tea services, and careful attention to etiquette.
Setting the Scene
The magic is in the atmosphere. You don’t need to go overboard, but a few Edwardian-inspired touches will transport your children to Samantha’s world.
Pull out your nicest tablecloth (even if it’s just a pretty sheet). Set the table with your good dishes – mismatched vintage teacups from the thrift store work beautifully. Add some lace doilies if you have them. Put fresh flowers in a vase (carnations were popular in the Edwardian era and they’re perfect for Valentine’s Day).
If your girls want to dress up, wonderful! Hair ribbons, lace collars, their fanciest dresses – let them get into character. This is exactly the kind of imaginative play that Charlotte Mason championed.
And speaking of Charlotte Mason, she also wrote: “Poetry is, perhaps, the most searching and intimate of our truth-bearers.” So as we set this beautiful scene, we’re not just playing – we’re creating space for truth and beauty to reach our children’s hearts.
“Poetry is, perhaps, the most searching and intimate of our truth-bearers.” – Charlotte Mason
The Books
Start by reading (or rereading) the Samantha books. If you’re lucky, your library will carry them, or you can grab them on Amazon.
Reading these ahead of time (or during the week leading up to your tea time) will give your children context for the era and make the whole experience richer. They’ll understand why we’re doing things a certain way, and it gives you conversation starters about the time period.
I prefer the original unabridged versions, but unfortunately many libraries today choose to house the abridged versions.
Meet Samantha, the original version and the dumbed down… errr, I mean… abridged version.
The Food
Edwardian tea parties were serious business, but we’re homeschoolers – we can keep it simple while still capturing the spirit.
This is whimsical, easy, and the kids will love making it.
Use heart-shaped cookie cutters on white bread, butter it, and sprinkle with colorful sprinkles. It’s not period-accurate, but it’s festive and fun.
We choose to use sprinkles made with natural dyes due to various reasons, like that it is better for the neurological health of kids. Amazon carries lots of options! So does HEB, Wal-mart, and Natural Candy Store.
Using a mini cake, muffin, or mini donut pan, these tea cakes can be customized to be as simple or as complicated as you want them to be!
This recipe also allows for making doll-sized cakes for your dolls to join in the Poetry Tea Time, too.
And, don’t forget the tea, of course!
For older kids, you may want to let them try caffeinated Celestial Seasonings Victorian Earl Grey for a more authentic experience! Or for smaller kids, Celestial Seasonings Wild Berry Zinger is yummy and lightly pink.
The Poetry
This is the heart of poetry tea time, and for Valentine’s Day, we want poems about love, friendship, and beauty.
School with Mom has an excellent collection of Valentine’s Day poems perfect for tea time!
“Us Two” by A.A. Milne – About friendship between Christopher Robin and Pooh. Simple, sweet, perfect for younger children.
“A Birthday” by Christina Rossetti – Celebrates joy and love through vivid imagery. Rossetti was writing during Samantha’s era, so this is period-appropriate!
Don’t feel like you need to analyze these poems to bits for them to be effective. Charlotte Mason was very clear that poetry should be enjoyed, not studied for parts.
Read them aloud with expression. Let them sink in. That’s where the beauty lies and where they weave into memories in our minds.
Charlotte Mason wrote: “We see, too, that the magic of poetry makes knowledge vital, and children and grown-ups quote a verse which shall add blackness to the ashbud, tender wonder to that ‘flower in the crannied wall,’ a thrill to the song of the lark.”
That’s what we’re after – not perfect recitation, memorization by force, or deep analysis absent of the curiosity that should drive it, but that moment when a line of poetry lodges itself in your child’s heart and becomes part of how they see the world.
The Activities
After tea and poetry, extend the celebration with some hands-on activities that connect to Samantha’s world.
This isn’t just play – it’s practicing fine motor skills, learning about historical fashion, and engaging imagination. Plus, it’s quietly absorbing information about what life was like in 1904.
Having her present during read-alouds, tea times, and history lessons makes the era come alive. And with the new Raquel doll connecting to Samantha’s legacy, it’s the perfect time to invest in your Samantha doll and explore her world together, find a used one online, or share it with your daughter, if you’re lucky enough to have an original one!
There is also Samantha: An American Girl Holiday the movie on Amazon Prime Video! While it is Christmas themed and not Valentine’s Day, but it lets kids explore the clothing and style of the era in a tactile, visual way.
Why This Matters
I know some people might think this is elaborate or unnecessary. Can’t we just memorize poem, check it off, and move on? Sure, we could.
But here’s the thing – we’re not just teaching facts and dates. We’re cultivating souls.
We’re creating an atmosphere where beauty matters, where history comes alive, where poetry isn’t something you endure but something that delights.
A.A. Milne (yes, the Winnie the Pooh author whose poetry we might read at this tea time) wrote: “Poetry and Hums aren’t things which you get, they’re things which get you. And all you can do is go where they can find you.”
That’s what we’re doing with this Valentine’s Day poetry tea time. We’re putting our children in a place where poetry can find them. Where beauty can surprise them. Where they can step into another time and place and come back changed.
When we set a beautiful table, serve special treats, read lovely words, and create handmade valentines together, we’re not being frivolous. We’re building memories.
We’re showing our children that these things – beauty, poetry, celebration, friendship – matter.
We are also showing them that they matter to us enough for us to go to an effort to give them a special day.
Years from now, your children might not remember every math lesson or grammar rule. But they’ll remember that February morning when you all dressed up, drank tea from fancy cups, listened to poetry, and made valentines together.
They’ll remember that learning can be beautiful. That history isn’t just dates in a textbook but real people with real lives who loved and laughed and wore pretty dresses and fought for what they believed in.
They’ll remember that their mother thought poetry mattered enough to slow down and create space for it.
Making It Your Own
Here’s the beautiful thing about this plan – you can adapt it to your family.
Maybe your kids are too young for all the historical depth, so you focus on the tea party and simple poems. Maybe they’re older and want to dig deep into the Progressive Era and women’s suffrage. Maybe you have boys who think princess dolls are boring, so you pivot to talking about what boys were doing in 1904 or what new inventions were changing the world! Ice cream cones were invented in 1904! What is more exciting than that?!
The framework is here: beautiful setting, good food, lovely poetry, hands-on activities, historical connection. But the details? Those are yours to shape.
Maybe you don’t do the full tea party but just read one poem over breakfast. Maybe you skip the recipes and buy bakery treats. Maybe you focus entirely on making valentines and save the deeper historical study for another day.
All of that is perfect. The goal isn’t Instagram-worthy perfection. The goal is creating space for beauty, wonder, and connection in your homeschool day.
In our rushed, overscheduled world, poetry tea time is an act of rebellion.
We’re saying no to hurry and yes to lingering. We’re choosing beauty over efficiency. We’re making room for things that can’t be measured or tested but that feed our souls anyway.
And on Valentine’s Day – a holiday that’s become so commercialized where we slap a card on it and call it a day – we’re reclaiming it for something deeper. Not just candy and cards (though those are fine, too), but genuine connection. Time together. Shared experiences. Love expressed through attention and presence.
That’s what Samantha would have understood. In her world, relationships mattered. Courtesy mattered. Taking time to do things properly mattered. And while we don’t want to romanticize everything about the early 1900s (there was plenty wrong going on in that era, too), we can still learn from the intentionality, the emphasis on beauty, and the value placed on human connection.
So this February, slow down. Set a beautiful table. Pour the tea. Read the poetry. Make the valentines. Step into Samantha’s world for an afternoon and see what happens.
