Why We Switched to Ambleside Online Homeschool Curriculum…And How It’s Going
Homeschooling is a journey that rarely follows a straight path. Like many families, we began with one curriculum, shifted to another…and another…and another…and found ourselves making adjustments all along the way. Every stage taught us something valuable, but nothing has felt quite like home the way Ambleside Online has.
If you’re wondering whether Ambleside Online (often called AO) might be right for your family—or you’re just curious about what life looks like inside a Charlotte Mason–inspired homeschool—let me share our story: why we switched, what it was like in those early weeks, and how it’s going now.
Why We Switched
When we first started homeschooling, I wanted structure. Like so many new homeschool parents, I was nervous about “doing it wrong.” I chose a boxed curriculum that promised clear daily plans, pre-packaged materials, and the reassurance that we’d be “on track.”
For a while, it worked. We checked the boxes. We finished the lessons. But slowly I began to notice things:
My kids were uninspired by what we were reading. The books felt dry.
Our days felt rushed and heavy instead of joyful.
I was spending more time managing the schedule than enjoying the learning with them.
The beauty of homeschooling—the chance to explore, to linger, to truly know—was getting lost.
I wanted something different: a way of homeschooling that fed their minds and hearts, not just filled in worksheets. That’s when I found Ambleside Online.
What Drew Me to Ambleside Online
When I first landed on the AO website, I’ll be honest—it felt overwhelming. Pages and pages of booklists, schedules, forums, and resources. But as I dug deeper, I realized the core was beautifully simple:
Living books instead of textbooks.
Short lessons that respect a child’s attention span.
Nature walks, art, music, scripture, poetry, narration—woven into daily life.
A philosophy that values ideas, wonder, and character as much as academics.
And the best part? The schedules and curriculum are completely free. The generosity of the AO Advisory (the women who created it) meant that this treasure trove was available to any family willing to give it a try.
Our First Weeks with AO
We didn’t switch everything overnight. Instead, over the past year and a half, I slowly replaced parts of our old curriculum with Ambleside’s recommended books. This is the first year we have truly jumped fully into AO with both feet. Honestly, this transition has been slow for us, but the difference was immediate.
One day we read Holling C. Holling’s Tree in the Trail aloud together. All three of my students were paid rapt attention, eager to soak in every word. My youngest child’s narration was so full of detail and emotion that I realized—he had been hungry for this kind of learning all along. Another day we sat under a tree sketching leaves in a nature journal. The pace was slower, but the learning felt deeper.
That first term, we didn’t “get it all done.” And that was okay. AO isn’t about racing through a checklist. It’s about spreading a feast of ideas across the table of learning and letting your children truly digest them.
How It’s Going Now
Switching to Ambleside Online hasn’t just changed my kids—it’s changed me. Here’s what our homeschool looks like now:
Books we love. My kids ask for more chapters. Narration has become second nature. Even my youngest chimes in and surprises me with what he remembers. While each student has their own reading assignments, they enjoy when we read one book from each student’s list aloud together, all learning and engaging with the material and each other.
A calmer rhythm. Short lessons mean we finish the bulk of school in the morning. Afternoons are free for nature walks, art, music, interest-led learning, or play.
A love for beauty. Studying a composer or artist each term has opened up conversations I never expected. Suddenly, classical music plays in the background of our day.
Less stress. Instead of feeling like I’m behind, I feel like we’re walking a steady, meaningful path. The fact that my most reluctant reader begs to “read ahead” to the next chapter on several of his books brings so much joy and encouragement to my heart.
Is it perfect? Of course not. There are still hard days. There are still times when we fall behind on readings or when narration feels like pulling teeth. But overall, there’s a sense of peace and purpose that wasn’t there before.
What I’d Say to Parents Considering AO
If you’re thinking about switching to Ambleside Online, here’s my advice:
Start small. Don’t try to implement everything at once. Pick a few books and begin with those.
Prioritize narration. It feels awkward at first, but it’s the heartbeat of a Charlotte Mason education and a far more engaging way to check your child’s learning.
Enjoy the outdoors. Nature study doesn’t have to be complicated. Just go outside, notice, and wonder together.
Give yourself grace. AO is a feast—you don’t have to finish every dish. Take what nourishes your family and grow from there.
Looking back, I’m so grateful we switched. Ambleside Online has reminded me why we chose homeschooling in the first place—not to recreate school at home, but to build a life of learning together.
It’s given us space to slow down, to notice beauty, and to cultivate not just academics, but habits, character, and joy. It’s bringing a love of learning to life in all of my children, and in me. It’s giving us a priceless gift we didn’t have before we began to embrace the AO homeschool lifestyle: time.
If you’ve been craving a homeschool approach that feels alive, rich, and purposeful, Ambleside Online may be exactly what you’re looking for.
And if you’re already walking this path, I’d love to know: what has AO meant for your family?
