A Hidden Gem of Alveary Membership: The Parents' Review
By Melissa Ferguson, CMI Director of Operations
One of the lesser-known perks of Alveary membership is access to a curated collection of Parents' Review articles, assembled into 26 themed digital magazines by our team. Find them under Resources on your member dashboard by clicking Parent Review. The magazines are downloadable, Kindle-friendly, and print-ready, covering themes from parenting and holidays to music and art.
The Parents' Review was the official journal of the Parents' National Educational Union (PNEU), founded by Charlotte Mason and published from 1890 to 1953. Long before blogs and podcasts, it kept parents and educators connected across Britain and beyond. Contributors included guest educators, artists, and scientists, among them G.K. Chesterton, a personal friend of Mason's, and his wife Frances Blogg, who was the PNEU's organising secretary when Chesterton courted her. The couple remained close friends and even vacationed together with Mason!
The journals are a fascinating window into Mason's philosophy being lived out over decades, but they do require some discernment. Not every article applies today, and occasionally Mason herself would publish a follow-up piece providing a counterpoint to a contributor's earlier article. Sifting through thousands of pages for the real gems takes time and experience, but our team has done the heavy lifting for you. This curation reflects years of serious research into Mason's life and work, grounded in her own volumes, our partnership with the Armitt Museum in Ambleside, and our Scholar in Residence program with the University of Cumbria, home of Mason's House of Education, so that her ideas can speak freshly and faithfully to educators today. Enjoy!
Notes:
- Member Survey: Tell us what you love about Alveary and what we can improve! Your feedback shapes what we create next. As a thank you, you’ll be entered to win an Amazon gift card. Congrats to our first winners, Heather and Angie! We have two more weeks of giveaways. Complete the survey now for your best chance to win.
- Awards: We're excited! Alveary’s Before Age Six has been nominated for the Practical Homeschooling Reader Awards! If you'd like to cast your votes for the best homeschooling products - hopefully including ours - go here.
- Easter Book List: Over the years, our Alveary community has shared so many of their favorite Easter stories, and we’ve gathered them into a printable Easter book list with links to make it easy for your family to enjoy together.
- Supply Lists: Supply lists release Wednesday, April 1st. Watch the supply list video or read the transcript on your dashboard for very helpful hints to save money and reduce overbuying. The Hive is a great place to discuss supplies with experienced Alveary members and staff.
- Planning Tool: Create a customized weekly schedule for your students and courses. Watch the tutorial here to get started.
- Summer CMI Courses: Looking for opportunities to deepen your understanding of Charlotte Mason's ideas? Mark your calendars for March 25th, when registration will open for all Summer courses! Have questions? We'd love to talk with you at an upcoming open house!
- 2026 CMI Conference: The complete list of speakers, session titles, and track options for Faithfully Present 2026 is now live on our website! Whether you’re a home or classroom educator there’s a track just for you. View them all here.
- Friends & Fellow Labourers: Pull up a chair and join our virtual series where parents and educators come together to explore Charlotte Mason’s ideas and find fresh encouragement. Learn more here.
- In the Company of Ideas: During the month of April, we will be discussing The Bullies and Saints: An Honest Look at the Good and Evil of Christian History over in the Hive. Grab a copy of the book and come join us!
