Ambleside School of the Rio Grande

Curious about Charlotte Mason and the Ambleside Method?

An Ambleside Three-Day Internship is the best place to start. Over three days, you'll explore the core principles of a living education, observe Ambleside classrooms in action, and engage in discussions with experienced educators about what makes this approach so distinctive.

For more than 25 years, teachers, school leaders, parents, and homeschool educators have attended internships to gain a practical understanding of Charlotte Mason's philosophy and how it shapes teaching and learning. Participants leave with fresh ideas, practical tools, and a clearer vision for cultivating wisdom, wonder, and character in the lives of children.

Find an internship near you: https://amblesideschools.org/three-day-internship/.

What Is the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit?

A new opportunity is emerging that could help make an Ambleside education accessible to more families.

Beginning in 2027, individuals in participating states may receive a federal tax credit of up to $1,700 for contributions made to approved Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs). Those organizations use the funds to provide scholarships that help families cover educational expenses, including private school tuition.

One of the most promising aspects of the program is that donors will be able to direct their contributions toward scholarships at a particular school. While gifts cannot be designated for a specific student, they may be designated for a participating school, creating new opportunities for families seeking an Ambleside education.

For Ambleside schools, this could mean expanded scholarship support, increased accessibility, and new ways for communities to invest in the next generation of students. As details continue to develop, many school leaders are watching with interest to see how this program may help connect donors, schools, and families in meaningful ways.

Learn more about the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit and what it may mean for your school community.

What does it look like to pursue an education that shapes not only what students know, but who they become?

In the latest episode of Anchored, the podcast from Classic Learning Test, Russ York, Head of School at Ambleside School of Fredericksburg, shares his journey from public education to Charlotte Mason’s philosophy and the Ambleside Method. The conversation explores the formative nature of education, the role of humility in learning, and Charlotte Mason’s enduring principles of atmosphere, discipline, and life.

Whether you're new to Ambleside or have been part of the community for years, this episode offers a thoughtful look at the ideas that shape our schools and the culture we seek to cultivate.

Ambleside Alumni Snapshot - Meet Jadon Thomson!

Jadon graduated from Ambleside School of Hout Bay in 2013. In this Ambleside article, he reflects on how an Ambleside education shaped his childhood and continues to influence the way he lives, works, and sees the world today.

Read the article: https://amblesideschools.org/alumni-snapshot-jadon-thomson/.

Thank you for an incredible Summer Institute!

What a gift it was to spend the week together learning, discussing, and growing in our understanding of Charlotte Mason’s philosophy and the Ambleside Method. Beyond the sessions and classroom experiences, new friendships were formed, ideas were shared, and a community of educators was strengthened.

We are especially grateful to our hosts at Ambleside School of Fredericksburg for their warm hospitality and generous partnership in making this year's Summer Institute possible.

Thank you to every teacher, leader, and staff member who invested time, energy, and heart into the week. It is always encouraging to gather with educators who are committed to seeing children as persons and pursuing a rich, life-giving education.

As a new school year begins, know that we are praying for you, your students, and your schools. May what was learned and experienced together continue to bear fruit in classrooms and communities around the world.

Each year, the Summer Institute brings together teachers, leaders, and school staff from across the Ambleside community to learn, reflect, and encourage one another in this common work. While the classes and discussions are rich, some of the most lasting gifts of the week are found in the relationships that grow around the table, in the hallways, and during conversations that continue long after the sessions end.

Charlotte Mason reminded us that education is rooted in relationships. Throughout the week, those relationships extend beyond ideas and books to include the people who labor alongside us in this work. New friendships are formed, old friendships are deepened, and a community of mutual encouragement takes shape among those who share a commitment to serving children as persons.

As you look through these photos, you'll see more than a training event. You'll see a community growing. We are grateful for the opportunity to gather together and ask for your continued prayers as participants are refreshed, encouraged, and equipped for the work that awaits them when they return home.

The Summer Institute has begun!

We gathered last night for our opening dinner and introduced this year’s Master Teachers, who will guide and inspire us throughout the week.

Today, educators step into the role of students, experiencing lessons across a variety of subjects. Together, they are practicing the very methods they seek to cultivate in their own classrooms: attention, narration, joyful participation, and relationship.

Please continue to pray for our time, that it would be marked by insight, fellowship, and the renewing of hearts and minds for the sacred work ahead.

Stay tuned this week for more updates!

This week, Bill and Maryellen hosted over 20 participants in the Master Teacher Training Program (MTTP) in Colorado for a week of fellowship, study, and professional growth. We are especially grateful to Ambleside School of Colorado for generously opening its campus to host this year's gathering.

The Master Teacher Training Program is one of the most important opportunities for the continued development of educators across our member schools. This three-year program equips teachers with a deep understanding and practical mastery of Charlotte Mason's philosophy, preparing graduates to serve in greater leadership roles throughout the Ambleside network. Many go on to become lead teachers, directors of instruction, principals, or even founders of new Ambleside schools.

This year, we celebrated four graduates of the program. Their completion of the Master Teacher Training Program strengthens our growing community of educators who are committed to faithfully carrying forward the vision of a living education for the next generation.

Next week, more than 60 teachers from across the Ambleside Schools International network will gather for our annual Summer Institute. Every Ambleside school sends its new teachers, making this one of the most important weeks of the year as educators begin their journey in the Ambleside Method.

We will kick off on Sunday, July 19, with an opening dinner and a time of fellowship before classes begin Monday morning. Throughout the week, teachers will participate in lectures, classroom training, discussions, demonstrations, and practical learning designed to help them understand and faithfully implement a Charlotte Mason education. New friendships will be formed, ideas will be shared, and teachers from across the country and around the world will be encouraged and equipped for the year ahead.

Please join us in praying for safe travel, attentive minds, meaningful relationships, and a rich week of learning and growth. Pray that every teacher leaves encouraged, confident, and better prepared to serve the children entrusted to their care.

We look forward to sharing highlights, photos, and stories from Summer Institute throughout next week. Stay tuned!