Discover Classical Education: Wildlings Cottage School Overview
- Wildlings Cottage School
- May 9
- 3 min read
Updated: May 12
What Makes Us Different:
In a world that often rushes children along with screens and standardized checklists, the gentle strength of classical education offers something beautifully different.
At Wildlings Cottage School, we pursue a living classical education—one that forms the whole child, not just the intellect. Drawing from the enduring wisdom of Charlotte Mason's educational philosophy, our model rejects the industrialized, test-driven methods of modern schooling and instead returns to the true roots of classical learning: wonder, contemplation, and meaningful ideas.
We teach students how to think, not what to think. Like the original Socratic tradition—not the modern imitation—we invite students into the Great Conversation. Through narration, dialogue, and reflection, students learn to attend carefully, reason rightly, and express truth with clarity and grace.
A classical education isn’t a race to cram in facts—it’s a quiet, steady training of the mind to read with depth, think with clarity, and connect ideas and truth across time. This is the very heart of our approach.
The Wildlings Cottage School Experience
Our Curriculum: Deep, Beautiful, Rigorous
We don’t do busywork—we set a banquet.Our curriculum is filled with living books and meaningful lessons that feed the mind and shape the heart. We form character, cultivate leadership, and kindle a lifelong love of learning.
Core Subjects
Literature: Rich, living texts read aloud, discussed, and narrated.
History: Chronological, story-centered, and idea-driven.
Science & Experiments: Hands-on discovery supported by living science books..
Geography & Nature Study: Exploring place, pattern, and story through maps and nature journals.
Enrichment
Narration Club: A space to share narrations—especially when mom’s hands are full.
Art & Music: Practices that shape attention and appreciation.
Foreign Language: An invitation into new cultures and ways of thinking.
Nature Lessons
The child who learns to see, to truly observe, is the child who begins to care.
Our students learn to observe with intent, to notice the small and the splendid. They begin to ask questions, make connections, and build a deep reverence for the created world.
Outdoor Classes: Lessons may take place outside, where students can observe plants, animals, and ecosystems.
Gardening Projects: Students participate in gardening, learning about plant life cycles and sustainability.
Nature Walks: Regular nature walks encourage curiosity and observation skills. Either on campus or with our Nature Walk Group.
A Day at Wildlings
Morning Circle: Scripture, poetry, hymn and folksong singing, and recitation to anchor our hearts.
Core Rotations: Deep dives into literature, science, and history.
Afternoon Enrichment: Creative projects, handcrafts, art, music, and shared teatime.
Outdoor Lessons: Garden work, nature journaling, or walks with intention.
What ages can join
We serve students kindergarten through 12th grade, nurturing them through distinct seasons of learning we call Forms. For families who choose to stay on campus, we welcome moms with little ones in tow—there’s plenty of space for baby siblings to play,
Wanderers (Ages 6-9 | Kindergarten–2nd Grade)In these early years, children learn through wonder. With living books, gentle habit formation, nature walks, and narration, we lay joyful and lasting foundations.
Lore Keepers (Ages 10–12 | 3rd–6th Grade)As questions deepen, so does the feast. Students begin connecting ideas across subjects—history, literature, science, and geography—building a rich store of knowledge to carry forward.
Pathfinders (Ages 13–15 | 7th–9th Grade)This is the season of owning ideas. With guided Socratic discussion, written narration, and deeper reading, students learn to reason well, speak clearly, and walk in wisdom.
Inklings (Ages 16–18 | 10th–12th Grade) A capstone of leadership and reflection. Inklings engage in rhetoric, service projects, advanced studies, and spiritual formation as they prepare to live thoughtfully in the world.
Why Choose Wildlings?
Education is not just what we do—it’s how we live.
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