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EmilyC
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| Posted: Jan 27 2009 at 9:35am | IP Logged
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I've been sort of dabbling with Ambleside this year, and I really like the idea of using it throughout the rest of our schooling. I like that they schedule everything for me, and that the books are rich and wonderful, and that it's a very inexpensive curriculum.
I'm just wondering if anyone here is using it, especially those that have used it for a while. I'm thinking next year of having the twins do Year 1 and dd do Year 4. The only things we really slack on are the nature study (it's just too cold!!), handicrafts, singing and the art/music appreciation. I intend to add each of them in slowly at some point.
If you are using it, how is it working out for you? Do you follow it completely or add/change things around? What are the pro's and con's of using Ambleside?
Thanks!!
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Emily,
Wife to Rob since 8/98
Mom to 4:
Sarah (13) Robbie & Riley (10) Regina (nearly 3)
My secular lit-based curriculum:
Build Your Library curriculum
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Schoolrmacres
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I was using Amleside at the beginning of this year and not changing anything. It was not really working for us so I am using more of Mater Amabilis suggestions and just CM methods. We are also using Beyond FIAR with our CM/MA combo.
I do not know if this is more help or confusing for you.If you have more specific questions I am happy to help.
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Darlene, wife to Shawn and mamma to Haleigh Elizabeth, our Gift from God through adoption.
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http://achampionfamily.blogspot.com/
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Willa
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I always look at it before I plan my school year; I love the book choices. But I couldn't say I use it exactly.
I know there is an Ambleside group and that many people do follow the schedule exactly. I think a Catholic might have to tweak a bit here and there.
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Willa
hsing boys ages 11, 14, almost 18 (+ 4 homeschool grads ages 20 to 27)
Take Up and Read
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Bookswithtea
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It always struck me as a lot of work, and not as simple as I'd like, but I guess that is a personal thing. Have you ever looked at Mater Amabilis? I have used their suggestions before and had some good experiences. I don't know anyone who uses Ambleside so I can't really offer a genuine review.
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mothering ds'93 dd'97 dd'99 dd'02 ds'05 ds'07 and  due 9/10
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EmilyC
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| Posted: Jan 28 2009 at 7:37am | IP Logged
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Thanks!
I anticipate dropping some of the more protestant books, like Trial and Triumph and Pilgrim's Progress. And obviously I do our own thing as far as bible and religion goes. I've looked at Mater Amabilis, but honestly that seems more overwhelming to me. I do like the religion suggestions though.
Once I sat down and looked everything over and read through the articles on the site, everything sort of made sense to me. Once you have the books and the schedule it's actually pretty easy to implement.
I guess I was just wondering if anyone here had been using it successfully for a while and could give me any advice or pointers, especially as far as making it more Catholic.
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Emily,
Wife to Rob since 8/98
Mom to 4:
Sarah (13) Robbie & Riley (10) Regina (nearly 3)
My secular lit-based curriculum:
Build Your Library curriculum
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Betsy
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I use RC History with Ambleside literature. I have been using it for three years. I meshes really well together...although it is a lot of reading (but all the books are GOOD books, with both programs).
I have been considering buying some books on CD for some of the longer reads to help lighten up what I need to read out loud for the Ambleside reading. Alcazar AudioWorks is where I was looking.
Betsy
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SuzanneG
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We use Ambleside loosely, combined with Mater Amabilis, but I'm no expert, as this is only our 2nd year working off the Year 1 booklist. My 6.5 and 8 yo are doing it.
**Daily copywork - 5 minutes about 3-4/week
**One artist and one composer per semester
**Handicrafts
**Art - Nothing to do with Ambleside: before Christmas, we were doing Artistic Pursuits, which I really liked. We haven't gotten back into it yet.
**Religion - Obviously different than how Ambleside suggests......More of Mater Amabilis religion.....saint stories, Baltimore Catechism, Catholic Stories...... along with liturgical year and Catholic Mosaic, 1st Communion prep.
** History - And, we all like Fifty Famous Stories Retold about 3/month. Add in lots of picture books--this year--American History. Bennett's Book of Virtues too. We haven't started a Book of Centuries or timeline yet.
**Geography - We like the Holling books. Add in geography puzzles, games, drawing, casual mapwork. ABC book of Washington state.
**Natural History / Science - Nature Study outside. I've really enjoyed Barb's Handbook of Nature Study . Nature notebooks. James Herriot's Stories are a hit here. Burgess Bird Book 2/month. Lots of picture books. Hiking, Zoo, etc.
**Phonics program (sort of).....well, not really....
**We use Math-u-see, board games, cooking, flashcards
**Foreign Language - 2 cd's of french and just listen in the car. Hop, Skip and Sing French and Play and Learn French.
**Poetry - This is seasonal for us, rather than ONE poet. I do use their collection of monthly poems to help me find poems to memorize. Next year, I want to do the one-poet-per-term-concept.
**Literature - Aesop - read and narrate about 3/month. We read lots of picture books of fairy tales, so we don't do it exactly as they have it suggested. Next year, I'd like the exposure to Shakespeare.
I use lots of their suggestions for "Free reading"
HTH,
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Suzanne in ID
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Mom of 7 (Girls - 14, 12, 11, 9, 7 and Boys - 4, 1)
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NYCitymomx3
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We use Ambleside and we love it. We're only 4 months in, so I'm definitely not an expert, but it's going so well for us. I love the laid-out schedule and how we're done within 2 hours. We also leave out the Bible and Protestant readings (my kids go to a weekly catechism class).
We follow it pretty completely. I have no complaints at all so far.
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wahoo92
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Ambleside has been a tremendous blessing for our home, and I'm so thankful to the ladies who have spent countless hours putting it together. We have used the program for 2.5 years now. My 10yo daughter is in year 5, my 7 yo daughter in year 2.
This is how a typical day looks for us:
Chores (I eat during this time)
Together over breakfast:
Listen to current composer (in background, not exclusively), Bible study (we do our own thing here rather than Trial and Triumph/Pilgrim's Progress etc), Read selection from current poet (I just pick one poet for both girls, usually from the younger year), and look at art selection
Once or twice weekly, I will read the Shakespeare selection of the term for about 10 minutes, also we will review any memory work.
Then each girl has her own assignment list which I fill in each Sunday (list made at beginning of year with books added/deleted as the year progresses depending on term):
year 5: Daily-piano, violin, MUS, French (Rosetta Stone-3X/w), ASL, Typing (2x/wk)
Pick two each day from assigned readings and narrate when finished (at any given time there are about two of these that we read together, such as Age of Fable), one written narration weekly (with goal to have one daily by end of year)
Pick two daily from free readings, read about 20 pages from each
Copywork or dictation, depending on day
Running out of time, but year 2 daughter has all assigned readings read to her as well as about half of her free reads, she just started piano and does ASL, too
Lunch is where I will either read seasonal picture books geared to the 4yo, but enjoyed by all, or a group chapter book (currently Desperado) or a book, such as Understood Betsy, that is on Madeline's list (y2), but I know Ellie would want to hear, too.
Pro's-Love that it contains, I think, some of the best that literature/music/art has to offer, certainly has an American/Western European focus without excluding the rest of the world, not being particularly well-read myself, I would have a hard time choosing the range of books suggested
Con's-Being a list checker by nature, it has taken me awhile to adapt the cur. to our own needs and not feel guilty about leaving a book here and there out, or switching something simply because we don't care for it. Also, despite slimming down the cur, we still have a hard time getting it all done. I have looked and looked at people's sample schedules and just can't figure out how they get through some of the readings in the time frame that they suggest they do. Therefore, I feel like we spend more time inside than I would like some days, trying to finish the readings. That said, my girls get lots of exploratory time outdoors as well, just not as much as others seem to.
I have not been successful in the language department. We have tried Latin twice and "failed" both times. I finally decided to try French since, at least, I studied that in high school. Rosetta Stone has been a good choice for us in that area, although I don't think it would fit the CM model terribly well.
Both my girls are "late birthdays" for their year (Aug./Sept) and I can see now that we are getting further into the cur. that this is going to present a problem for us. Some of the readings are just getting too complex/mature for my eldest. So, we are currently spreading out year 2 and 5 over the next year and a half to two years which also works well since we have a baby in the house.
Good luck with it all. I know although I mostly lurk here (I'm Presbyterian), I have benefitted greatly from cur. questions/answers presented and hope that this has been of some help.
Sarah
mom of Ellie, 10, Madeline, 7, Lucy, 4, and Evelyn, 6m
My Blog
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SuzanneG
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Sarah~
Thanks for a glimpse into your day, and the pros and cons. And, your "daily notes" on your how log gives a good feel for you're implementing it.
"Evelyn" is one of my all-time-favorite girl names!!!! Love it!
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Suzanne in ID
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Mom of 7 (Girls - 14, 12, 11, 9, 7 and Boys - 4, 1)
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: Ambleside?
