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marcie
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| Posted: May 28 2006 at 8:38am | IP Logged
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Hi!
I have been lurking here, trying to learn more, but I am now in overload!! I am just finishing my first year of homeschooling and have been using CHC, which I liked and needed because it was my first year. It was very helpful having a guide to tell me what to do next. Now, I want to change..I am so into CM, it's not even funny!!
I am just finishing Karen Andreola's book and I have so many websites saved in my favorites that I don't know which one to look at first. I really need help planning next year's curriculum. I still want to use some workbooks but not exclusively. I am going to use Spelling Wisdom and Math U See, but other than that, I don't know where to begin. I need lists!!
I would be very grateful if someone would help me out........my son is 10 years old, pretty immature, not a strong reader but since we have been using literature, I see improvement.
Is there help for me??
Thanks,
Marcie
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Bridget
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| Posted: May 28 2006 at 10:29am | IP Logged
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There are so many choices out there for schooling!
The Real Learning site has an excellent tutorial for starting out. Scroll down on the left, click on Jumpstart. You will see how to begin implementing all the pieces in a very simple way.
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God Bless,
Bridget, happily married to Kevin, mom to 8 on earth and a small army in heaven
Our Magnum Opus
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marcie
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| Posted: May 28 2006 at 11:42am | IP Logged
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Thanks, I actually have that site in my favorites! But, like I said, I have bookmarked so much that I forget what I have.  Anyway, my mind is just racing with all the information. I really enjoy homeschooling but I found it was just too boring this past year. It was like sitting at the table doing homework. I want it to be more fun for both of us. I have begun stocking up for nature study. I am really looking forward to that!
Our yard is just full of nature! We are now watching 4 chrysallis, waiting impatiently for them to turn into anise swallowtails. We found the caterpillars on my fennel. So, we are on our way with nature study.
O.K..............I'm rambling............. 
Thanks again!
Marcie~
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Schoolrmacres
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| Posted: May 28 2006 at 4:58pm | IP Logged
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I do not have an answer to your post but I have a question for you. I have been considering Spelling Wisdom for the coming year, do you recommend it highly? My dd will be starting the 3rd grade.
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Darlene, wife to Shawn and mamma to Haleigh Elizabeth, our Gift from God through adoption.
Peace be with you
http://achampionfamily.blogspot.com/
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Victoria in AZ
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| Posted: May 28 2006 at 8:10pm | IP Logged
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You've come to the right place for hand-holding consider it held.
My favorite book when I very first began the CM method was _A Charlotte Mason Education_ by Catherine Levison . It is short and simple. Should help with that overwhelmed feeling and has concrete info for planning next year's curriculum.
You are off to a great start, Marcie, with those chrysallis. Keep up the good work, pray and keep lessons short.
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Your sister in Christ,
Victoria in AZ
dh Mike 24 yrs; ds Kyle 18; dd Katie 12; and one funny pug
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: May 28 2006 at 8:33pm | IP Logged
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I'd like to recommend Julie Bogart's Bravewriter Lifestyle (here) for an easy to implement CM-style language arts method. The website explains it all and her book, the Writer's Jungle goes into more depth. Julie uses freewriting, copywork and dictation, teatime with poetry, and many other fun ideas to get children writing. She can even send daily email reminders of what to do each day, if you like!
I have a 10-yo boy also who really disliked the workbook approach and we both found school boring before finding this forum, Elizabeth's book, and Bravewriter. Now ds loves school, I love teaching, and ds has gone from a reluctant writer to a kid who is writing a novel in his free time. All in one year! And I can honestly say that school in our home is FUN, FUN, FUN!
This is definitely the place for hand-holding. I know I came here in a very similar spot about a year ago and I thank God daily for the women here on this forum.
I am sure you will feel as welcome here as I did, and still do!
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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marcie
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| Posted: May 29 2006 at 7:29am | IP Logged
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Darlene,
I have only recently purchased Spelling Wisdom and we have not officially started it. I am wanting to finish the spelling workbook that we started with CHC.
I'll let you know how it goes though.
Marcie
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marcie
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| Posted: May 29 2006 at 7:30am | IP Logged
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Thanks Victoria!
I have added this book to my ever growing book list.
Marcie
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marcie
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| Posted: May 29 2006 at 7:37am | IP Logged
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Hi Theresa!
Thanks for the link to Bravewriter. It looks like something I will like.
I wish I would have found the homeschooling blogs last year when I was planning my first year of school.
I love reading Cay's, Elizabeth's, yours and many others. 
They are so helpful and they are so inspiring. I get many book lists from all of them.
I want to keep a few workbooks, so I am thinking of combining from CHC and Seton and a couple of others.
Is that a good idea??? I have no clue.........
I tend to lurk alot but I do take notes and save tons of information. I just can't seem to organize it all!
Thanks to everyone for the hand-holding........please don't let go yet!
marcie~
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Karen E.
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| Posted: May 29 2006 at 9:19am | IP Logged
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marcie wrote:
| I am going to use Spelling Wisdom and Math U See, but other than that, I don't know where to begin. I need lists!! |
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Marcie,
Take deep breaths, and repeat:
I can do this
I can do this
I can do this
Because you can.
Your head is swimming, so full of so many great resources and ideas. And that's exactly the problem -- there are too many great resources. It's easy to feel overwhelmed.
Focus on simplicity.
You've already decided that you'll use Math and spelling programs (and it looks like Spelling Wisdom incorporates plenty of copywork and dictation. I haven't used it, but just looked at the sample online.) So, some things are already formally covered.
You could easily add a list of good read-alouds to include:
Literature
History themes
Science
Make time to get outside. Think about a nature notebook, but if it fails the first time out, don't despair. Most of us have been there (I was looking for a couple of threads but can't find them.)
Decide on a few resources, and give them a try. Don't worry if you end up switching resources down the road -- it's part of the journey -- but don't worry about all the resources you leave out at first. No one can do it all at the same time.
Finally, keep coming here for support. We've all been there.
__________________
God bless,
Karen E.
mom to three on earth, and several souls in God's care
Visit my blog, with its shockingly clever title, "Karen Edmisten."
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marcie
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| Posted: May 30 2006 at 8:05am | IP Logged
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Thanks Karen!
I feel as though my brain is going through a type of metamorphosis, just like our caterpillars. I have these grand ideas of what I want our homeschooling to be.
But, I have to tell you......I need lists, explanations, details!!! I am not ready to think on my own!
I need lists of read alouds and how to begin rabbit trails. I am such a baby!!!
I must tell you though, I am feeling a bit more organized with everyone's suggestions. I do appreciate the help and I will be coming here often for therapy!
marcie
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ALmom
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| Posted: May 30 2006 at 11:11am | IP Logged
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Marcie,
You've got a great start. For the fill ins like history and science, the dc learn it best by reading and doing - so a good place to start might be with what ds is most interested in and find books in that area. In history, what is his favorite time period? I went to Emmanuel books for booklists as a start for history as the catelogue has it listed by time period/type history. There is also the site, reading your way through history and the "Let the Author's Speak". But Let the Author's Speak is more advanced reading imo and I found my reluctant reader did best starting with really good picture books in subject areas - I ordered tons of this kind of thing from Emmanuel Books because our local library system never has the books I want. I think I basically ordered everything in their American history section that year (I have dc in all different ages). If your library is good, you might use that to keep expenses down. But I do know that there is something really special about just having the books around when "school" is not in session and there is no pressure. This is when we really took off. Just for a laugh, I ordered all these books for my school year and had a whole plan laid out for this dc - but then he read every one of the books on my school plan over the summer just because they were here - so we had to wing history that year anyways! The funny thing was that was the year I thought I would have to assign books just to get this dc to read - he was about 10 at the time and a reluctant reader but he took off with these history picture books and has become a history fan and a bookworm ever since.
This year we are trying to entice a bit more towards science as that was somewhat neglected in any formal kind of approach while we worked on other things like reading and writing. We've tried to take advantage of those teachable moments that arise in the family of course and dc spend plenty of outdoor time and we tolerate lots of critters in the house for observation. But I am a real dummy in science and since the boys are teaching me, I do feel the need for some more planning/help in this area as they get into older grades. Dh wants us to invest in a number of projects and is helping me look for this year. In the interest of not overextending mom, all dc will basically study the same general fields as far as formal study goes - but then we have lots of experiment books, etc. I need to go look at MacBeth's lists in science for ideas, etc.
One thing I learned from being so drawn to so many things is that there is a huge temptation to try and plan too much and to try to do the impossible - everything! It is much better to do a few things very well and leave time for dc to explore or learn things on their own. You can always add something each year as you see the need or interest develop. And of course I always come to this board if I am stymied because I just cannot seem to get something across to dc. There is always someone who can describe something they did or used well enough for me to know where to try next. However, I get overwhelmed if I start just browsing everything in every field. I try to stay focused on what we are trying to accomplish that year and ask for specific information on a specific topic. Take your time and don't panic - my experience has been that my worst mistakes are when I rushed headlong into a new way of doing things with great enthusiasm but not much time to ponder with dh and most especially when I paniced and felt like we were so "behind" in everything.
It really, really helps me talk out the year with dh and get an idea of what we really want to accomplish before looking at all the curriculum. I can see the potential in just about everything and have a hard time settling on exactly what to use. I tried to run different programs together for fear of missing out on something great - but then we all get burned out if I am unrealistic in what can be done in a relaxed way. I'm not saying relaxed in the sense of not challenging the dc - but in the sense of following all my excitement on a new program/area of study and leaving my dc overwhelmed.
We pick a major goal for each child. Ie for a reluctant reader, it might be to really get that to take off. This then is our major focus and we can feel like we have made progress if we achieve that one goal. While we plan in all areas, this main goal is the area that gets my greatest investment of time and energy and our limited budget. In trying to assess how to achieve that goal, we spend some time looking at what did and did not work the previous year - and why? Was it lack of mom time (then mom needs to figure out ways to have more time, stay on a better schedule, whatever? Was it too many workbooks and not enough living books? Then obviously our investment would be more in the area of having living books, attractively dispersed throughout the house and conveniently arranged to entice interest? Was I expecting work at too high a reading level? Is there some skill that would help develop the basic ability that has been missed?
I guess what I'm trying to say is to be gentle with yourself and above all don't panic. You do not ruin your dc by having less than perfect years. You all learn and tweak each year. I'm not saying neglect your duty but I know I spent a few years stymied by "making a mistake" in choosing what to use as it might be less than ideal. It can be so confusing because there are so many things to choose from now - and everyone has their own lists of favorites. Different things work with different families in different circumstances and as long as you pray, stay in tune with your dc, make adjustments as needed and seriously attempt to provide a well rounded education, God will see you through. The more mistakes you make, the more you really get to know what it is that works best for you, and how to discern what will work in your family and what won't among all the great stuff! The dc really are quite resiliant and mine have flourished despite some rather crazy years.
I also am honest with myself if there is something I feel dc needs but I am petrified to teach - then we know this is one area we will need to invest more in. If it is something I do well, then I don't need as much of the great stuff in that area right away. My dc seem to love projects. I hate projects, it was the one time in school when I learned nothing. It is hard for me to think of projects and even worse for me to lead or organize them. Dh really saw the need for more projects for our dc - so is willing to invest in RC history for, we hope, the additional hand-holding it will give me and as an idea source of projects for dc to take off on on their own. But realistically, I've attempted unit studies with real books and it never works for us. Yet for someone else, it is the most wonderful thing in the world. I've never done a lapbook before and love what I see. I think one of my dc in particular would really learn with this - but my ability to figure out anything involving spatial awareness, how to fold pages, etc. is severely deficient so I'm going to try and provide the materials, something that has ideas and written instructions and if dc takes off on this - great. If not, then the preplanned notebook with maps in it to color, etc. is good enough for our purposes this year. Dh really is a great guide in this once you get the conversation going. He keeps me from overscheduling and being unrealistic so many times.
Janet
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marcie
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| Posted: May 30 2006 at 1:18pm | IP Logged
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Wow Janet!
You have given me great advice! It seems that you know exactly where I am coming from.
I often go to our library with lists of books that I have gotten from here or from the great homeschooling blogs.........9 times out of 10, they don't have the books I want and sometimes the librarian looks at me like I have 9 heads!
My son is also a reluctant reader, but we have taken our time reading and I get him to narrate after each chapter and I have found a definite improvement in his comprehension of what he has read. I really enjoy doing illustrated books with him because they are short and he is very visual. I have been following Cay's suggestions for illustrated biographies and he is doing ok with those.
I think MY main problem is in my planning. I didn't do well with that this past year, but I am going to do better this year. I also need to set a few goals for him so that he will have something to aim for. He likes to know what will happen next.
I, too, love the lap-books and I think he would like them too. I have Dinah Zike's book and I have found several ideas that I am going to use with him.
I give my worries to God and let him take care of that. I am blessed that I am able to now stay home and homeschool. I love it more than I thought I would!
I have received wonderful advice here and I am sure I will be back with more questions!!
Thanks again!
__________________
Marcie Melancon
New Iberia, LA
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Topic: in need of some SERIOUS hand-holding!!!
