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MrsKey
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We are currently using (and not liking) Seton. I don't know what I was doing (except suffering from a lack of confidence) when i chose this. But clearly the "school at home" approach is not something we want to continue.
Our daughter is almost 11 years old and roughly 5th/6th grade level.
How hard it is to switch from a 'school at home' approach like Seton to a CM method type of schooling?
I've ordered Real Learning. I've looked at a couple of the websites recommended here and I am anxious to learn more.
But I'm interested in learning more about the practical side of staring with a new method as well as how you overcame any self-confidence issues.
Thanks!
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J.M.J.
Carole
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JenniferS
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I'm interested to see the replies. We are currently enrolled in Seton, but we are not loving it. I read Elizabeth's book in October, and I fell in love with "real learning." We will finish out the year with Seton, but I definitely want to make a change next year.
Jen
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Paula in MN
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I started slowly, by reading out loud one chapter and then having her narrate it back to me. After 3 or 4 times of doing that, she told me she liked this new way of school. We just kept going from there.
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 Paula
A Catholic Harvest
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MrsKey
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JenniferS wrote:
I'm interested to see the replies. We are currently enrolled in Seton, but we are not loving it. I read Elizabeth's book in October, and I fell in love with "real learning." We will finish out the year with Seton, but I definitely want to make a change next year.
Jen |
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Jen,
We're in "finishing out the year" mode as well. But I'm frustrated, tired and more than a little burnt out. I thought we needed the structure this year because we were moving and I feared not sticking with things without the "Seton is waiting for papers to grade" motivation.
But in reality all it has done is make things more cumbersome.
What grade(s) are you doing with Seton?
We're currently using 5th grade and the worst part is the book review books. I don't know where Seton finds some of these books but they're really dry and my bookworm is actually not enjoying reading.
I'm worried that this year with Seton could cause burnout that will be hard for dd to recover from.
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J.M.J.
Carole
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MrsKey
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PaulaL wrote:
| I started slowly, by reading out loud one chapter and then having her narrate it back to me. After 3 or 4 times of doing that, she told me she liked this new way of school. We just kept going from there. |
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Thank you, Paula!
If I may ask, did you start out "mid-year" or at the beginning of a new "school year" when you started? And how did you know which books to start with?
I know I'll probably get a lot of these answers when my book arrives but I'm so intrigued right now that patience is not coming easily. :D
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Carole
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gracie4309
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Wow, I'm really glad to hear that I'm not the only one! I wish that I had some advice, but I am also looking to change over to Real Learning with my kids). I can really relate to what Carole and Jen said about just finishing out the year with what we have. Hopefully we can start putting some of the Real Learning methods into practice at the same time.
I'm also eager to learn what has worked for others who have started with Seton, MODG (that's what we've been using), or other structured programs.
Like you, Carole, I think I went for the structure out of insecurity about being able to homeschool well. Also a fear of what other, non-homeschoolers might think. Anyway, thanks for posting the question.
Grace
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mariB
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I've always been resistant to following lesson plans formed by others. We have followed the MODG loosely for 6 years. When I mean loosely, I mean loosely! We would fly by the seat of our pants for most of our lesson plans except math and grammar(and we also used spelling books). Then my oldest went to a private school for 7th grade, was an "A" student and we got wonderful feedback from the headmistress with her asking questions like "What did you use at home?" "What vocabulary book do you use?" (We use none.) and "How did he get so much knowledge of the world?"(read alouds and independent reading) I'm not saying this to say, "Look at what we did." I'm saying this because one of the reasons we sent our son to private school was my lack of confidence of what I was doing at home with him and because we prayed about it and he got a full scholarship to go. Needless to say, I was blown away. He did beg to come home after 7th grade and I was so happy that he wanted to come home. I think the key is one on one and the love of literature and the love of God. We are so loose until 8th grade and this year we have enrolled our oldest in Seton for 9th grade. I was so resistant to this school. But because we have been schooling at home for 8 years we feel good about skipping assignments and doing only what is necessary and enjoying our hands on stuff with the other syblings. We have 5 children -3 boys ages 15,13,11 and two girls ages 7 and 3. We have basically unschooled our 7 year old and she is ahead of where the 3 boys were at her age! I hope this helps. All I can say is follow more of Elizabeth's method for K-8, at least.
God Bless,
marianne
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JuliaT
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I would think that if you were switching over, it would be wise to begin with baby steps. I think you could begin those baby steps this year while you are dong Seton. You could start doing picture study or somposer study right now if you wanted to. You could use the monthly suggestions for artist and composers found in the Cultivating Color and Cacophony forum. The prints are given there for you, you would just have to print them out. For the composers, all you would have to do is find CD's of that composer and listen to the various selections. You can discuss if you want or just listen. Also, maybe finding a book of poetry and just reading some poetry selections. You don't have to discuss. It doesn't have to be a study on the poems, just read and listen.
These would be the easiest way to begin, imo. Bring some beauty into you and your dd's life. From the sounds of the books that she is reading for Seton, she would appreciate it.
Once you feel comfortable with that, you could begin with some read alouds,maybe before she goes to bed. You could use the book suggestions in Elizabeth's book or on her website. If you felt secure enough, you could ask her to tell you about what happened in the section that you just read.
I think that if you start with baby steps, this will foster confidence in you so that you will feel stronger next year, when or if you decide to go all the way with Real Learning.
Blessings,
Julia
mom to 3(7,6,4)
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Juliainsk
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JenniferS
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Carole-
We are doing 4th, 2nd, and 1st. My kids used to love school. Now, well...we have made some slow changes. Dh really wanted to see more structure, so we went with Seton.(Last year I used CHC, loosely.)Anyway...now that dh has had two major surgeries during the "school year." He sees that maybe I can handle something on my own. Having Elizabeth's book helps, too. The idea of nature walks and the literature suggestions in the back are very appealing to dh(and me).
My dd(4th grade) hates the book reviews, too. She has always loved reading in the past. I know others who love this program, but it is too restrictive for us. I'm already planning next year, just to make myself feel better. I feel more alive. Isn't that wierd?!?!?!
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MrsKey
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Jennifer,
It occurred to me yesterday as I was showing some CM information to dh ... one of the reasons we homeschool (among the many) is that we both recognize that the modern model of institutionalized schooling doesn't work particularly well. So why am I bringing this approach into our home?
I figured out why my daughter so dreads the book reviews - the primary books on Seton's list are not very good books. They are not good literature. I have tried to read a few of them and ... wow. I have great empathy for my daughter.
For now we'll continue on as we are. Once we've had a chance to read Elizabeth's book we'll look at where we can start making some slow changes for the rest of the year and then we'll start fresh next year combining what works for us.
Thank you everyone!
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Carole
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Paula in MN
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MrsKey wrote:
PaulaL wrote:
| I started slowly, by reading out loud one chapter and then having her narrate it back to me. After 3 or 4 times of doing that, she told me she liked this new way of school. We just kept going from there. |
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Thank you, Paula!
If I may ask, did you start out "mid-year" or at the beginning of a new "school year" when you started? And how did you know which books to start with?
I know I'll probably get a lot of these answers when my book arrives but I'm so intrigued right now that patience is not coming easily. :D |
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I started mid-year. The structured lesson plans I had bought weren't working. Imagine that! I love structure....my dd doesn't!!!!! And I started with books right in Elizabeth's list in Real Learning. I still use those recommendations now, and the recommendations from this forum.
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SuzanneT
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We, too, have been using Seton with our dd, 9th grade. I think I panicked at the words "high school"  , feeling the need for more structure for my unstructured social butterfly. It has been a disaster. Gone was the joy of reading about a person/time in history and ENJOYING it, wanting to find out more. Instead it was replaced with dry textbook reading and temorarily memorizing facts for "the test". We were also doing a Seton co-op - to help keep us on track - so I couldn't even add in the "fun" extras that we've always enjoyed of timelines & living books, because we didn't have time At our Christmas break, I always like to take stock and see what needs to be tweaked(I've always used plans & guides very loosely, anyway)this year, there was some major yanking going on. We left the co-op and Seton, for the most part. Instead of making Seton texts our main resources, they will be used as occasional extras, as I have used them before. In our second week back, I am happy to report, the tension level has decreased dramatically  Sorry, to ramble - great thread!
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JennyMaine
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Just wanted to chime in. I totally understand where you are coming from and what you're saying. My Seton experience has taught me that there is no such thing as "outside accountability to keep me on track." My accountability is directly to God and no school in the world will keep me on track if my responsibility to Him can't! LOL
I've found that while I like many aspects of the Seton materials, my childen really do better with unit studies and living books for history. So, I'm still floating around trying to find what works for me and considering partial enrollment for just English & Religion next year. The jury is still out on that!
But, I must say, I'm not sure what you mean by the books for book reviews being not good literature. In my opinion, books like Little House in the Big Woods, Heidi, Black Beauty, Kidnapped! are the best books out there! I'm glad we've read them!
Jen
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--JennyMaine, Mom to Catherine (17) and Sam (15) "The countenance is a reflection of the soul. You should always have a calm and serene countenance." -- Therese of Lisieux
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Mary G
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Just chiming in here to say that we tried a year of Seton last year with my then 9th grade daughter. It was ok for her because she has been in parochial schools more than she's been homeschooled ... so it may be a bit different for us.
Anyway, Seton is schooling at home -- it's as close as you can get to the old parochial system but can't find anywhere (or it's tough to find). I think many of us moms think this is a good way, becuase it's what we know. DD didn't balk too awfully much, but like I said, she's been in regular school alot. The grading, the assignments and the textbooks ARE schoolbooks -- many just like texts from when I was in Catholic schools a few  years ago. It's a great option if your child is used to "real school" and you want to steep them in Catholicism; but it can definitely cause burnout.
Would I do it again? No way. My littles are receiving their education in an eclectic mix of CM, Montessori, unschooling, unit studies ... whatever works for us at the time. Would they be able to sit down tomorrow and take a grade-level test (that is, a test of what the NEA says our kids should know) and get 100% -- probably not. But they do love learning and they are living and learning their Catholic faith everyday. And, we're having fun....
Anyway, I also wanted to say greetings to all you moms -- I see many of you are relatively new and we welcome you. If you can beg, borrow or steal a copy of Elizabeth's book I think you'll be very happy you did!
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my website that combines my schooling, hand-knits work, writing and everything else in one spot!
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MrsKey
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JennyMaine wrote:
But, I must say, I'm not sure what you mean by the books for book reviews being not good literature. In my opinion, books like Little House in the Big Woods, Heidi, Black Beauty, Kidnapped! are the best books out there! I'm glad we've read them!
Jen |
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Jen,
Those are the alternate books - and you're right about those. I'm talking about the primary books that Seton has chosen and sends with the curriculum materials.
Books like, Madeline Takes Command, Augustine Came to Kent and If All the Swords in England. These books are all so dry that they make saltines look like a moist cake.
The alternate books have always been, in my opinion, much better books. Which is why they are book we've all heard of and read ourselves. Whereas the primary books are books that will make most of us say, "Huh? What is that? Never heard of it."
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Carole
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JenniferS
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My dd liked reading the books, however, she hated the book reviews. I don't really know how to explain it. She enjoyed Madeline Takes Commandand Augustine Came to Kent. She just hated how she had to copy the beginning paragraph and the topic sentences were given to her. It has been a painful process for us.
Jen
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Tina P.
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MrsKey wrote:
[QUOTE=JennyMaine]
Books like, Madeline Takes Command, If All the Swords in England. These books are all so dry that they make saltines look like a moist cake. |
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Wow. Our kids really liked Madeline Takes Command and If All the Swords in England ... haven't read the other yet. I read them aloud. I usually ham it up by making different voices. My kids crack up when I start in one voice only to discover another one is speaking. After they hear the story, they go off and play that they are the people in the story. When Dad comes home, and depending upon whose imagination is captured by this particular book, that child narrates the story to him. It might be all three older ones that tell bits and pieces.
Might your children have been too young for such books yet? I read Madeline when my 3rd grader just happened to be studying Canada and my 5th and 6th grader were just at an age to understand the adventure of it.
One thing we do is to alternate light with heavy books, meaning books that are funny and the characters are likeable (like Understood Betsy, for example), with something like Madeline takes Command, in which they learn so much history and character that you can almost see the steam rise from their heads in the room. 
The most structured I became was with CHC when we were in Europe. I didn't even care for *that* much structure, though they are very flexible. I *do* like their religion ideas, and I sometimes dabble in their history/geography and language and fine arts.
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MrsKey
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Tina,
I don't think it was an age problem since she managed to read Hemmingway's The Old Man and the Sea, Orwell's Animal Farm as well as the alternate books from Seton without any trouble at all.
For what it is worth I found the primary Seton choices to be a total snore as well, and I know I'm not too young for them. :D
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Carole
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: Switching over ...
