| Author | |
MommyD
Forum Pro
Joined: Nov 15 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 272
|
| Posted: June 28 2011 at 10:19am | IP Logged
|
 |
|
When I read about CM it sounds so peaceful and nice. I really want our learning to move in that direction but I think I'm scared to make big changes?? I'd like to post what we are currently using and why in the hopes that some of you CM experts can guide me in a new direction. Pretty please??
My kids are 10YOB, 8YOG, 5YOB and 1YOG.
~We use Sonlight for readers, read-alouds and history. I've had the kids do a few written narrations with pictures but not many.
~MUS for math for all three
~Growing with Grammar for the oldest 2. I know, I know, it is very workbook. It is easy and I don't have to hover over them so that is why we use it.
~Megawords for spelling.
~Faith and Life and catechism memorization for religion.
~Latina Christiana level 1
~CHC handwriting workbooks
~They are in a science class that cover science, thank you Lord!
~They are also in a writing class that uses IEW.
~20 minutes of typing per day
~20 minutes of music per day
I want to add in picture study and composer study this year.
So what do you think? What needs changed?? Thanks!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
kristacecilia
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 05 2010
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 677
|
| Posted: June 28 2011 at 12:59pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
My kids are smaller, but we are making big CM changes, too. I started last year. After we finished up the program we were using (mostly CHC) I stopped purchasing workbooks.
I spent a lot of time looking at Ambleside Online's curriculum and Mater Amabilis' curriculum. I don't use them, but it was nice to see what a suggested CM curriculum would look like. I spent a lot of time reading CM blogs- Jen's has offered a lot of suggestions that have worked very well for my family, and of course I spent a LOT of time here. After awhile I started reading the original CM series, as well, but that is sloooooow going for me.
After I had a fairly good idea of what I thought I was sort of maybe looking for (ha). I started buying books. I just bought lots and lots of living books. I printed off the CM Formidable List in checklist form that Jen made up for us, one copy for each of my kids 6 and under. Then I sort of let that guide us. We started spending lots more time out of doors and I stopped talking and instructing so much, just letting them drink it in. I started reading poetry everyday, making sure we were listening to good music and exposed to good art, and reading good literature and books on nature, history, composers, artists, moral stories, bible stories.... little bits at a time. I also started my oldest (age 7) on copywork for 5 minutes a day and started trying to get him to narrate short stories for me (a work in progress!).
That is about as far as I have progressed, but it feels like a HUGE leap for me. It is very intuitive for our family, which helps immensely. The support and resources here have been INVALUABLE. I can't even stress that enough.
__________________
God bless,
Krista
Wife to a great guy, mom to two boys ('04, '06) and three girls ('08, '10, '12!)
I blog at http://kristacecilia.wordpress.com/
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Mackfam
Board Moderator
Non Nobis
Joined: April 24 2006
Location: Alabama
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 14656
|
| Posted: June 28 2011 at 10:13pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
MommyD wrote:
~We use Sonlight for readers, read-alouds and history. I've had the kids do a few written narrations with pictures but not many.
~MUS for math for all three
~Growing with Grammar for the oldest 2. I know, I know, it is very workbook. It is easy and I don't have to hover over them so that is why we use it.
~Megawords for spelling.
~Faith and Life and catechism memorization for religion.
~Latina Christiana level 1
~CHC handwriting workbooks
~They are in a science class that cover science, thank you Lord!
~They are also in a writing class that uses IEW.
~20 minutes of typing per day
~20 minutes of music per day
I want to add in picture study and composer study this year.
So what do you think? What needs changed?? Thanks! |
|
|
Hi MommyD. 
This isn't an easy question to answer. Many families enjoy using a few of CM's methods (picture study, nature study, narrations) in their day alongside an existing packaged curriculum. This is fine, but if you're asking about a Charlotte Mason education, the balanced whole is a meeting of her philosophy making use of her methods. It's very different from just incorporating picture study, composer study, etc. into other packaged curriculum. How you want to apply Charlotte Mason - method, philosophy, or the balanced whole of both - would determine how I might answer your question.
If you haven't already done so, I want to recommend that you read about a Charlotte Mason education and then consider how you'd like to incorporate CM's methods and philosophy in your home (the post I linked above contains my favorite books on CM from entry/just getting introduced....to really diving in and getting to know CM). If you've already done some reading and know the direction you'd like to move toward, let me know and we can start to brainstorm from there!
__________________
Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19 , ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
MommyD
Forum Pro
Joined: Nov 15 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 272
|
| Posted: June 29 2011 at 8:39am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I hope I can make sense here. I am a VERY practical, detail-loving person. If you're planning a large party, give me a piece of paper and I'll have it all mapped out in a jiff  .
I've read a bit about the CM method and my (very, very) basic understanding is that it is about letting children form relationships with ideas. I think that is a lovely idea. My head says, "Form relationships, great, let's make a checklist for the best way to do that". Does that make sense??
So, what do I do next  ?
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
mwittlans
Forum Newbie
Joined: April 21 2009
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 43
|
| Posted: June 29 2011 at 9:09am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I've never used Sonlight, but from what I understand it's pretty CM. We did a lot of narration and copywork and it really paid off academically so don't skimp on it to much (imo).
if you want to introduce more CM, I suggest going through subject by subject.
For science, we did a lot of nature studies and journaling plus loads of real books. It does work. My oldest son never used a science textbook except as a reference book, yet he got a perfect score in science on his ACT. He did compete in Science Olympiad during his last two years of high school and that helped too.
For math, we do use Saxon but we supplement heavily with real books. MacBeth Derham has a great list of real math books online. There is also a Living Math website and email through Yahoo groups out there.
For history, you're already using living books. Do you also have a timeline or Book of Centuries? Those are fun and are great for visual learners.
Here is a series of blog posts I did on Charlotte Mason by subject that are a little more detailed and may help you, http://thriftyhomeschooler.blogspot.com/search/label/Charlot te%20Mason
What I love most about Charlotte Mason education is not necessarily the academic results as much as the gentle way it guides children. It's more conducive to family life. I want my children to have a joy for learning and I think CM really helps attain that goal.
Blessings,
Maureen :)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Grace&Chaos
Forum All-Star
Joined: June 07 2010
Location: California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1261
|
| Posted: June 29 2011 at 9:31am | IP Logged
|
|
|
 Just dropping in to give a little support. Learning about Charlotte Mason is certainly a process for mom. I've been reading about her since we started homeschooling but it isn't until this last year that I think I really took her philosophy and applied it to all our areas of study by using her methods.
**I slowly started replacing many of our twaddle, textbooks and some workbooks with lots of living books (this has been a four year process, mind you, to realize and research what I can use and not in this journey);
**and I slowly started using CM language art methods like narration, copywork, dictation to replace the tedious (IMHO) work that was being done.
**I slowly added some things like poetry, Shakespeare, picture study, music/composer study and nature study (my first CM element to add to our schooling was very unstructured the first two years and then made it a weekly part of our schooling and now the kids will grab those journals any chance they get)and natural hisotry readings, this year I'm adding habits/virtues: these are weekly subjects; (hymns get covered in weekly parish choir practice); Latin we've been following the same, but I'm trying to make it more enjoyable this year.
When I started hs I had a typical list similar to yours. The more I read about CM the more I knew that the first thing that had to change was my attitude towards education and how I wanted our journey to look like and feel. This is hard because her philosophy is just not like what we were most likely brought up with. I really enjoyed this article. It really touches on what I'm trying to say.
I hope some of this is helpful  .
__________________
Blessings,
Jenny
Mom to dds(00,03) and dss(05,06,08,09)
Grace in Loving Chaos
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
CrunchyMom
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 03 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6385
|
| Posted: June 29 2011 at 9:33am | IP Logged
|
|
|
MommyD wrote:
I hope I can make sense here. I am a VERY practical, detail-loving person. If you're planning a large party, give me a piece of paper and I'll have it all mapped out in a jiff .
I've read a bit about the CM method and my (very, very) basic understanding is that it is about letting children form relationships with ideas. I think that is a lovely idea. My head says, "Form relationships, great, let's make a checklist for the best way to do that". Does that make sense??
So, what do I do next ? |
|
|
Immerse yourself in her philosophy. Her philosophy is so relational, it is more a mindset than a list of methods. Read, read, read living books about her Seriously, the best way to implement her method of "forming relationships with ideas" is to form a relationship with HER ideas. Then, a checklist will be very useful
__________________
Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Mackfam
Board Moderator
Non Nobis
Joined: April 24 2006
Location: Alabama
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 14656
|
| Posted: June 29 2011 at 10:17am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I'm really enjoying everyone's posts and they're offering such lovely advice MommyD!
You are right: A Charlotte Mason education IS very much about relationships! Follow the sound advice offered here and grant yourself a time to learn. Read about Charlotte Mason from others and from Charlotte Mason, herself. Prayerfully consider how her philosophy and methods fit in your home. I love how Jenny points out that this is a shift that can gently take place over a long period of time. With each year and each step forward you will find yourself and your family blessed as relationships develop and deepen.
Now, if you'll allow me, I'll make a few suggestions for this year. I'm not familiar at all with Sonlight - are they a curriculum with lesson plans?? I do know that they make use of living books. Knowing that I'm not familiar with Sonlight, I'm going to trust that you will take the advice that I offer as simply that, advice. Your family trusts you to implement home educating decisions that fit your family, so these ideas are meant to be ideas for you to consider:
LIVING BOOKS
** Keep the living books and dismiss the lesson plans. Ask your children to narrate the living books. Could.not.be.simpler. And yet, within the simplicity, there is a richness of education which cannot be measured.
** Choose a period of history and allow the living books to spring from that period of history. (Perhaps this is where Sonlight can help in recommending living books for a period of history?)
LANGUAGE ARTS
** Spend the summer reading about Charlotte Mason's methods with regard to language arts and challenge yourself/give yourself permission to dismiss:
** spelling workbook
** handwriting workbook
** grammar workbook
** writing program
Really. Deep breath. Inhale--Exhale. If you want to nurture relationships within education you can do this, but with ideas, not workbooks. Ideas are found in living expressions. These living expressions can be used to teach spelling, vocabulary, handwriting, grammar, writing and composition through the rich and efficient methods Charlotte Mason employed -->
** NARRATION
** COPYWORK
** DICTATION (not begun until 4th grade)
I know this part of CM's methods are often fraught with angst as a mom steps out in faith, wondering if this really can be enough...and effective, and I know it's helpful to see HOW this could work, so I wrote a series of posts on the entire topic, and included a printable book you can just download and read. If it is a help: Considering Charlotte Mason and Our Approach to Language Arts
** You only have one 10 yo, and that's the only one that should be doing written narrations. These will be very shaky at first and that's ok!! It can take a year for a 10 yo to transition into written narrations (even one that is very familiar with oral narrations). Be patient with this process for your 10 yo and keep asking oral narrations of all the kids from 6 yo on up.
** Skip the reading comprehension questions. Really. Really!
NATURE STUDY
** Allow science to spring from nature study for a while, just to allow the value of nature study to become real. Observe. Wonder aloud. Draw what you see. Investigate when you have questions. Lovely!
____________________________________________________________ ______________________
So...here's what your list would look like:
Quote:
~Living books -- Narration.
~MUS for math for all three
~Dictation for kids in 4th grade and above - teach spelling, grammar and mechanics one short lesson at a time through dictation lessons. 2 - 4 studied dictation lessons/week.
~Faith and Life and catechism memorization for religion. Add in a few living books about the liturgical year and you're set.
~Latina Christiana level 1
~Copywork (from your living books) for penmanship - only 5 - 10 minutes a day giving best effort.
~Nature Study - go on a nature walk weekly.
~10 - 15 minutes of typing per day - this is great for older kids!
~10 - 15 minutes of music per day
~Picture Study once a week
~Composer Study once a week - listen to classical pieces from your composer during the week. |
|
|
That's a start anyway! Hope this gives you some ideas to consider!
__________________
Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
MNMommy
Forum Pro
Joined: Feb 24 2009
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 150
|
| Posted: June 29 2011 at 5:12pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
We, too, are continuously transitioning to more and more of a CM approach. I am a checklist, perfectionist person who gets stuck on the details of any plan. If I don't have a roadmap, I start going in circles. So this year I am sticking pretty close to Mater Amabilis.
Here's my recipe for 4th grade:
Mater Amabilis
+ Writing With Ease
+ RightStart Mathematics
- Mater Amabilis Science
+ Building Foundations of Scientific Understanding
__________________
Jennifer
Tired mom to - 10yo dd, 7yo ds, 6yo ds, 4yo dd, 2yo ds
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
JuliaT
Forum All-Star
Joined: June 25 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 563
|
| Posted: June 30 2011 at 8:35am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I have been following CM's ideas and philosophy since we started hsing. I am still learning. It is an ongoing process.
I agree with Jenn to take the living books from Sonlight and leave the lesson plans. Sonlight, from what I can gather, goes through the books at rather a fast speed. You can't gather a relationship with the books if you are going through them quickly. You become more focused on whether you are going to get the through the book on time rather than on what the book is actually telling you. CM advocates reading a book slowly to give the child time to acclimate him/herself to all that the book is telling them. This is how a relationship is formed.
Once you are comfortable with reading this way and ready for more of a challenge, look at Ambleside Online and Mater Amibilis for more ideas of challening living books.
Take baby steps. One at a time so that you won't become too overwhelmed.
__________________
Blessings,
Julia
mom of 3(14,13 & 11 yrs.old)
MusingsofaPrairieGirl
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
|
|
4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: Help me be more CM in our learning
