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CM burnout possibly returning

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Started 1 year ago by ChristyH
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ChristyH
Member

Over 5 years ago I was an ardent follower of CM using AO, but one day I woke up and just couldn't do another day. My voice was tired and I felt like CM's methods let me down. I didn't feel that my kids liked the books or wanted to read them. Narration wasn't happening well and writing was nonexsistent. Maybe my expectations were wrong, but it all seemed so dry and dull.

We switched to MFW and then to Sonlight. I have Cores F and 200 from SL for next year. Core 200 looks like too "much" for my 15 year old dd. I want to soften it a little.

Writing is what has me panicing. Especially for for dd. over the last 2 years of using SL's writing I don't feel like I am seeing any improvements. I have used IEW a little but wow is it time consuming and it just doesn't feel right. (What an excuse, it doesn't feel right, how lame) She is planning on community college for after high school and working with young children, so I don't need intensive writing. Maybe epi kardia's essay writing might help. That is within my price range. Any advice?

I have been reading many archived posts on teaching writing here and I feel drawn to written narrations again and more CM styled learning. My heart cringes though as I felt CM methods let me down before. I am afraid to trust. Does it really work, DOES IT???!!! If it worked for you do you thik there were other lifestyle choices that you made that helped it work? Can I come back at such a late time with twins boys who are 11 and dd who is 14? If I come back, can I rearrange my SL? (I can't really buy new stuff, tight budget)

Has anyone else ever left and then come back to CM's methods before?

Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
momto2blessings
Member

So sorry you're struggling. Writing has been a stress for me, too. How old is your dd? I plan to likely use Epi Kardia in h.s. Right now we're using: http://www.edudps.com/WWTB.html.  It's a CM-style writing program and we LOVE it. Recommended by Linda(missingtheshire) here. Lessons are short, but dd is learning a lot and enjoying her writing projects (that wasn't happening before). And since it's so easy to use there's plenty of time to do written narrations in other subjects w/o burnout.

On a side note, AO is wonderful but I would be burned out if I would have stuck totally with it. We use their lit., but I now combine my kids in TQ/SCM history and I make my own CM schedule using SCM's "Planning Your CM Education." Fitting CM principles to our family preferences is very freeing for me. We choose to do less Shakespeare and Plutarch than AO and use children's versions longer. We sometimes don't get as many poets/composers/artists in as I'd like. But we're plugging away and I still think CM is the best way to go:) Just my .02! Hope you feel refreshed soon:) Gina

Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
my3boys
Member

Hi Gina,

That link doesn't seem to be working, could you repost?? I'm interested in what it is for my ds.

I'm also leaning toward Epi Kardia, but haven't purchased anything yet for my ds (8th grade in the Fall) but I do need to make a decision soon.

Thanks.

Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
4myboys
Member

Try this link: http://www.edudps.com/WWTB.html

Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
momto2blessings
Member

Hope the other link worked:) I can't speak highly enough about WWtB. Love it. If you have any specific qu., please feel free to ask and I'll help if I can:) Gina

Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
amama5
Member

I can't speak for the writing yet, sorry, but AO is so much more intense than SCM in my opinion. (But I don't feel that SCM is any less of a good curriculum because of that). I was all set to do AO until we found this website, and it has been wonderful for us. My kids enjoyed some of AO books, but mostly all of SCM book recommendations. Maybe if you ended up CM again you could try this website, or others mentioned above?

Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
countrygirlathome
Member

Christy,

I had to chime in here. :) Having a now 23 year old that was homeschooling on CM methods that we "put together ourselves", it works! :) It was a very gentle style of learning. I did not use AO, but put together my own with Charlotte's methods. Our kids are spaced apart in age - so now I have a 13 year old daughter who has also been raised on "mostly" Charlotte's methods but we have fit Sonlight into that. I am here because I want to add in more of the methods that I did with my son. We have always done narrations, lots of reading aloud, nature studies, etc....but gotten away from picture study and composer study, etc.. We also have a 4 year old and I want him to have the best of both. I still love Sonlight's literature/history/geography choices as we have learned so much and reading aloud is the highlight of our day.

So I said all of that to say, that we are sticking with our Sonlight for history/geography/Bible and drawing from other curriculums such as MathUSee, God's Design for Science, but still following Charlotte's methods and I am so glad to have found this site and the online organizer. I am in my trial period and it is wonderful!

I think you can't go wrong with Charlotte's gentle art of learning but I do think there are many ways (and books) that can be incorporated. Just do what fits your family!

Blessings,

Tammy

Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
momto2blessings
Member

Oh, just wanted to add that I burned out a bit w/SL, too....and AO....I sure sound wimpy:) I had a hard time adding CM ideas to the full SL schedule. I'm a box checker, so following SL's guide was hard for me. But the book selections are great. If it feels like too much maybe you could drop some books and savor the ones you use and focus on narrations rather than all the comprehension qu.? I didn't like SL LA either....definately think CM ways are better. I believe CM methods work...but it can be overwhelming if we add in too many other things. Less is more, IMHO:) Gina

Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
ChristyH
Member

I am a box checker also, sonot checking boxes can be difficult for me. It is hard to leave an area of comfort. Box checking is comfortable. I need to stick my toe on the water.

Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
momto2blessings
Member

Yeah, box checking does give some comfort. I'm pretty sure I'm going to get the SCM guide for next year. It looks like it's more doable for me...and you can't beat $11 for a year of history/bible/geography planned out! I like that's it's scheduled by the day...just do the next day...not week-by-week. I always get thrown off with the SL type schedules if we have a field trip or sick day, etc. The SCM guide we're doing (Ancients) doesn't look too heavy so I think it will be easy to add some other books I'd like to read, but feel good that I've at least completed the guide, too. That's the plan anyway:) Blessings, Gina

Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
missingtheshire
Member

Gina so glad you are enjoying Write with the Best, I do highly recommend that course, and then follow it with Epi Kardi Essay course and Research paper...worked out great for my daughters - one a very strong writer and the other less so, but both came on in leaps and bounds with these courses and are now very confident and competent writers. I use a mix of HEO and SCM and other things..AO/HEO alone is a chore if you are not comfortable knowing which books to pick and feel that you need them all or are uncomfortable dropping one that does not work. SCM has a less frenetic pace and is well organized which is a great fit for many people - I agree with Gina, less can be more. Good luck..

Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
ChristyH
Member

Yesterday, I had my dd write a one page written narration for anything she wanted that pertained to whatever she was reading for school and it blew me away!!!!. I was almost upset because here I was thinking she wasn't writing well enough and most of her assignments from SL were just slapped together.

I will confess that I was going to go with IEW. I know all the good things about it but I never have peace about it. I was ready to plunk down a fortune, but now I am not so sure. I am tired of mentally waffling. So many people have had great succes with IEW. I have tried it twice and haven't stuck with it. Why should I think the third time is the charm?

You all have given lots to ponder again and encouragement. Maybe I'll redo her schedule from SL for next year into something a little less intense.

If anyone has more thoughts I would love to hear them.

Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
simple home
Member

What ages are recommended to start Write With the Best?

I have never heard of this CM style writing program.

Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
missingtheshire
Member

Simple Home, there are two ebook type downloads vol 1 and 2, they cover grades 3 through 12. It is not a perfect program, but then there are no perfect programs, but it was great to help get the girls ready for serious writing and they were well prepared after using this course and then Epi Kardia. So anywhere from grade 3 up is the answer.

Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
missingtheshire
Member

postscript to above: You can get a hard cover copy - you have to be careful with the download, you cannot save it to your computer, you can print it once and copy certain pages of the curriculum...so if you buy it, make sure to carefully follow the download and print instructions. They have very strict copyright on their items.

Posted 1 year ago # Report Post

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