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Overdoing it with resources and curriculum or not enough
- This topic has 8 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 12 years, 9 months ago by
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Hello all,
So we did Ambleside Online the last few years and have been excited to try SCM and be together in history. Of course, I’m having a really hard time now of letting go of AO, because honestly, I think their history is awsome. We’ve never done all the mythology they study or the Shakespeare in the quantity it suggests, but their history and literature we’ve used in their entirety. We started SCM Module 1 and are on day 11 or so, we just started Letters From Egypt today. We loved it. It was only the introduction letter but my entire family really enjoyed it. Of course, the sheer quantity does seem very light compared to AO. I can’t quite wrap my mind around that and how easy it is to implement. Right now I have AO AND SCM scheduled for them to do. This seems like overkill in a way, and yet with just SCM I feel like maybe it’s not enough? Of course, I have 5 children, and making things easier is a definite perk. My ds4 is extremely challenging right now, and my dd1 is very much a mama’s girl who needs me constantly. So when I do too much I feel like I’m leaving them out. I guess what I’m asking is for permission not to continue with AO history even though I think it’s excellent. I can’t let go of it by myself. My brain just won’t let me! I really wanted this year to be about getting deeper in the Bible and improving spelling, writing and math skills, but I can’t seem to get it through my thick skull that it’ll be ok to let AO’s history go and lighten my load a little.
::sigh:: Thanks for listening to my little ramble. I appreciate it.
Before SCM, I was part of a KONOS co-op with just my son. SCM encouraged me to try and homeschool my two public schooled girls as well. So we started SCM but continued KONOS. OMGoodness, it was WAY too much. I had too many things on the todo list. We dropped Konos this spring and did our 3rd term just SCM. The kids are responding better, Im responding better. Drop AO…you dont want to be spread too thin. And we have gotten DEEP into Egyptian History because we have the time to explore when we want to, and because the kids are becoming familiar with Egypt, they are seeking out more info on their own time. It all works out 🙂
You totally sound like me and my grammar saga with DS. I had a hard time dropping 1st Language Lessons by JWB, and just using Queen’s LL for the Very Young.
I think we end up under a self imposed yoke of great expectations. Proportionally askew many times in my own experience. But a wise person told me that even if you used the goofiest, gimmicky, all fluff and rainbows curiculum out there, your children would STILL be getting a deeper education that many public schools because they are being RAISED in a learning, loving, faith building, character and integrity equipping, life skills forming, family oriented home school.
Your children are growing brilliant everyday. your educational choices impact them less than your delivery and attitude. If they feel you feeling sub-par about something, they will accept that information half heartedly. Give them the benefit of your joy. Let go and be free to teach whole heartedly. Hugs!
Keep in mind too that Module 1 is the “lightest” of all the modules. So the upcoming years will have more to them! 🙂
Thank you for the encouragement and insight. I’m going to go ahead and drop AO as my main curriculum for sure and certain.
When I went to AO from another curriculum several years ago I thought it would be more freeing, and it actually was to a certain degree. I think SCM is another step toward that for my family. @botanicalbecky – I assume you are referring to SCM’s history modules when you say Module 1 is the “lightest.” This will be our second year using CM methods and SCM’s curriculum guide, and I’ve been kind of operating with “tunnel vision” when it comes to the scheduled curriculum. So, which module would you say is the “heaviest” of them? Module 5? Module 6?
ha – you got me! yes I meant the history modules, but I only know its the “lightest” because on another post where module 1 was being discussed, Sonja herself said this (that its the lightest of all the modules). I’m only in module 1 myself, so I can’t say from experience which of the remaining modules would be “heaviest”. Sorry :).
Quite all right, but I suppose I could just take a look at the recommended materials for the other modules (we’ve done 5 and I’m in the midst of planning 6) and figure that out for myself! That’s kind of where the “tunnel vision” comes in–I’ve focused so much on module 5 and now 6 that I’ve fairly ignored 1-4!
When I went to AO from another curriculum several years ago I thought it would be more freeing, and it actually was to a certain degree. I think SCM is another step toward that for my family. 
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