Okay, ladies. I need some help, then. Much to my dismay (and my children's misfortune), I have been all over the map with regards to homeschooling. My journey began (as anyone who was raised in the public school system and didn't yet even know other methods existed) with "school at home" (Abeka). I knew within the first week that it was NOT what I wanted. I then discovered Waldorf education and I was drawn to the beauty and gentleness of it and the aspects that involved nature. Then, I discovered Charlotte Mason and I fell in love. CM education embodies most everything that I find important in education. But, I have still gone back and forth between CM and Waldorf and have yet to SETTLE IN. I currently have 1st and 3rd graders and we are making our way through the year, but I am really focusing on figuring out NEXT year, so that FOR ONCE I can have a solid plan and we can have a wonderful year.
We have not done structured History yet, as I agree a bit with some of the Waldorf philosophies in regards to that. This year, we are focusing on the Old Testament for Bible and thus hearing stories and doing activities surrounding the Israelites as well as their neighbors. I will also be bringing in some Native American stories.
I have been around and around (in my head, of course) and ultimately decided I'd like to do a year of US geography and basic/gentle history before doing Ancient History. I thought it might be boring to do Old Testament right after doing Old Testament, kwim?
I want excellent living books. I want them to narrate and only my older daughter (who will be in 4th grade) to START written narrations. I want hands on activities to go along with the studies ~ cooking, crafts, etc.
I already knew that I did not want to go on with MFW later, but I was considering (actually, I thought I'd sort of finally settled) using MFW Adventures and adding extra reading selections for my 4th grader, to beef it up for her. I love perusing the Sonlight catalog, too, but had come to the conclusion (on this forum, I believe) that Sonlight does too much too fast rather than the slow and steady Charlotte Mason approach.
Soooo, I'm wondering. Those of you who HAVE done MFW Adventures, was it more CM? I had no intention of making my children do worksheets (I would have them narrate orally and my older occasionally work on written narrations, I would have them draw pictures, I would do the hands-on activities). If not, what would you suggest for a good 2nd / 4th grade Intro to American History and US Geography before moving into Ancients?
I am at a loss. I love the books in the Beautiful Feet Early American, but there are no activities in there and it is more notebooky (I believe). I love the look of Sonlight, but it is too much to do the CM way. I don't know how I feel about MFW, but it appears I would probably not like it (based on the comments above, because I agree with everything you ladies are saying). So, now what? Do I just pick my own books and make up my own thing and hunt the internet for the activities???? UGH I was trying to avoid that. :)
Suggestions?
Many blessings,
Melissa
http://www.irienarrowpath.blogspot.com