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1st grade suggestions!
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Hello, I’m just starting out on the Charlotte Mason journey with my two children, 7 & 4. I’m reading the Intro to CM but i’m stuck on the “Spine” that is suggested in the “how-to” guide. What qualifies as a “Spine” and what are your suggestions for a Spine book for a 1st grade girl? I tried using the SCM book finder, but typing in the keywords spine & 1st grade didn’t get any results…
I very much appreciate any help you can give. I’m also wondering if something like the “Story of the World” would function as a spine? I already own it, and it would be great if that would do for now. I’d love to choose our spine book rather quickly as I love what i’m learning about CM and want to start up straight away.
Yes, a spine book gives you an overview of many historical events in chronological order. You read from it each week, while also reading from a well written historical fiction/literature book set in the time period to bring things to life. Story of the World can work as a spine. What time period are you looking at doing?
Ah, you ask a wise question, and I suppose my answer would be – I don’t know yet??? What do most people do for 1st grade? This will be our first time using Living Books and the CM method so I will gladly accept any sort of advice as to where to start.
I think it is a pretty even split on starting with ancient history (this is the approach Simply Charlotte Mason’s materials are slated for) or starting with your own country (American history I’m guessing? Canadian? Wherever you are.).
The next decision is how many times you want to cycle through history. SCM does 6 years, more time on ancients/biblical history than a lot of other curricula. Many do a 4 year cycle (ancients, middle ages/renaissance/reformation, early modern times (colonies up to the civil war), and modern times (civil war to the present day). I think there are even a few that do 3 year cycles.
And after you decide when you want to start you will quickly realize that any other children you have will start at different time periods if you are keeping the family together, so where you begin with this first child really doesn’t matter. Do what sounds most interesting to YOU. 😉
Not sure that is a lot of help. Ask more questions any time! Also, SCM has a wonderful learning library under the Learn & Discuss tab at the top of the page. You can look at blog posts they’ve done by series or by topic. Series is a great way to start, then you’ll see options for a series on getting started, or a series on the early years, etc.
For an American history beginning, look at Beautiful Feet Books. They start their younger years with American history. I like to browse different curriculum provider’s materials to get book ideas, even if I don’t buy their materials. It gives me books to look for at the library or buy for our home.
Wow – yes that is incredibly helpful. I will read through your post a few times, look up the resource you suggested and then come up with more questions (i’m sure!).
Thank you!
another great resource for living book ideas for history is all through the ages by Christine Miller. She hah good books arranged by time period from ancient to modern.
I think we’ll start with American History after reading up on all of the options. Thank you very much for your help! : )
For 1st grade, just enjoy it! Read lots of interesting living books. Have you checked into Five in a Row? Both your kids could do that together. Save formal history for later. Share some good picture books for American History around the holidays that come up, or Beautiful Feet Primary American History Guide is a great choice for this age. For math, I recommend Right Start or the SCM Mathematics book by Richele, with Ray’ s Primary/Strayor Upton – lots of various hands-on manipulatives and natural everyday math. Focus on good habits and character training at this age. Play games, go on field trips, work puzzles, paint, listen to good music. Make learning fun.
I agree with Wings2fly. It’s really not that important which time period you study or that you study things in order at this point. In the first grade we simply read library books on various history and science topics for those subjects. The only curriculum I bought for 1st grade was Math U See. We used living books via the library and our home collection for all other subjects. This is the time to keep it simple and just enjoy learning together. 🙂
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