Anyone switched over from My Father's World to SCM guide??

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  • txkimbleys
    Member

    Hi!  We used My Father’s Word ECC last year and really liked it for the most part.  But I am feeling drawn to these Simply Charlotte Mason guides.  Can anyone offer any input if they have tried both?  I have seven children ages 14 to 15 months and will be schooling 5 children this year.  Thanks for your help!

    jojo
    Member

    Hi, we used MFW ECC last year and we liked it also.  I found this sight and read more about the Charlotte Mason way and knew I needed this approach. I wanted to use the guides and books on here, so we started using the guide for Module 1 for 1 child and using Module 5 for other 2 children (needed american history for them this year or would have done all Module 1). So far I love the Module 1 Guide and wish they had Module 5 Guide done (but it will be in the future). So for the Module 5 im just using a “spine text” and we are reading the first book on the list of the curriculum grid for module 5 and so far all is going great.. we are using the curriculum guide and its subjects with its suggestions for most of my curriculum this year and we love what we have used so far!(Just started at the end of August) I hope this helps. blessing billiejo

    Jackie Betancourt
    Participant

    Hello jojo and txkimbleys! I know that this post was from about 4 years ago, but I would love to know how things are going if you both are still using SCM? We currently switched from MFW and are beginning SCM module 3, Ancient Rome. How did it work out for you both? I hope y’all are still on this forum. God bless

    Blessings, Jackie in TN

    MelissaB
    Participant

    I’m not either of the other gals who wrote four years ago, but we too used ECC (our first year of homeschooling) and then switched to SCM. I really LOVE SCM and am so happy with our switch. HS’ing has been a process for me. I think mainly because I have some older kids who went to public school, however I feel like we’re finally in a pretty good groove. we just started our fourth year of hs’ing today (using module 4) and am so happy that we’re using SCM matierals, CM ideas/methods, and most of all that I listened to the Lord guiding us to HS’ing.

    Melissa

    ServingwithJoy
    Participant

    I am not one of those ladies, either, but as you know Jackie, I did the switch from MFW – then to WP – then to SCM. I think of that time as a transition for me from using a more scripted approach to learning how to implement Charlotte’s Methods for myself.

    I was trying to think of a good word picture, and I think I have it!

    Do you know how when you try a new recipe, you are constantly looking down at the paper recipe and following it to a ‘T’? But in cooking and baking, there are certain principles that you must follow to get good results. Once you understand the principles of cooking, you have more freedom and creativity.

    After you have been making a recipe for a while, you end up adding/subtracting some things, and doing it more from memory and what you have found that works. You feel more freedom to branch out and follow your own instincts. What you have may not look much like the original recipe – but it is more suited to your tastes, time, talents, etc…

    I think that is the difference between using a more scripted program like MFW and something like SCM. SCM gives you the freedom not to have to follow the ‘recipe’ every day – you can adapt your children’s education to your family and their unique needs. You get a good grasp of the principles and then have the freedom to make it work for you and your kids.

    I am not against using scripted programs (especially during certain seasons) but I think the things you can learn from SCM are like getting YOUR education in educating your kids! You can apply the techniques and heart of CM no matter what program you use, but some of the schedules (recipes) are going to be easier to adapt than others.

    Hope that makes sense!

    KeriJ
    Participant

    ServingwithJoy, I loved your post!  You said it perfectly.  That is where I’ve finally come to in my homeschooling.  We are using a SCM guide for the first time this year, and that is how it is working for us as well.  I’m truly using it as a guide….not a lesson plan.  Because I know what I want to accomplish, I refer to the guide and make any changes I see fit for our family.  

    “SCM gives you the freedom not to have to follow the recipe every day.”  That’s exactly how I would describe it.

    MelissaB
    Participant

    Oh such a great analogy – I couldn’t agree more!

    Jackie Betancourt
    Participant

    Thanks for your encouragement, ladies! That was definitely a wonderful analogy, ServingwithJoy! I can see it the way I was supposed to in the first place. I was actually even looking at Sonlight this week, thinking that more structure is what we needed. However, that’s what got us to this point of frustration in the first place! I am going to sit down and truly pray this week, and ask the Lord to lead us. I can’t keep doubting our decision and expect a different result. God bless you all! Wink

    Blessings, Jackie in TN 

    Bramble
    Participant

    I have used MFW or HOD for six years, and SCM has given me a real peace and the freedom discussed here already.  It has been amazing for my family.  We all look forward to school now.  When I first started homeschooling, I wanted so much to do things the CM way but I couldn’t really grasp what that should really look like.  I had read the Charlotte Mason Companion, but really wanted more hand holding.  I liked ordering a box of everything from these other companies and I thought I liked the schedules they provided, but really it just wasn’t a good fit for my family.  SCM has given me just the right amount of hand holding with their guides and recommendations.  Also, we love every SCM product we have tried.  I also like the reasonable prices, and the fact the authors really seem to understand homeschooling with various ages/large families.  I just can’t say enough good about SCM.  

    Jackie Betancourt
    Participant

    Thank you, Bramble. I totally understand about the hand-holding thing. That is where I struggle a bit. I get all excited when I order that new all-in-one box of books, then become discouraged once we’ve been doing it for several weeks with the lack of results I would like. I love the layout of the SCM books we received recently, and just need to dive in this week and just do it! Yes, I am a bit nervous about the lack of hand-holding, but at the same time, I am excited to finally be reading some living books to dig deeper. Thanks again!

    Blessings, Jackie in TN 

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