Name: Thrive! NCHE Homeschool Conference
Start: 2025-05-22T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-05-24T23:59:59-05:00
Location: Winston-Salem, NC

This topic has 5 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 8 years ago by Amanda Bombico.

Viewing 6 posts - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)

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May 2, 2017 at 6:37 am
Amanda Bombico
Participant
I’ve been homeschooling for a few years now. My oldest is 10. We are just now switching over to a Charlotte Mason way of learning and I’m very excited. I really love the Simply Charlotte Mason curriculum. We are currently using their history and science and plan on sticking with those pretty much forever! I’m now looking into their Language Arts. My 10 year old is a bit behind in reading(we think he has dyslexia, but have not had him tested), but seems to understand grammar rather well. We’ve been using First Language Lessons for the Well Trained Mind for the past 3 years. So he’s finishing up Level 3 this year. He does ok with it, but it is a lot of memorizing and that’s a bit tough for him. I do like them a lot, but thinking of switching over to Using Language Well. We have not done spelling yet, since reading has been such a struggle. So I understand I need the Spelling Wisdom to go along with that. My question is where do I start? Do I start him off in 5th grade with book 1 from the series and then do book 2 for 6th grade. I’m not overly concerned with him staying “on track” but as always, I worry about not giving him enough. And another question, I have a 6 year old I plan on doing some things with next year, what grade do you typically start the Using Language Well in? I’m only doing History and Science with him because we do it as a family. Next year we’re going full on Charlotte Mason and doing picture study, hymn study, and poetry. Any tips or help with the whole switch over would be greatly appreciated!
May 2, 2017 at 9:10 am
my3boys
Participant
My 11 yo is using Book 1 and it is plenty when it comes the grammar/parts of speech and spelling.
Fourth grade is the youngest to begin a grammar program. Until then, daily copy work (or learning to form letters, etc.), good literature, oral narrations with or without drawings is plenty.
I’m sure I’ve forgotten something but others will chime in. HTH
May 2, 2017 at 9:47 am
Amanda Bombico
Participant
Great! I think I will start with this next year. I’m sure we’ve already covered a lot of it, but it never hurts to review. Plus I’m not completely sure how much he’s retained, since it was so much memorizing(like memorizing the definition of a noun, verb, sentence, ect.) I just want him to understand what those things are, not repeat back to me the definition!
May 2, 2017 at 2:30 pm
my3boys
Participant

And, don’t be surprised or discouraged if you take longer to complete SW/ULW. You can certainly finish in a school year but it seems to take my children longer, which is okay.
My 11 yo is just now becoming a more fluent reader. Sometimes it just takes time, unless there is an underlying issue, like dyslexia.
I would ease in one “Riches” at a time, to not overwhelm, but do add them in. They are as much of an importance in a Charlotte Mason education as any other subject😊
May 2, 2017 at 3:49 pm
Benita
Participant
I started with the second half of book one with my fourth grader because she already knew the concepts taught in the first half. We have enjoyed this resource and look forward to moving on to the next book in the fall. I’ve tried many different resources over the years for grammar, this is by far my favorite.
May 2, 2017 at 6:53 pm
Amanda Bombico
Participant
Well, we have done picture study before as it is in the Well trained mind curriculum, but only a few times a year. I think it will be easy to add that in! Handicrafts on the other hand….I’m not very crafty in anyway. I can’t see or crochet or draw. I’m not even good at simple crafts!