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Designing CM curriculum for foreign students
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I live in South America and have been working on a homeschooling program for the families in our church. I was inspired by Ms. Mason correspondence school for parents to use resources to educate in a home setting. I am not sure how to place students. We are in a poor community where children do not have access to books or libraries. I have a student who will be 7 in April. He would be entering first grade since they place by age.
My question is since I think the level of books that Charlotte started with would be a bit advanced for this community, how should I approach “first grade?” It’s also a big learning curve for the mothers to learn how to educate using Ms. Mason’s methods so I want to set the family up for success during the first year.
They are enrolled through a school in the U.S. and fortunately, the required work for first grade is rather gentle. They focus on the 3 rs with two additional subjects like Bible and Art. The families have the choice of using any materials, resources of their choosing.
Thank you for any advice or insight you can provide.
What an exciting opportunity! I think you can design a wonderful year of learning for first graders based on Charlotte’s schedule. For that first year of formal studies, she used minimal books and more hands-on activities. Here are some suggestions based on some of her schedules and your situation.
Subjects
Bible: Read an account and ask for oral narration.
Handwriting: Copywork
Repetition: Work on memorizing and reciting a poem, a Bible passage, or a hymn.
Arithmetic: You can use the PDF download of The Charlotte Mason Elementary Arithmetic Series, Book 1, along with everyday objects. The lessons are short, interactive, and oral.
Exercise/Dance: Get up and moving; possibly learn a regional folk dance
Geography: Do outside geography like the lessons outlined in Home Education, pages 72–78.
Reading: Work on word-building or actual reading lessons. You can find additional details in Home Education, pages 199–222.
Sing: Sing a hymn or folk song together.
Picture Study: You can use the PDF download of our Picture Study Portfolios, or just select an artist and use Google images to look at specific works over the weeks.
Music Study: Select a composer and listen to his music. You can use the electronic download of our Music Study with the Masters, or just use what you can find online.
Poetry: Read poems. You can find many free online.
Nature Study: Go outside and get to know nature around you.
Foreign Language: This is optional but came to mind as another possibility. The Cherrydale Press lesson books are available as PDF downloads.
Potential Schedule
Monday: Bible, Handwriting, Repetition (poem), Arithmetic, Exercise/Dance, Geography, Reading
Tuesday: Bible, Drawing, Repetition (Bible), Arithmetic, Sing/Play, Foreign Language, Picture Study, Reading
Wednesday: Handwriting, Reading, Arithmetic, Exercise/Dance, Foreign Language, Handicrafts/Painting
Thursday: Bible, Reading, Music Study, Sing/Play, Drawing, Arithmetic, Poetry
Friday: Bible, Reading, Repetition (hymn), Arithmetic, Exercise/Dance, Handwriting, Nature Study
This looks so lovely and gentle. My how you have a way of presenting these subjects so as not to overwhelm 😉 I have a few questions such as:
Is it ok to delay History until 2 grade? We have A Child’s History of the World in Spanish and some biographies for children.
What about “Literature”, read alouds?
We have many living books in Spanish for the early years, Form I, ect. For example-Aesop’s Fables, Winnie the Pooh,
Thank you Sonya for your wise advice.
Yes, I think it’s fine to delay history until 2nd grade.
Oh good! You could easily add in a Literature read-aloud, such as Aesop’s Fables or Winnie the Pooh, a couple of times a week.
If you wanted to add history and literature, you could alternate them throughout the week: maybe do history on Wednesdays and Fridays and literature on Tuesdays and Thursdays, or something like that. Just make sure you schedule them at a different time of the day than next to Bible (the other read-and-narrate subject).
The main thing is to make sure you don’t overload. You can always start smaller and add more after the children get comfortably into the rhythm.
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