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Feeling VERY overwhelmed
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I don’t have much time to really share, so keeping this short. I am thinking seriously of leaving the CM method & putting my DC in the a.c.e. school of tomorrow curriculum. We are finding it hard to get everything done. We had a very disruptive school year with the needs of both my husband’s Dad & both my parents(who live 1100 miles from us). I have 2 in high school -DS 11th gr & 12 gr this year. They are not done & they need a break from school as do I, in spite of the fact that we had a few weeks mid year where we did very little to no school due to having to help my parents. I’m sad to leave CM… yet stressed, tired of ‘doing school’… I want to feel like a failure. Its my DS in 11 gr that I’m especially thinking of putting into the a.c.e for his american history but I’m considering using that curriculum for all 4 of my children for next year. Is it worth it?
I went to an ACE school and so did my husband. I tried to bring in some ACE last year to give myself a break. The math and language arts were fine (but I didn’t use their grade school spelling…..we tried that once before and it was AWFUL!!!! Something like 40 words at a time and my child was getting most of them wrong!!!), but when it came to Social Studies and Science, my kids were struggling so much with the absolute boredom of it. They started hating school and my kids have always liked history and science.
But when I was in school, I loved ACE. Loved being able to get ahead. Loved the character in the book. Loved the way it was laid out. I really, really loved it.
And I’ve always said that if I get burned out and we need to do something different, I’ll do ACE because the way it is laid out is teacher intensive. But, now I know I’d use Christian Light for Social Studies and Science. 🙂 Same lay out, much less boring and laid out in lessons.
I too went to an ACE school, back in the 80’s when it was the 2nd ed. They had just started the 3rd edition in the youngest grades & I was just old enough to miss out. I attended the ACE school from 5th-12th grade.
Several years ago when my two oldest boys were around 4th & 5th grade, I used the ACE curriculum for the three that were in school. We used every subject, I believe. That is the year, when looking back through their school work I’ve saved, they don’t remember learning a thing! They especially detest the social studies. I remember my oldest saying at the time, ‘they skip a LOT of stuff!” I didn’t know about CM then but they were used to reading books for history and science. (they were also narrating to me, orally. They just didn’t know it, but neither did I! I didn’t know there was such a thing as doing school that way. They would come to me all excited, over and over, telling me of something they’d read in a book) My second oldest tells me that the ACE is mind-numbing & only teaches you how to supply the answer they are wanting; that in the looking back for the answers to the questions, he loses his concentration & forgets a lot of what he’d just read. So….. that doesn’t make it easy to use it again…
For ME, the year we used the ACE was freeing. It gave me the break I was needing, and yet….. I was still very busy only in a different way, sometimes scoring, giving them their tests & yes those word building paces with the long lists. UGH By the end of the year some of the kids had totally lost their interest and was only doing school to get it done. I don’t want that either.
It just seems like that we’ve all lost our motivation to do any school. Everyone is dragging, but I feel the pressure, especially for my 8th grader , 11, & 12th graders. My oldest wants to use ACE for English because it’s all there, the writing, lit & grammar. Yet past experience tells ME he won’t keep up with the amount of work. Just reading books for lit, and doing something else for writing seems complicated to him. He’s my guy who needs exact lesson plans telling him what to do & when.
Here’s why ‘I’ want to use ACE. It SEEMS simpler at this point. They need to learn to set a goal and get it done. I’m thinking I would even give the demerits & privileges – it’s that motivation thing. It will only work though if ‘I’ can follow through with the whole ‘implementing the system’ thing. but….. I love the CM method. Oh, I should say, we don’t follow CM in everything for every child. I’m using it where it works the best for each child & where they can do it mostly independently, like History. I’m uncertain and afraid to try it totally for the language arts/English, mostly in high school. I don’t know how. My youngest is/was using the HOD guides with cle for math and ace for English.
I’m sorry this is so long & for all the rambling. Maybe I just need to vent. Hope you all have a good day 🙂
I have never seen ACE, so take this with a grain of salt. For American history, have you ever looked at Notgrass high school history? It’s reading, answering questions for each chapter of the reading, and reading source documents and literature (provided). So it can be done independently, but isn’t as mind-numbing as ACE sounds. Just a thought.
I think ACE English is great. I really do. I think CLE math is great.
And if you and/or your kids want to do, I say go for it. I think that ACE literature is a LOT of work. You have to read the book and do the entire PACE of question and answers, not just a little literature guide. If they want to do it, I’d get them the literature books and just have them narrate it.
They can set goals without ACE. After my sister and I switched from an ACE school to homeschooling, we set all of our own goals and did our work entirely on our own.
You can implement that in anything.
I think ACE doesn’t teach thinking/studying skills and I would avoid it for the subjects where you need to be doing research. But if you use it, it’s not the end of the world. If your kids have been doing narrations for year, they already have that skill (but they’ll probably hate the PACE’s!)
How about Lightening Lit for your oldest?
https://www.hewitthomeschooling.com/Senior/sLightning.aspx
You could pay 275 for a full year for someone else to do his evaluations.
https://www.hewitthomeschooling.com/Senior/sPricing.aspx
Notgrass would definitely help you out. It’s independent, but.not mindnumbing. Exploring America covers Bible, American history, and American Literature.
https://history.notgrass.com/high-school/exploring-america/
Notgrass also has a World History /Lit all-in-one book and Gov. and Economics. Independent and easy for you to implement.
https://history.notgrass.com/shop-high-school/
If you need someone to grade papers for you, I have a recommendation. Also, it’s cost effective: the hardback boojs are easily found used and either your kids not write in the workbooks or if so, that could be the only thing you purchase 3x. Tests you can probably make copies.
Teaching Textbooks math would give you more peace of mind, as it teaches and grades for you. Or CTC Math. It’s complete, now and very affordable. Also, Tabletclass. Super hands-off. All you have to do is grade. My son checks his own work, then I applythe grade. If he needs help, he can call or email Mr. Zimmerman.
Have you considered an online literature and/or history class for your rising junior and/or senior? I can recommend a few with reasonable prices and pricing plans.
If interested, Logic is easily done with Memoria Press.
Also, use audio books when you can while traveling.
Do you need science recommendations?
For SAT/ACT prep, ReasonPrep is very cost-effective and I have heard good things.
What other subjects?
Do whatever you need to do to make it through this, as long as your children’s love of learning stays intact, along with your sanity.
I have had a very difficult past few years, dealing the mental illnesses of my husband and dd; in addition, my own chronic spinal condition, my son’s depression (due to stress from his dad and sister) and his and my migraines. So, I have had to make adjustments. I understand what it’s like to feel overwhelmed and still struggle with the repercussions from all that’s transpired.
If your children need foreign language, I would try to outsource that. My son has taken Latin 1A and 1B the last two years using Latin Alive 1 from Elizabeth Thomas at Big River Academy. He’ll take Latin 2 next year. You can pay half now and half at the beginning of August.
I’v heard good things about Open Tent Academy and they have an even more generous payment plans.
For your 8th grader’s science, Apologia General or John Tiner’s Exploring series are very independent. Memoria Press has tests/exams you can purchase for it; otherwise, there are questions in the text.
For your 8th grader’s history, Dorothy Mill’s history series are very thorough, are interesting, and would prepare well for high school. Memoria Press has workbooks for each book (I recommend that for your ease over written narrations; your 8th grader can still talk about what they’ve learned).
They can do Book of the Ancient World and The Book of the Ancient Greeks in 8th; and The Book of the Ancient Romans and The Book of the Middle Ages in 9th.
https://www.memoriapress.com/curriculum/classical-studies/book-ancient-greeks/
Or, Notgrass’ middle school materials. The American History includes literature and so does the World History, so thats killing 2 birds with one stone. Their Civics text is also very good.
https://history.notgrass.com/shop-middle-school/
Again, a lot of these can be found used.
I would give some sort of break over the summer. I don’t know what work is outstanding.
You’re right, MissusLeata, it wouldn’t be the end of the world : ) I just want to give my children a good education, better than what I had, but I know there are children who really did learn using the ACE.
Thanks for the others who replied and for your thoughts. We are using the Teaching Textbooks for Math for the boys & for science the two older boys are using Master Books Survey of Astronomy. My 11th grader is still finishing up his math, Algebra 2, and won’t get it done until near the end of June. The two oldest boys are using SCM history modules & are at Lesson 100 or so.
Another option I’ve considered for next year, would be to do Math & English with a curriculum and then follow the Robinson Curriculum. My children all have other interests they would like to pursue or learn about but school takes up so much time or else the school money won’t stretch. I would also like to incorporate music study, picture study, etc. Something like what SCM Enrichment books does.
MissusLeata, when you and your sister homeschooled, did you continue with the ACE or did you use something else?
I went to an ACE school as well; for my 4 high school years. I was just glad to get out of public school. I didn’t mind ACE. I knew nothing else. But, I was not a high academic achiever. When I began homeschooling my own kids, I started out with ACE, but it wasn’t long until my one daughter said she wanted other curriculum, after seeing what some friends were doing. This was in the ’90s. Now the options are endless. My oldest was okay with paces or textbooks. He didn’t stay in ACE though. For a while he did Lifepacs from Alpha Omega. Did you consider those. I really believe they are a little more engaging than paces. You can look at samples at aop.com. I think they are a little more advanced than ACE, so don’t necessarily look at grade level. It was just a thought, if you want them to have something they can work on independently.
Just want to say, that I don’t really WANT to leave the CM method. My two high school boys ( they are the ones I’m most concerned about, because they are behind) don’t really want to quit their scm history either.( and by the way, they are doing their history independently)
I was trying to figure out a way we could get done with it THIS year & still have a much needed break before next school year.
My thought with using ace was, that maybe it would be quicker for them & it’s a familiar way of school for ME. The structure of setting goals, record keeping etc. is all in place. But, if they hate it & school becomes a drag, then I guess it’s not worth it. With any curriculum that has 180 day lessons or, as in the ace, where you have to finish a certain amount of pages every day to finish by the end of the year, we have trouble keeping up with the workload even without all the extra interruptions we’ve had this year. Actually, every year has had it’s unexpected life happenings, big ones.
Becky, when we were homeschooled as students, we did some ACE and some other things, but still loved ACE. I think we loved getting to set our own pace and my sister and I both graduated a year early. But now that we are both homeschooling moms, neither of us use ACE much. We both still love ACE English and I was impressed last year with their Literature and Composition. (But I’m not using it again this year.)
“I think ACE doesn’t teach thinking/studying skills and I would avoid it for the subjects where you need to be doing research. But if you use it, it’s not the end of the world. If your kids have been doing narrations for year, they already have that skill (but they’ll probably hate the PACE’s!)”
This is a concern of mine as well. How does the charlotte mason method teach these skills, the thinking/studying skills?
ACE – is it too much like school at home or traditional schooling?
I didn’t want that for our homeschool……… but, ACE is what I’m familiar with. I’m not so familiar with the charlotte mason method although it’s what we’ve tried to implement in a few subjects at least. I get uncertain, scared, overwhelmed. What if we’re not doing enough, I think to myself, not so much for the elementary years but the high school years.
And the grades, I didn’t/don’t want that to become the gauge of how smart they are or how much they’ve learned.
I hope I’m making some sense. I have trouble getting my thoughts out
I’d written but I do not know where it went. : (
ACE – is it considered school at home or traditional school?? I didn’t really want that for our homeschool. ACE is what I’m familiar with though & that tends to make me feel calmer. The charlotte mason method on the other hand, is so different but I do so love the method. I’ve read quite a bit on it & have implemented it in a few subjects. I just feel so uncertain & overwhelmed with using it in the high school years, besides the fact that we had a very rough school year this past year and the simplicity that’s supposed to come with the CM method doesn’t seem to be there. I put it before the children & all 4 do not want ACE except maybe for one subject & I really don’t want to use it for history. I’m just so tired of all the pondering & thinking, the research etc. that I fear I’ll just do ACE just to be done with it all. I used it for one year, all subjects several years ago & I have this picture in my head of my boys totally squashed in spirit by the end of the year. : ( & then I go round & round again. Sorry, for dragging you all through with me, I just don’t know what to do………….
Becky,
Sorry you are having a hard time figuring this out. I am not very familiar with ACE. It has helped me in these indecisive times to stand back and take a look at our goals for each of our children, pray about it, and then decide how best to go about reaching those goals, meeting graduation requirements. It is okay to use different methods for different subjects, for different children in different years. Could you use a traditional approach for math, language arts, and science and CM methods for social studies, Bible, and fine arts? We use a mix of CLE and SCM.
For CM methods with history, I have given a book list and assigned a set amount of time to read on assigned days. They can read the family books themselves if you want. I have always believed that if a child can learn to read, they can read to learn. They can do mostly oral narrations for history, and a few written narrations (essays) upon completing each living book. So no worksheets necessary. You can have them use a voice recorder for their oral narrations and then you can listen to them all when it’s best for you, maybe while cooking or cleaning. I wish I had been taught history this way. I used textbooks and got good grades, but I didn’t really know and understand it (or enjoy it). Other options are audio books and video documentaries if you need to get more hours in for a credit. Drive Thru History, maybe? (But you don’t have to tell your children it’s “school”.)
You could use a loop schedule and a timer for fine arts, the CM extras. Or assign a different topic for each day of the week. Artist Monday, Composer Tuesday, Hymn Wednesday, etc. These work better for us when done right after a meal when we are already gathered together.
No free time is allowed until school and chores are finished. We do have a few breaks in the day though. As long as you are meeting your state requirements, you do not have to complete the SCM history module in the same year you started it. Charlotte has taken school breaks while leaving a book unfinished, putting a bookmark there and picking it back up when they came back from break. It sounds like you could use a break. Could you plan a family field trip to a museum? Maybe spend some time outdoors in nature to think and pray about it. Use what works best for your family, individually and as a whole.
Wings2fly. thanks for you reply & suggestions. We actually already are doing some of your ideas. First, here are the ages of the children DD 11 (12 starting this next school year) she’ll be in 6th gr., DS 14 will be 9th gr., DS 17 will be 12th gr., & DS 19 needs to finish up his 12th gr.
We are using a traditional Math (CLE for DD & Teaching Textbooks for the 2 younger boys), English, & Science. History has been SCM for the 2 older boys, Early Modern for the 17 yr old(11th gr) & the Modern Module for the 19 yr old(12th gr). They have taken the lesson plans & read on their own the family books, and the books listed under the 10-12 gr., using a few of the books from the 7-9 gr., they have been doing the written narrations & have come to me for the oral, but I don’t think they’re doing so well with the oral. I do like the idea of having them use a recording device. My 3rd son was using MFW for his history. I do not know which direction to go for him for this next school year beginning high school. My DD was using HOD Preparing & we only got half way through. I don’t mind picking up where we left off. It’s the 2 oldest I’m pressured with. They did not finish their SCM history & are only in the 2nd term. They worked through June and now I think they are near the exams, but they’ve quit doing it what with the 4th of July and all.
So, if they just pick up where they left off next school year, how will they graduate on time??
My oldest ‘should’ have graduated this past school year! At his suggestion he’s planning to graduate with his brother this school year. I was given a suggestion to cut out some of the reading but when I put the idea to my oldest, he wouldn’t think of it. He says he loves this history. It’s the William Bennett book that they are both struggling with. Plus, like I mentioned in my first post, we had life circumstances with both my parents as well as my father in law & the ‘book learning’ wasn’t happening. We just did not have room to take all their books – that’s figuring which book(s) would be needed for each child for the estimated time we’d be gone. Not the whole year’s worth. We took the basics. Math , English & whatever else could fit. The fact that Workbook curriculum is more transportable is appealing. My DS 17, is okay with using the ACE just to get his history done. I was thinking that he could still make entries in his book of centuries & read a few books along with it. I think he would enjoy the next SCM Modern history more than he did this years but it’s the amount of time it’s all taking & he has other interests he wants to spend time on.
I do want to add in some of those CM extras this next school year. I have a sense of almost a conviction you might say, that I need to do this.
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