Hello- Bible/History/Geography with SCM vs Ambleside Online

Hi Lorna, I use AO.  Yes, the children have their own History/Geography.  (There are no bible readings for each year as well – those were added earlier this ‘school’ year – a lot of families do their own Bible together as a family though.)

We are really enjoying AO.  

I have a few health issues, so found when we were doing most things together, if I wasn’t feeling that well, nothing got done.  My 2 school age kids at the time that we did a CM program together, were in ‘grade 1’ and ‘grade 3’, so shared the same books.  (We also started a new math program and they placed at the same level, so did math together.)    I watched as my 3rd grade student started to ‘wilt’ over the year, and think that he was dumb.  It really affected him that his little sister was doing the same school as him, and in a few things better.    And I don’t think it was a good thing for her either, as she started competing with him.

It does take a bit of work to co-ordinate the different levels, but it goes a lot better.  I do make use of audiobooks (with the student reading along with it) to allow them to work independently when possible.  They do enjoy having their own books.  Sometimes they hear some of their siblings narratives, or the books themselves.  My oldest has been known to say things like ‘oh, that is where you are!’, or “I remember that’.    The younger is looking forward to starting some books, or has been known to say things like ‘Oh boy, it is my turn to read Robin Hood’.

I will admit that I’m concerned about next year, when I will have a student doing Year 4, one in Year 3, and one in Year 1 (and a preschooler doing a light Year 0…)   But I’m sure we will figure it out after a couple of weeks and I’ll wonder why I worried!

To those who use AO, would you consider it to lean more toward a secular program? For instance, do many of the books include an old earth view point or one that promotes evolution? I am very interested in knowing a comparison between AO and SCM and if any families integrate the two. I like some of the books from their booklist as well. .. sorry if I high jacked your post 🙂

We’ve had years where we’ve studied together as family (SCM style, SCM resources, or not.)  We did this almost all of the time with our older children.  Off and on with our youngest two. 

Pros:  Simplifies planning, keeps us on the “same page” for conversations and field trip opportunities.  Writing follows the time period.

HOWEVER,

Cons:  Didn’t/hasn’t allowed for some pursuits (that whole stick to the list/plan problem I have,) to go as quickly/slowly as needed for each individual child.  Keeping “children are born persons” in mind, I’m going back to individual plans. 

That said, within the SCM modules, there is quite a bit of flexibility to tailor to each child’s needs.  We’re just at such an difference now between age and gender that our youngest two will rarely cover the same topics the rest of the time they are both learning at home.

Family style worked excellently with our older children.  They were very close in age.  Our younger two (14yos & almost 8yod) have completely different interests and needs right now that have caused me to be more detailed in my observation of each of them.  Realizing they needed completely different studies has given me a new determination to apply CM methods even more carefully and I hope to encourage each of them to develop their abilities even further through these individual paths.

Important note:  Slowly moving from five down to two children has meant being able to manage this path.  There were several years when combining studies was how I had to manage things.  I needed to have a main theme in order to be able to focus.  It didn’t allow for much individualized instruction, but it worked the way it did in a way that was fine for all of us.

I think it’s a matter of choice, not a matter of rightness.

AO has different selections, but not necessarily better selections. I think that spine type books are less memorable in general, but a Book of Centuries can do wonders for helping as can narration, esp. written. Schooling together or separate is a different issue. Both can wok well dependent upon your needs. I add some AO books that I love to our SCM framework now.

I’ve used some of both … SCM and AO. The most memorable books from AO for my kids (ages 10, 8, 6, and 5) have been Our Island Story and This Country of Ours (and Joan of Arc, Burgess, Holling, Lang … lots). They especially love the librivox recordings from Kara Shallenberg. So, I think that whether a child resonates with a living spine/narrative or beautiful living picture books/short chapter books is utterly dependent on the child. I did not feel that the narrative in Mod5 held my kids attention quite as deeply as TCOO, but again, not better, just different as was said previously. Aside from Bible readings, I also find that ancients is a tough one for the younger set, at least it has been for mine.

Yes, the organizer is genius.

Dear Lorna,

I have also tried AO and though there was good, rich literature, it just didn’t work for our family.  I stress ‘our family.’  I believe and wanted to make Bible the central theme to my childrens learning.  SCM does this as best as possible.  Therefore, having Bible/Geo/His combined works perfect for us.  With that, we are able to have wonderful conversations, after thoughts and of course lots of learning together.  Our family believes everything is connected to God, Creation, and so forth.  Also, AO was just too much for me.  I was extremely stressed…having to lead most subjects in different grades, planning, and so forth, I just couldn’t do it.  Not to say it isn’t a good program, just not for me.   SCM lives up to its’ name in that it is put together to make things a lot simpler.  Yet, it also a wonderful program.

As for retaining information, specifically history;  the Book of Centries is a good tool and how you personally connect is what matters.  The Bible is History ( His-story ).  It provides the richest learning of the past, present, and future.  Not to mention, how to live.   But again, it works for us ( SCM ).  What matters is what suits you and your family best, what your goal is. 

I also notice with SCM that there is great repitition, which works for better understanding and retaining of information.  I love how we can connect the dots with Bible, History, Geo, Science, Personal Development, and just overall life!  SCM is wonderful with this.  Sorry, for going on and on.  In a nutshell, it seems your concern was retaining information and the richness of the lesson books for History.  I would say, ask you children what they would like out of it all.  What is it they want to learn and know and then compare that with your goals for them.  You can’t go wrong with the books from either AO or SCM, but it’s the style and method that you would have to decide upon.

Also, with AO, my children were confused on what subject they were actually working on, because of all the books. My kids love reading, but it just seemed bunched together rather than gently spread out.  In other words, SCM has a much more enjoyable and smooth flow.

I wish you well, because I struggled with this and much more myself!  I truly hope it works out for you and your family.

Shannon