I am brand new here, to homeschooling, and to CM. :-)

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  • March 18, 2008 at 12:22 pm
    bonniebee
    Member

    Hey there, I live in the East Cobb section of Marietta, GA. I’ve been married for almost 7 years now and we have three kids – John (5/19/04), Max (4/15/05), and Anna (7/5/06). We are Catholic and the kids currently attend our church preschool. My plan (note my) is to homeschool these guys starting as soon as I get my act together. I have a lot to write about this journey so far but I am short on time at this moment so I will have to save that for another post.

    I have been bouncing around different CM forums and Yahoo groups and decided to join this one this morning after reading a super post from Sonya on one of the Yahoo Groups. Plus, I remembered that SCM is based out of Georgia, so it seemed meant to be that I join/stay with this group. I need an online forum home to turn to with questions and successes, and questions, etc. 🙂

    My immediate issue on my mind is that my husband is not fully on board with homeschooling. He would rather I let them continue with their preschool and then supplement with CM when they are home. Does anyone here do this? I don’t want to do this but I’m not completely opposed to it. I do want to have harmony in our house, and do what is best for the kids as well. He said last night, with actual tears in his eyes, that he feels sorry for them that they will be stuck here all day. 🙁 Needless to say that broke my heart. Of course he has not read up on homeschooling or Charlotte Mason. If you have any suggestions on how to help me with this situation I would appreciate it very much.

    Thanks so much, and I am happy to be here!

    Bonnie

    March 18, 2008 at 5:06 pm
    CindyS
    Participant

    Hi Bonnie,

    I am one that has a difficult time with helpful moms that will tell you to ‘accidentally’ leave literature around so that your husband can find it, read it, and voila! be sold on homeschooling. I believe vehemently in the authority of our husbands and that method feels like manipulation in my mind. Having said that, we are all welcome to appeal to a Higher Authority in prayer and He will care for you and guide you. So that is where to start; with prayer. Then, should God lead you, you may respectfully approach your husband to see if he would be willing to do some research on his own as well as with your help. If the answer is “no,” then you accept that with the knowledge that God is able to protect and provide in whatever situation. These are just **my** thoughts on this issue.

    As I re-read your post, though, I believe God is already working things in that your husband is preferring that you ‘cm’ your children on the off hours. Also, with them being so little, time is definitely on your side. Could it be that, once you start working with your children (which could be today, right!?), your husband will have a living example to compare with what he thinks is valuable education? Just a thought. Maybe he is a Thomas and needs to be shown! Praise God that he is allowing you this opportunity and you also may consider verbally (or with hugs!) thanking your husband because so many ‘just say no.’

    Blessings,

    Cindy

    March 18, 2008 at 5:55 pm
    bonniebee
    Member

    Hi Cindy,

    Wow, I love everything you have written. I have to say that I completely agree with your input, especially your last paragraph. My husband will absolutely appreciate having a living example and I know this will be better than him reading about an ideal in a book or online.

    Your post has made my day, love!

    Thanks a million and I will keep you posted!

    Bonnie

    PS – in the meantime you may hear back from me as I begin our real learning at home tout de suite. 🙂

    March 18, 2008 at 6:02 pm
    Shanna
    Participant

    I agree with Cindy in submitting to your husband. You can appeal to him but make sure it is done with much prayer and only with the Lord’s leading. If the Lord leads you to appeal to him then I would ask him to read about homeschooling and maybe even find some other homeschooling fathers that he could speak with. But, only once you know that he is willing to listen or read about it. I pray that the Lord changes his heart. Take lots of time to pray and follow the Lord and your husband.

    March 18, 2008 at 6:03 pm
    Shanna
    Participant

    BTW- what yahoo group did you read Sonya’s post on?

    March 18, 2008 at 6:17 pm
    bonniebee
    Member

    Hi Shanna,

    It was a Yahoo Group named cmason. It was a post of hers that I stumbled upon this morning but it was written in 2006. It was a nice post about what the early years curriculum should look like with ideas, book titles, etc. I saved it to my notepad and if Sonya says it’s ok I will be happy to post it here.

    Thanks for your input regarding my issue with opening my husband’s heart and mind to homeschooling. I don’t want to strongarm him over this, something that should be decided upon with a positive and happy outlook in my opinion. I will begin teaching them in their off time (which is still plentiful right now really), and let him see first hand how it can be. I’m hopeful. I’ll be praying, too.

    Thanks so much!

    Bonnie

    March 18, 2008 at 6:53 pm
    Sonya Shafer
    Moderator

    Fine with me, Bonnie. (I’m curious what I wrote!)

    You probably already saw these, but for others who may be reading this thread, here are some Early Years ideas from our site:

    March 18, 2008 at 7:57 pm
    bonniebee
    Member

    Thanks, Sonya! Here’s what you wrote that I found so helpful…

    These would be my recommendations for the Early Years (approx. ages

    3-5):

    1. Habit training

    2. Time outdoors

    3. Read aloud books

    4. Learn the alphabet, the sounds the letters make, and eventually

    begin reading lessons. (I like the Scaredy Cat Reading system,

    personally.) NOTE: Lessons should be short; no longer than 10-15

    minutes.

    5. Learn to recite the numbers in order, then to count, and eventually

    begin easy math lessons. (I like either RightStart Level A book or

    Math-U-See primer book.) Again, keeping the lessons short.

    6. Read aloud the great stories of the Bible.

    7. Options:

    – Handicrafts

    – Art – Display large prints of great artists, one at a time. Tell the

    artist’s name if the child is interested

    – Music – Play the works of great composers, one at a time, in the

    background during meals or driving. Tell the composer’s name if the

    child is interested.

    – Poetry – Read poetry aloud together. (“When We Were Very Young” or

    “Now We Are Six” by A.A. Milne are great for the Early Years.)

    I hope you don’t see this list as overwhelming. #1-3 are the crucial

    ones; #4-6 come next as the child is ready; and #7 are simply add-on

    suggestions. I wanted to give you a lot of possibilities because when

    my kids were that small I remember thinking, “What do I do with them

    all day?!” 🙂

    Hope this helps,

    Sonya

    Bonnie

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