I had myself convinced I was going to use Bookshark K/Sonlight Core A next year, plus my own religion (we’re Catholic). But then I fell down a CM rabbit hole and I’m finding myself wanting to use so many of the beautiful things. So much of it does speak to me, especially the age appropriateness of it. I do worry that Sonlight book choices will be too upsetting, but I could be wrong. I want joy for our schooling, in these early years anyway. (I’m looking at 1st grade). I’m in love with Outdoor Secrets, and the Burgess Bird Book, and the Picture Study Portfolios. We believe in “real” crafts here already, ala handicrafts. And I’m definitely going to use a schedule similar to Mater Amabilis for our religion…alternating Bible readings and saint stories.
For history, if we don’t do Sonlight, I’m thinking of using American Pioneers and Patriots. I think my daughter would LOVE it, and it has some crafts/activities built in which she loves. And it seems so wonderful for this age range, really drawing as small child into the history setting without overwhelming them. Has anyone used it?
My goals are to instill a love of learning, a love of language, a love of beauty and wisdom. And a love of God, of course! My oldest son is 16, and an agnostic. He’s also diagnosed with Aspergers and has been a difficult child to teach at home. I’m a convert, and by the time I became an active church go-er he was already set in his ways. Luckily, my younger two are happy to attend Mass with me and enjoy Sunday School, etc. But beyond religion, he also doesn’t “love to learn” like I do, and I don’t know how much is personality and how much was being in pubic school for 5 years and how much is how I taught him. Right now he’s using textbook based methods at his request, and taking one college course a semester. Next year, Jr. year, he will take 3 courses a semester at the college and one online Latin class, which will be good for our relationship and family life, and leave me free to teach the youngers.
The only other factors I can think of is that we are old earth Christians, and that I do work part time as a writer. I write romance novels (not the dirty kind!) and do have some deadlines for this next school year. I’m also hoping to convince my husband to have one more baby 🙂
Anyway, anyone want to chime in? Does a CM year centered around the things I mentioned sound like a good 1st grade year? I love SCM materials, but don’t want to do the history cycle the way she has it laid out. I’d prefer maybe a 3 yr cycle, or concurrent American and World, not sure yet. I think I feel pretty confident putting it together myself. I just wonder if I’ll regret not going with Sonlight and getting that big box of books in the mail.
