Is it too late?

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  • Lindsay
    Participant
    1. Hi all,

    I am new to these forums and to CM. We are not homeschooling but I am looking to supplement traditional schooling with some CM at home (before I take the leap). Has anyone done this with success?

    My children are 9, 7, 4 and nearly 2. Is 9 too late to introduce CM?

    I would also love suggestions for how to stay organized and motivated as a parent/caregiver living a CM lifestyle. I tend to need structure and routine to flourish but my own inner child often fights these constraints.

    Thank you in advance!

    ~Lindsay

    jenni33
    Participant

    What you are referring to is what many call “afterschooling”. Hopefully someone is doing it and can chime in and help you out.
    If not, I would check the Well Trained Mind Forums. They have a specific board just for what you are talking about. Here is the link:
    http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/forum/13-parents-forum-afterschooling-board/

    Hope you can find some answers. I believe with CM methods it’s probably do-able, but I always worry about burn-out. But I think if you post on the above boards, you will get some great ideas, experiences and resources.

    As far as organization and motivation goes, there are some resources. Here on the SCM website, they have the CM organizer to help with lesson plans. There are several books I have read that I find helpful. One is called “For the Children’s Sake” by Susan Schaeffer Macauley. The other one is A Charlotte Mason Companion by Karen Andreola. Here on SCM, Sonya has written a book called “Laying Down the Rails” about building habits. I have not personally read that one yet, but many here have and talk about it frequently. As far as organization goes, I’m not a great help to that in a general sense, but I did find Titus 2’s “Managers of Their Homes” quite helpful. It guides you to figure out what your goals are, and how best to achieve those goals through the day. That might be helpful, but it is from a Christian perspective. If you want something more secular, Taylor Flanery blogs at Household-Management-101.com She is big on decluttering and has monthly calendars to help keep things clean and organized in your home.

    I know that’s a lot, but it should be a good start for you!

    Melanie32
    Participant

    I don’t have any experience in this area but my biggest advice would be to read great living books with your kids, get them out in nature as much as possible and teach them to appreciate it and to notice details, play classical music in your home and teach them to appreciate beautiful art work. Incorporating those things in a relaxed and enjoyable manner will go a long way towards having a CM atmosphere in your home.

    I wouldn’t worry about making it formal since they are already doing so much in school and with homework. I would just make it part of your family culture. Watch the birds, notice plants on your walks, play classical music while you clean or draw or read, check out a nice art book from the library here and there to look at with your children. I really like the Come Look With Me series. Read great books and have fun!

    These are things every family should be doing together! I’m so thankful that Charlotte Mason inspired me to do these things with my children. You will be too! 🙂

    caedmyn
    Participant

    We afterschooled before we started hs’ing (K-2). We mainly did the extras on weekends (just a little…we don’t usually do much on the weekends so this worked for us) and during the summer. Also, it was a long drive to/from Dd’s school so we listened to audiobooks, Jonathan Park cds, learning Spanish cds, etc in the car. In the summer we listened to audiobooks etc while eating lunch too. I did mostly limit DD’s free reading choices to living books, and encouraged her to listen to the free audiobooks at librivox during her free time.

    Melissa
    Participant

    I don’t think 9 is too late to start using CM methods at all. We started homeschooling the year before last and this year went full-on with CM. We have 3 boys (14, 11, 9) and 3 girls (6, 4, 2). The 9yo son is having a great year–with his age he is still such a little boy and enjoys playing with his sisters. I try to savor that and keep a gentle hand with the schooling for him. It’s been nice. Today he found a little deer antler in the woods. His face was so proud when he brought it in to show me. Using CM makes me feel closer to my kids and I get excited to learn things alongside them. I hope you find what works for you and the support you need. 🙂

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