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Is it Truly Enough??
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I think I probably know the answer to this question, but I guess I am looking for encouragement for those who have “gone before” or are in the midst of it now. Is CM truly enough? We have schooled with CM this last year, and we had an amazing year! So wonderful! I feel like my kids have relationships with the things that they learned about, whether composer, historical character, nature, etc. They have retained so much. When I look at the success of this last year, I think, YES! This is how it is supposed to be!
BUT THEN…. in-laws question, “Where is the extensive writing curriculum?” Other homeschooler go crazy over the newest and greatest curriculum, saying that it will be amazing and their kids will be geniuses. When I start comparing our “curriculum” to theirs it seems small and non-impressive. Do you know what I mean?! There are times (perhaps my own insecurity) that I feel “less than” in the eyes of others, that if I was truly a good homeschooler and mom, I would have stacks and stacks of curriculums and workbooks to show for myself.
As I’m typing this, my 7yo daughter just ran in and said, “Guess what mom?! I just got close enough to the butterfly to see it’s proboscis!” I guess she just answered my question. 🙂
Anyhow, just thought I’d put that out there…..and encouragement would be welcome!
Blessings,
JoyinIndo
Hi Joy,
I am new to CM, and I LOVE it! We’ve barely even started it. My oldest is 7, and we started out with the box curriculum, and then lots of different styles, trying to find our niche. Somehow, I kept getting drawn back to CM. I figure it’s God’s decision to have me do CM-style. 🙂 I have found that this, compared to all the other curricula I have seen and used, THIS is what learning is all about, and what it should be about, and it is so more than enough. I am truly convinced of that.
OK, so I am new to it, and you wanted someone who is in the middle or done with it, but anyway, couldn’t help but chime in there. 🙂 And, yeah, I think your 7yo answered your question for you… 😉
Sara 🙂
I am not a long time CM user. In fact, I can’t wait for the day when I get CM all figured out and can say I know what I’m doing. BUT, my oldest just graduated! Yea for us! All those years, when people questioned me, or seemed to be quizzing my son, I felt those things you’re feeling. But he is finished a full year early, and he’s really impressive. Not because he is a genius; he’s just a hard worker. He has learned a lot though, and I don’t get those questions any more. In fact, my other three kids are pretty young and not very far along yet, but no one has questioned us like that in quite awhile. I guess they see the “result” in my oldest son, and figure it really is good enough.
As far as those other curricula go. They really can’t be better than what you’ve got. Especially if you love it. And I’d like to see a public schooled or textbook taught 7 year old know what a proboscis is. I didn’t even know til last year! (My oldest son used textbooks–funny)
Joy,
You might be encouraged to read this thread that was discussed a few days ago.
http://simplycharlottemason.com/scmforum/topic/so-much-to-choose-from
Blessings!
We just finished our second CM year with 1st grade and preschool. Each year we have a Grandparent’s Day (this is our 3rd) at the end of the year so they can see the girl’s work. The girls love to display their work and have the attention. Three sets of granparents asked questions like, “So do you have some head organization you get your books from?”, “How do the kids take the state tests?”, “Do you have to show someone what you do?” I just shock them with “Our state is great, you don’t have to submit anything so I just google the subjects and pick what I like!” I can watch them swallow hard at that! Obviously it is more complicated than that, but I feel they don’t really want to know how much work I put into it. One grandpa was very impressed with my desire to be with my kids all day and to accomplish so much with them and said they obviously were learning more than his other grandkids so at least I have one of them on my side! By the way, I am half way through Charlotte Mason’s first volume and I am learning so much more than I ever did in my college education classes. If I had learned then what I am learning now I may never have dropped out of college! Talk about encouragement, I am devouring her book and if you have any doubts, I would suggest picking up her original writings as they are so inspiring.
Here is a place to start – http://simplycharlottemason.com/scmforum/topic/charlottes-original-writings
You can also buy them on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1889209007/jungl05-20
Joy,
I realize I’m a little late in chiming in, but I wanted to add a little something. I wondered the exact same thing when we began a little over a year ago. My children are little, and CM is the only homeschooling we know. I questioned if it would be “enough”. Then I started talking to my friends whose children attend public and/or private school. What my children were doing at (then) 4 and 5 years old was so much more than what their children were doing and experiencing in school. Their’s were being exposed to little (if any) classical music, art, and poetry. Most of their children weren’t memorizing Scripture on a daily basis, and if they were memorizing anything, it was out of a “children’s Bible” and very short verses. Their children weren’t being read to out of classic literature. You also can’t discount the character and habit training that your children receive 24/7. I guarantee you schools aren’t teaching those habits and character traits.
I’m not boasting about my children (although I am very proud), but I was amazed at all we did on a DAILY basis that my children’s public school counterparts weren’t even being exposed to. I realized quickly that CM was ENOUGH. I hope that encourages you. I may need you to remind me in a few years when their counterparts start Calculus and we’re still on Algebra I!
Lindsey
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