Hello Jusnanc.
Wow, it is quite an undertaking to develop our own curriculum, isn’t it? It can make you feel all in a tizz when you see all the choices, but yet are wanting to incorporate what you have on hand. I have tried it so many times, and do to an extent create my own curriculum.
As I see it, the SCM curriculum guide and book suggestions, can be treated like a buffet, you do not have to use all or any of their suggestions. I love that someone else has worked it all out for me, but I do tweak a book here and there, as it’s sometimes hard to source things here in South Africa, and oh, do I hear you about the library…. must be a world wide move! Lastly of course, if I have a related resource, I want to use it.
It sounds as though you have your hands full. As a Mom who suffers from various illnesses and sometimes has to do school in bed, I would caution you to remember that less is sometimes more. I too feel as if we spent years going over creation and ancient history, stopping and starting, and feel we’ve only just got onto other interesting topics. My oldest is 13yo!
Many of the CM style curricula and unit studies seem to center their studies on a period of history. It is a nice way to plan, but you do not have to do it that way, if you want to spend some time studying smething else as you suggested.
CM is a method, not a curriculum. And whilst there are some common choices of books amongst the various Cm curriculum “companies”, the fact is, there are so many great living books, especially old ones, that you don’t have to feel bound to use one companies list.
I so appreciate that SCM is a free curriculum guide. Other places you may consider looking is Ambleside, or An Old Fashioned Education.
I think SCM is best, because it is doable, and it taught me that less is actually better, and I can do it, even with ill health. It is easy to follow, the “overview” helps you see where you are going and it is not cluttered with tons of unreasonable, unnecessary activities. If I want to add to it, on good days when I have energy, I can.
I think there is a very helpful free printout for planning your CM education somewhere on this site. It was a life saver for me. I also ended up buying some of the SCM booklets, very useful. It helped me plan not just one year, but to get a vision, so I did not end up with the previous repetition.
I really hope this helps. Please take care and remember that although some living books and curriculum are better than others, they are not what will make your homeschool. They are just tools.
Lastly, I cannot advise about Amazon, as I live in SA, we can’t use it for shipping is too expensive. I go to garage sales and jumble sales and pick up real gems! Have you considered homeschool classifieds, vegsource, Exodus books or betterworld books? They seem reasonable if you live in the US, if I am not mistaken.
Blessings,
Lindy