New to CM and need help!

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  • January 16, 2015 at 10:05 pm
    Mimi
    Participant

    Hi all, I am studying for SCM and AO. Both follow Charlotte Mason method and her philosophy. I found many free resources from AO but I surprise to see that SCM needs to buy many curriculum books. I personally love SCM for our homeschooling. It would fit better for us. I am wondering that If other SCM homeschoolers follow all SCM books and curriculums or do mix with AO books?

    I am thinking to buy a Genesis through Deuteronomy & Ancient Egypt for now.

    But there are quite lots of books to read… like …

    Ancient Egypt and Her Neighbors by Lorene Mary Lambert

    Exodus: A Commentary for Children (Herein Is Love series) by Nancy E. Ganz

    The Great Pyramid by Elizabeth Mann

    Numbers: A Commentary for Children (Herein Is Love series) by Nancy E. Ganz

    Pharaoh’s Boat by David Weitzman

    The Stuff They Left Behind: From the Days of Ancient Egypt portfolio Then and Now Bible Maps from Rose Publishing (Spiral-bound edition)

    Visits to Africa notebook (one for each student)

    Hungry Planet by Peter Menzel (used with Visits to Africa)

    Material World by Peter Menzel (used with Visits to Africa)

    plus . . .

    Grades 1–3

    Boy of the Pyramids by Ruth Fosdick Jones

    The True Story of Noah’s Ark by Tom Mike Dooley

     

    I am wondering if I need to buy all books or I can get for free ebooks like AO provides?

    I know I ask a lot. I feel sorry but I NEED HELP please!?

    January 17, 2015 at 1:08 pm
    anniepeter
    Participant

    You may be able to find the Menzel and Mann books at the library.  That could work of you just plan to do that part as a unit every day for a few weeks rather than once a week as scheduled.  You might also find Pharaoh’s boat or a substitute at the library.  I wouldn’t do the commentaries at that level.   You could get most, if not all, of the books SCM sells as ebooks for around $50.  If desired, you could do without the Visits… Book fairly easily by just printing a map of Africa from some other source and doing map drill as described on this website.  The book is very nice, but not e essential.  Hope that helps.  AO looks more complicated to me… But that’s just me!

    January 17, 2015 at 1:11 pm
    anniepeter
    Participant

    I should add that I have tried to piece things together a LOT… And I’m learning not to do that any more.  It keeps the kids to dependent on me for the plan, and out gets harder the older they get.  That said, I will probably always adjust some on the fly… But only using one guide.

    January 17, 2015 at 3:04 pm
    eawerner
    Participant

    The reason that many of the books on AO are free ebooks is because they are old enough to be off of copyright laws. They pick them at least partly for that exact reason. The book selections in SCM are usually still in print and so are either available through your library system, or easy to find and purchase online.

    The difference when reading/teaching will matter if you have a strong preference for reading from a paper book or from a screen.

    Both curricula are wonderful and work for different families.

    January 17, 2015 at 6:07 pm
    butterflylake
    Participant

    Hi Mimi,

    I have just begun Year 1/Grade 1 using SCM. Yes, there are a lot of books listed, but you may choose to not use all of them.
    I was able to purchase several books second hand. Our library has many of the books listed, so I am relying on that for as much as possible.
    I am not using the Material World, Hungry Planet, or Visits to Africa. I found a large map of Africa at a teaching supply store for $2.50, and print off blank maps online. Most of the picture books listed for Geography are at our library. I also didn’t buy Stuff They Left Behind. Again, I can find pictures in library books.
    The two commentary books I was able to get secondhand, but truthfully they aren’t needed for the younger ones. I do plan on reading them myself, and may add some information from them as we go, but really I bought them for my own personal study, and to have for later years.
    The Rose Bible Maps I was able to buy at a local Bible bookstore, with a coupon, and Ancient Egypt I found secondhand.
    The cost is reasonable when I considered I would reuse them in 6 years.
    I do not use AO, except to get ideas for Picture, Poet, Composer and Nature Studies. I don’t follow their suggestions all the time, but it is helpful to me to have those lists.
    HTH
    Vanessa

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