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New Here– Intro & Question
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Hello, all!
I’m really excited about FINALLY being able to join the SCM community! I’ve been reading the site articles, downloading & reading the free e-books, watching the videos, and lurking on the forum for about two months, all the while wishing I could sign up for the various things offered. (Apparently, my e-mail system has been rejecting all the automated sign-up responses without even letting it go to my spam folder. Argh!) But yesterday I came across a post in the technical support forum where all the SCM e-mail addresses were listed, and I was able to add them to my address book… for instant success! Yay!
My hubby owns a small business and I stay home with our 7yr old boy, 4yr old girl, and a 17mo old girl. We live in north TX where there’s a large homeschooling community, and I started out using My Father’s World at the recommendation of a friend. Some may think it is too slow or boring, but it’s been great for us up to this point. (We’ve done K, 1st, and are now finishing 2nd grade, “Adventures.”) My son and I tend to be perfectionists, so we tried to steer clear of super-achiever curricula that would make us crazy. I also liked having an “open and go” teacher’s guide to take the pressure off planning as I was learning the ropes. We’ve enjoyed the simplicity of MFW, and have found it to be a good “get your feet wet” experience, but now I may be ready to make some changes.
There are a few reasons I’m considering switching to “whole hog” CM at this point, one being that my son doesn’t seem to be catching onto spelling. (MFW uses Spelling by Sound and Structure for 2nd grade, which groups together lists of similar-sounding or similar-looking words.) He does great at the workbook excercises when he can reference the list but he can’t remember how to write the words on his own, come test time. I can see why CM doesn’t start them on spelling this young! MFW also starts written dictation at 2nd grade, another thing not working for us, for the same reason. Thirdly, I’m finding that a nearby library has many of the books recommended on CM-style book lists, so I’m hoping to cut costs by not having to purchase a package curriculum anymore.
Sorry for the long post, but I do have one question before closing. With regard to planning your CM eductaion, how do you know what resources to choose if you (the mom/teacher) haven’t read the books before? Maybe the book/video on planning covers that, but I just ordered it today. Can’t wait to try out the CM Organizer, too!
With thanks and blessings,
Amy
Hi Amy!!! Welcome. I too have my daughter finishing up the 2nd grade. But we are public schooling till the year is over. It will give us some time to keep her in contact with s few school mates that we really enjoy. And I have a 3 year old boy and a daughter who will be 2 in June. We are in the Austin area. There are so many great resources out there. And this site is wonderful!
Hello and welcome! I don’t post much here, but I read a lot! 🙂
We are using MFW. Did you know that you don’t have to use their math and LA suggestions? We are using Singapore, but only because it works for us. As far as LA goes, we’re using LLATL.
~ Audrey
My recommendation for Language Arts, is to follow the Writing Road to reading methodology, which has MANY variants.
The one I have used for three years, (and plan to continue with) is Barbara Beers’ “Phonics Road to Reading and Spelling.”
She has DVDS of how to teach the lessons, they are broken down into small chunks (!) and, if you ‘break up’ grammar, handwriting, spelling, etc. then it is very CM-ish. However, if you do it all at once, it can take longer. But, I found it PERFECT to cover all the bases, and really give them a strong foundation in this most critical of areas. Besides, her curriculum leads (if you start it with K-1) to LATIN Road to English grammar, which is something I REALLY wanted my kids to know….. hope that helps.
I second the Writing Road to Reading approach. Good spellers make good readers, but the opposite isn’t always true.
I’ve used Spell to Write and Read, Phonics Road and LEM Phonics, all of which use an OG Phonics w/ spelling first. Of those 3, I liked LEM the best. I plan to use All About Spelling from this point on. It’s the same approach, but uses a kinesthetic method. It wasn’t written for reading, but it’s very easy to use it for both reading and spelling and writing. (or leave out the writing if need be.)
Blessings,
Christie
Thanks so much for the replies and suggestions. But, yikes, I’m actually confused now! I thought the CM method for spelling (written dictation) isn’t supposed to begin until around 9yrs of age. I thought the all-day CM seminar video said to have students younger than that just pay attention to the way things are spelled as they read. My 7yr old son is a GREAT reader, just not a great speller yet, so I was relieved when I heard that. But most of you ARE using a spelling curriculum for that age? Is that just a personal preference, or did I misunderstand the CM method? Sorry if I’m a little dense; I’ve only been homeschooling for 3 years and have a lot to learn.
Gratefully,
Amy
Amy, You are understanding the CM method perfectly.
It’s just that it doesn’t work for us. I taught spelling as the path to reading w/ intensive OG phonics. This is the only thing that makes sense to me or my dd.
I am a natural speller and have NEVER pictured words in my head, but have always sounded them out w/ phonograms and spelling rules. My dd is like me. We use dictation as a part of our spelling, but not the whole picture.
Christie
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