New to CM HELP

There’s a new blog post on this website about CM on a budget

SCM sells a hymn book, preprinted Scripture memory cards, portfolios of artists’ and composers’ works, books for Shakespeare and poetry, and other items. These are for your convenience, but are not required to follow the lessons. We understand being on a budget and needing to source the materials in a more budget-friendly way. We do offer most of the materials in digital formats too which are cheaper than the printed options. Also, check our scratch & dent materials. If the digital versions and scratch & dent items from SCM are still out of your budget, then here are some other options for you.

Check your library for the books needed for history and literature scheduled in the Enrichment guide. Ask if your library can do interlibrary loans. Also, check if your library allows longer check out times for educators. Some moms find the books with apps such as Hoopla through their libraries. See if there are any Living Books Libraries in your area. Thrift stores, library book sales, and used book sites are good places to check for used books at affordable prices. You can also check the unofficial Simply Charlotte Mason Curriculum Marketplace group on Facebook. If you know other homeschoolers in your area, check if any of them have materials you can borrow. The link for living books libraries also has co-op and other Charlotte Mason groups listed on it.

If you already own a hymn book or can borrow some from your church, you don’t need to purchase Singing the Great Hymns.

If you own a book of the poet’s works, you don’t need to buy the one from SCM. You can also look up individual poems by the poet online or find a book of that poet’s work at the library. Look for a biography on the poet at your library. However, you will need the book each week so borrowing from the library may be inconvenient.

For the artists, you can find a book of their works at the library, thrift stores, or look them up online. Use biographies from the library.

Do the same for composers as for artists. Find their works on audio streaming services such as Spotify or borrow CDs from the library. Use biographies from the library.

For handicrafts and creative art, ask at church if there is anyone who would be willing to teach your children a handicraft or who has experience with creative art and would be willing to teach your children. Maybe you have a grandparent or an aunt or uncle who is skilled in a handicraft or creative art who would love to spend time with their grandchildren/nieces/nephews, teaching them something they enjoy.

For Shakespeare, depending on the ages of your children, you can skip it for now or find a copy of the play online and print copies for your family. Follow the schedule in the Enrichment guide for which parts of the play to do when.

For foreign language, you can also skip this if your children are young. Otherwise, some moms use apps for learning foreign languages or have their children watch videos in the language. Or you can see if there is someone at your church who speaks a different language who would be willing to teach your children.

For Scripture memory, make your own cards or get the free download from SCM.

For habit training, if you can afford one book, then get Laying Down the Rails for Children. This book is used over multiple years so keep that in mind if purchasing. Otherwise, you can still choose to focus on one habit at time, using your own ideas for quotes, short stories, poems, and activities.

Another thing to keep in mind is that SCM materials have a good resale value. At the end of the year you can sell what you are finished with and get some of your money back. Some moms use the money from the sales to fund the next year’s materials.