Welcome to CM, Amy-Lee! It’s great to have such a choice experience with my kids – we are all learning so much.
I really feel like the Lord led me to CM (and SCM) – and what a blessing it has been in my life. I have gained confidence in myself, in my ability to teach and choose appropriate material, learned that is okay to say no and do things differently, in my faith in the Lord and His intimate knowledge/dealings with my family, and my ability to trust the methods.
I pulled mine out of PS when they were in 3rd and 4th grade. I basically started them at their level, but retained the assigned grade level of PS so they would feel like they were progressing. =) Most of their stuff did remain on grade level, but I had one that was stuggling due to illnesses her entire PS life, so adapted hers. However, the first year she came up two reading levels and we continue to make progress.
I also have 2 little girls six years younger than my older two. I can (and do) combine things like nature study, hymn, composer, picture study, etc. I have not added them into the history yet, but it will not be hard using the SCM modules. You should be able to use most family subjects together – you say all your kids are fluent readers, so it will be easier for you that way. I really like the ease of use of the SCM history modules for various reasons – the open and go, the wonderful books, the levels are already planned. I can add things if I want to, and yet they are complete as is.
If shipping to Australia is going to be prohibitive, may I suggest that you consider the Yesterday’s Classics ebook collection (225 wonderful books) and the Heritage History ebook collection? HH also comes with maps and teacher guides for using their amazing collection of living history books. All the books I have read and looked at in both of these collections are engaging and interesting. They share a few titles, so you may want to look at that, but I think the inexpensive cost of the entire collections make it worth duplicating a book or two.
Book lists are great – All Through the Ages (for history and geography), A Picture Perfect Childhood (using wonderful picture books to help teach even teenagers about art, music, history, etc.), Who Should We Then Read?(collection of 300 writers chosen for their Biblical standards and great books), Honey For a Child’s Heart, and Books Children Love (collection of book reivews, chosen for content, sorted by subject) are excellent resources. I know that a couple of those are available as ebook downloads.
A few books to consider during the next few years: I am almost finished reading “A Charlotte Mason Companion” by Karen Andreola. I have been reading ahout and using CM methods for 2 years and counting, but I find myself so encouraged and inspired whenever I read it. So if you get a chance to read it, take the time. Catherine Levison’s “A Charlotte Mason Education” is a great jump start too. And of course, Sonya’s DVDs here. The Free Curriculum Guide here is an excellent place to start – and if you have the Planning Your CM Education you are set to make it work for you.