Not going like I thought…..

Viewing 4 posts - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • August 6, 2015 at 8:26 pm
    Nicole
    Participant

    First year homeschooling. We started three weeks ago. I chose a curriculum guide directly from SCM and ordered EVERYTHING listed and have been following one of the sample schedules that seemed to fit with the curriculum I chose.  I have a 9 year old and a 6 year old.  They are miserable.  I am finding some of the books above their comprehension, and honestly mine too. Others seem absolutely appropriate, yet they remain disinterested.  I am having trouble with encouraging them even with the most basic of tasks such as narration.  I bought Sonya’s DVD set Learning and Living and watched every video, participated in notebook activities, and I went to a few of Sonya’s live sessions at a local homeschool event.  I had FUN through it all, yet now it seems I cannot transfer that same enjoyment onto my children. I am at a complete loss.

    August 6, 2015 at 9:14 pm
    cedargirl
    Participant

    3weeks in, good for you!! I am thinking you are pretty amazing to take this on full guns and dive in. When I started CM method I tried doing what I could based on the CM Companion book I read. I was not equips with the plans and tools of SCM’s feast. I spent hours researching for living books, making copywork sheets, gathering nature study supplies, buying classical music for the iPad to play, collecting art books for picture study, trying to design my CM friendly LA lessons from Rod & Staff English texts…. yeah, I had MANY details and components. And you know what? My children didn’t get it. It was not the hallelujah choir ringing.  But there were glimpses of interest when I read Little House aloud, and when I said, “drop everything, grab your gumboots…”  and we walked out the door with our nature study bag to sit and draw what we saw. I had to throw my beautiful schedule out the window and let us all come into this new learning atmosphere little by little. I had left no room for adjustment time. No space to get our feet wet and get used to the water before diving in. It was a process that took time, like any new habit. I kept reading and highlighting things in my Charlotte Mason Companion book and kept trying to focus on one thing at a time as the days unfolded. Eventually we came to full speed and came to form relationships with stories and lessons differently. We came to enjoy the process and find the groove of what CM learning looked like in our family.

    I think you can do that too. I think it will still take some time to find your space, your atmosphere, your favourite living books, read alouds, special things that make doing copywork desired (I printed off copywork sheets on parchment paper and they felt like Laura Ingals somehow), finding books on topics they adore at first so they can’t wait to narrate what they think about it. You can do this, you can open up the opportunities for your children to form their own relationships with learning. Hang in there Nicole, you’ve got this.

    August 7, 2015 at 2:57 am
    Wings2fly
    Participant

    When you say “curriculum guide” and everything, do you mean the history/Bible/geography module?  Which time period is it?  Many of the books for family in the Ancients seem to be tough for younger than grade 2.  You could drop those books for this year.  Your children are young yet.  Maybe go find some interesting picture books on the topic at the library to substitute.

    If you are having trouble getting adjusted to everything, scale back to just the basics until that is going well and then ease into other subjects.  Add in one or two extra subjects each week or two until that is going well.  I found the article here on transitioning to CM to be very helpful:
    https://simplycharlottemason.com/how-to-get-started/transition/

     

    August 7, 2015 at 7:57 am
    Nicole
    Participant

    Thank you both so very much. I did read the article suggested. Along with your comments and encouragement I think I will step back and not expect so much from all of us. Focus on one method at a time versus 9 subjects a day!  Thank you for taking the time to reply! I cannot tell you how much I appreciate the guidance.

Viewing 4 posts - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)
  • The topic ‘Not going like I thought…..’ is closed to new replies.