Overwhelmed and can't seem to take the first step.

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  • October 1, 2011 at 8:25 pm
    Gracefullyhere2
    Participant

    Okay, so I am a homeschool mom of two. My daughter is almost 6 and my son is 10. I have read some about this method of homeschool and I really agree with the philosophy.

    The problem is the past few months have been extremly stressful for our family and I think my brain is stuck on screen saver mode. I can’t seem to put together the steps to begin. From the bookstore what are the resourses that will point me in the most concrete direction, without costing and arm and leg.I just need a few steps to help me out of this fog. I appreciate how busy all of you are and I am greatful for what ever advice you have.Thank you very much

    Amber

    October 1, 2011 at 10:03 pm
    suzukimom
    Participant

    Hi Amber, and welcome?

    What type of homeschooling did you do before?  Did you buy resources for the year (for a different homeschool style), or have you been “winging it” so far this year?

    Next question…. did you want to follow the SCM suggested curriculum, follow another CM style curriculum, or figure out your own?   (You did find the link on the site that shows a suggested curriculum?)

    Is there a specific subject that is tripping you up?

    There is a blog series on the site on getting started – I’ll see if I can find it for you….

     

    October 1, 2011 at 10:13 pm
    suzukimom
    Participant

    Ok – here is a general get started in homeschooling – free – http://simplycharlottemason.com/books/getting-started/

    Here is a list of the blog Series – they provide great information on various topics…  http://simplycharlottemason.com/series/

     

    The getting started series  http://simplycharlottemason.com/series/getting-started/

    Transition Series  http://simplycharlottemason.com/series/making-the-transition-to-cm/

     

    I imagine the All-Day Seminar is great to get going – but I haven’t been able to get it yet.  Apparently doing a search on Youtube for Sonya Shafer (or Simply Charlotte Mason) will give a bunch of helpful short videos.

    If you want to plan your own books…. I’d highly recommend “Planning your CM Education” – although there is a blog series (link above) with the main info from that.

    I think the history guides look fantastic (we are doing our own though…) although be warned that one of the main books in Module 1 is hard to get inexpensively right now….

     

    Hope this helps some…   remember – BREATHE!  You can do this!

    October 1, 2011 at 10:14 pm
    suzukimom
    Participant

    (oh, and download all the free resources from the bookstore… they have been very generous with us!)

    October 2, 2011 at 12:19 pm
    momto2blessings
    Participant

    Suzuki mom gave great advice/links.  I just wanted to 2nd the “Planning Your CM Education” book.  I like having hardcopies on hand, and it’s a great resource to explain all the subjects and ideas on how to implement a CM eduation. It also has free downloadable schedules that you can fill in (along with lots of sample schedules of how different families implement CM).

    We use Math-U-See and love the short, to-the-point lessons.  I hear good things about Right Start, too.  You can plan your own copywork from books you’re reading, but I like Queen Homeschool supplies for this…ready made.  Apologia Elementary is a popular CMish science curriculum, or you can use choices here…youngest can just do nature study.  For history you can use the guides here, Truthquest is a great guide, too….or just pick the books you want and have the kids narrate.  You can start with oral narrations for both kids, gradually adding in written narrations for your eldest.  I’d start with the basics, and then gradually add in things like picture study, composers, etc.  Try not to stress….just take one day at a time and it will get easier and all come together. HTH some:) Gina

    October 2, 2011 at 10:52 pm
    Gracefullyhere2
    Participant

    Thanks so much for the help. For my son I purchased the Apologia flying creatures of the fifth day. For math we have Math Mammoth and I have him use manipulitives. For my daughter I am using Phonics pathways for beginning to read and thats where my resources end. When I began my search for homeschool styles and curriculum the only resourses that I knew anything about was Accelerated Chrisitan Education,which is how I was homeschooled. I had no desire to use that model and I remember being incredilbly bored with it. I do have the entire set of What your ….. needs to know. My plan before life went haywire was to use the English and History Sections as a guide. I also have found Ambleside online and its incredibly helpful. I think!

    In the past months we have had several deaths in the family two of which were children and I just couldn’t seem to get my brain out of a fog. We are doing alot of reading and spending time in nature just taking it slow. The resources and links have been very helpful.

    October 3, 2011 at 12:42 am
    MamaWebb
    Participant

    Welcome Gracefullyhere2.  I am very sorry for your family’s losses.  We’ve been living under a great deal of stress in our family too, and i really get what you’re talking about.  I heartily agree with suzukimom’s suggestions.  I think that planning your charlotte mason homeschool education was one of the best purchases i’ve ever made for my homeschool.  i have also learned so very much by just perusing the free curriculum guide and reading the blog series.  Also, just frequenting this forum has blessed and taught me so much.  

    Best wishes as you start your CM journey.

    Amy

    October 3, 2011 at 2:07 am
    suzukimom
    Participant

    My condolances!

    Well, my 2 cents is reading a lot, getting out in nature, a bit of work on math and phonics is probably enough until you and your kids are out of the fog from greif, unless you are feeling the need to get more of a normal routine in your life… a need for you, not an “I really should”…..

    Then slowly add in one more thing at a time as you feel ready.

    With being in a fog and all that is going on, I’d recommend following someone elses lead instead of trying to plan your own (for now)…. and as halpful as AO is… (I was an AO’r) I think it would be way too much and make you feel like you aren’t accomplishing what you should…. and as your children would be in seperate “paths” so to speak, it would be more for you, which I don’t think you need right now.   

    So – money tends to be a HUGE issue for me (like even a few dollars is a problem) so I haven’t done these, but I have looked at the samples…..   anyway – I think if you felt ready to add history, I would look at the SCM modules and pick one… maybe be which have books you mostly get online or at the library.  The guides are really not that expensive and are very helpful without being too restrictive.  I don’t think it is too hard to substitute if you can’t find one.  The kids would be working in the same time, some of the work is done together, and I think you would find it a lot easier on you than AO or some other CM “curriculums”.  

    Don’t get me wrong.  AO is great, the people are very helpful, and maybe it is right for your family (but I wouldn’t try it all right now while you are still in a fog with grief.)  I used it for a couple of years, but was always feeling stressed because we were “behind schedule” or my son wasn’t understanding the books, etc.  That said, he did eventually like some of the books that he had hated (and some he still hates… heck, a few I still hate….)  I felt a GREAT sense of release when I left it.

    I might be rambling a bit….

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