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Starting older child in Charlotte Mason
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I have three children. When they were young I homeschooled them using predominately CM. When my oldest was in sixth grade we put all of them in public school (we moved to a “better” School district).
Now My children are 17, 14 and 11 and we have had the secular world reak havoc on them and they have gotten involved with the worst you can immagine (accept our 11 year old, but he is close to failing already this year).
I need to get a grip and pull them out and restart our homeschool. How at this late date? How do I start Charlotte Mason Method with my previously public school “educated” 14 year old daughter? Do I start as a six year old and do narration? I’m really at a lose as to how to begin. My heart is breaking for them and my soul has been pinning to get them back to what God wants, but I have been hesitant because this is a “Blue Ribbon” School.
What do I do? Where do I go? Help!
Carole
Carole,
I got as far as ‘the world wreak havoc on them’ and my heart went out to you all. I will be praying that God will restore what the locusts have eaten. None of us here would say that homeschool is a guaranteed protection against the lure of the world on our children and so we all have need to pray this same prayer at times. At least, I know I do.
Coming from the public school, she may feel like oral narration is beneath her, but you can encourage her that it’s just a bit of a learning curve so that ya’ll can get on track with the method you want to use. You may want to explain to her who Charlotte Mason was and why you believe this to be the best method. Perhaps you are able to let her help select some of the reading material.
In your particular situation, I would find some materials that you can discuss together and get her input on. This is slightly different than narration, because you want to be involved in her thinking process and see those areas in her heart that are hurting. You want to choose things that will encourage her but not condemn her. You will want to show compassion so that you can build a very strong bond with her, allowing her to see that Jesus died for any sin and your own discontent (or whatever) is not a ‘lesser’ sin than anything she may have fallen prey to. Having been in the ps, you may read something together that leaves her thinking the characters are just dorky. You will want to empathize with her to say, “Yeah, they seem that way to me too, but why do we think that? Can we learn anything from this?” I think what I’m getting at is that you want her to keep talking.
I’ll be praying for ya’ll, Carole.
Blessings,
Cindy
Oops, forgot to say that, as far as where to start, you could take a look at the curriculum guide on this site; it’s very helpful!
Cindy,
I thank you for your thoughtful advise. I feel very guilty myself. I went away from what the Lord was convicting me to do, home school, and sent my precious gifts out to the wolves before they were prepared to fight the good fight. There is much to be undone. I pray that God will bless this home and heal what has been injured so my children will go out and be proud productive followers of God.
Concerning CM education you believe I should start right where she is and do the suggested curriculum for her grade level? I guess that makes sense. I was just thinking that because she hasn’t been narrating what she has read I needed to start at an earlier grade to “catch her up” to where she would have been if I had remained faithful to my previous home school efforts.
Again thank you very much for your thoughts
Carole
Yes, I think you should start her right where she is. Perhaps, at first, you will not require as much written work. I’m not sure what your state requires regarding portfolios, you will have to work with that, obviously. You will see quickly what she is capable of because you are such a caring mom that wants the best for her kiddos. They are very blessed.
One of my teens had a harder time initially with oral narration when she left PS, however she was able to do great written narrations. Eventually she go the confidence to do oral narrations as well – and now is great at both. Start with where she is, encourage her, and don’t give up – you are doing exactly the right thing and it is never too late. Blessings – Linda
Excellent counsel, Cindy and Linda. Carole, I just want to add my Amen to what has already been said about focusing on issues of the heart, even as you make this transition. A lot will be new academically, but the main reason you’re making this move back home is to recapture your children’s hearts. So give yourself and your children plenty of grace and try to focus on the heart issues (their loyalties, their priorities, their passions, their loves) more than their performance.
You might want to phase into CM methods a little at a time. If so, this article on making the transition step by step might be helpful.
Be strong and of a good courage, Carole! The Lord your God is with you!
Carole,
I am new to CM but would like to throw my two cents in the ring. I have a 14dd that was recently in a online charter school, due to the fact that she felt she wasn’t learning, so against my better judgement I enrolled her in a charter school so she would see for herself. Well, she hated it, it was monotonous, long hard days, no outdoors time at all, and the socializing she so desperately thought they would provide was of course, non extistent.
Beginning this week we have pulled her from the charter school and are transitioning her and our 11dd to CM. 11dd was doing unit studies and was almost a CM girl but now we are going all the way. It has actually been quite nice, I am following the transition guide on the web site and tweaking it just a bit, as I must purchase some things and don’t have all the money up front. This week we stuck with a Literature Study, Bible/History, Personal Character Bible using Wisdom For Life, and a little times table review for 11yo, she has struggled with multiplication so we have been focusing on that concept. Both girls have shown a great excitement, even for the narrating, which surprised me, we have been doing illustrations of what we are studying and writing or orally narrating a caption for our pictures.
Next week I hope to add in our Science, Scripture Memory, and doing our Nature, Picture, Music, and Poet Studies(these I am doing one each day of the week). Following this I will add in Math, and Analytical Grammar, and Spelling/Dictation. They are excited and even the 14yo doesn’t feel like we are doing”babyschool” which was always her complaint before.
God Bless you on your journey and I will be saying a prayer for you, that God will go before you and light the path He wants you to take.
Oh thank you all so much for your encouragement. I am so happy to hear that I’m not the only person attempting to “start” school in November. Hurrah to you. I feel so encouraged. I to am starting in transitional style also. So far it’s helped me to really focus on each subject with-out feeling too much stress. I’m able to really carve out a solid game plan this way.
Math is going to be in my last to introduce because I have to order Math-U-See Pre-algebra and everything that comes with it. I guess MUS has updated their books this year. I’ve heard great things.
May God bless you all for your encouragement. I feel ready to unschool and Teach Charlotte Mason.
Carole
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