I needed to hear that ending!! "You're not going to fit three years into one year.... You get 12 years to educate your children.... There's no perfect curriculum.... Whatever you pick is going to be great.... Hopefully, we're raising lifelong learners... " All of those resonated with me. Thank you for those little nuggets of wisdom! I've been a Mom for nearly 22 years, with 6 children ranging from 3 to 21. But I've only been homeschooling for 3, going on 4 years now, so I'm still navigating this whole homeschooling world. ❤ Sometimes, just simple statements resound the most profoundly. 😊
The last part of this video was exactly what I needed to hear. "Just pick something and remember that you don't have to fit three years of school into one year." ❤️👍
Going into our 4th year. I have started honing in on my kids learning styles, and that is changing things up for next year. My son is geared towards interest lead learning (he really loves school, but I need to let him lead where to turn sometimes). My youngest is doing great with TGTB language arts and math and does well with the workbook style. Overall, we are simplifying things. Not as much curriculum, more interest lead and kids choice (with perimeters from mom). I’d say we will be half curriculum, half living books and notebooking. 😅😊 looking forward to next year already!!
I am going to try to fit in the book list from AGF Cycle 2 for our history cycle and maybe science but everything else we’ve already found things we love and are sticking with. So you can just collect the books for the history cycle and narrate, narrate, narrate. I’ll throw a few note pages in too. But yes… flexibility is a wonderful thing. Flexibility inside the structure. Love your insights.
Thankfully, as you said, this great 'feast' we have to offer doesn't have to happen all in a year or two. I suspect I have a very different personality than you when it comes to curriculum...I like to just pick something and keep rolling with it as much as I can. We also don't have great library access...which means that even if I hear of a great book and I really want to read it to my kids...odds are, it's going to have to wait a good long while before I can actually get my hands on that book.
Love that you are steady with what you use, Rachel! And I bet the fact that you don't have access to a great library really does affect this. I am thankful every day for the library access we have here in my state. I do not take it for granted!
“There’s no bad curriculum, just curriculum that fits you better.” AGREED! We have moved on from curriculum that I thought was wonderful, it just didn’t fit our family.
That's great! 😍 It can be hard to want to stick with it that just isn't working for your kids, especially if it's a popular curriculum that so many people rave about.
"Ain't nobody got time for this"...LOL!!! You are me and I am you. I don't like doing the same thing for long periods of time. When I first started homeschool, I fell in love with Unit Studies. However, I also found out that I like convenience of a box curriculum with all the supplies included. So this year we are going to try out Sonlight's World History for my rising 5th and 7th grader. My rising 8th grader is going to do Masterbook's The World's Story because he's not a group person but still likes to be include...pray for me (lol). Science is weakness, so I am deciding between Apologia Chemistry and Physics or Science Sherperd Physical Science. Can't wait to hear your choices.
We're not a Charlotte Mason purist either our math is pretty traditional and for phonics we use Explode the Code but everything else is CM. We do narrations and copywork as well.
I’m so like you! I like AGF but can’t stick with it. So this year I’m trying Biblioplan. It gives options for different books to go along with the spine.
I’ve been struggling a bit with my 13 wanting to be more independent as well! Next year for phy Ed he’s joining a co-op! This will be our first co-op and he’ll be away from all his siblings at this co-op. He also has a friend who uses life of Fred and he’s been asking if we can try that for math because it’s reading and he wants more reading and less workbook style math. I’m glad he’s vocalizing his desires for learning but it’s been an adjustment for me as the mama!
I definitely think life long learning is the goal for my family too. And I try to remind myself we have a long time to get it all in! It can be hard though! Just yesterday I was waiting for a box of supplies (Yay more things!!), and then when it came I was feeling stressed out (how can I do all the things?!) 😅 Took some time to get it all in perspective (don't have to do it all, plus I am sick, so nothing feels good), and now I am back to good. Ha!
Both my boys are so independent as well. My 11yr old has been headed this direction probably over a year and my 8yr old is asking what else he can do on his own. I am finally hanging up the idea of family style learning. They have check lists and mommy meetings for things that need my help. And they are thriving now that I am not insisting on family style. We just do a read aloud together.
Yes to raising lifelong learners!! I was actually never assigned reading my whole life and didn’t have anyone in my life who helped/encouraged me to read good books so I have a lot of catching up to do! I just started reading as an adult in the last year and half and have enjoyed a lot of middle grade and YA books as well as adult. And have been doing read aloud time about the same amount of time. But yes I still feel like oooohhh ao many good books I want my kids to experience and so little time. 😆🙈 but like you said lifelong learners.. good reminder
We love video led lessons with BJU Press. My kids like doing their own thing, so I’ve learned to go with it and be there when they need me. I wish we could do all the things together but my kids are so spaced out in age that it’s hard.
I am trying NOT to pick curriculum 😆except for maybe language arts. We have just discovered in the last month or so, that unit studies are what my kids enjoy - living books, youtube videos, documentaries, and couple of projects to finish out the unit. I too like to keep on a cycle, so we will continue with the American history track we started this year and do some animal/nature studies for science. No curriculum required, just a library card lol. The hardest part is trying to make it meaty enough for my 11/12-year-old yet not over complicated for my 8-year-old. I have been really inspired by Cindy West from Our Journey Westward, she has an amazing nature study membership and some great ideas for project-based unit studies. My kids are LOVING this new style and I am too because there's no box I need to fit in to.
Thank you for sharing! I'm just curious, have you ever looked into Notgrass history? If so what did you like or not like? I love reading their books with my kiddos, I am always amazed at how much they catch and that God is a focus in it!
Great question! I have looked into it a little bit. I have heard some good things about it! I have been VERY close to pulling the trigger on it the last couple of years, and I just can't bring myself to do it 😬 I know myself too well, and I think we would start out strong with the text, but then I would just divert to reading the books suggestions and not read the text enough. It seems like a great option! I love how they bring Biblical worldview into it. I just prefer using living books when it comes to history.
Great tips! I think about what season we are in and the independence level of my student. Right now I have only one student, but also a 2 year old busy boy and a baby girl coming this Summer. 😊 So….this next year my daughter will be doing as much independently as possible since we’ll have a new baby. We had been using Sonlight for History/Bible/Literature, but I know I’ll get overwhelmed with the amount of read alouds, so we’re trying Notgrass American History and I’m having her read the Sonlight readers for the Level D American history since she’s an avid reader. It’s the best of both worlds in my opinion. 🤷🏻♀️ Then the following year I will reassess to possibly switch back to Sonlight. Or maybe we’ll really like Notgrass and stick with that. Who knows!
I’d love to hear what books you’re starting with. We are basically doing the same thing for next year (or, just, whenever we start), and we are starting with ancients per the children’s request. I have Story of the World for everyone as a spine, and plan to add bio’s and historical fiction for individual reads. The high school child is going to use Guest Hollow Whirlwind World History as her spine (and listen to SOTW if she wants to). My hope is to add books from the specific topics they are interested in, so I don’t have any yet 😂
I am relating to everything you’re saying in this video. What would you think about using AGF morning time and the LA packs with “doing whatever” for history?
I needed to hear that ending!!
"You're not going to fit three years into one year.... You get 12 years to educate your children.... There's no perfect curriculum.... Whatever you pick is going to be great.... Hopefully, we're raising lifelong learners... " All of those resonated with me. Thank you for those little nuggets of wisdom!
I've been a Mom for nearly 22 years, with 6 children ranging from 3 to 21. But I've only been homeschooling for 3, going on 4 years now, so I'm still navigating this whole homeschooling world. ❤ Sometimes, just simple statements resound the most profoundly. 😊
Awwww! I'm honored you were so encouraged! Praise the Lord! Thanks for letting me know. We are all definitely still growing and learning, huh?
The last part of this video was exactly what I needed to hear. "Just pick something and remember that you don't have to fit three years of school into one year." ❤️👍
I just wrote this same comment! 😂 I agree completely!!!
Awww! Thanks, gals! Glad I could encourage you :)
That's me 🙋♀️ hi fellow mother who changes everything 😅 I can't follow a recipe either, quite often!
Going into our 4th year. I have started honing in on my kids learning styles, and that is changing things up for next year. My son is geared towards interest lead learning (he really loves school, but I need to let him lead where to turn sometimes). My youngest is doing great with TGTB language arts and math and does well with the workbook style.
Overall, we are simplifying things. Not as much curriculum, more interest lead and kids choice (with perimeters from mom). I’d say we will be half curriculum, half living books and notebooking. 😅😊 looking forward to next year already!!
This sounds great! Sounds similar to what I will be doing. Thanks for sharing! I'm looking forward to next year too!
I am going to try to fit in the book list from AGF Cycle 2 for our history cycle and maybe science but everything else we’ve already found things we love and are sticking with. So you can just collect the books for the history cycle and narrate, narrate, narrate. I’ll throw a few note pages in too. But yes… flexibility is a wonderful thing. Flexibility inside the structure.
Love your insights.
Thank you!
Your videos are always encouraging!!! I’m a mama of 6 homeschooling 3 and have 3 little ones! Thank you!
Hey, I have 6 also! But I have 3 older kids and 3 young ones. 😊 Also, homeschooling for almost 4 years now!
Awww! Thank you! Glad you are watching :)
Thankfully, as you said, this great 'feast' we have to offer doesn't have to happen all in a year or two. I suspect I have a very different personality than you when it comes to curriculum...I like to just pick something and keep rolling with it as much as I can. We also don't have great library access...which means that even if I hear of a great book and I really want to read it to my kids...odds are, it's going to have to wait a good long while before I can actually get my hands on that book.
Me too. I don't like change. 😂
Love that you are steady with what you use, Rachel! And I bet the fact that you don't have access to a great library really does affect this. I am thankful every day for the library access we have here in my state. I do not take it for granted!
“There’s no bad curriculum, just curriculum that fits you better.” AGREED! We have moved on from curriculum that I thought was wonderful, it just didn’t fit our family.
That's great! 😍 It can be hard to want to stick with it that just isn't working for your kids, especially if it's a popular curriculum that so many people rave about.
"Ain't nobody got time for this"...LOL!!! You are me and I am you. I don't like doing the same thing for long periods of time. When I first started homeschool, I fell in love with Unit Studies. However, I also found out that I like convenience of a box curriculum with all the supplies included. So this year we are going to try out Sonlight's World History for my rising 5th and 7th grader. My rising 8th grader is going to do Masterbook's The World's Story because he's not a group person but still likes to be include...pray for me (lol). Science is weakness, so I am deciding between Apologia Chemistry and Physics or Science Sherperd Physical Science. Can't wait to hear your choices.
So many good choices! Thanks for sharing what you are looking at! It sounds awesome :)
So helpful!! Thank you for sharing!!❤
Thank you!
We're not a Charlotte Mason purist either our math is pretty traditional and for phonics we use Explode the Code but everything else is CM. We do narrations and copywork as well.
I’m so like you! I like AGF but can’t stick with it. So this year I’m trying Biblioplan. It gives options for different books to go along with the spine.
I've heard great things about Bilibloplan!!
I’ve been struggling a bit with my 13 wanting to be more independent as well! Next year for phy Ed he’s joining a co-op! This will be our first co-op and he’ll be away from all his siblings at this co-op. He also has a friend who uses life of Fred and he’s been asking if we can try that for math because it’s reading and he wants more reading and less workbook style math. I’m glad he’s vocalizing his desires for learning but it’s been an adjustment for me as the mama!
That’s so great!
I definitely think life long learning is the goal for my family too. And I try to remind myself we have a long time to get it all in!
It can be hard though! Just yesterday I was waiting for a box of supplies (Yay more things!!), and then when it came I was feeling stressed out (how can I do all the things?!) 😅
Took some time to get it all in perspective (don't have to do it all, plus I am sick, so nothing feels good), and now I am back to good. Ha!
Hopefully you can get well soon! :)
Both my boys are so independent as well. My 11yr old has been headed this direction probably over a year and my 8yr old is asking what else he can do on his own. I am finally hanging up the idea of family style learning. They have check lists and mommy meetings for things that need my help. And they are thriving now that I am not insisting on family style. We just do a read aloud together.
Yes! Same here, thanks for sharing!
Yes to raising lifelong learners!! I was actually never assigned reading my whole life and didn’t have anyone in my life who helped/encouraged me to read good books so I have a lot of catching up to do! I just started reading as an adult in the last year and half and have enjoyed a lot of middle grade and YA books as well as adult. And have been doing read aloud time about the same amount of time. But yes I still feel like oooohhh ao many good books I want my kids to experience and so little time. 😆🙈 but like you said lifelong learners.. good reminder
I love YA and middle grade novels! I read those more than adult for my now personal reading, lol!
We love video led lessons with BJU Press. My kids like doing their own thing, so I’ve learned to go with it and be there when they need me. I wish we could do all the things together but my kids are so spaced out in age that it’s hard.
Thank you for sharing! Glad you have found what is working for you guys :)
I am trying NOT to pick curriculum 😆except for maybe language arts. We have just discovered in the last month or so, that unit studies are what my kids enjoy - living books, youtube videos, documentaries, and couple of projects to finish out the unit. I too like to keep on a cycle, so we will continue with the American history track we started this year and do some animal/nature studies for science. No curriculum required, just a library card lol. The hardest part is trying to make it meaty enough for my 11/12-year-old yet not over complicated for my 8-year-old. I have been really inspired by Cindy West from Our Journey Westward, she has an amazing nature study membership and some great ideas for project-based unit studies. My kids are LOVING this new style and I am too because there's no box I need to fit in to.
I love Cindy West’s resources! I plan to use some of her things next year as well 😁
That's me! I change things up all the time and I annoy myself! I am so indecisive and I just need to pick something and stick with it. 🤦♀️
Yes, I get that!
Thank you for sharing! I'm just curious, have you ever looked into Notgrass history? If so what did you like or not like? I love reading their books with my kiddos, I am always amazed at how much they catch and that God is a focus in it!
Great question! I have looked into it a little bit. I have heard some good things about it! I have been VERY close to pulling the trigger on it the last couple of years, and I just can't bring myself to do it 😬 I know myself too well, and I think we would start out strong with the text, but then I would just divert to reading the books suggestions and not read the text enough. It seems like a great option! I love how they bring Biblical worldview into it. I just prefer using living books when it comes to history.
Great tips! I think about what season we are in and the independence level of my student. Right now I have only one student, but also a 2 year old busy boy and a baby girl coming this Summer. 😊 So….this next year my daughter will be doing as much independently as possible since we’ll have a new baby. We had been using Sonlight for History/Bible/Literature, but I know I’ll get overwhelmed with the amount of read alouds, so we’re trying Notgrass American History and I’m having her read the Sonlight readers for the Level D American history since she’s an avid reader. It’s the best of both worlds in my opinion. 🤷🏻♀️ Then the following year I will reassess to possibly switch back to Sonlight. Or maybe we’ll really like Notgrass and stick with that. Who knows!
That sounds like a great idea, Jerilyn! I like the idea of combining the sonlight readers with Notgrass. I'm doing something very similar :)
I’d love to hear what books you’re starting with. We are basically doing the same thing for next year (or, just, whenever we start), and we are starting with ancients per the children’s request. I have Story of the World for everyone as a spine, and plan to add bio’s and historical fiction for individual reads. The high school child is going to use Guest Hollow Whirlwind World History as her spine (and listen to SOTW if she wants to). My hope is to add books from the specific topics they are interested in, so I don’t have any yet 😂
This sounds like a great start to a great plan!
I am relating to everything you’re saying in this video.
What would you think about using AGF morning time and the LA packs with “doing whatever” for history?
Actually, this is pretty much what I’m doing!! I loved AGF Morning Time so much, so I’ll use that along with my book list picks 😁
@@JoyfulNoiseLearning oh, that’s so good to know!
Ashley! We are sooo much alike! I love change and NEED change! Lol 😂
Ha ha! Twins! I love that we have so much in common, Toni ☺️
Your tips is really helpful and it is so encouraging! We've sent you an email, please check it.