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Hi Jessica! You might try Home Education by Charlotte Mason (it’s geared towards those with children 6 and under, mostly). Otherwise, many folks really like For The Children’s Sake.

We actually began in Grade 4 science this year. My boys are 11 and 9 and doing it together.

@@kindletogetherness this is very encouraging.. I sent an Instagram message but not sure it went through . I thought 4 was a good starting point . As it is progressing

I’m unsure if I saw your IG dm or not. Sometimes they are filtered in a weird way. Did I respond?

Wow! Your words are so kind and encouraging. All glory to God!

Hi Daphne! 👋🏽 Feel free to ask here. I’ll do my best to create a video about combining students soon.

You definitely have to get creative with lots of kiddos!

So glad it was helpful! Thanks for leaving a comment.

Hello Rebecca! Yes, you could do ENWC and Playful Pioneers, I did. Jen does include some nature study in her curriculums, but ENWC is so simple to implement and wonderful for 1st grade.

Oh no! I am sorry it feels overwhelming. If you want super straightforward and open and go, I highly recommend A Gentle Feast. It is a CM curriculum too and there is a lot less to wade through. That said, I am loving The Alveary. I will try and make a video at some point. I have been swamped lately.

Thanks for taking time to tell me it was helpful! I hope you and your son have a wonderful year together this year.

I have friends that have one kiddo and follow a CM philosophy. IMO, A Gentle Feast is a nice fit. Be sure he has access to many breaks, lots of heavy work, and plenty of time outdoors.

Awww! I’m so glad you’re finding your freedom and running with it!

Thanks so much for adding your thoughts. My eldest is grade 6 and after looking at his books and pre-reading, I’ve not found them “soft”. However, this is only my very first exposure to their book lists at this higher grade level. We shall see!

Thanks for sharing! What did you land on?

@@kindletogetherness I cobble together my own! From all the great booklists etc. I’ve been CM homeschooling for awhile and really like doing that. I know ‘open and go’ are very helpful. 🥰blessings over your learning year!

Interesting.

@@kindletogetherness Oh goodness. I commented on the wrong video! 🤣

I’m not sure of the context for this question, but I learned about her in college. We had to do a research thesis paper on a philosophy of education we liked and in researching the various philosophies, I found Miss Mason and read her volumes.

@@kindletogetherness how wonderful!

I love AGF too! And I’m excited to be trying The Alveary.

Awesome! I’m still getting the hang of everything.

I bought them from a Facebook BST

That’s sort of how this is. In a way.

Min Hwang, she’s on IG under her name. Also, Amber from Heritage Mom Blog, and Shanda from Devoted Motherhood.

I’m sooooo not tech savvy, but I’m trying it.

My joy!

Oh goodness, Heather! I’m honored to be your friend. You have the most sincere heart with a beautiful faith! Let’s continue to sharpen one another.

So glad!

💕

Thanks for sharing your experience with it. I can see how it might be more of a challenge if you don’t combine forms a lot in The Alveary. I only have 3 children and I’ll be combining a bunch.

I'm looking for family style too - what curriculum have you found?

@stephaniesticka5556 I don't have all of our curriculum figured out yet- Berean builders science in the beginning is our choice for family style science, likely adding in some Simply CM Exploring what God has created/Discover what Go's created book recommendations. SCM is the most family style I have found for history but we are CDN so it doesn't work for us for early modern/modern. I'm piecing that together myself, family style. I haven't found any truly family style CM programs. A gentle feast combines forms, so that's helpful compared to others that are grade based.

Right? I do the same. I was praying about the situation, but it was focused on the issue and on my husband. I wasn’t asking God to do a work in me.

Aaah! So fun to find other folks using it.

I’m so thankful for her in my life. If I can be anything like her at all, I’m becoming more like Him!

I’m glad it’s an idea that resonates. I’m praying it will be life giving to other mamas.

Wow! It’s so neat that you’ve tried so many and been able to see how each works. It’s quite possible we will circle back to AGF as well at some point, but I’m excited to try The Alveary.

Wow! Thanks for responding to let me know! The toddler and baby years were some of my favorite parenting years thus far - but that’s looking back. Haha. It’s a lot of work when you’re in the thick of it.

I’m not certain which classics you’d like to see but we are doing Plutarch and Shakespeare, which I believe are classic. Pilgrims Progress would all be a classic in my opinion. We are coming from AGF where a lot of the read alouds are classic children’s literature. I feel like those are easily pulled for afternoon read alouds, but aren’t necessarily needed for a robust lesson feast. Unless you’re meaning some history and other classics I’m not thinking of. Also, while I’ve not used Without Doors, it’s been highly recommended several times. What makes it not a great fit for our family is it’s more a unit study of specific time periods, versus laid out like Miss Mason suggested (multiple history streams as your children enter form 2). If a family wanted all their children in the same period of history, some kids would begin in Ancient when they were ready for formal lessons, some children would start with British. I’m a big proponent of always starting a child with their home country. This is what drew me to AGF and The Alveary also does it.

@@kindletogetherness Thank you for your response! This makes sense. I was thinking of possibly just pulling classic children’s literature as read alouds if Alveary didn’t include that in the plans. That seems like an easy enough addition! I see what you mean about Without Doors. It does look like a great time period unit study approach, but history cycles definitely differ from CM methods. Thank you, SarahRuth!

I’ll definitely get something up with those details! Thanks for letting me know it would be helpful.

Such a good question. Tbh, we wound up switching into TG&TB. I don’t use it as written because I don’t love the workbook feel of a lot of it. However, I also like my kids all in the same math, because for me as the teacher, this works best. The SCM series is a solid year or 2 behind my eldest and it’s made it hard for us to stay bought into it as much as I wish we could.

You are so welcome! I’m excited for a refresh too! Yay for something new and for mamas that are willing to make a switch when needed.

It’s one of my favorite parts too. They have different Bible lessons/suggestions for different grade groups, but it’s so easy to just pick one (that’s what I did). Composer, folk song, and artist study are all the same for different ages.

Would very helpful to learn how to combine.. I have ages 7 1/2, 10, and 13 year old.. 2 boys and youngest is a girl.. I have been looking at the Alveary for a week now as I have been praying for something new.. Long story short my two highschoolers are doing online school 😢 but its okay I want to refresh our schooling with the younger 3.. My 13 year old son was a late reader and isn't like all about the boom work etc Back history my older two that graduated were mainly CM taught and we used amblesode for a while but were not constant and it was hard for me with all the different years.. and j did some with the middles but then went to tapestry and that was too much, then life hit and thjngs have been all over the place.. We tried biblioplan this last year didn't finish and I didn't like how fast and it reminded me of tapestry.. Couldn't fall in love with it.we also tried some masterbooks but not in love but like the elementary math I asked my 13 year old about the online school like his older siblings and he was like Nope I like doing it with you and reading etc.. So I started looking at ambleside again and then I remembered the alveary I looked at last year and came back to it. I am wondering how I can do with all 3 and how long it will take o plan before we start after labor day.. I really like the more modern feel as well 😊 Thank you so much for sharing this as I have looked at a gentle feast as well but I love all the map work with alveary etc

I plan to share that for sure. I may be premature by sharing this summer, instead of waiting to see what actually works this fall. Haha. So it may become a 2 part video series.

@@kindletogetherness I understand that I’m so thankful God laid on your heart to do all that you do. We have many things in common I’m learning watching your videos

Oh I see what you mean, each grade side by side rather than a single list for each day. Alveary+ isn’t quite like that. But you def request that as they are updating and improving! Excellent idea!

Yeah, I really enjoyed the layout of AGF and will miss it. That full week spread of all subjects and all kids was chef’s kiss for me personally. 👌

It’s called Syllabird. I found it a bit overwhelming initially, but I’m so tech not savvy. Once I sat down and relaxed and really looked at it, it was very straight forward.

How exciting! What grades are your kids, Brooke?

I will have a 1st grader, 4th grader, and 5th grader. We also have a 4 year old and 6 month old to tag along!

@@brookelewis8958 That’s a full house! I love it. What a wonderful year you’re going to have.

🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼 How neat that several of us are shifting simultaneously. We really are blessed to have so many options to choose from.

Thanks for the help navigating all my big feelings and resistance. You’re the best to help me audibly process.

It’s a big thing, isn’t it? I mean, every day doesn’t need to be magical, but we definitely don’t want it to be drudgery all the time.

I am adding it to my list. Do you use a curriculum?

@@kindletogetherness Thank you! I have Without Doors Early America Guide and I have been looking at AGF Cycle 1. Without doors is very beautifully done, but I purchased before learning about AGF. AGF just makes it seem easy to implementing a CM style learning. But I am unsure I will change curriculum before we have even started.

Wow! This is such a fun and complimentary comment. Also, unexpected. I hope I’m those things - fun and airy and exuberant. Do you use a specific curriculum? Forgive me if we’ve previously talked about this and I’m forgetting 🤦🏻‍♀️🤪

​@@kindletogetherness I've used AO since my first (now in her early 20s) was in 4th year. I had my second child 10 years after her, and we've continued with AO entirely until this year. I'm adding in Sabbath Mood Science for my second, this year, going in to their 6th year. I keep eyeing Alveary and CMEC, one for one reason, and the other for different reasons. I'll enjoy hearing your updates on Alveary. <3

Oh awesome! You’ve got a lot of experience. I really liked what I saw at Sabbath Mood. I was ready to buy a unit if I stuck with AGF.

Also, you are too cute in this hat and dress! <3

It is a shock to me too! Haha. I really fought switching because I loved using A Gentle Feast. However, I feel like this was God leading me and my sons to a new place in our lessons.

@@wholeheartedhomemaking You are so kind, friend!