I went to a Charlotte Mason (CM) seminar not too long ago, thanks to a lovely hostess and Simply Charlotte Mason's excellent DVD seminar. I have been studying CM for the past few years, and I have used some of her methods loosely. I say "loosely" because I have been a very "eclectic" homeschooler so far and feel like I've not settled into a groove, so to speak. I know that I will continue to draw from various resources and methods (especially Classical resources---though I consider CM a Classical method in and of itself, but that is another post), but I am more convinced than ever that CM in all of its glory :-) fits both my daughter's natural interests and style of learning; and our family goals for education very well.
I truly think that many of Charlotte Mason's methods could be applied in any type of home or school education program. For example, in a time when many public schools are cutting art and music programs, CM's art and composer study would be a breath of fresh air to students and teachers alike. In the home, what freedom we have to focus on the Beautiful even more!
So the stirring that has been in my mind/heart all along coupled with the highly practical and motivational teaching from Sonya Shafer has inspired me to more thoroughly and consistently apply CM methods to our home school as we prepare to begin our new year. The "short version" of the decisions I've been working through is this: we are not going to be using My Father's World (MFW) Adventures program this year. (I do realize it uses CM principles.) For the expanded version, keep reading. :-)
Instead, we are going (to remain) on a dual track history focus. We will work through Early American history while also studying Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. We are going to be attending a Bible study next year that is focusing on the book of Acts, so what better time to study the ancient Greeks and Romans? JB loves American history so here we are (right where we started).....LOL. I have been busy searching various curriculum websites as well as using my trusty Truthquest History guide, All Through the Ages book, and Baldwin Project Online Books/Yesterday's Classics to find excellent living books for our studies.
I actually worked through Simply Charlotte Mason's (SCM) Planning Your Charlotte Mason Education several months ago and now I have revisited those notes and plans and am ready to take the plunge in ideals, ideas, methods and resources! Since I am soooooooo not good at following someone else's schedule (I discovered I'd probably be off track with MFW by week 5 I think it was----because I wanted to devote more time to one subject area), I am also taking the plunge to use SCM's CM Organizer for at least three months to see how it will help track my own schedule. I've subscribed to use it in the past without much success---but they have added additional features and there are many more tips on how to use it now than when I first subcribed. Since it is so flexible and I now understand how to use it in varied and better ways, I can be sure that I will always be *exactly* where I should be, because the schedule will work for me and not against me. It won't matter if we speed up in some areas and slow down in others. The CM Organizer will keep me organized! LOL
So for all posterity, here is the initial plan of action as for what subjects we will study each week with an approximate time for each lesson (note: I've added in a couple of things that are strictly CM, but that we enjoy such as science experiements and history projects)
Bible Reading/Scripture Memory (M-F; 15 min.)
Grammar/Daily Language (orally done) (M-W, F; 10 min.)
Math (M-F; one 10 min. oral lesson and one 20 min. lesson at another time each day)
Latin (M-W; 10 min.)
French (Th-F; 10 min.)
Handwriting (learning cursive) (M, Th; 10 min.)
Copywork (Tu, W, F; 15 min.)
Dictation (M, F; 5 min.)
American History/Patriotic Songs (M, Tu; 20 min.)
World History (W, Th; 20 min.)
History Project/Notebook Work (F; 30 min.)
Map Drill (M-W, F; 5-10 min.)
Geography (M; 15 min.)
Picture/Artist and Composer Study (with Tea Time-M; 20 min.)
Art Project (F; 30 min.)
Science Reading/Experiments (M; 30 min.) Natural History Reading (Tu, W; 15 min.)
Nature Study (F; 30+ min.)
Hymns (with Bible study once or twice a week)
Poetry/Folk Songs/Read Aloud (with or after lunch or read aloud in the evening daily)
Independent Reading daily
I know that some days in some areas we will not spend as much time as listed, but I think overall this is a good estimate of the ideal routine I'd like to have. I hope to share even more weekly reports this year, so stay tuned. :-)