Hi there! I'm Joy, a homeschooling mother of seven. I use the Charlotte Mason philosophy in my homeschool - which just means that we read a lot and LOVE to learn! I'm a researcher and a reader and I love finding ways to share what I've learned to encourage other mamas. Which leads me to my current project...
I'm the author of the Nature Study Hacking books. They are perfect for anyone who can't figure out HOW to do Nature Study and Nature Journals consistently. Each lesson guides you through what to do, what to study and what to put into your journals! You can find them at www.naturestudyhacking.com.
I have a new baby and then an upcoming 3rd and 1st grader. Before baby was born, we followed a pretty rigorous routine. We liked doing all the things. I am a very type A mom, so I enjoyed checking all of my boxes. But now with a baby, I feel like I am lost. She will be 3 months old when we start our new year. I know I will need to be more flexible. But I almost feel I can't really have any structure because we are kind of living moment to moment depending on the baby's needs. She is not a chill baby and is frequently fussy. I struggle with an "all or nothing" mindset, so I really need to figure out how I can manage to fit in the necessities here and there, knowing we won't get to everything I want to each day.
This is where a loop schedule can be helpful. You can at least plan out the books you want to read together this year. It may not be a hand craft year or a science experiment year. But they can read with you can get outside and go for a walk at a park or around the block on the regular. That will bless you as well. I know the foggy baby times can be so hard to be productive, but they are learning about caring for a baby along the way.
Joy, are you still using BA? We tried it last year. I had a hard time following what my student was actually getting done, and whether or not they spent their whole math block designing their beast or playing games and not actually doing the lesson. He could complete the math problems but didn't read the comics. He loved it. But I wasn't confident in what he was actually learning!! I'd like to give it a go again this year. But I'm not sure how to structure our lesson time. Start the week with the comic or each lesson has their own comic and then practice sheets? Or maybe we should just do pen and paper. The online grading is so helpful but I'm concerned it's too distracting. Thoughts? Thanks so much!
This video was so timely because my four-year-old always wants to "do school," and I am looking for something for her for next year; she'll be nearly five at the start of the 24/25 school year. I had a bunch of laundry to fold, and I often peruse your channel to find something to watch and listen to during these tasks! Speaking of which, I hope you return your video cover back to you! The new look, while pretty, looks so much more like a generic Charlotte Mason video, and I have always enjoyed your cheerful and witty covers with you on it! Maybe I am the odd one out, but I am much more drawn to a person!
Thanks for the info. My son who is still in kinder has been doing grade 3 general curriculum math book as additional work at home. He started online Level 1 and he really likes BA. He seemed to struggle with the some very challenging questions but it's great that he can choose his pace. With his current speed (30-40 mins a day), he can complete level 1 (all exercises) in 3-4 months in total. He usually gets 90%+ right. Do yo think we need to slow down and have him take more time before jumping to level 2?
You know your child! If he's doing well and enjoying it then go for it! Curriculum is there to serve us and it sounds like it's doing that for your family
My biggest issue with CM curriculum is actually the science. I’m fine with nature study and the books for elementary, but for middle and high school, I think many drop the ball. I’m not impressed with sabbath mood for science in high school. Those books might be nice side reads (although one of them I would not give a teen at all)- but if you have a science minded, college bound student, it’s better they work through a more traditional science curriculum. It’s a big disservice to avoid “textbooks” because you are CM. I was homeschooled with a mom who did CM methods not knowing who she was and making textbooks work for me- and I have two college science degrees.
What science publishers would you recommend? What Sabbath Mood does is combine the knowledge found in the books with hands-on experiments and experiences. Where can we find that sort of support for the homeschool?
I did a few videos about it. Mostly I switched to get more teacher training support in the CM method AND to help me manage the multiple ages and stages. Both have proved to be invaluable. Our homeschool has changed drastically for the better and it's been mostly in me the changes have occurred.
Our nature study started when we moved to our farm and we had no idea what the local flora and fauna were so I downloaded a plant and insect identifier app and now my 5 year old son's favorite thing to do is identify new plants and critters (and then birds and mushrooms)! I am amazed by how many weeds he can identify and he has even taken up the task of removing our dangerous ones. He calls it Adam's Poisonous Plant Removal Company! I love it so much. He and I have learned so much and now we are teaching little brother.
Okay... I've been trying to feel successful with home education and by successful I mean the children (4 kids 6 and under) are enjoying the content, staying interested, and are looking forward to things. Lemme tell ya, since I took your tips, first about having a plan or daily flow and incorporating fables and fairy tales I've seen such improvement. 🥲 Also bought that Aesop's fables book per your recommendation and they LOVE it.
Joy, I just joined the CMEC for 24-25 and I'm going through some of the courses. I currently use AO and I do love it. I am looking forward to the curriculum launch next month to see what books assigned for Form 1. So do you switch some CMEC books to be able to accommodate AO books? I'll have a Y3 and Y2 next school year.
What I do is watch the curriculum watch- well I listen to it. Then I look at the books I currently HAVE that are similar to the ones scheduled for CMEC. If you are just in Form 1- you should have many similar books already. What I like about the CMEC is that they schedule some of the same books only later. ie instead of having Our Island Story in Form1 CMEC puts it in Form 2. I do like this because I feel like the older children get more out of the book in this way. Once I see what I already have - then I make my list of books I need to buy with the CMEC. Where they will help you will be handcraft, Geography, scheduling and notebooking keeping- I'm sure there's more too - but those are what come to mind
It depends! Without knowing you at all then I would simply point you to the CMEC because they will give you the frame of mind that will help you on your CM journey. They have marvelous training courses. They love mothers and have found a way to equip us to thrive. But, I will caution you that there is a lot of content and it is a bit overwhelming for the newbie. Just start at the beginning. Learn what you can and learn it well. Then, move to the next thing. My first year with the CMEC I didn't even get to look through their handcraft videos and tools. If I'd started with younger children that would have been a priority. But, if you have older children, then you will want to look through the work for older students first and go backwards. I haven't 'loved' all the history selections from the CMEC the way I've loved AO. Again, it will DEPEND on you. But, for teacher training, for learning how to live, you can't find a better place to start. For book lists and supporting your family with your church and your political preferences, you will need to have discernment (as with anything you choose). Best wishes!
I'm super thankful that you chose to put yourself out online 😂 I was introduced to you through Lisa from FOB and have been plodding through your content. The new podcast format is enriching!! Your education is showing 😂 Anyways, thank you thank you!
I'm so glad you're enjoying the podcast and other things! It's a labor of love. Finding a way to share my heart online so others are encouraged and uplifted is a joy!
That has depended on the season. We usually do audio books in the afternoons during rest time when the home is peaceful. I can usually put my feet up while my 5 and 8 year old girls are listening in their bedroom. My boys haven't listened as much as my girls - I think this is more a function of availability. We have a speaker connected to my phone. They can take the speaker into their bedroom. This is best because then they are playing with the million distractions on the screen. I do have friends who buy each child a locked down devise for them to be able to play their own stories in their bedrooms. But just having one and taking turns seems to work for us.
I would love to see u go through the books and tell us which ones we need physical copies and which ones would be great as audio books/ put on yoto cards for just listening to. And that goes for your book library not just curriculum. I maybe group videos on this into subjects or topics or periods. Almost like a book review\ recommendation. That would be so cool and I don’t see anyone doing it. If they do it is more like this is what I bought. Not how they were….. hope that makes sense. You’re awesome!
SORRY FOR WRITING IN CAPITALS, BUT I PREFER, IM SURE YOU ARE AN EXCELKENT MOTHER, WHO WOULD NEVER HIT THEIR CHILDREN AND NOT TOO STRICT, AND YOU XAN PUT YOURSELF IN YOUR KIDS' SHOES, WHICH IS AWESOME, IM ALSO VERY PLEASED TO SEE THAT THEY DO PLAY OUTSIDE A LOT, FOR CONTACT WITH NATIRE IS VERY IMPORTANT, AND PHYSICAL HEALTH IS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT THAN KNOWLWDGE, ITS A DUTY OF THE PARENT TOWRDS THE XHILDREN TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY GROW HEALTHY, ROBUST AND CLEARLY HAPPY, AND IM SURE THAT THEY ARE ALL THAT, IM SURE YOU ARE VERY PROUD OF THEM AND THAT THEY ARE GOID CHILDREN, BUT THERES ONE THING I FROWN UPON, SIMETHING THAT PLENTY OF OTHER PARENTS DO, AND IT WINDS ME UP, IT MAKES ME FEEL SO FRUSTRATED TO READ THAT CERTAIN PARENTS, AND UNFORTUNATELY THEY ARE NUMEROUS, ARE FIXATED WITH WANTING TO MAKE SURE THEIR KIDS ARE UP AT THE CRACK OF DAWN, AND IM SORRY TO NOTICE THAT YOURS WERE UN THE SAME SITUATION AS FROM FOUR YEARS AGO, WHEN THEY WERE ALL IN PRIMARY SCHOOL, I MEAN PEIMARY SCHOOL LEVEL CLASSES, ITS VERY IMPORTANT, IT IS ACTUALLY IF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE FOR CHILDREN TO GET ENOUGH SLEEP AT NIGHT, THEY SHOULDVALWATS GET NINE HOURS ' SLEEP, THEY DONT BELONG TO THEIR PARENTS, GOD CREATED THEM AND GAVE THEM LIFE IN ORDER FOR THEM TO BE HAPPY, AND COERCING THEM TO WAKE UP BEFORE SEVEN, AT SIX EVEN, WHATEVER THE SGE, IS CRUEL AND VERY YNKIND TOWARDS THEM, THEY SHOULD GET UP NATURALLY, FOR THEIR BODY BELONGS TO RHEM, IT DOESNT BELONG TO THE PARENT TO INVEST IN PEOPLE SND FILL THEM WITH KNOWLWDGE, MAKING THEM GOBBLE UP A LOT OF FOOD AS IF THEY WRRE GEESW, THIS IS MENTIONED IN LITTLE MEN, ONE OF MY FAVOURITE BOOKS IN THE WORKD, WRITTEN BY LOUISE MAY ALCOTT,, CHILDREN NEED THEIR SLEEP AND THEY FUNXTION MORE IF THEY SLEEP ENOUGH, NOT THE ENOUGH DECIDED BY THEIR PARENTS, BUT THE ENOUGH ESTABLISHED BY THEIR BODIES, IVE SEEN VIDEOS OF PARENTS WHO KET THEIR KIDS SLEEP TILL THEY NATURALKY WAKE UP, AND THATS THE BEST WAY TO DO IT, FOR CHILDREN HAVE THE RIGHT TO WAKE UP NOT FEELING TIRED AT ALL, THERE S A FAMOUS MUSICIAN, HE WAS POLISH, AND HE WAS COMPLELLED TO WAKE UP AS EARLY AS FOUR ON MOST MORNINGS, WHICH WAS CERY CRUEL TOWARDS HIM, FOR PARENTS ARE OBSESSEDBWITH YIELDS AND PRODUCTIVITY AND PROFUCIENCY, AS IF WE WERE NOT TALKING ABOUT CHILDREN, BUT MACHINES THAT MUST RUN ON OILED WHEELS, THIS COMPOSER DIED IN HIS THIRTIES, CARRTING AWAY WITH HIM, DRAGGING, I SHOULD SAY, A HIGE TOTEDNESS, FOR HE HAD ALWAYS BEEN TOLD TO BE BUSY, TO STUDY, TO PRODUCE, TO BE PRODUCTIVE, ALL THE TIME,VAND , ALTHOUGH HE COILD PLAY AS WELL , THEYVSHOULD HAVE LET HIM SLEEP MUCH LONGER, I KNOW YOUVE GOT A VARIED ROUTINE, FOR ON CERTAIN OCCASIONS THEY DO WAKE UP AFTER SEVEN, WHICH IS EXCELKENT, BUT I WISH YOU KEPT THAT UP AND WERE MORE LENIENT ON THAT ACCOUNT WITH THEM ALL, ALSO CHRISTIAN PARENTS THINK THAT THEIR CHILDRENS RIGHTS BELONG TO THEM, THAT IS SO PREPOSTEROUSLY WRONG, CHILDREN MUST YES BE OBWDIENT AND RESPECT THEIR PARENTS, BUT THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO WHAT THEY WANT UP TO A POINT, ESPECIALLY AS THEY BECOME OLDER, THEY HAVE THE RIFHT TO WAKE UP AT SEVEN OR SEVEN THIRTY, AND START THEIR MORNING OF STUDY AT HALF EIGHT OR NINE, NO PATENTS HAVE THE RIFHT TO DENT THEM THAT, FOR THEIR RIFHTS BELONG TO THE CHILDREN, CERTAINLY NOT TO THE PARENTS AT ALL, FOR, THE PATENT, COULD NEVER SAY TO THE KIDS, I AM YOUR BOSS UNTIL YOU ARE EIGHTEEN OR UNTIL YOU LEAVE THIS FAMILY, AND FOR EXAMPLE, EVEN IF YOU ARE ALREADY FIDTEEN, BUT BECAUSE IM YOUR MOTHER AND I HOMESCHOOL YOU ALL, YOU MUST OBEY ME AND YOU MUST WAKE UP WHEN I SAY SO, NOT A MOMENT LATER, THIS IS VERY WRONG AND NO PATENT SHOULD DO IT, GOD AKSO WANTS FOR PATENTS TO RESPECT THEIR CHILDREN AND RESPECT THEIR PHYSICAL HEALTH AS WELL,IT SHOULD NEVER BE AN ARMY STSTEM, THAT IS AWFUL, PARENTS MUST HE WISE AND MOTE RESOECTFUL OF THEIR KIDS' HEALTH, , ALSO PARENTS ARE NOT RUNNING A RACE AFAINST TIME, AND IN INSISTING FOR THEM TO FINISH ALL CLASSWORK EVERY DAY BY LUNCHTIME, YOU DO PUT THEM UNDER PRESSURE AS WELL, AND ITS NOT FAIR, YOU ARE CERTAINLY NOT THE ONLY ONE IN THE WORLD TO DO SO, BUT IT DOES OCCURR IN YOUR FAMILY AS WELL, AND I WISH YOU GAVE THEM A BIT MORE RESPITE, DO NOT BE AFRAID OF MELLIWUNG A LITTLE IN THAT SENSE, IM NOT VEING FUNNY, BUT HEALTH IS ONLY ONE, YOU DONT HAVE THE RIGHT TO EXPECT THEM TO WAKE UP TOO EARLY FOR ANY TIMETABLE ADVOCATED BY YOURSELF, XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
I know that this video was 11 months ago, but do you have a video or template of how to create a timetable. I would like to implement this timetable with my 6 children. We are new to Charlotte Mason, so I am learning and trying to make our home life and school time more enjoyable and peaceful. I need to stay accountable and trying to get my kids to be more accountable with their assignments without me having to tell them what to do everyday. I need to get more organized in my homeschool as it is stressing me out and kids are not getting their assignments done in a day. I have a rambunctious toddler too, when I need to incorporate in our school day, but struggling to find ways to keep him busy and out of trouble. He likes to climb and wrestle with his older sister who is six years old and she gets upset because he is too rough. I finding that he needs lots of outdoor time which some days are hard to do. When he gets his energy out he is much cam inside and makes it easier to do school with older children. But lately it has been survival mode and trying to just get the bare minimum done because my toddler needs so much interaction, plus he doesn't really like to sit and play with blocks or toys which is frustrating because I don't know how to entertain him.
How do you incorporate the kinetic sand maps? Also, are you doing geography as a family subject? At what age do you recommend The Book of Marvels if you have mixed age groups?
Simple enough - they look at a country and map the shape of the country with the sand adding in rivers and mountains! We do geography as a family. The book of Marvels is great starting in upper elementary through adult!
Middle school. 6th or 7th is ideal. But consider the child and their ability to read and write narrations. My 9 year old did a lovely job with the Fables. He had a harder time with narrative and I didn't attempt Chreia/Maxim with him. My 7th and 8th graders, who are both strong readers and solid writers, have been able to do the first three assignments (Fable, Narrative, Chreia/Maxim). But we keep circling back to the assignments - so it's not a one and done. I haven't finished the whole progression with anyone yet so check back in with me this summer and I'll let you know how far we get!
Thank you for the encouragement! I’m planning to ficus on music this year. I’m with the CMEC and am loving all the encouragement there for music. I play the piano myself but struggled getting my daughter inspired. But she is excited about violin so I’m planning to learn that with her this year. I totally identify with the dinner prep time playing! I used to do that a lot when I had a piano in the house. I got a lot of playing in that way, and yes... burnt some dinners... looking forward to the new direction of the podcasts 😊
Love your new podcast Joy! The first episode was such an encouragement to me! I am just beginning our homeschool journey with my oldest who is 6 & we started AO earlier this month. I can definitely see how the short lessons that CM encourages are really helping him. Also so inspired to hear you’re learning piano! I had the intention of teaching myself last year, then I had another baby so that fell by the wayside. Hopefully I can pick it back up again this year. 💖
Joy, y'all used Math mammoth prior to BA? How do you like BA compared to Math Mammoth? I have FOMO when it comes to math curriculum and I'm thinking through these two.
BA is so much better than MM hands down. It's more interesting, more challenging, more fun. It's better for the students and the teacher. It took me some time to come around to the BA awesomeness because I understood the simplicity of MM, but BA engages students so much better and gives us more brain food than MM.
I've found the online portion essential for my kids once they get to BA 2. I do BA 1 with them shoulder to shoulder and then sit with them to learn how to do the online on their own. It takes about 3-6 months to train them
Thanks! I’m going to look into this more. Do you know if beast academy offers a free trial or discount code? Also, do you use just the workbooks or do you combine it with their online math program?
I really needed this video - the guided verbal walk through was very helpful. We had started to get a little dry in our picture study and I am the one who needed the re-framing! I always understood that the context of the painting was to be left for after the study but I appreciate the suggestion of reading a story about the painting while they are looking at it (St. George and the Dragon).
I just want to clarify that I think you should wait until after they've had a chance to look at it on their own quietly and narrate, and then share the story while they're looking at it again. :)
Ha! Great video! We got to a fork in the road and no one we talked to - including chaplain and some elders - had any guidance for us. They were not prepared for the questions. We ended up pressing in to trusting God and had two more (last one I was 45)! I’m thankful for the struggle and final decision as it has blessed our older children in seeing us live out our commitment to them.
