I'm Jess, a homeschool mom raising three awesome girls. I'm a reluctant homeschooler turned full-blown homeschool convert! Being a homeschool newbie was a huge change, but we love being a homeschooling family! I've embraced my love for Charlotte Mason and running an eclectic homeschool. I'm so excited to join the homeschool community here on RU-vid and get to know more homeschoolers out there! Whether you're a fellow homeschooling mom or are just interested in learning more about home education, I'm so glad you're here! I can't wait to share our homeschooling journey as I share my family's experience living, loving, and learning at home. Introduce yourself in the comments so I can say hello!
I'm also on Instagram! Find me @thehomeschoolconvert. Contact: thehomeschoolconvert@gmail.com
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Second year here. I don’t see the amount of money spent to be worth it. It’s a lot coming akdering the parent had to be there, and in decided the following year to put money into a drop off co/op that covered educational topics that have more value for my child’s education. I don’t feel I want to lay the foundations for high school when my kids have so much to learn now,-and we are doing private school for high school. I also can volunteer at this co/op or work to offset the costs and I find sitting at Cc class so boring. You didn’t want to get into CC headquarters but they do make tons of money, while tutors and directors make hardly any and the supplies they buy don’t even come close to the amount you pay, so you basically pay for the name more than the value.
History of US is a racist viewpoint of history which I found out during the summer. Some other homeschool channels have pointed that out. Very surprised it is used as a spine. Not that surprised it is pushed by Christian curriculum companies. I use Oak Meadow.
As someone who graduated from classical conversations, I will say that Challenge has strengthened my critical thinking skills so much. I truly attribute my ability to think well to the Classical Conversations curriculum! The Challenge levels are SO rewarding. I will honestly say I didn’t take much from foundations or essentials.
We used Ambleside online because it followed CM and it was Free so same girl! haha This year we are still using it but we have ventured out to Apologia for Math and Science Common Sense Press for Language Arts thru Literature Tuttle Twins- American History (citizenship) Ambeleside- Bible, Art, history as well Poetry, Folk songs, and foreign language Good Luck momma... love your videos :)
Jess, I know this video is 3 years old but I just came across it tonight. Starting our second year of homeschooling and really searching for a new math curriculum. This video was immensely helpful!
Do you have a more in depth schedule for your reading and phonics? We’re using over the home and McGuffey along side ETC too but I don’t really have a system in place
Cc is an idol. It can be cult like. Cc employees act like the homeschool police. If you love being told what to do and love not being allowed to think for yourself or make decisions about where your children get educated (in order to Tudor or Direct all your children must be in the program no exceptions ), then cc is for you. We have a terrible district and area manager and they act like the Gestapo with the rules. I The rules are ridiculous and are treated like homeschool gospel. Cc can ruin families and relationships because if you buck a decision, you are going against “God’s sovereign will” to them. Be careful friends.
Sounds like youre using AO how it was intended to be used. You should definitely read the book Six Voices One Story written by the advisory which goes over how AO came to be and how it was intended to be used. ❤
I don’t like planners that don’t include at least Saturday. We usually do some school on Saturday because we like to lighten our load of the week since my daughter is young and can’t do all morning. She has no concept of what “the weekend” is lol and that’s good for us being able to do some school on Saturday.
It's interesting you chose Ambleside over Simply Charlotte Mason. I think Ambleside is a really great curriculum but I tried it a few times and didn't work. I need more stuff laid out for me and the short lessons of many many different topics ( The Feast) actually didn't work well for my kids who need less subjects and more focus. I struggled with The Feast of Charlotte Mason it really stressed me out to engage in so many topics for short amounts of time. It was too chaotic. But I do think a literature focused curriculum is good and I like the narration of CM. Beautiful Feet and Sonlight work well for us.
The beauty of homeschooling is being able to figure out what works best for our families! 😁 We’re doing things different this upcoming school year, but we had a great year adapting AO to meet our needs.
My 4 high schoolers are using the History of Us books, but we are breaking it up into 2 years, with lots of added videos, books, and activities. Like you, I searched long and hard for a US history curriculum that wasn’t too liberal or too conservative and showed diverse perspectives. It’s been a lot of work for me to build my own curriculum around it, but our first year was AMAZING! Can’t wait to start the second part in the fall ❤️
Honestly, my kids LOVE mythology BUT this is YOUR homeschool. You teach what you want your children to learn. That is why these curricula and programs are wonderful to guide you but in the end it’s what your homeschool is guided to do by your family, your children, your own dynamics. Do NOT feel bad at all. On another note: There is a very good animated movie about Pilgrim’s Progress. All my older kids love it except my 5 year old who has difficulty with some of the scenes which can be scary. Many blessings!
For anyone looking into CM, The paraphrased Parables of Nature has been our favorite. I highly recommend, such great lessons in there. Im glad we did the paraphrased, it helped my daughter (and myself) fully understand the story.
If you have a chance, check out Sabbath Mood Homeschool Science. They use living books and have hands-on activities. Plus, they have lesson plans that are reasonably priced!
I also realized I LOVE the planning and piecing together aspect of homeschooling, even though we’re only just finishing up preschool! I’m finding myself researching so many curriculums for future years and it’s so inspiring! Ambleside has been a clutch resource for me among a few others. Thanks for your video!
Since this video is a year old, what are your current thoughts on A History of US? Were there any major issues or would you still recommend it as a spine? Your original reasons for using it are in line with what I’m looking for. I’m just making sure you still feel the same way about these books. Thanks!
I was gifted an unused planner by a friend who has finished homeschooling all of her children. It's by Gather Round. I will be using unit studies this year so it should work out.
That planner looks awesome! I've had planner struggle for YEARS! I always find one I like then never use half of it. Last year I had a Homeschool Nest planner, for curriculum a Happy planner for events, and I had a planner I put AHG stuff we were working on. I was so tired of going from one to the other I took them all apart and combined them into one planner. Now I LOVE IT!
Awesome! I’ve customized my own before too, but I really wanted something ready to go right off the shelf this year. Sometimes making your own with various resources is the best way to go though.
I love many of the graphics being in black and white. I would probably leave them, but you could color them. That’s fun! I have had my eye on this planner for a few years too. 😊 I will be using some of my own planner pages along with the Sonlight planner. It came free with my HBL package so I thought I would give it a try!❤
I actually really like the simplicity of the black and white contrasted with the color design on the other features of the planner. Good idea that people could color them though!
I’ve been working on making my own. In the past, teaching in traditional school, I used a bullet planner❤ I also love to make daily slides of a record of what we’ve done and link anything needed for the day
@@TheHomeschoolConvert I like a top 3 to complete in each life category. When I use a bullet journal I break it up into school (prep items or top things to do besides regular lesson plans), work plans, home/productivity plans. I find have 3 main tasks helps me actually achieve them and not feel overwhelmed.
I bought this planner and the accompanying student planner, too. I know there are sample pages, but I’d love to see a short walk-through video with a week filled out in both your planner and a child’s. I’m trying to wrap my head around writing in multiple Forms on the planner. Thanks!
That's a good idea for a video! My kids are always asking what's next. At the beginning of the year, I was better at writing it down for them in a simple spiral notebook, but we dropped the habit. My goal is to be consistent with it this year now that they'll have coordinating planners because I know seeing that check list is really helpful for them.
I looked at way too many planners this year, but I'm excited about this one I purchased from Mardel! What homeschool planner are you using next school year?
