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Oh wow! This is interesting to hear your switching! I can relate to wanting something new :) I switch around a lot. I looked into Alveary this Spring, but I just couldn’t jive with it, lol. I still love the flexibility within the framework with AGF. Julie’s style gets the way I think! 😆
Haha!! Yes! I don't usually switch things up very quickly, so we are opposites in that! I'm look8ng forward to trying something new, but also still love and support AGF. They have a great program! I'm glad it works so well for you and your family 🥰
Thank you for sharing this! It was a tremendous help in making my first sour dough bread. How long do you leave the discards in your refrigerator? Also, can you share discard starter recipes?
I'm so glad it was helpful to you! I leave the starter in my fridge indefinitely because I am constantly adding to it and using it in discard recipes. If I feel like it's been in there too long without being added to, I'll pull it out and give it a feed like my regular starter and put it back in the fridge. This just keeps it from getting too sour.
TGTB is super simple! They put everything the teacher is to read in a different color, so it walks you through how to teach it. In 5th grade, it starts video lessons for the students to watch 🙌🏻 I also have used TGTB to teach 3 of my kids to read so far! I tried another curriculum for one of my students in kindergarten for a few months and ended up switching back to TGTB 🥰
It's so interesting to see how you're moving from AGF to the Alveary and going in the opposite direction. For me it was purely financial, but it forced me to look at AGF and fall in love with how everything is laid out. You will definitely enjoy the Alveary. I do call it one of the cadillac CM curricula out there. I loved how everything seamlessly fit together. I was sad to have to leave, but I'm also super happy and excited to be using AGF this year. I believe my two years with the Alveary has prepared me well to work with AGF. All the best to you on your new adventure! You're going to love it!
That's wonderful you have fallen in love with AGF! I love how everything is laid out and the book choices are 👌🏻 I think your two years with the Alveary will definitely have prepared you to add in the few pieces that AGF is not as clear on 🙌🏻 hope you love it! I know I did🥰
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I use the Alveary, but I do a year behind their schedule...which means that I join (before February), download everrrrrything, and organize/plan it for the NEXT year. It also means I get to purchase all the books from the people who just finished that cycle - and hear what worked and what didn't! (I'm part of a CM cottage school and have to be on their cycle.)
I think Alveary is awesome for first timers!! Especially when it comes to implementing the methods of CM. Alveary has some excellent training for that. I do think newbies should pick a smaller feast though. Don’t do all the recommended subjects!
That is such a really great perspective! I'm glad you shared that. You are right. The extra 'hand holding' with the lesson plans could definitely be a big benefit to someone wanting to fully implement CM principles 🙌🏻
Yes, I just finished my second year with the Alveary and fortunately they recommend a "soft launch" which aids parents in implementing the feast gradually. That was very helpful in the initial stages.
I have been homeschooling for 5 years ( going on six). I have done charlotte mason inspired curriculum as well as classical. I was wondering if you think Alveary will be to much for someone who has been homeschooling for as long as I have but has done many different things and just wanting to change to a charlotte mason style? Thank you so much for your video
I think alveary would be great for you! You have experience with planning a homeschool year, and likely have realistic expectation for what your family is able to do without robbing you of joy. 🥰 The Alveary also has great videos for first time CM homeschoolers that would likely be a great addition for you! It gives you insight into the Charlotte mason philosophy and how you can implement it in your home. ❤️
I have! I looked into 5 years ago when first considering which curriculum to homeschool with. Perks... It's free and the book selections are solid 🙌🏻 The reason I didn't choose them though was because it felt cumbersome. All students are on a different history cycle based on their age. I also felt the books were a little heavy for the age of the students. For instance, they had Trial and Triumph scheduled for a 6 year old which is church history martyrom. 🙈 Between the age appropriate books and being on the same history cycle, I ended up going with AGF at the time. I do have friends that use it and love it. I have also peeked at their book lists when I am needed a substitution for something 🥰
We’ll be doing Alveary too…or at least Alveary lite. 😅 I tried it during the spreadsheet days and it was also overwhelming to me. Excited to dig in to Syllabird over the next month or so. Definitely share your updates!
There is so much to it! I plan on starting with most of it, but then pairing back as we get into our groove. I've been looking at our 'extras' outside the home for the fall, and am trying to make space to do it well.
Hi! I haven't announced this yet, but I am making the switch to Alveary this year. After 5 years of AGF, I decided I wanted to switch things up a bit and try something new! But I will still be using TGTB for math and language arts.
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I love the preschool program. Been doing it this last year with my 4 year old. She loves the activities. We love their reading books but just switched from LA and math with them to someyhing different. Just wasnt working for us anymore.
Oh no! It had been working all this past year! Did you add a box into your cart? It does not work on the book only. If that isn't it, I will contact them and see what's going on.
I usually reuse the jar I'm feeding the starter in for several feedings before getting a new jar. Just saves on the amount of dishes I'm doing. Haha! The discard jar was going into the refrigerator, and I didn't have a current discard jar in the fridge. Otherwise, I would have just discarded into a jar in my fridge. If I had a current discard jar already going, I would have just used that and not used a clean one at all. I had used my discard in a recipe earlier in the week. Hope that makes sense!
Honest update... I didn't use it this year and tried something else just to see what else was out there. I didn't feel like we learned as much conversational Spanish as when we use TalkboxMom mom, so I'll likely be going back to TBM this upcoming year 🙌🏻 I tried a more CM approach and didn't like it as much 🙈
What would it look like trying to use this curriculum 4 days/week? If I have two students in form 2, and one in form 3, do we all read the form 2 books + add the form 3 for my older child? Or are they reading totally separate books each day? I’d really like to be all together as much as possible. Thanks for a great review!
I personally love doing a 4 day week, but in form 2 and form 3, the length of readings definitely take more time. You might be pressed to fit everything into 4 days a week, but you could eliminate some things if you prefer. I went to a 5 day week this year with some weeks being only 4 days if we had appointments and such. As far as combining, your form 2 students would be reading the same books together. You could have your form 3 join in some of those books. I probably wouldn't have my form 2 jump to form 3 books though. Try to combine as much as you can for ease ❤️
Hi there! Thanks for this video, so helpful! Are the plans that are included in the online base curriculum (for instance, foreign language), something that is free? Or is it plans for a curriculum we would need to purchase separately? And the other resources, like for drawing or handicrafts, are those links to resources that will require a separate purchase? Thanks for your help!
Hi! All great questions! Other than math, language arts and your books, most everything is included in the membership. There are foreign language plans, though I do personally use a different program for Spanish. There are things you can add on, but that are not necessary. I really love the artist/art lessons that coincide with the picture studies for the week. That is an additional cost. Handicrafts have links to different resources... Some free options, some paid. Hope that helps!!
❤ ok this was one of my favourites podcast. I hope James will do another podcast explain more about the last points he had that he couldn’t talk about because of time running out.
Thank you for the feedback Lilli! We will definitely work on more content like this. I'm glad you found value in it? Any specific topics you would like us to go more info?
There is one for each year, but every 4 years when your child gets back to it, they are doing different books because they are in new forms. There is an option 2 you can use for alternative composer and artist studies.
Hi!! Every week is not necessarily nature themed. The Peaceful Press does have nature themed unit studies if you are looking for nature themed specifically though! Otherwise, this works through the alphabet A-Z with picture books and activities that pull from whatever letter you are on for the week. Some of them may have nature themes, but that's not the core of them.
I listend to it Today on Spotify while working. And it had been heavy on mind to put my phone away more. This post gave me a lot of great ideas and also how addicted we can get with the phone. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts
I am so glad it was an encouragement to you! It definitely is amazing how addicting our phones can be, but when we set healthy boundaries, it can also be a tool for so much good and value in our lives🙌🏻❤️
I have a question! About how many books are you reading at the same time? I've been using Ambleside online, which I enjoy, but I feel a bit all over the place. Thank you for this review!
I am looking at this and Simply Charlotte Mason for my granddaughter ( 8). Her parents are blind and do not live with me. I want her to have a love for learning. I use Right Start Math, Logic of English Essentials, IEW for writing, and videos for science. Does AGF cover science? Is the history read from living books and is it accurate. I use Our Star Spangled Story by Notgrass and historical fiction library books. I am also concerned about the book list. Sometimes people recommend things that I would not read as a Christian . We also use the King James Bible. How long would you say it takes to do everything with including math and grammar?
Hello! I apologize it took me a while to respond. I took a social media break for almost two months to connect with my family over the holidays. To answer your questions: - science is included: in form 1, Charlotte mason focuses on nature lore and getting kids into nature while practicing their observation skills - I believe AGF history is appropriate for the age level the books are introduced. Form 1 students use a good amount of picture books. If there is anything to note in a book, Julie is good about mentioning it in the online book list. - from start to finish, my form 1 student takes about 2-3 hours total and my form 2 takes about 4 hours total 4-5 days per week.
Thank you for this video. I’m considering moving more CM. How do you access high school level in terms of grades and transcripts? Any thoughts on those? Are there options for quizzes or tests?
You are welcome!! 🥰 Charlotte Mason is an all-encompassing curriculum, so you will get everything you need for high school. As you move into high school years, you will need to be more intentional with checking to see what is required for high school graduation and do those classes. As a homeschooler, you create the high school transcript. Provided you are teaching the subjects, you can add what you need to the transcript for your child. I do not have older children yet, but I know older homeschool moms that have walked this road successfully ❤️ I'm sure if you Google 'creating a high school transcript for homeschoolers,' you will find a plethora of help on this topic 🙌🏻
I have a 3rd grader and 6th grader, would they both be in the same form or different forms because of their age, and...does each form have separate book lists?
Great questions! Generally, Form 1 is grades 1-3, Form 2 is grades 4-6, Form 3 is grades 7-9, and Form 4 is grades 10-12. If you go back and read Charlotte Mason's volumes, there are slight differences, but this is overall how forms are divided. So your children would be in separate forms and have different book lists. With a 3 year age gap, I suggest sticking with the booklists for their age group, but if there are certain books you want to combine you can! You could bring your form 2 down to the form 1 reading or your form 1 up to form 2 readings. They will be studying the same time period so things will overlap. I have found though that the age difference and maturity level for the content given between forms does take big jumps, so it'll be up to you to decide if you think your younger child is ready for the older books.
@@ThisDevotedLife Ok that helps, so then my question would be are there different chapters/picture books and readers that go along with each form? So my 3rd grader will be reading different books than my 6th grader? Also the website has an option for a printed teacher calendar. Is this something you recommend? Not sure if you have a video on that but I would appreciate your insight. Also, do you have an instagram page? would love to follow you if you do!
Yes... There are different chapter books/picture books for each form. I usually read aloud everything to my form 1 students and then when they are confident readers, they will start reading all their lessons. Narration is the biggest part of a CM education, so everything is being narrated back to me aloud. And yes! I say recommend the printer manual. It's nice to have everything at a glance in one spot. It's not completely necessary, but I think it's worth the little bit of extra money... Especially the printed morning time manual! That one is golden!