Putting it all Together

 The year ahead lies before us, and in looking at how I want to proceed, my planner helps to allocate my thoughts and ideas for what each of the children will do for roughly the next 9 months or so.

I will be teaching my very first freshman (Violet), a 7th grader (Matthias), a 3rd grader (Seamus), and my last kindergartner (Sean-Paul), sniff.

All four children will be officially schooled - YOWZAH! Keeping in mind that because we primarily use the wisdom of Charlotte Mason, we will be entering into the learning atmosphere very gently with Sean-Paul.  He of course has already had a lovely few years of Preschool Learning, but is excited to be moving ahead, even if mommy isn't ready for him to. :(

I have thoroughly enjoyed re-reading my favorite home education books to gear up for the planning process. Among my stack is:

• Charlotte Mason's Original Home Schooling Series, specifically Volumes 1, 3 & 6
• A Charlotte Mason Education, and More Charlotte Mason Education both by Catherine Levison
• A Charlotte Mason Companion by Karen Andreola, always like an old friend :)
• The Well-Trained Mind by Susan Wise Bauer
• Designing Your Own Classical Curriculum by Laura Berquist

I like to refer to the Segment Planning chapter in More Charlotte Mason Education by Catherine Levison. She offers concrete ways to implement planning your year in ways that can be adapted to just about any family situation. (It's worth looking at even for the Parent's Review sample schedules she includes in her appendices). She also has a very encouraging chapter on High School and why there is no reason at all to change your method of home education just because your child is entering the high school years. What has worked for your child all along with the Charlotte Mason principles can and should be applicable for the high school student. Since our goals in the earlier years was self-education, the older student should tend to be more able to work independently, as is the case with my uber-organized and self-motivated Violet, (thank heavens)!

So I have my tabs, one for high school, the middle two boys, and my K-er. Violet will have her own work space in her room for times during the day that she needs peace and quiet from the ultra-talkative and active littlest person.

As an added bonus, our new digs have a delightful layout on the main floor containing the kitchen, casual dining area and family room all together, so naturally I claimed the family room area for the learning room. It's perfect and we have a full-length deck directly off of this space for outdoor refreshment and as an outdoor study space as well, it's dreamy :)

I'm off to fill in behind my tabs, I'll give you a sneek at each child's year (or at least the first term or so) beginning with my little guy ~ Kindergarten!! See you soon...

All Planning Series Posts:

• Kindergarten
• 3rd Grade
• 7th Grade
• Highschool Freshman

Comments

[Carmen]

Hi Meredith, I haven't read the Levison CM books before although I have seen them. Thanks for adding them to your planning. I need some help planning a 6th grade CM year.

[meredith]

Carmen, the Levison books are really nicely laid out. Short chapters and she sets a tone for a really doable CM approach. I have them both and refer to them yearly and throughout the year :) Love, Meredith