We're the Smith's!
A homeschooling family who's all about simplifying life and growing together. Come join us as we learn on the journey!
On our channel, you'll find vlogs as well as videos on our homeschooling journey, all things kids & family, and mommy lifestyle.
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How old are your kids
My children are now in grades 1, 3, 5, and 6.
I found you today because I am just starting AO Year 1 this year. so I have been watching your previous videos. So, when I saw this, I was like, "Oh man!" But your perspective is so wise and you've removed your ego for homeschooling-- which is not so easy in the homeschooling world! I'm excited to follow your SCM journey despite being on AO myself.
Thank you for this!
What did you use to make the pictures
Hi! We created their designs in Canva: www.canva.com
How you evaluate?? Where get the assessment??
Each country or state differs in their homeschool laws. Are you in the US?
@@smithpartyof6 yes moved to Florida was homeschooling in California
Okay perfect! You can read more about homeschooling laws for Florida here: hslda.org/legal/florida
What you have to bring for homeschool evaluation of your kids?? Is it mandatory??
Each country or state differs in its laws, so it really depends on where you live. Our state requires yearly assessment, so that’s why we do it. If you’re in the US, you can find out more about your state homeschooling laws here: hslda.org/legal?gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADv9Ad429v-1THn-SLXrGyGdAy-ht&gclid=Cj0KCQjw-ai0BhDPARIsAB6hmP72o0CaWeM1Qyu5gmiOsjez8DM1A2nAl3QPgoxxEHzSSnwBR9NLb_caAnTUEALw_wcB
I've looked at and considered AO a few times. It has very appealing aspects to it. However I always land with knowing that having my kids on separate learning schedules for EVERY subject just would not work for our family or support our family values.
That’s a really cool idea but I feel like if the kids couldn’t get enough points they would feel upset and left out
I totally understand that concern. But the way I’ve set it up, they all have the same opportunity to get points. And I want them to be motivated to meet goals.
@@smithpartyof6 that’s good ☺️
So excited to see your SCM content... we will be using it for the first time for all subjects except Math for my 4th and 5th graders!
Woohoo! I’m so excited to see SCM content! I haven’t used AO but I’ve looked at it many times and feel the pressure to use it if you are going to be a CM homeschooler. I am going with SCM for the first time this fall for their history, geography, and Bible study. And I’m so excited!! I too want to do as much together family style as I can and I want us all in the same historical time period. I also have 4 kids, and I knew I would never be able to keep up with the AO schedule.
I loved your thoughts about focusing on academic success vs connecting with our kids and focusing on fun and who God wants them to be. This so resonated with me. Thank you for this.
This is a great idea but maybe I would use larger beads, it seems like it would take quite a while to fill.
I went back and forth on size. I ended up going with these just because we’re doing it over the course of a year. But we’re kind of considering this year as our test run, so we’ll see how it goes!
Cool 😊
We will be using SCM , short lessons, biblical and family oriented. All the best in this homeschool year❤
Reminder and encouragement - because it's obvious how much you care :) “The question is not, -- how much does the youth know? when he has finished his education -- but how much does he care? and about how many orders of things does he care? In fact, how large is the room in which he finds his feet set? and, therefore, how full is the life he has before him?” Charlotte Mason -School Education
Thank you for this!
I’ve been a silent follower for some time and I have to say, I’m selfishly so excited that you’re using Simply Charlotte Mason! I will be using this next year as well! And I’ll be doing our enrichments with both AO and SCM. Anyways, I love your videos! I’m excited to hear more about this transition for you and your family!
I sent you a message on IG! ❤️
Yes! I’ve always looked at Ambleside longingly!!! I had baby number 4 when my oldest was 11 so I couldn’t imagine doing all the material. Also because we are Catholic I would have to add or change to add Catechism and the lives of the Saints. I have used Mater Amabilis which is Charlotte Mason with Catholic resources. When I had baby number 5 I had to switch to a Catholic Minimalist program and it was so life saving!!!!! You do what’s best for your family. Also I don’t subscribe to a. Specific program/curriculum. I just study several in the spring and take what I like and form my next school year. I am done with my upcoming year and it feels amazing!!!! I am sad to say I only have two schoolers and one of them is a kindergartener! I have 3 graduates! Keep on keeping on and enjoy your life with your family. You can’t get any time back. The other day my oldest ones asked me for an Art afternoon! So we watched Bob Ross and then spread out our paints, brushes etc etc. it was glorious! I had from the 22 down to the 5 year old around my kitchen table and it felt amazing! God bless you, your family and your new school year!
Thank you for this ❤️
We are in a similar situation. I am a mom of 5. I adore AO, but it became too much, with so many children. I also felt, that elitist feel, and felt I pushed my children too much! It was hard to let go, but I felt a weight off my shoulders,once I did. You verbalized this so well.
I looked into Ambleside, but with 7 children I didn’t see how it would work for us. I completely understand where you are coming from.
Thanks for doing a flip-through! 1:06 - When Book 4 was published there was a supply chain shortage that made including the ribbons very expensive, so we opted to remove them rather than significantly increasing the price of the book. The cost has come back down since so that we could include the ribbons back for Book 5, and hopefully we'll be able to include them again with future print runs for Book 4! 🙂
Thanks for commenting! That totally makes sense about the ribbons. Bookmarks work just fine. And we just got Book 5 in the mail. The ribbons in it are really nice!
Also, I’m pinning this comment so other people can see why it didn’t have ribbons!
Love your binders! Can you post a link to those D&D like cards, for the book charachters.
Here they are: drive.google.com/file/d/1-jvUz_UXP2IyIFd0M-UVj8PC4qvky_iD/view?usp=drivesdk
Thank you so much! This was exactly what I needed!
Thank you for this! By the way, you can melt or kind of singe the end of those bookmark ribbons by running the tip quickly over a lighter flame, then they won’t unravel.
Thanks for the tip!
Do you mind sharing the poetry book you did with your 4th grader? The Helen Hunt Jackson one. Thank you!
Absolutely! Here ya go: amzn.to/4eEREZm
@@smithpartyof6 thank you so much!
This was amazing! I don’t understand how you keep track of it all!! Would love To see how you organize it
Curious if you have your 5th grader do any other writing?
Writing as in handwriting? If so, he does copywork and a cursive handwriting book. He also did a good bit of written narration this year (around 3-4 a week). But if you mean creative writing or composition, no he didn’t do much of that. He did some poetry and worked on a couple short stories on his own that he wanted to write.
Love your videos!! I was wondering if there is a certain number of sentences you require for copy work? Is copywork each day?
Thank you! I have my kids do copywork 2-3 times a week. Generally I let them choose, and it ends up being a quote they particularly enjoyed. Usually it’s one sentence, but sometimes it can be a few, depending on the quote.
This was so helpful! Thank you!
Loved this!
I've tried a certain of this before, but oh my goodness I love the color coding AND adjusting the size for length of time! Brilliant 🤓
Question do these books teach things like telling time, measuring cups, quarts, liters etc?
Yes, they do! Though telling time isn’t taught until book 4. However, when it does teach it, it’s assumed that they have explored the clock to some degree. I went ahead and taught it early to my youngest two (the other two had already learned in a previous curriculum).
Thanks for sharing
Hi, what grammar do you add in for your children that are of age…any recommended resources?
For one of my children, Simply Charlotte Mason’s grammar (Using Language Well + Spelling Wisdom) has been perfect. The other found it frustrating and needed something more straightforward with practice. For that child, I’ve used BJU English Writing and Grammar workbooks.
Does the book show the problem worked out?
It works through the sample problem in each new section, but it does not show every problem worked out.
@smithpartyof6 Thank you for your fast response!!! I am strongly considering these for my 1st and 2nd graders because of the brevity of the lessons. I want to do CLE language arts, but all of their curriculum is 4 pages...math, reading and LA. So I am trying to figure out what to shorten while still getting thorough instruction. Would you say it's fairly rigorous?
@user-jq9um8wr5w I’m not sure about rigorous. We’ve done Singapore math, and I would classify it as rigorous. But with the CM Elementary Arithmetic Series, I would classify it as “thorough.” For my kids, it’s been the only program to really stick well.
Great Job! 😀
You're so great! Such good information!
Great video! Super inspiring, We are a Christian family but have lacked the studies, seriously well done. Thank you!
I really appreciate this video! We've used Rightstart and dabbled with some other things as well; I like Righstart, but it's so complicated and has SO many manipulative. The space commitment is just a bit too much, as is setting up to get all the right cards out, playing the games (which are hard to understand), etc. I'm between this one and Truth and Goodness Math, which I really like from what I can tell; but I am drawn to having a book and not dealing with printing and organizing at home. I love finding Charlotte Mason curriculum reviewers; I will be checking out more of your videos!
Thank you for the review. Exactly what I have been looming for.
I have been wanting to see the inside of this one! Thank you so much!!! ❤❤
Could you please share the website you used to print off all the kings and queens from the UK? You mention it at around 10:40 in this video.
Absolutely! We use this list: (we did have to add the new king down at the bottom) www.victorianschool.co.uk/documents/Kings%20and%20Queens.pdf
@@smithpartyof6 thanks so much!
How old is this curriculum?
It looks like these specific books came out in 2017. But they’re based on how Charlotte Mason taught her students arithmetic. You can read more here: simplycharlottemason.com/blog/announcing-charlotte-mason-elementary-arithmetic-series/
Wow, I hadn't heard of these until your channel. Thank you for the thorough review. Excellent resource!!! Looks very comprehensive.
❤ what a nice math book!! So easy to understand!! Glad you are on the other side of the crud!❤😊
Thanks for this review. I had been going back and forth looking for a math curriculum & settled on SCM Arithmetic. I haven’t even received the book yet but I am excited to get started using it.
Randomly stumbled across your channel. So thankful to find someone that’s beliefs and values are similar! 🖤 what a great mom and role model you are!
That’s so sweet of you. Thank you ❤️
Thank you this was so helpful If you. I haven’t used it but if you are looking for something similar beauty and truth math looks very similar to CM math
Audriana, may I recommend Rome Sweet Home by Scott & Kimberly Hahn. God bless
Yes!! Rome Sweet Home is one of the best books of all time!! I'm Catholic and love your channel.
What a great lesson!!!❤️
Great to see more Ambleside content on YT! I also have a son in Y4, we use Ambleside books and resources with the Robinson curriculum method of instruction and scheduling. The AO schedule and CM method of short lessons and books broken up over the course of the year were too chaotic and confusing for us. But the content is incredible. Your kids are getting an amazing education!