Ambleside

Of you like CM, you’ll like Ambleside. I’ve referred to Ambleside through the years for ideas, booklists, free stuff… I’ve never heard a bad thing about Ambleside in all the years I’ve homeschooled, but like I said, you have to be a fan of the Charlotte Mason method, or able to sift out what you like or can use and leave what you don’t.

Who is Charlotte Mason?

[Diane Heeney] I am just learning about this approach to home education. What would you view as the major perks and pitfalls, Susan?

I can’t say that there are any pitfalls- it’s just a matter of whether or not CM is a good fit for your family. I use many of the ‘principles’ of CM, such as using real books instead of textbooks, copywork as penmanship practice, making math practical instead of just doing worksheets full of equations… aamof, I started my 7 yob in ‘formal’ schooling this year, and he can add and subtract to 100 without ever having done a math worksheet in his short little life. I am a believer in the http://www.moorefoundation.com/article.php?id=3] Better Late Than Early philosophy of home education- I’m a sort of Dr. Moore/CM hybrid.

I also don’t introduce grammar as a subject until somewhere around 4th-6th grade ( we don’t really ‘do’ grades, and that is why I am not sure what grade we start doing grammar :D ), and even then we study grammar for 6 weeks at the beginning and end of each year (which in our house runs from August to June with breaks throughout). I integrate subjects together as much as possible- especially history and geography.

The things I do differently- I’m more systematic about studying Bible, and I don’t use a ‘Charlotte Mason’ curriculum. I view CM as more of a method than a package deal I want to purchase. But Ambleside (since it is free) gives you the freedom to pick and choose what you want to use since there is no $$$ investment to feel guilty about- haven’t we all at some time in our homeschooling lives bought some curriculum and then felt we HAD to use it because we paid $___ for it? It’s why I seldom buy curriculum unless I am fully persuaded that it is not consumable and that we will find it useful for many years. I purchase very little elementary level curriculum- too much stuff out there that is free on the internet or at the library.

I hope that helps, Diane.

[Diane Heeney] Here’s a wiki for ya: SNIP :)

Thanks for the cite.