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 🥰

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 🥰

Hey! So glad you said hi!! 🙌🏻 It's nice to 'meet' other fellow Michigan mom's 🥰

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🥰

Yes! Syllabird is amazing!! I love it!

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 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. ❤️

@@ThisDevotedLife Thank you so much <3

Hmmm.... I wonder who got you thinking?🤣 I think it was mutual ❤️

@@ThisDevotedLife you may be the culprit. lol. I definitely was “influenced” via our conversations.

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 🥰

@@ThisDevotedLife thanks for you insight!!

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.

I have the bio ionic long barrel curling iron. Love it!! My hair-stylist sister recommended it to me, and it was a game changer. I always dreaded doing my hair, but this only takes me 10ish minutes to curl everything. Here's an Amazon link: amzn.to/3ReICrX

It really is! It's like Christmas!! 😍

Isn't it beautiful that as homeschoolers we can switch things up so that we can do what's best for our family and learning needs!?!

You are welcome! So glad it was helpful to you! 🥰

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.

@@ThisDevotedLife Just tried with the book and the box in my cart and still no luck.

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 🙈

I haven't, but that's a really great idea! I will add it to my to-do list for videos 🙌🏻

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 ❤️

Thanks for the feedback!! It really has been so helpful for me! It's been 4 years of my using it now 🙌🏻

Yes... We've done this for 5 years now 🥰

I have considered it! Have you tried both? Why do you recommend the Alveary over AGF?

I think i responded to your other message too... But yes, we've done this for 5 years 🥰

@@ThisDevotedLife hahaha oh I’m so sorry. I am all over the place 😂🤦🏻‍♀️

@@lindsaypotter3694oh no worries!! Any input on the Alveary is appreciated!

Thank you! It doesn't always happen as planned, but it is the ideal for me personally 🥰

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!!

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.

I'm so glad you found it a good representation of the curriculum 🙌🏻

I'm so glad! It's a great beginner recipe that is functional in so many ways: french toast, sandwiches, etc! 🙌🏻

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 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🙌🏻❤️

Thank YOU for giving encouragement and insight into how to navigate a technological world. Appreciate your voice in this space!

Thank YOU for your encouragement ❤️ Hoping to encourage other moms!

Thanks for helping me start my journey 4 years ago🙌🏻

Definitely takes intentionality!! I am glad you think it's worth it too and appreciate you sharing your experience!

It truly is the best health curriculum I have ever seen! All encompassing but also fun and engaging.

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.

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 🙌🏻

@@ThisDevotedLife thanks for all the advice. This was perfect. Hope y’all are having a smooth school year so far!

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!

If you do decide to purchase, please use my affiliate link: agentlefeast.com/?ref=Sjacobs2270 And my Instagram is devoted_motherhood 🥰

Glad you enjoyed it! ❤️