Long Term Homeschool Planning || Charlotte Mason || Elementary and Middle School Years

[@amandaaggers6821]

You are so on top of things! i would love a deeper look into that document

[@MaryBarfield]

Awesome! I’ll create a follow up video showing the other tabs of my homeschool logistics file! 🥰

[@lanaslantern5969]

I totally get the comfort you feel with planning and organizing for the future. I love this format, thank you for the ideas and the content. I started a doc with "curriculum to try" while I paused your video, rather than random notes all over my house. We do Latin from Memoria Press Prima Latina for my boys. Quick lessons and we all enjoy it. Just thought I'd share that it doesn't need to be a big undertaking. I believe that small increments consistently are beneficial.

[@MaryBarfield]

I’m so glad it inspired you to start your own curriculum document! 🥰 I just added Prima Latina to my list to research! Thank you for the recommendation!

[@CalmintheChaosHomeschool]

I’m a google sheet homeschool planner too. :)

[@MaryBarfield]

Yay! Google sheets is the best! 🥰🥰

[@FashionbyBrittany]

Mary! I have been so lost in my homeschooling journey since I decided to take on a charlotte mason approach and AO was so overwhelming to sort of begin. I think I’ve honestly taken like a two month break from school since the first few Ambleside videos you made that you were starting it to sort of prepare myself for the work load it comes with!! 😮‍💨😅 The scheduling that you came up with is so perfect and this is exactly what I was sort of needing to get started. I’m gonna have three of my boys homeschooling and getting started with it, so just trying to figure out the amount of readings with each child I’m going to want to do and which ones I need to put together for a family Read-Aloud! I can’t wait to see your homeschool rhythm as you dive into your school year!!

[@MaryBarfield]

I’m so glad the scheduling was helpful to you! I’ve heard that AO can be overwhelming to begin with (especially if we aren’t used to a more traditional CM style curriculum), which is why I decided to just sprinkle in/test out a few of the AO yr 1 readings in the first term of this year. That went well so I added in a lot more for my oldest to finish out this year 🥰. Go slow and don’t stress mama! Try what I did and add in a few readings to begin with, then once you have that under your belt, add in a few more! Also I have heard from other mamas that it’s ok not to do everything in AO as written (especially as we get to the older years) - it’s meant to be a feast for a kids to graze upon, and combine where you can! Like we will do all the riches, poetry, Shakespeare, etc together to minimize redundancy and take a load off myself. Also don’t forget that the best schedule you come up with, is the one that practically works for your family. So just dive in and get started and tweak the readings and schedule as you go! You got this!! 🥰🥰

[@BrekkeEl]

FYI, Pilgrims Progress is *super* religious. Might want to reconsider that one. Additionally, Wildwood has a list of more diverse living books to add to the more traditional (but very white and male) Ambleside book list.

[@MaryBarfield]

Thank you for the heads up and the wildwood recommendation! I’m still unsure on if we are going to read Pilgrims Progress (if we do move forward with it, I’m going to try out Little Pilgrims Progress which is anthropomorphic and gentle). We do love the classics, but we also love mixing in new literature that has living book qualities! 🥰

[@brittanyborreggine174]

Where can we get a copy of your excel template for planning? :)

[@MaryBarfield]

Absolutely! Sorry Your comment didn't show in my "unread" and I happened to see it just now answering another comment! I wasn't sure if you wanted it populated with all my curriculum and books, or just the bones of the template. So I went with the later, assuming you wanted to put in your own curriculum lol. If you want it populated with what we are doing, let me know and I can add that back in! :) Here is a link to my google doc - just be sure to make a copy for yourself and save to your Google Drive before editing: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1M3xn65oTBksagNJW0dJkZo3EAzfp6jT3Y-b5BEWvaL8/edit?usp=sharing

[@brookeally1346]

You go! I can’t even decide what to eat for dinner most nights 😂 I’m highly considering AO starting next year for my sons official 1st grade year.

[@MaryBarfield]

😂😂 we are absolutely loving AO yr 1 right now with my 7 year old and my 5 year old keeps asking when she can start AO yr 1 (which will be next year)! 🥰 I think if you choose to do it, it will be a great experience for you and your son!

[@thedougiefam]

I'm excited for this one! My oldest is in 2nd grade and now that she's a reader, I'm realizing I need to look at what's next. Looking forward to hearing your plan

[@MaryBarfield]

Yay! I always love seeing other homeschoolers future plans! Gives me great ideas for our future planning as well! 🥰 it always ever evolving of course! Lol

[@chelseaalyssefit]

I had notifications on for this video! So excited to watch lol.

[@MaryBarfield]

lol I hope you enjoyed it and it was helpful 🥰

[@KitKat_1589]

This is 100% me! I have a general idea of what I'm doing for my kids through 12th grade. They are currently 4th, 2nd, and K. I know what programs I want to do, but haven't actually so full break down. Right now I have been making a list of different electives for highschool 😂. This is subject to change if we look towards trade schools for them though.

[@MaryBarfield]

Yay! I’m glad I’m not the only one 😂🥰. I think the reason looking this far out doesn’t overwhelm me, is because I know it all can 100% change and I have given myself permission to change it and any time. However, having this plan in place, a space where I can brain dump ideas for future curriculum, is also 100% why I’m not scared or stressed about my kiddos future education. It brings me such peace 🥰

[@BetzyCuellar]

What camera do you use ?

[@MaryBarfield]

For my videos? At present I’m just using my iPhone because my Sony camera broke 😭 eventually I’ll get a new camera