Starting Ambleside Online | Ambleside Online Year 1

Having just finished Ambleside Online year 1, I have a few tips and tricks for you on starting Ambleside Online. Hopefully this video reduces the overwhelm and makes AO feel more doable.
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[@orchardhillhomeschool]

Great tips! We use Librivox for free audio books just to give my throat a break from all the reading aloud!

[@sharayahmauricehomeschools]

Yes! I forgot to mention LibriVox. Great source for AO audiobooks! I hear ya on the throat rest! Haha

[@SaraMaysDC]

I am figuring out our homeschool plan, my oldest is 4, so not "in it" yet, but working through the year 0 books and working on raising them right. I have looked at so many aspects of homeschool and am in love with AO. I thought I would unschool with a few requirements for reading.. but have decided that AO is a much better way. So grateful for all these ladies have put together and excited to start in the future!

[@sharayahmauricehomeschools]

That’s awesome! I remember when I was figuring it all out as well and before I knew it, I had to *actually homeschool! Lol it’ll be here before you know it too so soak up the sweet time you have just loving on your little one, reading, playing, going outside and just having fun! 💛

[@priscillaboafo7745]

Thank you for the tips!

[@gretchenkrause7955]

Nice work! Exactly what I have been looking for…I KNEW you could combine these. So grateful for your video.❤

[@sharayahmauricehomeschools]

That makes me so happy to hear! Glad I could help

[@agmendoza]

Thank you for all the great information! We are considering AO and this was very helpful 👍🏼

[@sharayahmauricehomeschools]

Glad I could help!

[@capturedbyannamarie]

I am a newbie to ambleside and this is really helpful thank you so much!

[@sharayahmauricehomeschools]

I’m really glad to hear that! You’re so welcome!

[@brittanypennington9716]

We love Ambleside Online! We did our first year last year and are starting Year 2.

[@sharayahmauricehomeschools]

Woohoo! Congrats on completing year 1!!

[@luv4all43]

I am new to AO. I really enjoy hearing tips from others who use AO. Some of the words used in the books are definitely not used today. Thanks for sharing!

[@sharayahmauricehomeschools]

Thanks for watching!

[@tamekajarvis2794]

These tips are so helpful! Thank you so much! You mentioned a pdf of some of the website content. Can you tell me the thread in the forum for where I can find or can it be linked here?

[@brianambean]

Thank you so much for this video! It was so helpful. I did have a question about the digital books. How do you add books to your Kindle? For example, An Island Story is on the Internet Archive and Many Books for free. How do I get that to my Kindle? Do I download and upload or is there an easier way?

[@RockSimmer-gal4God]

We love audio books!!! We read during craft time!!! We share our eBooks thru family sharing!!! My daughters love physical books but the rest of us don’t!!!

[@sharayahmauricehomeschools]

Family sharing, great idea! And yeah, we like listening while doing some sort of hand craft, playdoh, kinetic sand, coloring… 😉

[@nakitabanana]

Do you have any tips for handling so much reading aloud? My throat has been killing me with our current curriculum readings, and I’m considering AO with wide eyes. It sure is beautiful, but I’m not huge into voice acting. Tea/water helps some, but do you use cough drops or something? Does it get better haha? Do you despise talking by the end of the day? Maybe I’m too worried/overwhelmed. Thanks for your input! I love your channel as I too find value and beauty in CM and Classical models. You’re great at explaining yourself; a natural teacher.

[@sharayahmauricehomeschools]

Thanks so much for your kind words. I really appreciate the encouragement and support. As far as all the reading… it does get better. I’ve been reading aloud for quite a few years and have built up my stamina if you will. I once was only able to read about 30 minutes at a time before my throat would get sore but now I can go for an hour or more in one sitting. And that’s not even for any school related reading but our family fun read aloud. That said, you may be over thinking it a little. I do read a lot for school but true to CM style, they are short readings. I have about 4 times in the day where I’m reading aloud and it’s only for about 20 minutes or less and they’re not back to back so it’s very doable. I enjoy embellishing the readings, just to make it even more fun for me and the kids, but voice acting is not necessary if that’s not your thing. I’d recommend checking out readaloudrevival.com Sarah has some great tips for all things reading aloud. This podcast is a good start: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/read-aloud-revival/id870178510?i=1000389488457

[@sharayahmauricehomeschools]

Are you an AO veteran? Do you have any tips for me?? I'd love to hear them!!

[@jessicasurak1753]

Thanks for this! It was super helpful. Where did you say you found downloads of narration questions?

[@sharayahmauricehomeschools]

The Ambleside Online Facebook group.

[@ivonnelopez9761]

This was such a good video!! I literally just purchased a couple of books for year 1 to start school and after seeing this video I think I’ll cancel those and instead use the kindle. Do you have any physical copies of any books for your school? Are you still using the kindle for year 2?

[@sharayahmauricehomeschools]

I’m glad you liked it! Yes, I still use the kindle. We’re currently reading burgess animal book, dr. Dolittle and parables from nature on our kindle. I purchased only the books that I really liked and knew we would be using again with the next kid. So mostly our history books. Like I said, I suggest reading them off kindle first to decide what’s worth purchasing.

[@user-of4xx5xc4w]

I'm planning to use Ambleside but Im intimidated- I'm just so confused on how they're learning through the books, is it sticking, how does a day with ambleside work, so many questions lol. I requested to join the group and forum so hopefully I can find information.

[@sharayahmauricehomeschools]

Yes, it can be confusing to start. Those groups and forums should answer a lot of your questions. Narration is key to knowing if what they’re learning through the books is sticking. Having them repeat back to you what they’re reading/hearing helps them to assimilate that information. Remember that you don’t have to do it all to start. The curriculum as a whole can be very intimidating. I’d suggest just picking up a few subjects that are most important to you to start and see how it goes. Then slowly add more subjects as you get used to the curriculum. You got this!!

[@queenmamabeecrafts2033]

If this is your first year using AO. Do you start in year 1? Do the years refer to age? My kids are 11 & 7

[@sharayahmauricehomeschools]

If you’re true to Charlotte Mason, year one starts at 6 years old and you go on from there. But it’s really up to you and what you know your kids can handle. With your 7yo, if you’re just starting AO, then I’d start at year 1, even though they’re in the age range of year 2. As far as your 11 yo, honestly I don’t feel confident enough to direct you in what year to start and I wouldn’t want to misdirect you. So I’d suggest searching the AO website. They have an FAQ page that talks about placement and all that. You can find that page here: amblesideonline.org/faq#whichyear

[@samanthagraveswalters8443]

Do you still use AO?

[@sharayahmauricehomeschools]

Yes we do! We’re in year 2 right now