CHANGES & UPDATES To Our Curriculum & Routine | Mid-Year Homeschool Update

[@TheEclecticHomeschooler]

Thanks for watching today! How is your homeschool year going??

[@singgirl82]

It’s always so encouraging hearing your updates because I know I am not alone in reconfiguring and rearranging the schedule as needed. Thanks, Erin!

[@carmenkloppers6334]

What I really love using are the journals by The Thinking Tree

[@laina-brown]

I have been having so much fun setting up all the home school things and we got a whiteboard and a new bookcase!

[@noemilambert1412]

We started doing the exact feel with our kids after Christmas and it’s been interesting seeing their growth and personal interest and motivation to learn and for us as teaching trusting the process. Not fully unschooling but on the line just really relaxed and full book immersion 👏🏼🫠

[@sarahlerner1440]

Thank you so much! Always so helpful to hear honest updates on other people's experiences with this homeschooling journey! Although I have to say, in general, I always find all your videos helpful! Even just putting one of them on in the background when I'm not necessarily following along exactly, I find them inspiring and uplifting - you have a very happy and cheerful voice & demeanor! 😊

[@TheEclecticHomeschooler]

Aww, thanks so much for the kind words! 🥰

[@sarahmiranda7130]

Anytime we take a week off I find it almost impossible to get back into a routine. And I've found I'm not teaching them any of the things that were part of my why for homeschooling....life skills, scripture, etc.

[@TheEclecticHomeschooler]

That’s definitely a challenge when those things we want to spend time on aren’t traditional school subjects. We feel that pressure to do the “normal” thing over what we feel led to do. I find it helpful to make sure we block out time for those things I find most important and let go of some of the other subjects instead. It’s definitely a major mindset hurdle to get over!

[@faithhomeschool2789]

Yes trying to change that scripture and life skills so important

[@becomingmama4376]

Planning is key and following through

[@faithhomeschool2789]

Awesome update. We are definitely Charlotte Mason inspired but love the idea of Child led, unschooling but I know we are definitely not unschoolers. I am finding I have to take several resources and piece everything together. We have fallen off with extra curricula trying to get back into things without overdoing things.

[@sarahkey413]

Whew! your weekly extra curriculars wore me out just mentally planning those! 😂 We do bi weekly co op and monthly historical museum classes, along with monthly "grandparent classes" and that keeps us busy! I have been suprisingly happy with how this year has gone. We've definitely made a few changes but I feel like we have a good rhythm going.... and... then I'm having baby #4 in April. I'm sure that will throw that rhythm in the ditch!

[@melparkes354]

You're so encouraging! We are just so far behind in our first year homeschooling. I have a hard time balancing life, teaching my third grader and keeping up with a 1 year old! But trucking along each week.

[@TheEclecticHomeschooler]

You are doing great! Life and homeschooling is crazy (and exciting!) with a baby. Remember that it’s a season and things will fall into place! I wouldn’t be too concerned with being “behind.” Behind is a relative term… behind who? 😉 As long as you’re moving forward and doing the best you can, you’re right where you need to be. I have heard from many parents after bringing their kids home from school, that they often have to spend quite a bit of time covering things that they feel their child should already know. Keep on pressing in and give yourself a little grace. It’ll come together!

[@Leslie_B1025]

We have gone through seasons of loving and hating with teaching textbooks the past 11 years with my oldest graduating this spring. The thing she found that helped when teaching textbooks got complicated was to go onto khan academy and work out the algebra to a more extensive level. It helped us to finally stop jumping around and trying new curriculum. Not to say trying new things isn’t good!

[@IntentionalHomeschooling]

I love that your oldest is two years older than my oldest, this way I can see what works best for you guys for high school and then just follow suite when our time comes. :)

[@TheEclecticHomeschooler]

Love it! Test it out on me! Haha 😅

[@sounditout34]

Same

[@BaileyAcademy]

Thanks for sharing. We made a few changes too but mostly the same. We were getting a bit lazy in December and January so this week we are starting back on a full schedule. I love that your oldest is writing a book! Good for him.

[@sharmashwetaUTube]

Looking so forward to your binder system

[@melanieturner5665]

Could you do a video on your favorite and least favorite read alouds from this school year? Thanks!

[@TheEclecticHomeschooler]

Yes, but it would need to be later on this spring. We actually have only done a few so far this year so I wouldn’t have much to share yet! 😬😅

[@TodaysJoys]

I was in that same place with curriculum. I started planning out my own units and I loved it, but it was WAY too time consuming! I discovered Layers Of Learning… and we have LOVED it this past year. A very loose unit study that you can totally customize to what fits for you. A great jumping off guide where we give our own spin to. I’ve shared a few videos of how we’ve used it. Might not be a good fit for you, but it sounds like you’re in the same place we were.

[@TheEclecticHomeschooler]

Thanks for sharing! I’ll look it up!

[@crystalhall9333]

Started to glance at Layers of Learning from your comment, it does look pretty cool, have you tried out the entire package or just piece meal out a few subjects?

[@TodaysJoys]

@@crystalhall9333 I have done history, science, and geography for about a year. I own the first year of art as well. We also use their writing program and really like it so far, but we are going more slowly through that. Definitely not trying to promote myself here, but I have made videos showing how how we do it, as well as some flip throughs

[@cassiecoy6352]

Thanks for the video! The part of the video where you spoke about your daughter checking out during math really resonated with me. I am a momma of 5, with 3 actively homeschooling at the moment. During our 21-22 school year, I used the A Beka program. It it incredibly thorough and advanced. However, I found my girls hating math. We made the switch to Masterbook's Math (Math Lessons for a Living Education). I love it, and so do my kids. There usually isn't more than 1 worksheet, and my girls are able to work it independently (unless it's a new concept). Masterbooks is also a Christian based program. We also really love the LIfe of Fred books. We use those a couple times a week as a supplemental to both math and reading. Life of Fred are math based books in a fun and gentle reading approach.

[@everbejoyful]

I can’t wait to hear more about your homeschool journey and more non textbook schooling. I have dropped more of my curriculum over the last 6 months and we are down to just math and phonics workbooks. Everything else is literature led. It’s been so much fun! We started last fall reading Kirkpatrick Hills book A year of Ms Agnes (a story of a teacher in Alaska working with indigenous kids) which led us to more of her books on Alaska, then to Gentle Ben and who knows where we will go from there or if we will switch topics. We have watched documentaries about Salmon fishing, Brown Bears, Gold mining, the Alaskan tundra, and more to go along with what we are reading.

[@TheEclecticHomeschooler]

Sounds like a wonderful Alaska unit you put together based on interest! Love that!! Best way to homeschool! Also, I grew up in Alaska, so that warms my heart. 😍

[@everbejoyful]

@@TheEclecticHomeschooler o how cool!!! I’ve never been interested in Alaska until reading these books. Now I’d love to visit!

[@amberleggio335]

You can keep that love of learning doing a CM style and interest led schooling in High school. I've graduated one and he went to college and is a fireman and my second is heading off to college in the fall 😭 and I've done gentle CM love of learning through high school.

[@TheEclecticHomeschooler]

Love that!! Thanks for the encouragement! That’s definitely my goal! Any book suggestions for science on that level? I find most CM sources suggest switching to Apologia for science in high school, but I’d rather do a more living book approach… 🤔

[@makerofahome]

@@TheEclecticHomeschooler look into Sabbath Mood Homeschool. She has guides for science starting in 4th grade through high school. I love their podcast but am realizing that following a purist CM style doesn’t fit our family right now. But the podcast, A Delectable Education, has a wealth of information. So it is helpful even with an eclectic style 😉 On sabbath mood homeschool, she also has a big list of recommended books for different streams of science (biology, astronomy, etc) so you could look through that if you didn’t want to buy her guides. I think Ambleside has some book recommendations as well? Good luck. Thanks for sharing your updates with us!

[@amberleggio335]

I have been using Master books Exploring The World of Physics and having my son wrote a narration and for Chemistry Exploring The World of Chemistry along with the DK Eyewitness Elements book. Reading those and writing narration about element learned and a narration from Chemistry reading. There is also Sabbath Mood Science that is a CM science. Hope this helps. Also my oldest went to EMT school and Fire school and our local Jr. College and our second oldest will be going off to a liberal arts college for Business. So just know how your children are bent and their interest. I like these sconces because they are very historic and I feel they give a good foundation especially for kids that majors aren't in the sciences but even if they were I feel confident they would arise to occasion if that's their passion. 🥰👍

[@Bronnydance]

I love watching your videos and find that I am making the exact same adjustments as you!! We also switched from teaching textbooks to Saxon this past year for my 7th grader - we found 'my math assistant ' that is an online grading and teaching of the Saxon lessons....it's been a fantastic aid and saves so much time!

[@CG-mj8tk]

Wait.....what?! Saxon has an online tutor? Is it extra? Math is not our strong suit. TT was great for a while at first but i don't know anymore....

[@TheEclecticHomeschooler]

We started using Nicole the Math Lady (online video lectures, grading, etc.) We love it so far! They have a free trial you can test it out yourself! nicolethemathlady.com/free-trial/friend/EclecticHomeschooler/

[@juleneneethling]

I like hearing and seeing how you homeschool. And have learned so much. My son is also in grade 1 this year. We started in January. That's how the South-African school year works . He loves the good and beautiful math K. Currently at lesson 34 , I think. We started last year. But... I am also using a South -African curriculum for home language(Afrikaans) and math grade 1 something to use on and of with TGAB. IKnowThat. The curriculum developer works with occupational therapist. I love the way she developes critical thinking, and moving from gross motor, to concrete to working in the book. There is lots of games and lays a good foundation. We are still finding our rhythm. But we love reading together. .. we are taking learning to read step by step. . Hope you have a lovely day. Greeting from sunny South-Africa.. Julene . right in the middle of the country. In the Freestate.

[@constancejackson7986]

Winter seems to be putting us behind. We've been hit with a week's worth of constant snow and it's just this big distraction. And my oldest is starting occupational therapy this week so we are just everywhere and nowhere all at the same time.

[@TheEclecticHomeschooler]

Definitely been there! That’s when I let go of all the extra things and just focus on core stuff like math and LA and pick back up with the rest when we are better situated! Best wishes!

[@ridahunsyiemiong9861]

Thank you so much for sharing your experiences, they give me more ideas too as to how we can add to our homeschool plan. Everybody's like what is that homeschool? I have to go through all those questions now. But i am ok. I am enjoying homeschool 😊

[@dreahart89]

Love this! I've literally peaced together most of what we're doing this year too :) writing, narration, dictation, free writing etc! We are leaning towards masterbooks again for a few things next year, but it's nice to feel the peace and freedom to piece it all together ❤️ 😀 reading hero tales and doing catechisms together for family time

[@faithhomeschool2789]

We are doing Master books also but still piecing things together to make it work

[@amandaelser9249]

CTC math is another popular web based curriculum.

[@JessicaOrban3606]

It is nice to know that transitions are not easy for a lot of people. Sometimes starting up again goes smoothly, and sometimes it is like pushing a freight train 😅

[@TheEclecticHomeschooler]

So true! 😆

[@jessicabaird868]

I just subscribed to ur Channel I have a 13 year old. Thank u for sharing!

[@TheEclecticHomeschooler]

Thanks for subbing!

[@jessicabaird868]

@@TheEclecticHomeschooler what language arts packets are you speaking of ? I am trying to build a curriculum now from your recommendations

[@TheEclecticHomeschooler]

@@jessicabaird868 We are using the Language Arts curriculum from A Gentle Feast. It’s a PDF download.

[@jessicabaird868]

@@TheEclecticHomeschooler thank you! What do you use from Charlotte Mason?

[@TheEclecticHomeschooler]

@@jessicabaird868 Charlotte Mason is a homeschool philosophy (based on ideas from the British educator), not necessarily a particular curriculum. We started using A Gentle Feast this year, which follows the CM philosophy. agentlefeast.com/?ref=314

[@mrs_JNL32]

Simply Charlotte Mason posted a video recently about CM for the high school years. Perhaps it'll be helpful to you. 😊

[@gladiscecilia9603]

Awesome Video!! 😊

[@amandaelser9249]

If you like the dictation approach for spelling, SCM offers Spelling Wisdom, with the same approach, while ensuring you’re learning the most frequently used words. We really like it. 😅

[@letthespiritlive]

And would like to chat about that approach for high-school with you.

[@crazychicken4063]

This isn't about curriculum, but I heard you say you live where it is very cold and windy. Lol That sounds like where we live. We live in the northern plains, in South Dakota.

[@TheEclecticHomeschooler]

Whew! We’re not as cold as that! We’ve only been here 2 years though and the climate is pretty different from where I’ve lived my whole life so it’s definitely something to get used to!

[@steadfastschoolhouse]

Have you checked out the Alveary for CM help? It’s a membership where they have lessons planned for all grades 1-12! It has teacher support to help guide you in the CM philosophy. ❤

[@TheEclecticHomeschooler]

Great suggestion! Thanks for sharing!!

[@daniellelswartz]

Have you considered Ambleside? We’re trying that for our first year of homeschooling next year!

[@carriebilbrey]

I have recently found you and very encouraged by your latest videos. My heart longs to focus mostly on Gods Word and the things that matter for eternity…but struggle with how to do that in our day. Do you have any ideas for Bible learning using a very relaxed homeschool style? My Children are 12 and 13.

[@TheEclecticHomeschooler]

Thank you, I’m so glad you have been blessed by the videos! 🥰 For Bible, I think the most important thing is to just be in the Word together. Try choosing a time when you can sit down together and pick a book of the Bible, read one chapter a day and discuss. (We do ours as a family at dinner time, my husband reads after he’s done eating and we discuss while the kids finish up) That’s it! I think we put so much pressure on ourselves to think everything has to be so complicated in order to be effective and it’s just not true. The Bible is the living and active Word of God and just reading it has the power to change lives! On the older level, having a study Bible is a fantastic tool to help you go deeper, look up cross references, and help understand cultural context. I highly recommend the ESV study Bible. Blessings! ❤️

[@ceifaci]

Have you heard of Gentle and Classical Press? I’m trying it this semester. Looks really good!

[@TheEclecticHomeschooler]

I haven’t heard of that one. ☺️ Hope it works well for you!

[@duncanpartyof6513]

I am researching A gentle Feast language arts. Do you use the History to go along with the packet?

[@TheEclecticHomeschooler]

Yes, we did everything AGF this year. ☺️

[@Dreblueskies]

I’m very new with a young student but I already can see that I’m not one to follow a curriculum. I really want my focus to be God first, character, life skills, followed by the things “one must” learn. I must learn to not have FOMO of all the other resources that look so good 😬

[@hs1athome]

I love ALL the things but get overwhelmed. The simple day seems to go the best, while I continue to yearn for all the extras.

[@TheEclecticHomeschooler]

Love that! I'm very similar, I've never found a curriculum I could stick to - we always end up warping it to fit our interests. 😉 FOMO is a real things though, still recovering from trying to be like everyone else. hahaha

[@Dreblueskies]

@@hs1athome I’m reminded of Durenda Wilson that simplicity is good.

[@Dreblueskies]

@@TheEclecticHomeschooler Yes!! 😂💛

[@CG-mj8tk]

Well now i really would like to know what FOMO is!

[@letthespiritlive]

Would you still recommend Write shop 1 & 2?

[@TheEclecticHomeschooler]

Yes, I think it did a good well rounded job of teaching English skills.

[@chrystalzap]

we have only been doing this for a month, and for the most part everything is going ok...and i mean ok, my son is 5 so I'm not putting to much pressure on him He is very smart and way ahead of his peers had he remained in public school i have started working with Math with Confidence but am finding it really dry for him, as he knows so many math concepts al ready so i just piece our weeks together basically on the go, and haven't planned any weeks or months out yet.. do you have advice for planning?

[@TheEclecticHomeschooler]

Sorry you're have a bit of a rocky start! Hang in there, things will fall into place! I've got a whole playlist with several videos about planning if you need a little help getting started with that! 😀 kzbin.info/aero/PLIJu0FDTIbQnRQCqGLjfYhZth-YnDOthB

[@diannaannette6956]

What age would speech and debate start at?

[@TheEclecticHomeschooler]

My kids are 6th and 8th grade but their class is up through high school. I think typically it would be more of a high school class.

[@estherdonn1421]

I just found your videos and they are so informative! You are such an inspiration as a mother! Thank you so much for sharing your arsenal of knowledge, seriously. I have two children currently in school, and my goal is to homeschool next year. My question may be silly, but that's okay 😋 Is it okay to mix curriculum? For example, I don't want to do online schooling, but I'm not super confident in my ability to teach math. Could I teach just math online?

[@TheEclecticHomeschooler]

Absolutely! That’s what eclectic homeschooling is! Finding the bits of all the methods that suit your family best. 😁 I’ve got a video about that here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f3aln2Cvoal0g7c

[@estherdonn1421]

You rock! Thank you so much 💓

[@kathrynrouse2528]

I’m a dummy and just deleted my comment by accident, so I’m sorry to be repetitive. 🤦🏻‍♀️ My previous comment said that you should look into History Revealed by Diana Waring. It’s CM inspired for middle and high school and I wish there were more You Tube videos covering it! 😊

[@savannahmartinez3985]

Can I ask what state you live in?