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I am so happy. I finally get the CM principle. It seems that my dd was ready to attach to it and I was the one struggling. We took a week off from HOD and it was because I was having the issues. DD was complaining because she missed her poems and pilgrim books. So I started adding it back in slowly and we are now back to full speed with HOD and we are all loving it now.

Just wanted to post in case there are others who are stuggling. I think my whole PS background was getting in my way.

Yeah! I am so excited you had a break through. I still do not understand why all that stuff works but it sure does. Glad you are being blessed! It's a wonderful feeling to know what you are doing is really working and your child is not only learning but enjoying learning. Congratulations. Praising God with you!

Prior to switching to HOD, I had a very "Well Trained Mind" mindset. It was lovely...for ME. My kids, particularly my younger son, didn't feel the love! Now, I find that I have a balance. I am more classical in my approach to English and Math, but CM has captured my heart (and the hearts of my children) in such a wonderful way for every other subject. It is hard to go from that strict, rigid education model to the more gentle approach. For awhile, you wonder if you are doing "enough." The proof is "in the pudding" though...I have happy kids who actually enjoy school with HOD. That is not something I could ever say with the other curriculua I tried...

So there is hope for me!!! My husband and I know we believe in the CM methods, but I, too, gravitate toward WTM methods....it works for my son, but not my poor daughter who is so left behind! I have committed to using HOD and experiencing all of this firsthand. So far, so good!!!

I am slowly but surely being won over to CM. I love the HOD materials and the philosophy goes right on with what my child development classes taught, but I still get the textbook itch every once in a while. Then I get on here and get all my questions put to rest, or I go look through my HOD catalog and remind myself of all the wonderful books we will miss out on.

I would agree that it is a journey to find what blesses your family education-wise. It took me many years of fine-tuning my own philosophy (which I am still doing) to find how to best accomplish the goals we have for our kiddos.

So many educational philosophies leave Bible as a separate subject, placing it on a level of equal importance with all other subject areas. CM's view of the Bible as being the core of all learning was the very first part of a CM-style education that drew me in. From there, I discovered so many other parts of her philosophy that made a world of sense and were very different from the way I had been taught.

At HOD, while we do put our own twist on many parts of her philosophy and do add-in much of the hands-on learning that we dearly love, we find much to love and implement within her philosophy. I'm so glad that you are journeying toward finding joy in your homeschooling too. It is a journey!

Blessings,
Carrie

It took me awhile to be won over to the CM style of doing things as well, but I could gradually see the beauty of her ideas over time. I do believe we spend a lifetime fine-tuning our educational beliefs, but I am set on CM's suggestions, as they seem pack a big punch retention-wise, are deceptively simple looking, and extremely enjoyable to do. Have fun "discovering" CM through HOD - it's life changing!

In Christ,
Julie