MY HOD things arrived! And Q on making some Independent?

[AboveRubiesMama]

I have to admit I was really nervous about opening the box. I have wanted so much to be able to use a Charlotte Mason type method but my OCD self had a very difficult time creating one alone and also had a difficult time finding a curriculum that was really doable.

I spent a year researching MFW and wanted SOOO much to be able to use it, but it just wasn't a good fit for our family. I also wanted to love SL, and I DID, but all the books was just overkill. We felt as though we weren't enjoying all the books we'd bought. Since then I've been piecing together things and school has boiled down to Math, Language Arts, and Reading. It really hasn't been fun.

Before sending the order, I double checked the return policy as I was preparing myself.

I've already sorted the books and put them away in each child's cubby! I am SO excited! We can definitely do this--we can learn and have fun at the same time. This is great!

Now that I see everything in my hands, I'm going to try to use Singapore with my SN son next year. Carie's hands-on activities will be what helps him to "get it." I think I'll also buy the manual for Bigger so it'll suit my dd's level for Singapore math. I bet she'll enjoy that and then I may buy some math workbooks so she can continue the Independent side of math. She thrives on Independent work, so I don't want to take that away from her completely. If anyone has any ideas or ways to make a part of BLHFHG Independent, let me know because this is what fits her.

[Mom2Monkeys]

YAY!! I'm so excited for you! I can offer some advice on making it more independent...I have an independent one too. DD7 is a 2nd grader, strong reader, and works well alone with some interaction. Each day, I give her a sheet of paper that lists our basic plans for the day. There is some Independent, Semi-Ind., and mommy directed. It looks like this. The bottom is the stuff(mix of independence) we try to get to daily but don't, as well as the mommy directed. She loves to mark it out when she finishes something.

History: Read Stories of the Pilgrims pp. #-#, Come tell mom about it after you've read (then I'll check the "Key Point" in the History box to make sure she's right)
Bible: Study Psalm Ch:V and be prepared to discuss with mom (then I'll discuss the questions in the guide with her and have her do the activity, recite the verse,& listen to CD)
Poetry: Reread this weeks poem to your brothers using hand motions (only after day 1's activity where I read it to her and let her guess titles & she deosn't copy the poem)
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Spelling: Get markerboard/marker and spelling cards ready (day 1, this is independent-- she studies the card, flips it, writes it, checks it)
LA: (day 5 activity)
Math: Singapore 2A is semi-ind., I've added in some review books for independent work(time, +/- bks & games, etc.) that we alternate through in addition to SM. I have a section that lists each lesson to be completed and we just mark the lessons off in each one as it's completed.
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DITHOR
Storytime
Rotating Box (Science/art/history activity/geography...)
Copywork: I have her copy quotes from George Washington's Rules of Civility and from Quotes With Character (she alternates each time)
Latin: Power Glide book page #-#, CD 1 Track #
Conversation With Character

This has been very easy to keep up with. I have a notebook with 3 or 4 sections in it. 1st section is her daily plans, 2nd is Math with columns for each book listing the page or lesson # to be completed (not combined so we don't get mixed up if we only get to one of them some days), 3rd is DITHOR and my ds5's LHTH, 4th is our add ons and storytime.

SO, there's a pick into our little school.