We started out our homeschool year this year strong. I was loving our curriculum choices (you can read more about them here) and Mr. Five was excited about his new school books. We had a daily routine figured out and I felt like we were off to a great start.
And then I had a baby.
We actually only took 2 weeks off from school, because I thrive on routines and I didn’t want too much time to lapse between lessons. I gave myself a lot of grace, and decided that if we at least got the core subjects done each day, we were succeeding during this time of transition. So that’s what we did. Each day, we squeezed in reading, math, handwriting, and calendar around the needs of a brand new baby and a wild and crazy toddler turdler.
I’d struggle to find something to keep Mr. Three entertained while I hurried Mr. Five through his lessons. I had initially wanted to do some type of “tot school” with Mr. Three, but once Little Miss was born it was a lot to try to get something ready for both of them and keep them both on-task.
Recognizing that Something Needed to Change
Each day I went a bit more into Survival Mode, which meant that school became a series of boxes that needed to be checked off. I could feel the joy quickly draining from our homeschool, which had started out so joyously. Mr. Five finally vocalized it when he asked, “Mommy, are we going to do this exact same thing every day?”
Yeesh!
So I took a huge step back to reassess what we were doing, why we were doing it, and what our end goals were. Blaise and I discussed our vision for what we want our homeschool to look and feel like for everyone in our family, and those discussions led us to a renewed passion for home education.
I went back to the heart of why we homeschool in the first place: to give them something different. Yet I could feel myself slipping back into Public Educator Mode (more on this in another post). I wasn’t giving them something different. I was giving them school at home, complete with rigid lesson plans and a tight time schedule. Now I’m not saying that these things are bad in the right context, but they certainly aren’t right for the type of education and atmosphere I want to give my children in these early years.
I scrapped our entire routine and started from scratch. Instead of scaling back – doing less each day – I opted to add a whole lot more – in a much different format.
Adding the Gentle + Classical Level 2 & Nature Curriculum
When I found Gentle + Classical Press, I fell in love. It was everything I’d been wanting! I dove headlong into the Gentle + Classical Level 2 & Nature curriculum and began the process of preparing to fully implement it. I spent HOURS reading the curriculum and then printing, cutting, and laminating the memory statement cards, the nature bundle, the storyboards, etc. Blaise was AWESOME in wholeheartedly supporting me by helping extra with the kids so I’d have time to get it all ready to begin a few weeks ago.
Our core curricula is the same. We’re still using Math Lessons for a Living Education, All About Reading, and Handwriting Without Tears. We’re still doing calendar each day, and we’re still stick-figuring our way through the Bible. The core subjects didn’t change.
But our days are already immensely different than they were just a few weeks ago.
What components are part of Gentle + Classical Level 2?
- Catechism
- Virtue Song
- Scripture Memory
- Theology
- Artist & Art Study
- Composer & Music Study
- Manners & Hygiene
- Poetry
- Nursery Rhymes
- Fairy Tales & Fables
It looks like a really long list (especially when you add in the Nature Study components), but it does NOT feel like too much at all. It’s actually amazing how it has simplified our days instead of making them more complicated.
What I love so much is seeing just how much their little minds can absorb through repeated readings, memory work, narration, and songs. It has already given me so much confidence in Charlotte Mason’s approach to education!
Why I’m Loving Gentle + Classical Level 2 for Kindergarten
Note: I am not affiliated with G+C Press, but I really love the curriculum and want to share how it’s working for our family!
First of all, as the name implies, this curriculum is very gentle.
This was important to me for Kindergarten. Rigor can come later, but in these early years, I want to move at a slower, gentler pace. In fact, it’s gentle enough that even Mr. Three can participate with some modifications. Yet it’s written in such a way that you can go as deep and challenging with each element as you feel suits you, your kids, and your homeschool goals.
Because Mr. Three can join us for the bulk of our school activities, it has significantly reduced my stress level! Instead of me needing to find him something to do while I’m busy with Mr. Five, we all gather around the table to explore, pile on the couch to read, or take a nature walk together. Mr. Three feels included and Mr. Five still has his educational needs met (above and beyond, actually).
Second, it’s heavily Charlotte Mason-inspired.
I have always been drawn to the CM style of homeschooling. But truthfully, I always felt super overwhelmed with how to incorporate #allthethings into our homeschool days. I couldn’t quite picture how to fit all of the pieces together in a way that felt both cohesive and manageable.
The author of Gentle + Classical Preschool Level 2 did such a phenomenal job of laying this curriculum out so that it makes sense and is so easy to implement. I certainly had to plan on the front end, but once I figured out how this would work best for us, it’s actually helped take the overwhelm out of my days.
Additionally, the author brings Charlotte Mason’s principles to life in a way that I know I’ll feel more confident implementing CM principles in the future. The structure of this program (and the fact that I’ve taken the author’s advice and started reading Charlotte Mason’s Home Education) helps me to grasp how the pieces fit together. For that alone, I’ll always be thankful!
Third, it’s rich with beautiful stories, living books, art studies, and classical music.
This was HUGE for me. Last year for preschool, we did several small artist studies and read loads of beautiful books. This year, as we slipped into Survival Mode, the living part of our education fell away and it became dry.
Implementing this curriculum has infused life back into our homeschool.
Each morning as we gather around our Morning Basket, I can feel the boys’ excitement to read together, sing together, and enjoy the quality time together. As we explore our nature topics, narrate our fairy tales, enjoy our composer’s music, create art, and sip hot chocolate during Wonder Tales Treat Time, I am so thankful that we found this curriculum.
If you’re looking for something that’s both robust and gentle, you should definitely check out Gentle + Classical Level 2! And the best part? The curriculum itself is FREE!
Head over to Gentle + Classical Press to download either Level 1 or 2 (or both) and the Nature Study curricula.
