A GENTLE FEAST Curriculum Review

The Eclectic Homeschooler
5 Jul 202316:08
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThis video script discusses the homeschooling journey, transitioning from a traditional approach to embracing the Charlotte Mason philosophy. The speaker shares her experience with 'A Gentle Feast,' a Charlotte Mason-based curriculum that focuses on teaching through literature and living books across various subjects. She highlights its comprehensive nature, covering all core subjects except math, and its affordability. The script offers a walkthrough of the curriculum's structure, including lesson plans for multiple children at different levels, and provides tips on customizing the curriculum to fit individual family needs. A current discount offer is mentioned, along with the speaker's personal endorsement of the curriculum for its simplicity and engaging approach to homeschooling.

Takeaways
  • 📚 The speaker initially found homeschooling overwhelming with a traditional approach and later discovered the Charlotte Mason philosophy, which focuses on teaching through literature and living books.
  • 🌟 The Charlotte Mason method emphasizes reading, comprehension, and narration over worksheets and textbooks, which the speaker found more engaging and effective for learning.
  • 🔄 The speaker transitioned to using 'A Gentle Feast', a Charlotte Mason curriculum that aligns with the original philosophy and covers a wide range of subjects, including core and 'beauty' subjects.
  • 🎓 'A Gentle Feast' is structured into different levels or 'forms', allowing for age-appropriate learning and lesson plans for all children in the family.
  • 📈 The curriculum uses a cyclical approach with four history cycles, enabling children to revisit topics at higher levels with more advanced resources and understanding.
  • 👨‍👧‍👦 All children in the family can study the same time period simultaneously but at their own individual levels, fostering family discussions and shared learning experiences.
  • 📘 The curriculum covers subjects except for math, requiring parents to source books separately, many of which are classics available for free or at low cost.
  • 📝 It includes detailed lesson plans and resources for a structured homeschooling experience, with options to purchase additional language arts curriculum and morning time plans.
  • 📊 The speaker uses a spreadsheet to organize weekly lesson plans, allowing children to work independently and tailoring the curriculum to fit their family's needs.
  • 🔍 While comprehensive, the curriculum may require some adjustments to fit into a manageable school day, and the speaker suggests being flexible and choosing subjects that work best for one's family.
  • 📚 Some books in the curriculum may feel outdated or less engaging to modern children, prompting the need for occasional alternative resources to maintain interest.
Q & A

  • What was the initial approach to homeschooling described in the script?

    -The initial approach to homeschooling described in the script was more traditional, which the speaker found overwhelming and frustrating to keep up with.

  • What philosophy of homeschooling did the speaker discover and fall in love with?

    -The speaker discovered and fell in love with the Charlotte Mason philosophy of homeschooling, which emphasizes teaching through literature, living history books, and living science books.

  • What is the main difference between the Charlotte Mason approach and traditional schooling methods mentioned in the script?

    -The main difference is that the Charlotte Mason approach focuses on reading, comprehension, and narration rather than worksheets and textbooks, which the speaker found more engaging and less overwhelming.

  • What curriculum is being discussed in the script, and what is its relation to the Charlotte Mason philosophy?

    -The curriculum being discussed is called 'A Gentle Feast,' which is a Charlotte Mason curriculum designed to be true to the original philosophy and covers a wide range of subjects.

  • What is special about the 'A Gentle Feast' curriculum in terms of planning for multiple children?

    -The 'A Gentle Feast' curriculum has lesson plans together for all children, which are based on Charlotte Mason levels, allowing children of different ages and abilities to study the same topics at their own individual levels.

  • What are the core subjects covered by the 'A Gentle Feast' curriculum, and are there any additional subjects included?

    -The curriculum covers history, geography, literature, science, natural history, citizenship, foreign language, singing, drawing or art, and includes read-aloud suggestions and handcraft projects. The only subject not covered is math.

  • How does the 'A Gentle Feast' curriculum organize its lesson plans for different age groups?

    -The curriculum organizes lesson plans based on 'forms,' with form one for lower elementary (grades one through three), form two for upper elementary (grades four through six), form three for junior high (grades seven through nine), and form four for high school (grades 10 through 12).

  • What is the term schedule for the 'A Gentle Feast' curriculum, and how does it work?

    -The curriculum is set up on a three-term schedule for the year, with term one covering weeks one through twelve, term two covering subsequent weeks, and then cycling back to term one as children move up to a different form level.

  • How does the speaker manage the lesson plans and resources for their homeschooling?

    -The speaker uses a combination of the curriculum's lesson plans, a personal spreadsheet, and online resources to manage and coordinate their homeschooling, adapting the plans to fit their family's needs.

  • What is the special offer mentioned in the script, and until when is it available?

    -The special offer mentioned is a 15% discount on the 'A Gentle Feast' curriculum, available until July 15th.

  • How does the speaker feel about the comprehensive nature of the 'A Gentle Feast' curriculum, and what adjustments did they make?

    -The speaker appreciates the comprehensive nature of the curriculum but found it necessary to adjust by cutting out some subjects to fit all core work within their daily homeschooling schedule.

Outlines
00:00
📚 Discovering the Charlotte Mason Homeschooling Philosophy

The speaker initially felt overwhelmed by traditional homeschooling methods and struggled to keep up with public school standards. After encountering the Charlotte Mason philosophy, they embraced its emphasis on literature, living history, and science books over worksheets and textbooks. The concept of reading, comprehension, and narration was particularly appealing. The speaker plans to introduce the 'A Gentle Feast' curriculum, a Charlotte Mason-based program, and will share online resources and daily lesson plans. They also mention a limited-time discount on the curriculum, clarifying that the link provided is an affiliate one, offering a small commission without additional cost to the buyer.

05:03
🌿 Exploring the 'A Gentle Feast' Curriculum in Depth

The 'A Gentle Feast' curriculum is a Charlotte Mason-inspired program that covers a broad range of subjects, including history, geography, literature, science, and more. It is designed to accommodate multiple children at different learning levels, with lesson plans organized by 'forms' corresponding to grade levels. The curriculum cycles through different history periods at each form level, ensuring a comprehensive and progressive learning experience. The speaker appreciates the curriculum's inclusiveness of all family members studying the same topics at their respective levels, fostering family discussions. While the curriculum covers most subjects except math, it is noted for its affordability and the availability of free or library-based books, reducing the need for extensive purchases.

10:04
📝 Customizing the Homeschooling Experience with 'A Gentle Feast'

The speaker discusses the flexibility of the 'A Gentle Feast' curriculum, allowing for customization based on family preferences and needs. They share their personal experience of adapting the curriculum to fit the varying levels and interests of their children, emphasizing the importance of tailoring the homeschooling journey to suit individual educational goals. Despite the curriculum's comprehensive nature, the speaker found it necessary to prioritize certain subjects and occasionally substitute resources to maintain engagement and cater to their children's attention spans. The speaker encourages viewers to approach the curriculum with the same flexibility, focusing on what works best for their family.

15:06
🎓 Reflecting on the Value and Adaptability of 'A Gentle Feast'

In conclusion, the speaker highly recommends 'A Gentle Feast' for its simplicity, beauty, and comprehensive approach to homeschooling, particularly for those interested in the Charlotte Mason method. They acknowledge that while the curriculum is extensive, it is also adaptable, allowing families to select and prioritize subjects that best fit their educational vision. The speaker plans to share more about their curriculum choices for the upcoming school year in future videos and encourages viewers to take advantage of the current discount offer. They remind viewers to subscribe and follow for more homeschooling insights and conclude by thanking them for watching.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Homeschooling
Homeschooling refers to the practice of educating children at home rather than sending them to a formal school. In the video, the speaker discusses her experience with homeschooling and how she transitioned from a traditional approach to one inspired by the Charlotte Mason philosophy. This shift in educational methodology is central to the video's narrative as it highlights the benefits and challenges faced by the speaker in managing her children's education at home.
💡Charlotte Mason Philosophy
The Charlotte Mason philosophy is an educational approach that emphasizes learning through literature, living history books, and living science books. It focuses on reading, comprehension, and narration over traditional worksheets and textbooks. The speaker in the video 'fell in love' with this philosophy and found it transformative for her homeschooling experience. This philosophy is a key theme of the video as it underpins the curriculum and teaching methods discussed.
💡Gentle Feast
Gentle Feast is a Charlotte Mason-inspired curriculum mentioned in the video. It is designed to be true to the original Charlotte Mason philosophy and covers a wide range of subjects, including history, geography, literature, science, and more. The speaker uses Gentle Feast as an example of how she structures her homeschooling curriculum, highlighting its comprehensive nature and the flexibility it offers in terms of lesson planning.
💡Curriculum
In the context of the video, a curriculum refers to the planned content and learning outcomes for a course of study. The speaker discusses the Gentle Feast curriculum, which she uses to guide her homeschooling efforts. The curriculum is important as it provides a structured approach to education, covering various subjects and ensuring a well-rounded learning experience for the children.
💡Narration
Narration, in the context of the video, refers to the act of retelling or summarizing information in one's own words, which is a key component of the Charlotte Mason philosophy. The speaker mentions that her children engage in narration, either verbally or in writing, as part of their learning process. This method is used to reinforce comprehension and understanding of the material being studied.
💡Worksheets
Worksheets are a common tool in traditional education, typically used to practice and reinforce learning through exercises and activities. The speaker contrasts the use of worksheets with the Charlotte Mason approach, which favors reading and narration. The video suggests that the speaker prefers the latter method, finding it more engaging and effective for her children's education.
💡Educational Levels
Educational levels in the video refer to the different stages of learning that children progress through, such as lower elementary, upper elementary, junior high, and high school. The Gentle Feast curriculum is structured around these levels, with different content and expectations for each. The speaker discusses how her children are placed in different forms (levels) and how the curriculum adapts to their varying educational needs.
💡Language Arts
Language Arts is a subject area that encompasses reading, writing, speaking, listening, and language mechanics. The speaker mentions a separate language arts curriculum that can be purchased to complement the Gentle Feast curriculum. This curriculum includes components like grammar, copywork, dictation, and composition, emphasizing a holistic approach to language learning.
💡Natural History
Natural History is the study of nature and includes subjects like biology, geology, and ecology. In the video, the speaker discusses how the Gentle Feast curriculum includes Natural History as part of the science component. This subject is integrated into the curriculum to provide a comprehensive understanding of the natural world, which is a key aspect of the educational philosophy presented.
💡Comprehension
Comprehension, in the context of the video, refers to the ability to understand and interpret what one reads or hears. The speaker emphasizes the importance of comprehension in the Charlotte Mason approach, where reading is followed by narration to ensure that students fully understand the material. This concept is central to the video as it highlights the educational method's focus on deep understanding rather than rote learning.
💡Flexibility
Flexibility in the video refers to the adaptability of the Gentle Feast curriculum to different learning needs and preferences. The speaker appreciates the curriculum's ability to be tailored to fit her family's educational goals and methods. This flexibility is highlighted as a positive aspect of homeschooling and the Gentle Feast curriculum, allowing for customization and personalization of the learning experience.
Highlights

The speaker initially found homeschooling overwhelming with a traditional mindset.

They switched to the Charlotte Mason philosophy of homeschooling, finding it more engaging and less frustrating.

Charlotte Mason's approach emphasizes teaching through literature, living history, and science books.

The speaker loves the concept of reading, comprehension, and narration over worksheets and textbooks.

A Gentle Feast curriculum was introduced, aligning with the Charlotte Mason philosophy.

A Gentle Feast is designed to be true to the original Charlotte Mason philosophy, covering a 'Feast of Education'.

The curriculum includes lesson plans for all children, grouped by Charlotte Mason levels.

Children progress through four history cycles, revisiting topics at different levels.

A Gentle Feast covers all subjects except math, with resources and books often available for free.

The curriculum is affordable, and additional resources like language arts packets are available.

Lesson plans are laid out in a teacher planner, making it easy to coordinate weekly activities.

The curriculum is set up on a three-term schedule, with detailed weekly plans.

The speaker uses a spreadsheet to organize weekly lesson plans and tasks.

Some subjects may be omitted or adjusted based on family preferences and needs.

The curriculum is comprehensive but may require some juggling of subjects.

Older books in the curriculum might not always engage modern children, necessitating alternative resources.

The speaker encourages flexibility and tailoring the curriculum to fit individual family needs.

A Gentle Feast is highly recommended for those looking for a Charlotte Mason approach or a comprehensive, engaging curriculum.

There is a limited-time offer for 15% off the curriculum until July 15th.

Transcripts

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HomeschoolingCharlotte MasonCurriculumEducational PhilosophyLiterature-BasedLiving HistoryScience BooksComprehensionNarrationFamily Learning