Step 1: Learn more about A Mind in the Light.
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To learn more about A Mind in the Light Curriculum, be sure to read FAQ [Frequently Asked Questions]. A Mind in the Light is an emerging Charlotte Mason curriculum, so read through the notes and links to articles here on the website to learn more about this educational philosophy.
Here are some links to get your started:
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Characteristics of a CM [Charlotte Mason] Education
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Step 2: Consider your students.
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Consider each student individually -what best meets the needs of this particular student? It's important to remember that there is overlap in book choices by year. Some books can be enjoyed across many years, depending on whether they are read aloud or whether the student will be reading it independently. For example, you may find some books under Year Two [or Year Four] fit an eight-year-old better than the choices listed under Year Three. Be sure to choose based on your student's needs and not based on what's listed under one specific year. The books listed under each year are based on general ideas and are not always specific to your particular child.
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Consider these questions:
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1. What level is my student? [Not what age or grade, but what level]
2. Is this level applicable to all subjects? [Will some guides need adjustment -either up or down, depending on skill levels?]
3. Is my student a strong, independent reader; a reader gaining fluency, but who still needs support or a beginning reader? [This determines which books and how many books will need to be read aloud, read together or read independently.]
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Consider each student as part of a group -if you are combining some students together. Most of the teaching guides are flexible enough to include a range of ages, allowing teachers to combine students and teach as one group.
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Consider these questions:
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1. Which students should be combined as a group?
2. Which subjects work best treated as a group for my particular family?
3. Which teaching guides will work best for all students within the group? [The greater the age difference between the youngest and the oldest student the greater the care should be taken in this regard.]
4. Have I considered a long-term track for each student? [Combining students can bring bigger problems in the future, if the overall sequence for each individual student is not considered in advance.]
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Step 3: Create a general outline plan.
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Use the attached, printable outline guide for creating a general plan [PDF].
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Step 4: Select and purchase teaching guides.
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Select the Year(s) you wish to view from "Filter by Category" at the Shop. From each Year(s), select guide(s) from each subject. Be sure to take advantage of the CYOC 1/2 Price Package Discount -Choose $160+ worth of teaching guides and save $80. Use this code: CYOCPACKAGE.
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Selections for each Year:
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Year One -Choose History [1-2]; Geography [1]; Science & Natural History [1-3]; The Children's Hour [2 Tales, Myths & Legends, 2-3 Poets/Works by Poet & 4-5 Literature] and the Arts [3 Art & 3 Music, with Intro. to Music recommended (and counts for 3)]
Year Two -Choose History [1-2]; Geography [1-2]; Science & Natural History [1-3]; The Children's Hour [2-3 Tales, Myths & Legends, 2-3 Poets/Works by Poet & 4-5 Literature] and the Arts [3 Art & 3 Music, with Intro. to Music recommended (and counts for 3)]
Year Three -Choose History [1-2]; Geography [1-2]; Science & Natural History [1-3]; The Children's Hour [2-3 Tales, Myths & Legends, 2-3 Poets/Works by Poet & 4-5 Literature] and the Arts [3 Art & 3 Music, with Intro. to Music recommended (and counts for 3)]
Year Four -Choose History [2]; Geography [1-2]; Science & Natural History [1-3]; The Children's Hour [2-3 Tales, Myths & Legends, 2-3 Poets/Works by Poet & 4-5 Literature] and the Arts [3 Art & 3 Music, with Intro. to Music recommended (and counts for 3)]
Year Five -Choose History [2-3]; Geography [2]; Science & Natural History [1-3]; The Children's Hour [2-3 Tales, Myths & Legends, 2-3 Poets/Works by Poet & 4-5 Literature] and the Arts [3 Art & 3 Music, with Intro. to Music recommended (and counts for 3)]
Year Six -Choose History [2-3]; Geography [2]; Science & Natural History [1-3]; The Children's Hour [2-3 Tales, Myths & Legends, 2-3 Poets/Works by Poet & 4-5 Literature] and the Arts [3 Art & 3 Music]
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Possible Poets to Study: Joyce Sidman, Rose Fyleman, A. A. Milne, Robert Louis Stevenson, Christina Rossetti, Sara Teasdale, Walter de la Mare, Eugene Field, Robert Frost, William Carolos Williams, Effie Lee Newsome, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Alfred Lord Tennyson and Langston Hughes.
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Step 5: Select songs, handcrafts, art & music.
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For suggestions of songs, handcrafts, picture study and music appreciation, use this file with lists included [PDF].
Step 6: To the selected guides & songs, handcrafts, etc. -add skill subjects & Charlotte Mason principles.
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Skills subjects such as, math, reading, foreign language, etc. are added as best fits each individual student. General expectations for Charlotte Mason principles such as dictation, transcription, grammar, etc. as well as narration development for each year are arranged in the following attached chart [PDF]. Use the printable chart as a reference in how this looks for each year using A Mind in the Light curriculum. To learn more about Charlotte Mason principles and characteristics, read through the articles, files and notes at the website [HERE].
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Step 7: Begin your educational plan!
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Begin and enjoy your new educational plan! If you'd like to know how the weekly and daily schedules work with A Mind in the Light, then be sure to read this article: "Renovating the Routine".