Hi, my name is Susana, I'm a 28 year old Catholic mother of 5 children who's first language is Spanish ages: 5 (soon to be 6), 4 (soon to be 5), 3, 2 and almost 3 months old! That's 4 boys and a baby girl! I am still new to homeschooling and am looking to establish a little more structure and rhythm to our days. I've dabbled a bit in the Montessori method and also the "Real Learning" ideas by Elizabeth Foss, which has some Charlotte Mason influence, with living books, the Catholic faith, and even an eensie weensie bit of Waldorf. I believe real life experiences are very important and that learning is something that occurs around the clock, regardless if it is "school time" or not. The idea of having my children sit at a desk copying 100 math problems from a book horrifies me! I really just try to go with the flow of my child's personality and what their interests are.

I am positively thrilled to join this group, and hope that it may provide wonderful learning opportunities and experiences. I may ask a lot of questions because I am still somewhat new to this! Please bear with me! Thanks!-Susana

Welcome, Susanna.  It seems you and I have a few things in common!  We are also a Catholic homeschooling family and I have similar leanings as far as dabbling in Montessori and Charlotte Mason with a Catholic twist.  I really enjoy Elizabeth Foss' perspective on CM.  I also have four boys... no girl, yet.    My oldest is in "building" school at Our Lady of the Assumption School, going into fifth grade.  I homeschooled him until third grade and used CM method along with Catholic Heritage Curriculum.    My next oldest will be Kindergarten age next school year and I'll probably hold off on any structured curriculum, but I will start ease him into some gentle structure and CM oriented ideas and living books.  My youngest two boys are almost 3 and almost 1.  Looking forward to meeting you!