Leaving the Traditional Path

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 What I love about A Gentle Feast...

1. Kids of various ages/forms all in the same history era(s)—This just saves my sanity! It also allows you to easily move a child up or down, if you want, but still within the same history era. AGF has a 4-year history rotation and AGF, “Family Science” combines Forms 2 & 3, as well.
2. AGF includes so much, in easily accessible formats, including editable digital plans with easy-to-print student pages, too. 
    
   I especially adore the well-coordinated Morning Time plans & read-aloud suggestions, for all kids together—complete with digital resources, hymn study, Scripture readings, Scripture recitation passages, poetry recitation suggestions (by form), fables/tales, artist, composer, & poet—so much I did not have to choose or research on my own & also (when appropriate) coordinating with the primary history era we’re all in! 
3. AGF is gentler, overall—yet still rich. For Form 1, AGF uses many lovely picture books. AGF typically lists books for a later/older form that are more suited to that reading level. This is a good fit for us. 
    
   P.S. I am in total agreement with Sarah Mackenzie in her book Teaching from Rest re: a rigorous education; it’s not what I want for my kids. A rich feast? Yes! Challenging them intellectually, with quality living books? For sure! Rigorous & inflexible? I’ll pass on that.
4. AGF includes so many extras—in the form of “hand holding” as well as complementary digital resources. The video intro. course, teacher’s manual, YouTube & Spotify playlists, editable plans, occasional video calls for members, etc., all make it so accessible for busy mamas & those new to CM. This is helpful for me as a mom, since so much is included.  
5. Julie Ross truly displays a flexible & humble attitude about her resources, & the spirit of the members-only group reflects that spirit too. I have seen a very “purist” attitude in some CM circles, but it is not present with AGF. 
    
   If you do all the things, great! If not, that’s okay. If you want to swap out a book, easy-peasy, & no judgment or shame. (You can really get this vibe from Julie’s podcast) 
    
   And with kids with special needs, I especially appreciate this flexible approach, allowing for accommodations for my smart kids not yet eye-reading at “grade level.” -Tammy L. Wagner