American History alongside another module??

I don’t know the ages of your children, but for mine, we use the SCM guides and for American history we are reading through biographies of the presidents and making a notebook for them to write down the interesting facts and things they want to remember.  Now, obviously this only covers from around the Revolutionary War, but this was our first year hs’ing so our kids had gotten colonial period from the public school.  Our oldest is 14, going into 9th grade next year and after we cover American government, we will cover US history much more indepth, along with whatever world history we are studying.  I think at the older ages it is fine to cover both at a higher level.

There is so much great children’s literature in American History that I would recommend that you keep going with your module one but start reading Am History books on the side. The Childhood of Famous Americans series,for instance, has over 50 biographies that all of your dc could read now. My children have always had Am History storybooks going no matter what era we were studying in History.

Childhood of Famous Americans would seem exceedingly babyish to a 9th grader who is a good reader, and to be honest there is not all that much real history in them. 

What Sonlight years were you using that were too much?  Trying to gauge where you are and what you might already have.  There are so many good books that could be used for American history.

We could probably recommend a few spine options for you to look at, and also other biographies and things like that.  This is what I do, in fact for my current 15yo he has rebelled against a lot of the available spines and so we are putting together a pretty eclectic libertarian reading list for him.  You can also include movies and primary source documents.  If you plan on teaching American government as well, I’ve found that to be a good go-along; we often integrate our readings in government with our history reading. 

We were doing Sonlite Core 100. We made it up to week 9.  One challenge to our schedule is this:  We have a unique opportunity in Florida for the HS kids to attend college classes if they pass the entrance exam.  They can take up to 2 courses for free (as dual enrolled HS students).  My son is a musician, he takes Jazz ensemble and Jazz improv Mon., Wed., Fri..  By the time we get home from the college on those days, it is 1:00.  Math is a challenge for my son and it takes time.  Science takes time.  He did enjoy the books but was burdened by the fact that he couldnt’ get done w/ a days work until 4 or 5. 

option: I like the idea of taking more time w/ the Hakim assignments…no he didn’t love those. And enjoying the biographies of choice.

option: I could also enroll him in the college US History course (with in the next 2-3 years) and he would get both the HS credit as well as the college credit and just enjoy the biograpies until then.  Any thoughts on that option?

option: Sonlite core 100 assigned through SCM organizer.  I used to use home school tracker.  I use pencil and paper right now for planning.  I am afraid of the time it will take me to learn the SCM organizer.  I imagine it would be helpful.  Is it difficult to learn?  My children are 4,5,10, and 15, w/more on the way through adoption.

Thanks for suggestions.  Please explain “spine” and “libertarian reading list”.  I would like a list of recommended books, movies, and primary source documents. 

I love history now, but I am not knowledgeable in this field AT ALL.  I suffered through public school history and only survived it with no interest at all.  I am reliving my childhood and now love learning through living books.  Sadly, I feel like I’m not on a high enough level to make a good decision about what to teach or offer (or facilitate).  That is why Sonlite Core was attractive to me because it is all cut out/laid out. I sat with him and we discussed what he read but I feel I will never have the insight to choose the right books.  I saw my son grow weary with the assignments rather than look forward to some quiet reading in the afternoon.  I’m trying to make this transision but feel ill equipped.

I think it is perfectly reasonable for your son to take until 4 or 5 to get done with his work in high school. Afterall most high school students have class until 3 PM then hours of homework in the evening. If they have extracurricular events in the afternoon like your son then they do homework most evenings. I would just continue with what you have if it were me.

We are studying american history right now using various biographies and recommendations from beautiful feet and TQ.  We are all enjoying this very much.  I have decided that since we read through the bible yearly (this is our second year and loving it) that we will study ancient history as we read through it in the bible.  You could study Egypt one year, Greek history the next and Roman history after that.  For us, I feel it solidifies our understanding of God’s Word while learning about various time periods and the culture and customs of those familiar people of the bible.  If this sounds like too much to you, we actually used Catherine Vos’s childrens bible last year to start with.  My kids and myself have learned and grown sooooo much. 

Wendy, have you considered the Coffin books for US history. They are amazing, but are not easy reads.  They might really challenge your son.

HTH

Rebekah

Truth Quest/TQ is another literature based history program.