any AO users for history or science?

I totally understand! I’ve gone back and forth way too much w/history…Sonlight, then AO, then Truthuest, then SCM w/Truthquest….you get the picture:)

Only you can decide what’s best for your family, but I’ve come to the concusion that what works best is simplicity in these subjects. I want to make sure we are solid in Math and Language Arts. I want the content subjects like history and science to be enjoyed and not stressed over.  

This is not everyone’s experience, but my kids were about the age of yours when we did AO history and we only lasted 6mo. Neither kid really cared for This Country of Ours, and I was reading each of them separate sections out of the same book…not practical or enjoyable for me either:) I had a hard time coming to SCM…felt like it seemed lighter. However, SCM books are just right for my kids. My youngest is a stronger reader and can sometimes read a section above in the age-segrated books, but the books fit my eldest perfectly. 

The guides aren’t super heavy, so if you wanted to add in an AO book here and there you can just pencil it in the SCM guide margins and do it…up to you:)  

For science, I wish I would have been more laid back in the younger years. We’ve covered most of the Apologia books, which are great…but it would have been more fun and I think the kids would have retained more if we would have done something like the SCM suggestions, plus more nature study.

Just my .02:) Enjoy these years…I know how stressful it feels and wish I wouldn’t have worried so much. Blessings, Gina

Since your oldest will be in the grade4-6 , you can do the family readings together and have your 4th grader do the grade specific reading on his own. I usually have my older one narrate back what they learned.

We had to do some transitioning this year and put my 8th grader on a different track (going to private school next year). My 5th grader is a solid reader and does well independently, so I even gave him our family reader…Story of the Greeks. He’s done well doing all of his history reading on his own. He orally narrates his lessons. Once a week he give me a written history narration instead of the oral. He also does the geography notebook on his own. Works well here. My kids are getting where they don’t like ‘together time.’ They prefer to do their work on their own schedule:)

My short answer is to just pick one program and go with it. 

Here’s the long answer:

I’ve done a lot of thinking and flipping back and forth between AO and SCM myself.  I’ve done bits and pieces of each, with some other books from different places as well.  I read both forums regularly.  I think I’ve changed my mind about a hundred times on whether to combine my kids or keep them separated.

So, after all that study, and especially reading on the AO forum about other people’s experiences, I’ve learned that AO seems to work better if you just do it all.  Everyone seems to say that when they’ve try to adjust things, they regret it and resolve to just follow the plan as is.  Most people also strongly agree that AO doesn’t work well if you try to combine kids of different ages.  The books were chosen much more with specific ages/years in mind, and a book that is appropriate for Year 4, for example, may not be appropriate for a 6 year old.

On the other hand, from what I’ve read about those using SCM there is much more flexibility, since the program is designed with multiple ages in mind.  There are many more choices of books, so you can move between them more easily.  It’s also easier to substitute books, without losing the whole flow of the program.

So, I think if you want to teach your children together, stick with SCM.  Throw in a few chapters from CHOW or TCOO if you think there is something missing in SCM’s book choices.  If you like, use some of the Literature books that relate (The Little Duke, for Middle Ages, for example), but don’t work about trying to add in all of AO’s history.  AO doesn’t include all of the chapters of very many books anyway.  Sometimes you might only read from a book 2 or 3 times in a term. 

If you like the AO books better, don’t try to combine children of different ages.  Do the program as written.

For the record, I’m currently switching my 6yo DS and 8yo DD to combine their history and science from now on.  DS was doing mostly AO1 and DD was mostly AO3 (both with some tweaks), but we’ve decided that we all think it will be better to combine.  We are going to get as much of the rest of Middle Ages/Renaissance in as we get between now and September (we school year round, so that’s still 4 months) and then we are going to start fresh in Module 5 of SCM, with a few adjustments to use books that I already own.  This means that DS will not get as much Middle Ages history as his sister did, but I’m not going to worry about it.  He’s only 6.  He’ll revisit the time period later!  Besides, even what we do in 4 months will be more than I got in 12 years at school, so I think he’ll survive!

Good luck with whatever you decide!

Joanne

I think option one is definitely too much for that age. Option two might be doable, if you keep the extra books as fun extras and don’t stress over it. But I agree with above. Less is more. I’d pick one program and try not to adjust much. It makes life more stressed and not worth it. I know it’s hard when there’s benefits to both, but I’d pick the ONE program that resonates more with you. Follow it as written, while feeling freedom to throw in extra books here and there.

I should add that for Middle Ages I think CHOW is more age appropriate. Famous Men was a bit too much for my then 4th grader. But at that age you don’t need a spine. With SCM you could skip if and just read the age segregated books until older. Just my .02:) Blessings, Gina

P.S. I personally prefer SCM’s geography. The Visits books are very helpful, and get done:)

I agree – pick one to start with. And know yourself. I do better with one-on-one sessions with my kids, so we do AO.

And remember – you can change your mind! You could commit for 1 year or just 1 term or even use the library and do a 1 month test of history together vs separate.

Buy good, living books at the book sale. And you’ll still be able to get your math and language arts selections if you see them. I hope you find something you are at peace with.