Hi Jodi,
It’s really your choice as to where to start. You may base that choice on where you ended up last school year. Also, you will want to know what your requirements are for highschool history, if any. For instance, we have to teach American History with a gov’t emphasis for one credit and World History for another credit. Then we can do what we want. Now, that can be tailored. For example, we’re using module 6 for our World History since we spend so much time studying the wars in Europe.
Sonya can speak more intelligently on the subject, but I think the list of books is intended to be read through in entirety. Of course, you are free to make your own substitutions and additions/deletions. In this vein, I would recommend that your truly do peruse the list and decide for yourself that, yes, you want your children to read such and such. I know that Karen and Sonya are very strong on sharing what they believe works but wanting us to make our own determinations.
As for the Doctrine Notebook. Someone else will have to reply. We had one child get totally overwhelmed with it, as did I when trying to do it for myself (but then I’m not very organized). We had such a difficult time categorizing scriptures. We both spent more time trying to decide whether a scripture fit a certain topic than we did actually reading scripture and it snowballed from there. That is not to say that we won’t try it again one day perhaps. On the other hand, another child got out her One-Year Bible and marched right through it in two years. She has graduated now but is still planning on writing up her doctrinal statements under the tutelage of our pastor.
Blessings,
Cindy