I’m working on getting back on track with a more CM approach so am hoping for thoughts on difficulty I encountered before. I have the Genesis to Deuteronomy study guide, & used it briefly with my dd. She’s 7 1/2 now…I think she was 6 1/2 last time we used it. The Bible readings had to be broken down for her to be able to provide a narration that included more than the last bit read. I recall allowing her to draw a narration as we went, & that working fairly well. I thought perhaps she could do this then provide a narration using key words I jot down (idea read on another thread) & looking at her drawing. If I break it down as much as I was, it takes way too long to complete defeating the idea of short lessons. The same issue applies to other readings & narrations. Thoughts on how to accomplish short lessons with a sufficient narration yet cover a reasonable amount?
If it were me, I’d probably use a Bible storybook or do something different for Bible. The selections can be long for that age. Some of the spines can be long for that age, too. I think at that young age it’s perfectly fine to just read the age appropriate historical fiction books. If you keep doing SCM, you’ll repeat this guide in 6 yrs. and she’ll be plenty ready for the longer Bible selectoins and spines then.
I love the guide. But for a 7yo it might work better to be more relaxed and just read to her and let her narrate from easier (living book) selections and use the guides when she gets a bit older. Just what I’d do:)
They have Boy of the Pyramids and The True Story of Noah’s Ark for grades 1-3. Also, at the bottom are optional books for grades 1-3 that you can use w/the Visits to Africa Geography Notebook. If it were me, I’d buy those and also The Stuff They Left Behind (under family books)…great color pictures from that time period. There are some other books on the family list that I haven’t used…maybe others will pipe in if appropriate for a 7yo. I would use the Bible study guides for a kid that young….they’re good, but I think reading selections a bit long for that age.
When my kids were about that age we like Ergenemeirs (sp) Bible Story book. Easy to understand, and staying true to events. I’ll get a link:) Hope that helps some! Blessings, Gina
Yes, I have the Genesis to Deuteronomy. Am I understanding correctly that you’d follow the recommended reading selections (such as The True Story of Noah’s Ark), leave out the actual Bible selections & instead cover the same Bible selections through a story Bible?
Also, I know the commentaries are “children’s” commentaries but thought I recall seeing something about these being a bit much for the younger ones. Do you (or anyone else) have experience with these?
Yes…f it were me, I’d read the age appropriate history readings and sub out the Bible with a Bible storybook. Since it’s condensed it might be hard to line up w/SCM Bible readings…there’s going to be a lot more readings from the Bible in the SCM guide since reading it straight through, than the condensed children’s version will have. Honestly, I’d just read the storybook daily and not worry about lining it up w/the history…but that’s just me:)
Oh, and it’s the commentaries that I was referring to that I wouldn’t use w/a 7yo. I think the selections are too long for a kid that age. I used them w/a 10 and 13yo and honestly we had a hard time keeping up w/the Bible AND commentary readings…sometimes I just shortened or skipped the commentary.
At that age I also like the book “Leading Little Ones to God” for some beginning doctrine.
Hopefully you’ll get other opinions, but in a nutshell, if it were me, I’d not worry about following the guide yet and:
1) Read through a Bible storybook daily and not worry about lining up w/the history yet.
2) Read a history selection about Egypt for 1st-3rd grades maybe a couple times a week or so.
3) Do “Visits to Africa” once a week (notebook along w/a reading from the optional books for 1st-3rd).
4) Occasionally show/talk about a picture from “The Stuff They Left Behind.”
5) I’d ask my child to orally narrate each reading.
Just what I’d do:) Hopefully others will pipe in!!! Blessings, Gina