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History: If not using MODULES, then what?
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HI: I am switiching over as much as I can to CM, after 6 years of homeschooling and not following any one thing. I did do TAPESTRY OF GRACE for 2 years, and am glad to have survived!
I am stuck on what curriculum to buy for history. I am not thinking the 2 days american, 2 days world, type of flipping back and forth would suit me.Can anyone give me some recommendations on a CM history curriculum (Not MFW)? Or DO YOU CM PEOPLE JUST USE BOOKLISTS? I’ve looked at TruthQuest, as the mother of all booklists, and I want to cry. We are going to be moving in Sept and having a baby (SIXTH GIRL) in Oct…..I KNOW! So, I am not sure I am even thinking clearly to make a switch like this!
I am VERY glad to have found this wonderful site. I have bought a LOT here! 🙂
My oldest will be in 6th. I need to ORDER before we move, because after that, who knows if I’ll ever see my computer again!
Thanks
Kelly Wright (MI)
Kelly, YEAH!!! We’re having our FIFTH girl in September!
Have you downloaded the Simply Charlotte Mason Bible, History, Geography guide sample? It really sounds like what you might be looking for. It’s VERY easy to use. Many books are accessible and available at a well-stocked library or to purchase used. It’s NOT an overwhleming amount of books. IMO it’s more affordable and more reasonable in expectations of time spent on history than either Tapestry of Grace or MFW. AND they offer a very large, generous sample so you can try it out and double check on books used before you even purchase the very reasonably priced guide. We’re on our fourth year of using their guides and couldn’t be happier.
Blessings,
Rebekah
Come my way ladies! I have two girls and six boys! LOL.
We are just using a booklist this year. What I did was gather ideas for the general time period/events I wanted to cover this year from several places (SCM, Sonlight, etc). Then I chose a spine to read aloud to the whole family. For us that is several volumes of American History Stories by Mara Pratt. Short chapters make it a perfect fit for my wide range (baby to 7thgrade). Then I made a book list for my 7th grader to read independently, in chronological order. I actually offered her the book descriptions and let her choose a specific number of titles herself. I made a book list to read aloud to my 3rd grade and under kids. Kept it simple because I knew I was having baby #8.
Here is a post on my blog sharing the actual book lists we chose:
http://ourbusyhomeschool.com/early-american-history-books/
We’ve done SCM Module before too (Module 4) and enjoyed it. I just knew that this year I needed super simple and streamlined. I won’t feel behind because the goal is just to read each book until we finish whether that takes 6 months or 2 years.
I love the module guides. It makes it open and go for me and the kids enjoy it. I like that the “leg work” is done when it comes to book selections. We have enjoyed the SCM book selections and the module guide just pulls it all together in one place. This is the start of year 2 but I am back for more fun this year 🙂
I also like that I have freedom within subjects to select what works. I use the guide for Bible, History, Geo but I can pick my own math, LA… to really fit each child.
The book by Christine Miller –All through the AGes — Is a HUGE book list, organized by time and then by grade. I have it, I was going to “make my own” history. And then I decided to go with Module 6. But anyway – you could use that book list to just pick a book or two from each time period and read and narrate. That’d be way simple.
Well, the choosing of the books wouldn’t be simple. Can you imagine the horror of only being able to pick two books from a list of 50 or more living books??? Okay. Never mind. That’s a terrible idea! Just buy a Module! *L*
Anyone else?
If it’s not the MODULES for history? What do you use? Or is it just a booklist? (Seems too hard to put together this late).Looking for Anerican History for K-6 (or 3-6).
Feeling burdened, and TIRED of searching and searching online. I need an answer to prayer to figure this OUT! 🙂
Tristan’s plan looks great. Wondering if the spine is from a Christain Perspective>?
Kelly
Tristan’s schedule looks really simple – I love simple! If we were in that time period I could see us using her book list as we have a house full of blessings too!
IMO, Kelly, for your season of life, I would go with Tristan’s list.
What about Beautiful Feet Early American history? You could do beginner level for all and add in extra books for the olders. Or do the intermediate level and not worry about the youngers, they could just listen.
I knew you wrote something about the modules, but since I’m having bigtime pregnancy brain – I totally forgot about it when I read your post (it was in the subject) and replied. We DO use the modules. I guess I’m not sure what exactly you’re looking for or maybe you could explain why you don’t want to use the modules? If it’s because you want to cover all of American History rather than breaking it up, it might STILL be easier to buy both modules and then just highlight the lessons you want to cover. I’m ALL about simplicity! I don’t want to discourage you from creating your own curriculum, but I know for me at this point… WITHOUT moving, it would be too late to plan my own. AND while I LOVE to plan, I do much better when I follow someone else’s plan and just modify it to make it “perfect” than I do following my own plan that I create from scratch – certainly there are others that are not that way, but for me – it REALLY keeps me on track to open up the module guide and just read the next selection.
Two years ago, we used Module 5 and did all of the American history the first half of the year and the World history the second. It worked well. It was planned and I just went through the American lessons and then doubled back. We did this bc we had a big American History field trip in the spring and I wanted to focus on that first. Just a thought.
What a {FUN} forum. I feel so <ENCOURAGED> that you guys responded so quick!
Pls read my hesitations, I want to WANT a Module:
1) I am not sure I’m gonna love the Stories of the Nations and Stories of the World. I have read In the Light of His Glory, by Marshall, and it is oozing in Christian perspective. When I look at the above samples, it seems a bit, ya know, history-ish. I know it’s Christian, but it doesn’t seem to say much about it? The roots? The importance? But I only read the samples. Any wrong thoughts here, please redirect me!
2) I did metnion I came from TAPESTRY>? It’s hard to believe this is ENOUGH.
3) This is something I could REALLY USE clarification on> When we did Tapestry, it was 4 years. I did 2 years, and in the 3rd year (would have been this year) we were just getting into presidents and American History.So 2 years of world, 2 years of American. With SCM Modules, I am surprised, that it takes what, 5 and a half years to get to AMERICA? And then you only do it for Module 6 (and only 2 of the days of the week)>? Again, if I am not understanding the samples and previews correctly, please let me know. I really want {SIMPLE} as a friend above pointed out….moving and having a baby!
Someone who has done this before, does this not seem like a balanced scale, or am I seeing it wrong? 5 years of History before we get to America? I just really want to make sure they get American History!
So glad you guys respond! What a great FORUM!! 🙂
American History starts in Mod 5. We started with Mod 5 last year for 1st grade for my oldest.
I will let others chime in on the sequence as they are experienced and I am learning a lot still.
And it was “enough” it was a great amount. My kids still talk specifics even though I did not know if they were “getting it”. Last year my DD turned 7 in the spring and my ODS turned 5 in the fall, he was tagging along. The other day they were acting out the Bosten Tea Part.
I’ve done Modules 1 and 2. My triplets are starting 7th grade now, and I want to continue on through history chronologically. We’ve started using the Truth Quest guide for Ancient Rome- and so far, I love it! You don’t have to use all the books, just the ones you want to and can get your hands on! You don’t even have to use a spine book if you don’t want to. The commentary in the guide is humorous, conversational and interesting!
Guest Hollow has a free American history curriculum for grades 2-6, http://www.guesthollow.com/homeschool/curriculum.html. I am not endorsing everything in the program, but I have used parts of it and would consider doing so again.
I am stuck on what curriculum to buy for history. I am not thinking the 2 days american, 2 days world, type of flipping back and forth would suit me.
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