Name: Spreading the Feast Gathering
Start: 2025-07-11T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-07-12T23:59:59-05:00
Location: LaGrange, KY

Tagged: History Module Rotation

This topic has 18 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 9 years ago by Regan.

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May 24, 2016 at 2:33 am
Jorider93
Participant
Hello.
I’m working on planning our 2016-17 year and have already purchased much of “Ancients/ Module 1” and the additional materials. I have an 11yo (just turned) and a 7.5yo. Here is my concern; my 2 girls are excited to begin but with my oldest entering 6th grade she won’t get each module twice. I don’t mind doing more of a 4yr rotation possibly with a slight acceleration now and digging deeper in High School for her but I’ve no idea how to condense it? I really wanted to start with Genesis/Ancients but fear we should be starting in Module 4 or 5 instead. Would anyone happen to have any insight or have ideas on the breakdown of modules or other ideas? Thanks so much!
May 24, 2016 at 5:50 am
Melanie32
Participant
I wouldn’t worry about your older child not going through SCM history twice. Plans usually change over the years-especially as we get to highschool. I would enjoy SCM history now and worry about later..well, later. 🙂

May 24, 2016 at 6:06 am
Monica
Participant
I agree with Melanie. I started with a six-year rotation, and then naturally found that a four-year rotation worked better for us. Also, as my son is entering high school, he studies independently more and is able to add electives for interests he has. History and US Government is one of those things.
Seasons will change. Start where you want to start, and let things progress naturally. And, honestly, I entered college with very little knowledge of history. I’ve learned more about history from studying with my kids over the past five year than I did in 16 years of school.
May 24, 2016 at 8:06 am
HollyS
Participant
If you are set on a 4 year history plan (which I also prefer), most moms combine the first 3 modules into a year of ancient history. Obviously you would cut out some of the readings, since there would be too much to fit into a year. Another option would be to cut out the Bible portions, since most of us have separate Bible readings anyway.
With a 6th grader, she would be able to get through each module once which is more than plenty, by sticking with a 6 year history cycle.
May 24, 2016 at 10:57 am
Jorider93
Participant
Thanks for replying so quickly ladies. “Start where I want to start” does seem easy enough! ?. I also don’t recall having tons of History knowledge when I entered college. I guess I’m more concerned about High School transcripts and such but I get what you all are saying about there being plenty of time etc. I’m not married to the idea of having to have a 4 yr rotation (or even 3 like some very popular programs )it’s just what I’ve heard about so often.
Good points from all of 3 of you. Thanks again.
May 24, 2016 at 11:32 am
Monica
Participant
As far as college…
My oldest is entering high school this year, so we are focused on what he will need for college admissions. I am noticing that most colleges require 2-3 years of what they call “Social Sciences,” which would include history, geography, anthropology, sociology, etc. Most colleges require that one of those credits be American History, otherwise they don’t specify.
May 24, 2016 at 12:19 pm
Melanie32
Participant
Here in Florida the usual is 1 credit of world history, 1 of U.S. history and 1/2 credit Government and 1/2 in Economics.
Simply Charlotte Mason covers world history each year and that includes American history for the modern studies. Once you complete 3 or 4 years of SCM studies at the high school level, your student will have accomplished enough of each to have at least 1 credit for World and another for U.S. You have to add in additional studies for government and economics and SCM has recommendations for this purpose.
All that said, I don’t use SCM history modules. They look great and I have spent a lot of time looking through them. I just didn’t discover SCM until my son had graduated high school and I was down to homeschooling one older child. I didn’t find SCM to be the best fit for homeschooling one older child. It looks awesome for family studies or if you already own many of the books. Otherwise there were just too many components for one, older student and it would have not been cost productive for my family.
Had I discovered SCM when I was still homeschooling two, I would have chosen it hands down! I love the way it keeps the whole family studying the same time period together and sharing some of the same books as well.
As it is, I plan my own history studies and have for most of my homeschooling years.
May 24, 2016 at 12:46 pm
Jorider93
Participant
Thanks for the Info Melanie. I’m in Florida as well, and haven’t looked into credit requirement as of yet. Not that I want to stress over it but it’s probably good to have an idea. ?
I’m in South Florida/Broward Cnty btw. How about you?
-Kim
May 24, 2016 at 2:16 pm
Melanie32
Participant
I’m in South Florida as well! Hendry County. It’s a small county and I live in a small town called Clewiston on the south side of Lake Okeechobee. You’re not too far from me-probably 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Do you know that Sonya Shafer is coming to Miami to do a conference in October? I am hoping to make it and am really looking forward to it. There’s a thread around here somewhere concerning it.
Yes, there is no need to stress over high school. You have time and it’s really not as complicated as it sounds. 🙂
May 24, 2016 at 3:14 pm
Jorider93
Participant
Melanie,
If you happen to find the thread would you mind passing it on to me please. I did see she was coming last night in fact; I’d love to go!
May 24, 2016 at 4:04 pm
Regan
Participant
We just finished The first History module (Gen. – Deut. & Ancient Egypt)! We thouroughly enjoyed it and we learned so much! We are planning to do the 2nd and 3rd module next year (1) 3rd grader and (2) 1st graders! If it takes more than a year, that’s fine with me! To me there is too much good stuff in there that gives events meaning and we didn’t want to skip it! I don’t think there is a right or wrong! I’m not attached to a 6 year plan or a 4 year plan! We work our way through history and fit everything in we feel is important! So, I won’t condense anything into a year just to do so, but if it happens to work that way, that’s fine! I also wanted to start at the beginning of history and work our way through! That was important to me! I also wanted them to work their way through the Old Testament in order since it gives so much meaning & foretells of so much that happens in the New Testament! That doesn’t make a better approach, but it just depends on what you want and your reasons for starting in a specific period! So, in other words, think about it and find the best fit for your family but feel free that there are several good options either way :).
May 24, 2016 at 5:45 pm
Jorider93
Participant
Thats was exactly why I chose Module 1 Regan. I’d prefer to start at the beginning as well. Thanks for your input.
-Kim
May 24, 2016 at 7:09 pm
Regan
Participant
And as to how to condense it? Well, your guess is as good as mine, ha ha ha! We have 5 more days of school for this year and then we will take a small 6 week Summer break! During that time I will be going through the curriculum and coming up with a plan! I don’t plan on focusing a lot of time on the myths! Just doing a few for examples and that’s it! I guess I will discover if it will be more challenging than I think :). Because history is a story, any parts that are needed to make the next part make sense is important to me, but there are some things that we may not cover or we may cover but just lightly! One way to cover more ground would be to combine Visits to lessons! That might not be a good idea for every Visits to, but for Visits to the Middle East, sometimes there is just one country added and so I could easily combine some of those! We also tend not to do any of the Make Your Own Map days! Some kids may love that kind of stuff but mine do NOT! I would probably just look up some pics of the Holy Land or get a good book on the Middle East! I will be happy to share what I learn! When I get in the middle of it all, it may be a year and half worth of school and that’s okay too 🙂
May 24, 2016 at 7:39 pm
CrystalN
Participant
I am so greatful for this post, I have been reading all I can about using a more Charlotte Mason style. I have always been drawn to this method but have trouble trusting the simplicity with all of “noise” from other moms about it not being rigorous enough, or not looking good on transcripts etc. I have bounced around so long my oldest is now starting 7th grade and I am really panicking. I want to continue to keep our family together for as many studies as possible, we all love reading together, but no other high school curriculum encourages that. We are currently using MFW adding in books from All Through the Ages. I want to switch to the SCM History Guides but the 6 year rotation intimidates me. If I plug along in order for six years my middle child will not get American History for a HS credit, which is required in California. The cycle will work nicely gor my oldest and youngest, but my middle will get only through Middle Ages. I can make it work by condensing to a 4 your cycle, but I can never get through anything fast, there are too many good books out there. What would you all suggest? If I skip modules it will mess up the youngest. Would it be reasonable to have her do the modules with us during family time for a World Credit amd then have her working through the American book list as well. Any thoughts are appreciated, I am really not sure what to do, all I know is I dont want to give up our family studies just because a child is considered high school.
I guess I could introduce my family, my name is Crystal. I have three children 12, 9 and 7. We have been homeschooling for 6 years. You would think I would have a handle on things by now, but I do not. ?
May 25, 2016 at 5:57 am
Melanie32
Participant
Hi Crystal and welcome to you as well! 🙂
Again, if your daughter is 12, I wouldn’t worry. Try SCM and see how you like it. If you love it, you can give your daughter a separate history program when she hits high school or you can continue including her in the family history reads and assign her additional reading in a narrative American history book so that she can cover both. I would just focus on enjoying where your family is at right now.
I also want to comment on the remark about people thinking Charlotte Mason is not rigorous. I disagree. If you truly follow Charlotte Mason’s suggestions, your children will receive a quite rigorous education. This is a myth that is common among homeschoolers because they hear Charlotte Mason and they think “Oh, how sweet! Reading and nature walks!”
However, the more you study CM methods, the more you see that she expected a lot of her students and she assigned really difficult books as well. She had young children reading Shakespeare and Plutarch and studying Latin and French for instance.
CM methods start gently with young children and remain very organic even through the high school years but they are rigorous and effective!