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History Struggles – Last Question (for a while)?
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I know those of you here who have read my posts about history are getting pretty tired of my hemming and hawing around (southern expression for wavering). I am sorry! I feel like I am making myself a little crazy. I am using Truthquest, was thinking of doing SCM module 1 next year, but the total cost is really a deterrent for me.
The main problem when it boils down is that I have a child who simply does not comprehend when she is read to, but when she reads on her own she learnes like a champ. I want to do CM style history next year with my 4th grader, 1st grader and Kindergartener together, but am really struggling with it. If I give the older child selections to my oldest to read on her own, she gets behind what we are studying because the younger read alouds are so much shorter. If I read aloud to all of them from the selections I choose for her, she learns nothing because she has a “disconnect” between listening and comprehending. She has always been that way. I have even read aloud to all, and then had her read the selection on her own later. It works, but she feels like she is being punished so I don’t like doing it because I know this is not a discipline issue, but just the way she’s “wired”. I was praying this morning for the Lord to lead me to the right program according to what He knows we need and not what I have idealized in my mind. I keep going to Mystery of History, thinking she could follow along in the book while we all listen aloud…but then I am wondering if I should just put her in her own history program and let her do her own reading, using living books, and do something different altogether for the K and 1st grader.
Any advice?
I completely understand and do not feel as if you are “hemming and hawing,” this can take time to iron out and you must ask questions, get feed back, mull it over, etc. to see what will work for your family.
I say let her do the living books and ask for narration, include some activities (field trips, crafts, whatever), timeline, and some discussion. I do not read ‘history’ to all of my kids either (we tried that with MOH)…my 12yo reads from his book list (narrates/timeline/discussion) but I read to my 8yo or have him read a smidge to himself. My 8yo still prefers that I read ‘history’ to him, so I do (my 5yo listens in) then he has a timeline book that he adds characters to and he narrates some to me. We do listen to audio books together (for history), but we do not do history together. We do Bible and Geography together, which works out fine.
We don’t do science together anymore either. We did the 106 Days, which was great, but I have little people that are from a different planet than their older brother. He’s too “old” for the fun stuff they like and cramps their style…so he does his own (Apologia) and they do Outdoor Secrets. It may seem like a lot for me, but my oldest is very independent so other than gathering supplies from Walmart he might need for an experiment, he reads, narrates, fills in the notebook, does experiments, discusses new findings with me, etc. So, it’s more like I’m doing science with 2 kiddos using the same program, and it’s working thus far:)
My 12yo does nature study, takes field trips, and may read, just for fun, from the books that are for my younger two, so he’s still ‘with us,’ just in a different way.
Hope this helps, and doesn’t confuse….everyone tweaks things to fit their family dynamic, so don’t feel bad if you feel you need to do the same thing.
I’m not exactly sure if your concern/desire is to keep your older daughter working with the group, or having to facilitate two sets of curriculum. Keep in mind that I am not yet HSing (starting in the fall), but here are some thoughts I had for what they are worth.
Could she read the selections the day (or in the morning) before you do read-aloud with your other children, then sit in while they listen? Would that give her time to absorb the info on her own, but still be part of the family listening/narration time? She would be able to understand what the other children were narrating, and share her own point of view with the rest of the family at that time. Or do you do narration individually? Would that add too much to her work-load? How old is she? Would she be able to “assit” you by asking questions and/or listening to the narrations of your younger ones? (something like this would work for my 10 year-old, but not sure about yours)
Of course living books will continue to help her dig a little deeper. Maybe if you had her working a head a bit (read about an era, person or topic the other children will encounter in a few weeks time) it would give her the opportunity to share a deeper insight on that subject when you come to it with the other children.
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