Name: CHEC Rocky Mountain Homeschool Conference
Start: 2025-06-12T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-06-14T23:59:59-05:00
Location: Denver, CO

Tagged: high school, History, hs, LIving Books, Notgrass, SCM module 5, scm module 6, textbooks, world history, writing

This topic has 43 replies, 12 voices, and was last updated 11 years ago by missceegee.

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April 1, 2014 at 3:22 pm
my3boys
Participant
I’ve looked at several options and am still undecided! I realize that I can always sell what we don’t use and get something else, but that’s just not really my style, LOL.
I’d like to just use living books for this time period, late 18th century-present day, but I can’t settle on the right program/guide. I think one of my biggest fears is that I will not be able to expect or challenge my ds in his written narrations. I did look at the link given for essay questions and would definitely use it and I plan on using some type of “writing program” for him, possibly The Power in Your Hands (I think that’s the title). So he would be getting some writing instruction to help with his narrations.
If we use Notgrass, or the other text I’ve looked at suggested by Bookworm, I wouldn’t need to come up with the writing prompts since they are built in, I think. I would still provide some living books, as well. I think that is what gets me! I’d still want to use living books, therefore, why the text??!! But, I do see some value for my ds in using a text as a spine…maybe that is how I need to view it? Hm. Thinking outloud here.
Any thoughts, suggestions??
Thanks.
BTW: this ds is not a strong or avid reader and will be in 10th grade.
April 1, 2014 at 4:27 pm
Anonymous
Inactive
Have you considered using SCM Module 6 as is? It covers from 1850 to present. It incorporates a spine as well as has all the living books too. Everything would already be planned out for you, which is really nice. Just a thought. 🙂
April 1, 2014 at 5:31 pm
my3boys
Participant
Yes, I have considered it and have looked at it many times, , along with everything else, LOL. I was, or am, struggling that it doesn’t start exactly where I need it to, so I would need Modules 5 and 6, or the list of books for the end of Module 5. I’ve looked it over and maybe I’m just confused on what would be the books needed from the end of Module 5 to jump start Module 6. Clear as mud?? I know I am being overly picky right now and need to relax a bit, but I think I am worried that I will not be able to challenge him. We’re using Module 2 right now and I lack in the area of essay type narration prompts (I do need help in this area and will purchase something to help me along). So, really, I don’t have a valid reason for feeling this way, I’m just thinking outloud and giving as much info to help you all understand where I’m coming from.
Thanks so much for the feedback.
April 1, 2014 at 5:49 pm
missceegee
Participant
I understand the need for specific writing prompts related to history, deeper than tell me all you know narrations. I am in the process of collecting ideas myself. There are some in the SCM module guides. For example, dd13 wrote a comparison of the character of Jacob and Joseph. However, I am the first to admit that I am NOT good at coming up with these. Other than collecting ideas and penciling them in where needed in the guide, you could consider a writing service like Write at Home. I know there are several, but I am not personally familiar with them. I’m simply filing it in my brain for now.
April 1, 2014 at 5:57 pm
Anonymous
Inactive
Are you needing to start right around 1800?
April 1, 2014 at 6:45 pm
Anonymous
Inactive
If you need to start around 1800, if you wanted to use SCM Module 6, I can think of a couple of options to cover from 1800-1850. One, if you want to use the spine used in Module 6, you could go ahead and buy volume 1 of that series and read the portion that covers 1800 up to around 1850. With that option, you are looking at reading around 92 pages or so. Another option would be to utilize a textbook just for that portion of time which will give you a general coverage of the events. Then you could just pick right up with Module 6. Yet another option could be to use M. B. Synge’s book The Growth of the British Empire (which is free online) which gives a general coverage of world history for the 1800s. This book is like reading a story. You could pick where you need to start and just start there and read up to where chapters are covering around 1850 and forward and stop there. Then begin Module 6.
If you don’t want to use Module 6, I think that the Synge book I mentioned above is still a good option for general world history coverage for the 1800s. If you used that as your spine, the readings are short enough that you could easily add in additional living books. Of course, this book only covers up to around 1900 or so. So you would need to find another resource to cover 1900 to present.
Anyway, that’s just some ideas.
As far as writing prompts go, I’m thinking it is possible to do this without an additional program. 🙂 This is what I’m doing. I’m making my own teacher’s guide of sorts where I’m reading the assigned reading for the spine book for Module 6 and as I read, I’m looking for ideas, for things that my daugher can compare/contrast, describe, analyze and I’m jotting those things down. In my guide, I’m adding in just a few narration prompts/discussion questions to try to cover key points in the reading if my daughter doesn’t cover them already in her narration. Then as she reads her assigned readings, some discussion points might be able to be used to build an essay on. But keep in mind, you may not have a writing prompt to build an essay on in every single reading. Some readings may just be a basic narration and touching on key points. Other readings my have more than one idea one could write on. Does that make sense or was it totally confusing? LOL missceegee’s example above of having her daughter write a comparison of the character of Jacob and Joseph is a great example. I am thinking that you could cover the basic essay writing in the context of history and literature as well as other subjects. Teach the essay styles and find topics in their readings. Let me give you an example.
My daughter read Frankenstein last term. After she finished the book, I had her write a comparison essay describing the effects creating the monster had on Frankenstein. The assignment was to compare what Frankenstein was like before he created the monster to what he was like after he created the monster. I gave her instruction in how to write a comparison essay. She then drafted an outline and then wrote her essay. I know there are free resources online for essay writing but I just can’t think of them right this minute. Typically, a good handbook will include instruction for writing different types of essays.
Does that help any?
April 1, 2014 at 6:48 pm
JenniferM
Participant
I am a long ways from high school, so forgive me if this reply is presumptuous. I read your need for writing ideas, and I immediately thought of Bloom’s Taxonomy. It is just a starting point, I suppose, but maybe it could be useful.
http://wwild.coe.uga.edu/pptgames/resources/bloom_questions.pdf
http://www.bloomstaxonomy.org/Blooms%20Taxonomy%20questions.pdf
April 1, 2014 at 6:59 pm
Anonymous
Inactive
Here’s a couple of blog posts you might find helpful:
How I Raised a Professional Writer Without a Composition Program
The Due Use of Books
You might also find this blog post helpful:
Practical Suggestions for Narration by Carroll Smith – look for the section discussing narration in upper grades
April 1, 2014 at 7:18 pm
marmiemama
Participant
Great topic, my3boys! I really like that I’ve been seeing more high school topics being brought up on the forums. This definitely was why I felt that I didn’t have the confidence this year to stick with SCM (did Notgrass this year). And these are exactly the ideas that I think many of us need flushed out and expanded. The high school years. Challenging assignments for those years. I am wondering if the SCM team could produce a guide, similar to the Early Years for the Later Years! There seems to be lots of ladies here who would be interested in purchasing something like that…hint, hint, SCM team!
Sometimes in homeschooling, I see so many conference topics geared to the new homeschooler, but I think that after time, the seasoned ones need some guidance too as they tread new waters. Especially if you are not hs’ing using tradional textbook methods.

April 1, 2014 at 7:52 pm
missceegee
Participant
Mrs. K, your teacher’s guide sounds perfect. I would buy it! It’s finding the time to put it all together that is a challenge for me in this season.
April 1, 2014 at 8:04 pm
Anonymous
Inactive
You are so sweet Christie! It’s a work in progress right now. 🙂 I will be completely honest…it takes a lot of time reading, taking notes, etc. I am trying to work on it over spring break (which is this week) and then I’ll continue to try to work on it throughout term 3, with hopes of finishing it by the end of summer. We actually are beginning Module 6 next week. But the Bennett spine book isn’t scheduled until terms 2 and 3 so we’ll be covering those after our summer break.
April 1, 2014 at 8:06 pm
my3boys
Participant
Same here, Christie!
I am in a bit of a poor health situation right now and just don’t have the energy to put into thought-provoking questions, etc. Honestly, my brain is just not working like it used to, assuming it ever did. I need to re-read Mrs. K’s post, buy the SCM module, and pencil in the ideas as they come. I tend to over-think EVERYTHING as it is and feel as if we are not ending this year on a positive note.
I have tried very hard to not use a writing program this year and it has been good, but, I still lack in what I think is high school level writing for my ds. I do not have the skills or energy to assist him and have felt that if he has a “program” describing what is expected then he wouldn’t be depending on me. I’m not as dependable as I have been in the past.
I thank you so much for your responses.
I feel I’ve made headway. Thank you so much!
April 1, 2014 at 8:07 pm
missceegee
Participant
I know it takes a tremendous amount of time and effort. It’s what I wish I had done years ago and it’s not going to happen in my current season. The links you posted are great. I’ve read them all before. It’s simply how to pick and choose and assign as we go through that gets challenging.
April 1, 2014 at 8:45 pm
momto2blessings
Participant
I have not done a sid-by-side comparison of books used, but if I wanted to stick w/SCM AND have writing instruction/prompts I would consider buying the MFW H.S. guides. They give essay and research paper instruction going alongside the Bible/History. I’m not sure how it would pan out in real life, but might be worth checking into:)
April 1, 2014 at 10:12 pm
Anonymous
Inactive
missceegee, aren’t those great articles? The one on The Due Use of Books and the one by LindaFaye are very encouraging! I’ve had my moments of feeling like I’ve needed to buy an additional writing program. However, I am seeing the fruits of CM’s simple methods of reading good books and narrating in my daughter’s writing. It’s like LindaFaye mentioned in that article, I, too, am seeing my daughter developing her own style.
I’ve definitely had seasons where it would have been harder to do this level of preparation work writing this guide. And even now, I do still find it challenging sometimes to find uninterrupted quiet time to read and work on the guide. 🙂 But I keep plugging away at it. Hopefully it can be done by the end of summer!
I am committed to using CM’s methods so I really want these guides I’m putting together to be in a CM style. I also want them to be simple yet have everything I need so it’s just open and go during the school year. I’m just writing this for an individual book. But maybe, if I can find time, I might put something together for some of the Marrin books. However, there is only 24 hours in a day, right? 🙂