Name: Teach Them Diligently (Branson)
Start: 2025-05-15T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-05-17T23:59:59-05:00
Location: Branson, MO

Tagged: SOTW books

This topic has 3 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 15 years, 10 months ago by Shanna.

Viewing 4 posts - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

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May 20, 2009 at 12:40 pm
baileymom
Member
I have tried to find an exact definition over the last few years for “living books” and have come to the conclusion that there just isn’t a concrete definition out there. They are all pretty similar, but each author will define a “living book” somewhat different.
They are well written, keep the child’s interest/excitement (which will show in their narration), and the author’s passion for the subject matter shows.
Which brings me to my history book question…
From my hodgepodge definition above (and please, correct me if my definition is off) all the Usborne books: Ancient World, Medieval World, etc. (which my children enjoy) would not be “living books”. Streams of Civilization I would not be a living book (which my children cannot stand…me either).
BUUUT…what about the Story of the World volumes? We have the first 2 volumes, and IMO they do seem to fit into the “living books” philosophy. They are well written (for the age they are written for), my children like them and learn from them, and I do feel the author not only has a passion for history, but a passion to share her love of history with children.
Would you consider these CM approved? I’ve read a lot of negative comments on them by other CM homeschoolers, but I’ve also seen that volumes 3 and 4 are used by a lot of CM homeschoolers…
Kathi
May 20, 2009 at 3:59 pm
meadowsweetmama
Participant
I find them to be well liked by many, but my family never took to them. I’m not quite sure why she claims to be Christian but then explains the beginning of the world the way she does. I used them years ago for some of my boys and what they said was they felt like the books just went from war to war. All violence. It didn’t give them a feel for how people lived day to day. What life was like for “average Joe” I disliked reading as I don’t see the need to expose young children to tales of violence. I know many also disagree with that philosophy but I also have older children and I am still happy with the protection philosophy. Blessings, Pamela mom of 8 ages 2-20
May 20, 2009 at 4:44 pm
Mamasong
Member
Kathi,
If it helps, our family has taken a middle-of-the-road approach to Story of the World as it is a useful, living book for us. It is not our main history study book, but we are utilizing volume 1 as a supplement to Sonya’s Genesis through Deuteronomy, Joshua through Malachi, and Matthew through Acts studies. Our children are still young elementary age and there are some lessons in Sonya’s books which she recommends skipping for the younger children(due to violence or sexual matters). On those days I pick chapters from Story of the World volume 1 which I think are interesting (such as “Hammurabi’s Code”) and will add to our overall understanding of the surrounding cultures of the ancient world(we skip stories of extreme violence, or gods and goddesses to avoid confusion and curiosity).
Most of all, we want our children to be grounded in the Bible first and then add points of interest as to what else was going on in the world. Sonya’s books are perfect for this biblical foundation-laying of history. I was taught the bible completely separately from World History and it took many years for the two to come together later on, I don’t want to do that to our children! Rather, I want them to see the peculiarity of God’s people as compared with the world around them. This, of course, has implications for how we are to live as God’s peculiar people now.
I appreciate how Susan Bauer titled the books ‘The Story of the World’ because all the horrible wars and conflicts which make up the major framework of human history do indeed belong to the WORLD (I can’t say if this was her purpose in choosing the title, just my perspective). God’s kingdom is at work within this framework and we ought to teach our children the lessons of human history, but always within the context of God’s plan for humanity. Uh-oh, I’m starting to sound preachy! Anyway, that’s just the way we’ve decided to do things, a little tweak here and there to fit what we’ve decided is important for our children to learn.
Rachel 😀
May 23, 2009 at 2:24 am
Shanna
Participant
I would not recommend SOTW only because it is not from a christian worldview. I would highly recommend SCM handbooks. There are some really good titles if you are looking for a spine that I can post if you are interested. Let me know. You might want to send me a PM so I will find this post.