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Need TruthQuest info
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I’ve been looking at history again. So far we have done SCM modules 1-4. We are ready to start American History next school year. We have enjoyed SCM but I can’t say I am totally satisfied. I was looking atTruthQuest . If you use or have used this, do/did you like it? Why? Would you recommend it? What does a day using it look like for you? If you’re able, can you compare it to SCM? Are their books easy for you to find at the library or inexpensive if I need to buy them? I’m also looking at Beautiful Feet and posting a separate topic on it. But, if you have any TruthQuest and Beautiful Feet comparisons, that would also be great.
I noticed that TruthQuest has lapbooks as an option with it. Last year we did an Ancient Rome lapbook. With my oldest struggling with reading and spelling it become more laborous than I cared for. If I wanted to be spelled correctly she had to tell me what to write, I’d write it on our white board and then she’d copy it. Not sure if I want to do that again but would consider it and evaluate if she might be able to be more independent with it next year.
My children will be 8/9 and 10/11 next school year; they will be an advanced 3rd grader and a reading struggling 5th grader. Thanks for any thoughts/info/insight you have on this.
I’ve used Truthquest and SCM. I own a Beautiful Feet guide, but haven’t used it yet. Here’s my take:
SCM and BF both give you a structured schedule. You have specific books and the guides tell you when to read and how much to read.
All three programs cover history chronologically.
A TQ guide will move you through a period of history chronologically, but will not give you a specific schedule. The guide often includes a commentary on a subject and then gives a list of books to read. Often the first books listed will be considered “spine” books and the guide will tell you which pages match up with the subject listed. Following that, there will be a list of books covering that topic and how you proceed is totally up to you. You can read some, none or all of the books listed. (If you read them all, you will need a very long time!!) The guide will usually mention a suggested age range for the books as well, so that you won’t be getting your 10 yo a book meant for high school level.
BF includes discussion questions, study notes and suggestions for additional research.
SCM includes Bible and geography. (BF and TQ do not.)
Availablilty of books on TQ: you are given so many options that it is usually quite easy to find at least a few of the books listed.
You will need to think about whether you prefer to do your own planning (TQ) or if you like everything laid out for you.
ETA: the lapbooks are not necessary at all for TQ. If you like them, however, you could consider them as being part of your LA program. When we did lapbooks I did appreciate the aspect of combining history with LA and creative expression since all of my kids customized their lapbooks to make them “theirs”.
We are currently using BF and TQ and I really like both 🙂
I pretty much agree with jeaninpa, but wanted to add a couple of things. Though TQ doesn’t give you Bible verses, it definitely has a Biblical Worldview.
BF is based on the Principle Approach, which you can read more about here http://www.face.net/?page=pa_characteristics . It does show relationship to the bible, giving scripture verses for reference and relation. There are also character quesitons and it does in fact include geography where the student creates a variety of maps in their notebook.
BF does give you a schedule though it’s more loose than SCM. SCM is daily. BF is by lesson. For example, BF Early American History Intermediate has 119 lessons so there is flexibility to divide that out any way you want over your school year. It’s not a daily schedule and you could spread some of the lessons over a couple days if you so choose.
I agree that TQ lapbooks/notebooks are not necessary. We do create our own notebooks but just because the kids enjoy having coloring sheets and “projects” while I’m reading. They also narrate and create copywork based on the reading, which goes into notebook. We use 3 ring binders.
TQ can be overwhelming with the number of books included. On the other hand, because of the plethora of books, I have not had any difficuluty finding books available, whether in our private library or the public library. TQ is more work on the parent part to prep. SCM and BF are open and go.
Given the ages of your kiddos, if you chose BF, the Early American Intermediate guide may work best.
You should be able to combine their history study whether you chose SCM, BF, or TQ.
Blessings,
Melissa
I’ve used SCM and TQ. Agree w/above posters. I tried using just TQ first and while I loved the commentary, it was difficult for me to put together. The first year I just ‘winged it’ and we got towards the end of they year and still had a lot of ground to cover to finish the guide (and this was the first guide of Amer. for Youngers…already spending 3 yrs. on Amer. and didn’t want to spend more:) The next year I typed out a detailed schedule using TQ. It was a smoother year, but a lot of work upfront.
The next year seemed like the best of both worlds. I bought SCM as my guide and just penciled in TQ commentary pages to read as they came up. I really love having the daily guide, and SCM is not burdensome so I didn’t feel overloaded like I did w/the Sonlight guide. What’s not working about SCM? I find it easily adaptable. This year I decided to separate my kids since dd will be in high school next year and using something different. I stopped combining Bible and just have my younger child reading the SCM history books and narrating, and doing the geography once a week.
I don’t know if that helps any:) Hope you find a good fit soon! Blessings, Gina
HI!
We used TQ AHII last year and are using AHIII this year. My ds does NOT like lapbooks, at all. So we did not use that option. We did use the Map/Timeline/Report package and that worked well for him. I tried to find as many of the books she lists as I could. But when I couldn’t, I just looked for books in our library on the subject. We were able to find at least one book for each topic we wanted to read about. Usually it was a matter of narrowing it down as there are so many books. 🙂
This year, I am using the AHIII commentary along side Easy Peasy’s Modern American History. Over the previous summer I had picked up several books that we are reading as we come to the different events or people. I didn’t even look to see if the particular books I have were in her lists, so am not using the book list. After this year we won’t be using TQ again until HS, when I hope to pick up with the Age of Revolution Guides.
HTH,
Melissa
Thanks for the response. I’m not necessarily having a problem with SCM modules. I guess I’m just not always totally into it and feel like something is missing. We do a 4 day week and unless I double up a day, we would be behind all year. Every year I just wonder if there is a better fit for us . . . and every year I come back to SCM. I can’t really put my finger on exactly what I want different, so I keep looking and wondering.
I do know that our narrating isn’t very good at all. This is our 4th year doing narration but I still feel like I have to dig things out of them. It is not uncommon for me to read a chapter to them and get a one sentence response without any detail. I often hear about “that man” or “his wife” or “the boy”, etc. I end up having to stop them and say what man, he did what, why did that happen, etc. Soemtimes I do wonder if the method is working with my kids. Maybe they need something else. I have been asked they have to tell it to me when I just read it to them. And, since my oldest is struggling with dyslexia, she cannot read any of the books on her own.
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