new to CM, 2nd grade next year, wwyd?

Tagged: , ,

Viewing 3 posts - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • March 7, 2017 at 8:44 pm
    leavesofmytree
    Participant

    This coming school year is our first CM experience! My son will be in second grade — he will be 8. For history, I am planning on studying the ancients in one year, covering Egypt, Greece, and Rome for three months each. But then I was reading that that’s not all the history typically done in a week… we should also be studying American history. But THEN I read we should be studying British history too?! So… where do I start?

    So far I am planning on going with Story of the World for the ancients… Should we start with the Native Americans for American history? How much time do we cover in a year for American history and what should our spine be?? And as for British history, I was thinking of going with Our Island Story. Should I start with British history first and then blend it into American history for the second half of the year? And lastly, how does American and British history get rotated throughout the years like world history?

    I am sooo confused as to what is “expected” as far as history. I would love ANY input!! Thanks! 🙂

    March 7, 2017 at 10:53 pm
    Wings2fly
    Participant

    Make it real and fun.  It really does not matter which time period you study.  But use engaging living books that are not above his level of understanding.  You could cover Ancients in one year and use picturebooks from the library to supplement SOTW1 and read an American history picturebook around the holidays throughout the year.  Go on field trips related to history to help it really come alive for him.  There is a lot of Bible in studying the Ancients which can help make it real.  Help him dress up and get into character for the time period he is interested in or do other hands-on activities.  Go to a museum of festival or performance.  I can tell you specifically what books, etc. we used, but really you have to decide what is best for you and your family.  There is so much history, one could never learn it all.  So it is important to make it interesting, to light a flame and instill a love for learning and an appreciation for heroes in history, and to ultimately see how history is really His story.

    March 8, 2017 at 5:07 am
    Melanie32
    Participant

    First, take a deep breath and relax! 🙂 It really isn’t that important where you start or whether you cover one stream of history or 3. Do what works for your family. Most CM families have stuck with studying one stream of history. Multiple streams of history have only recently become popular.

    It sounds like you are feeling overwhelmed so I would start with one stream of history. Add in another later on when and if you feel ready. Start where you want to. Moms just starting out always stress about where to start. More experienced moms realize that it’s a non issue as more children are added to the homeschool and they just join in with the rest of the family wherever that happens to be in history.

    Relax and just enjoy reading wonderful living history books with your son!

     

Viewing 3 posts - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)
  • The topic ‘new to CM, 2nd grade next year, wwyd?’ is closed to new replies.