I am new to CM style of teaching and could really use help deciding what to use for history. Too many choices and not enough decision making. I need to keep things as simple as possible as I have children ages 3, 5, 8, and 13. I currently own Story of the World 1 with activity book and Beautiful Feet’s Early American History for primary grades, both unused. I know either choice would work great for my younger children but what to do with my eldest. She has had minimal history up to this point. I want to primarily focus on American history but incorporate world history as well. BF has a program called Early American and World History for grade 7 (would need to purchase) and my youngers could use one of the owned programs above. This puts me doing two separate programs. My eldest struggles with reading and would need lots of hands on help and possibly readalouds. I worry I’ll be overwelmed with two separate programs.
I like the look of CM’s Stories of America/Nations but this would require buying more when I already have books unused. Its worth the investment if this is the best option but I don’t want to waste money if onother option is equally as good with books already owned.
I’ve considered beefing up SOTW but am unsure how to be sure my 7th grader is learning enough. I “think” I could beef up BF’s Primary Early American History using their reading suggestions for the intermediate level without purchasing the guide. I have access to a great library that has most of the books. The Intermediate’s grade level is up to 6th grade and technically she is in 7th albeit she is not grade level in history. Would its recommended age bother you? Because it only teaches American History, I would not have the world history I wanted unless I used SOTW 1 or another program. Part of me says focus on American History by beefing up owned BF’s Primary EA History, comparible with the intermediate level, and add SoTW 1 and activity book as is as a bonus. Would this be too complicated or too much?
