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Now that Notgrass has been mentioned . . . .
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does everyone who has tried it like it? We tried the second world history text this year, and ds #2 hates it passionately, and I’m a little disappointed myself. It seems fairly shallow and not that well written . . . is it just me?
I like it but we use all of Notgrass items as supplements not as the main course. It was light for history and we read many other books alongside it, so we did not use as is….just as a guideline…..
We are trying to make the most of it since we were not able to go with our original plan for studying World History (shortage of time) and I think my son is relieved to have a guide to follow and he can then enjoy any other resources we decide to add.
I may have asked this before but I was wondering what other resources you ladies may have added or used for World History that you highly recommend?
We followed some of the books from HEO and some from my own library, depending on what time frame and age group….we read all of Paul Johnson’s books, all of Churchill’s history of the English speaking peoplem and Sir Martin Gilbert’s book on world history, which we enjoyed, ….and we love all his books and map books. Are you looking for a specific time or age group?
We are using Notgrass American History this year for my 9th grade son. The textbooks are right at his level, and we do the Bible study with them. But the literature is way over his head, and the writing is over his abilities as well. I thought we’d just chuck it and move on to something else, but we decided to keep using it. We are pleased with it as a spine. We pull in some other literature from the library, mainly books I look for on the Sonlight website and also we have the Beautiful Feet literature guide as well, which incidently enough, we do not like. However, the Notgrass has been really nice. My son enjoys reading, but he is more of a textbook kid than I would like him to be. Our home is a literature-rich one, so adding resources has been a good move for us. We are watching a lot of PBS American Experience, and reading novels and historical fiction as well. We do not use American Voices as it just is too much reading for him most of the time. But I am planning on reading some of those aloud, and at some poin if any of the speeches can be found on video, I will do that as well.
My oldest is using it as a spine with other books I add to it. I don’t have him do all the questions, etc. and some of the books they suggest, I choose other ones.
Sue, we kind of feel the same way. Hmm. Well, at least I’m not the only one. I put together my own economics and government courses, and I’m hunting up American history resources, but I’m still having a hard time with good world history for the last 150 years. Sigh. I definitely won’t be using Notgrass again, my ds #2 would rebel. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a “course” someone else already put together rather than do it myself. LOL
A Patriot’s History of the United States: From Columbus’ Great Discovery to the War on Terror by Larry Schweikart is excellent.
Rachel
My sons are very bothered by the tone of this one, as well as the tone of the William Bennett American history books. They are very pro-war and pro-interventionist (I have borrowed and skiimmed them both, and the ds’s have looked also) and it infuriates my boys. Sigh. I’ve always exposed them to a variety of views, but I guess I should not be surprised that they turned out opinionated. I’m a libertarian but read widely; I guess it’s the nature of teens to carry things out even further. They really are upset by pro-war rah-rah at the moment. Perhaps it’s because one just registered with Selective Service and one will soon, I don’t know, but while I often send them articles, editorials and other opinion pieces from a variety of perspectives, they want a text that they put lots of time into which they will not want to throw into a wall.
(If you want to REALLY get a reaction at my house, one that might just be visible from outer space, come here and say you think it was a GREAT idea that the U.S. got into World War I.) LOLHa Ha Michelle, I know where you are coming from….we are a family that appreciates the Swiss model of government and ideas….even though hubby was in the military, there was much that he did not agree with, though of course as a government or active duty person you have to be careful what you say – we like you try to read all sides and then form opinions based on that…we really enjoyed the book Target Switzerland by Stephen P Halbrook – it is about Switzerland’s role in World War 2 and their policy of resistance – of course they had terrain on their side, but there is a lot that can be learned from that country, especially today……couldn’t we all have a great discussion in a room together….Linda
Understood; though A Patriot’s History… is a welcome alternative to the blame American leftist, fact-twisting, so-called “history” books. I’m a libertarian leaning republican; exactly half-way between the two when I took a”test”.
How about primary source documents?
From Liberty Fund books:
The American Republic from the founding to the Civil War
and
The American Nation from the Civil War till WWII
They also have an excellent collection of economics books your sons would probably appreciate as well as writings from the lesser known founders, from both sides of the Constitutional argument, and later writings as the Republic grew. I definietly think ya’ll would find some treasures there. The original, first bio of Washington by Chief Justice John Marshall, written for school children, abridged from his own 5-Vol. bio, is available there.
I own The Revolutionary Writings of John Adams that is fascinating. Adams: the most overlooked man and the most brilliant mind-the Atlas of Independence as Benjamin Rush called him-in our history, IMO.
Yes, there’s a lot to say about the policy decisions made by Pres. W.Wilson, pre-WW1 and post-WW1, national and international; but I’ll just be succinct and intellectual about it-AARGH!!!
After reading about WW1 and the results of the Treaty…, my 11 yr. old son already came to the conclusion that the whole thing was a mistake. He knows more than I ever did when I was his age, and even now, about the whole thing. Of course, he informed me of JRR Tolkein’s experience in WW1, too and how he was probably inspired (maybe therapy is better word?) to write about the Dead Marshes as a result.
If we were all in one room we’d be up till the wee hours of the morning, Linda (and my son would be jealous that he couldn’t particpate).
Rachel
(If you want to REALLY get a reaction at my house, one that might just be visible from outer space, come here and say you think it was a GREAT idea that the U.S. got into World War I.) LOL- The topic ‘Now that Notgrass has been mentioned . . . .’ is closed to new replies.