Struggling With Module 2 History

We felt the same as you with Module 2 with exactly the same points you’ve made.  I love SCM materials but I had to scrap it.  I am using a history spine, reading it chapter by chapter and stopping to expound with library books as they are available and as my children have interest.  We are doing much better with that approach.  I think it just depends on the family as to what works, and if it is not working try something else!  Don’t beat yourself up.  You’re not a failure!!  It’s simply not a good fit and that does happen from time to time no matter how high our hopes are for certain materials.  Hope this helps!!

To be honest, we felt the same way. The Bible readings and geography were great for us, but none of us enjoyed Famous Men of Greece or Voskamp’s Child’s Geography of the Holy Land. About halfway through, I scrapped Voskamp’s book and we focused solely on map drill of the Middle East and then moved to Asia for the second half of the year. Every so often we read out of Hungry Planet or Material World, if a country we were naming on the map was included in either of those books. I forced us to get all the way through Famous Men, but it wasn’t easy. I just didn’t know what else to use. Until this year…

Now in Module 3, I have replaced Greenleaf’s Famous Men of Rome with H.A. Guerber’s The Story of the Romans. She also has a volume entitled The Story of the Greeks, which I believe is what the Shearers used to publish Famous Men of Greece/Famous Men of Rome. We are enjoying this spine so much more, although I have had to alter the lessons as I go because there are many more chapters in Guerber’s book versus Greenleaf’s. However, the chapters are shorter and better written, so it’s fine for us to read 2-3 chapters a day, if that helps us fit within SCM’s Module lesson plans.

I wonder if the SCM Team is planning on revising Modules 2 and 3 in the future because you’re not the first person to complain about the Famous Men books. Many of us have exchanged PMs and have started forum threads along the same lines as you have today. Don’t feel badly about it! You’re not a failure. What works with the kids of the SCM Team doesn’t work for all of us, and that’s ok. That’s why Charlotte (and Sonya) tell us to teach the child, not the curriculum.

Blessings,

Lindsey

Several of the Heritage History and Yesterday’s Classics are in All Through the Ages.  I love that book and forgot to mention it!  I also checked out books and videos of the countries studied in A Child’s Geography, vol. 2.

I do have to say that we are enjoying the Bible section very much.  I love how much we learn and retain out of the readings. =)

We did Mod. 1 last year- and I thought it was great (Ancient Egypt). This year, we are using Mod. 2 and we are NOT loving it either!!  I was just wondering what other families thought of it.  I find it strange that we are studying Greek mythology and the geography of Israel and Middle East.  Shouldn’t we know something about the geography of the place we are studying??  Mod. 1 had us study Ancient Egypt and the geography of Egypt and Africa- makes sense!  While we don’t really like that there is so much focus on mythology, I am glad that my 11 year olds (triplets) are touching upon stories that they will eventually hear references to (Pandora’s box, the “Golden Touch”, Hercules, Medusa).  We have been able to discuss how these false gods counterfeit the truth we find in Scripture!  The Wonder Book has been ok for us- interesting enough to read through.  The Famous Men book drags terribly and doesn’t seem to make much sense from one sentence to the next.  Then, I have to echo what everyone else has said about Voskamp’s book- not a hit here either!  I did notice some extra reading suggestions in each chapter of Voskamp’s book that do sound interesting. I think we will try searching those out to supplement and/or replace some of the books we are currently using.

AngieG, I agree about the writing of Famous Men. It seemed choppy, hard to read, and scattered. I’m glad I’m not the only one who felt that way. I don’t worry too much about the mythology. Mythology is just as much a part of the Greeks’ history as Allah is part of Middle Eastern history and God is part of American history. I don’t think you can really know about a place without studying their belief systems. In our family, like yours, we just discuss it from a Biblical worldview. I’m definitely not concerned that my children are going to forsake their belief in Jesus for Athena!

Sonya, I hope you or the Team don’t feel we are criticizing your resource choices. It amazes me how a book that worked so well with your own children seems to be a downright failure for the rest of us! I wonder though, have you all noticed the lack of interest in Famous Men of Greece/Rome? And, if so, are you planning to make any revisions to the modules in the future to reflect or suggest some alternative resources? Just checking.

Blessings,

Lindsey

ETA: @andream, as mentioned above, we have found Guerber’s The Story of the Romans to be a much better resource for our family. I have not personally read Greenleaf’s Famous Men of Rome, but Famous Men of Greece (recommended for Mod. 2) was not enjoyable. Perhaps you could try Guerber’s The Story of the Greeks as a replacement? It’s really not hard to modify the readings to fit in with SCM’s lesson plans. As for the recommended Voskamp book, we just simply chose not to read it about halfway through our year. None of us enjoyed it, and I felt that map drills and reading here and there out of Material World and Hungry Planet was sufficient. My children, however, were young–6 and 7–so when we repeat Module 2 in five years, I’m not sure what we’ll use. I’ve got five years to think about it though!

Can those of you who did not enjoy the Ann Voskamp geography book explain what you didn’t like about it? Was it her writing style? I know I’ve read one of her books and sometimes the language was a bit flowery and difficult to get through for me.

Thanks for the book title suggestions. My library doesn’t carry any of them, but I will keep my eyes open for them at the used book store. Tough to take a risk to buy a book when you aren’t sure if you’ll like it.