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Want to replace Famous Men of Middle Ages & Famous Men of Renaissance
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Hello everyone,
We’re excited by all the living books listed for Module 4, Middle Ages, Renaissance, Reformation, & Epistles with the exception of the “Famous Men…” – our boys don’t enjoy them at all. Any recommendations for replacements?
Thanks so much.
Warmly,
Richele
We are using The Story of the World. Not sure if it’s an improvement but we are going to try it out.
I’d like to hear other suggestions as well.Tara
The H.A. Guerber Middle Ages: http://www.nothingnewpress.com/Middle_Ages.shtml
and Renaissance and Reformation books: http://www.nothingnewpress.com/RandR.shtml
If your children are younger than 3rd gr., then I’d probably recommend A Child’s HIstory of the World by Hillyer instead.
Richele, It’s so nice to hear from you! I’ve missed seeing your smiling avatar photo and your terrific insight. I would second Rachel’s suggestions to the letter.
Blessings,
Christie in FL (and from the LER last year)
I agree with Christie…it’s so nice to “see” you again. I always appreciated your insight and gentle encouragement.
Oh, and I agree with the Rachel on the recommendations.
Thanks Tara, Rachel and Christie for the recommendations. I should have added that my boys are 8 and 10. Do you find that your children enjoy the Guerber books? Ours enjoyed “The Story of the Romans” but for some reason I was thinking the Middle Ages book might be geared for older children. Please let me know wht you think.
@missceegee I’ve missed you all on the forum. Isn’t it amazing how my avatar hasn’t aged a bit 🙂 In the interim we’ve moved cross-country and restored/re-opened a historic cafe with my sister (whom you met) and her family. N.e.v.e.r a dull moment.
Richele (in Iowa for the time-being).
Hey, my3boys, it’s really so nice to be remembered. Things might be calming down a bit so I may be able to get my CM-fellowship here a bit more often. Nice to “see” you, too!
I only wish I had asked this last year. Definitely will not be using those Famous Men books again. I wanted to mention we are now using “Famous Men of the Modern Times” and it is published by Memoria Press. I found a used copy for cheap, so I decided to try it for my 8th grade son. He actually likes it, which is huge b/c he was very skeptical after the Greenleaf Famous Men books suggested with Module 4.
The Famous Men Books were great for my high school student. For elementary students I wouldn’t even consider using them especially if there is no older student listening in. I used A Child’s History of the World for years until we found The Story of the World books which we like better. I would and did use The Story of the World books along with the Activity book.
So what are the issues that people are having with the Famous Men books? Like Sue in MN indicated, is it possibly the ages that make a difference? I would not want to use them until at least middle school and into high school. The Guerber books fit well in middle school as well.
For small children, Story of the World is probably enough on it’s own. Covers famous women too, and looks at world history – so a nice broad sketch of this time period. The Activity Book provides map work and coloring pages. Also consider using HE Marshall’s Kings and Things, which is an easy “romp” through, mainly, British History, though touching obviously on the rest of Europe as well as explorations to other parts of the world (we’re reading just the chapters that cover the middle ages). For older kids you could also read the appropriate chapters from HE Marshall’s “An Island Story.
For us the past 2 years The Famous Men books were too above their heads, but this year with the oldest being 9 they are understanding it better. I’m still reading it online but mostly read Story of the World. I like using the SCM history handbooks. But when we get to the Renaissance we’ll not buy the Famous Men book. Story of the World will cover it just fine and living books.
@HiddenJewel, the Famous Men book has worked well for some of our friends’ families so it may be that it is just not a fit for us. The Famous Men book wasn’t required for my younger son last year and my oldest son seemed to do fine on his daily narrations but when Term 1 exams came around he could not keep anyone straight as he could with other history books that grabbed him. I’d remembered reading:
“The question of books is one of much delicacy and difficulty. After the experience of over a quarter of a century in selecting the lesson books proper to children of all ages, we still make mistakes, and the next examination paper discovers the error!” (Vol. 6, p. 248).
so set out to find a different book for Module 3 and now for Module 4. When we repeat the history rotation and our children are older we may see how Famous Men works out at that time.
R
I’d like to hear other suggestions as well.
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