Why won't I learn? Confession and Sound Board

[Heather]

I just wanted to make a confession.  I stressed myself out during planning for this year and didn’t think I could do the living books for history, I psyched myself up to believe it would be too much prep and library planning so I went with Mystery of History.  Well, here we are in week 3 and I am regretting my decision.  Mystery of history is really neat, but so brief for each time event.  We are not doing the quizzes and additions because they are too bookish and I wanted to just try to enjoy the audios and some activities but it goes so fast I wonder if we are getting anything out of it!

I wonder if I could just slow down and not try to get through Creation to Christ this year…maybe take it slow and add in some living books along the way to pace myself to be ready for SCM module 2 next year?  I guess there wouldn’t be any harm in that!  Thanks for listening to me think out loud (or in type).  Now I feel much better!!

What year/period of history does module 2 begin?

[sheraz]

Module 2 is just after Moses dies, and Joshua takes over to the end of the Old Testament.  (Joshua through Malachi) and covers the Ancient Greeks.  Slow down, enjoy the living books, and relax.  Do Mod 2 next year.  =)

[Sue]

I would think you could add a living book here or there if you feel MOH isn’t covering things with enough depth. “Brief” is nice for times when things are falling behind or you have a young or special needs student who can only handle so much, but I, too, feel guilty if we skim over things or move too quickly through an era without chewing on it for awhile.

Maybe MOH could be more of a spine for you and you could choose living books for those persons/events you feel require more emphasis?

[my3boys]

I feel your pain.  I/we tried the MOH a few years back cause I fell head over heels.  It is a neat program, so I’m not trying to bash its quality) but it went way too fast and I was learning/leaning more the CM method.  Honestly, I just couldn’t make it work, but that doesn’t mean you can’t and shouldn’t give it a try! 

And, in the whole scheme of life this will be just a blip in time, so give yourself a break.  Did you read, read, and read some more before you actually started the program??  Did you do the timeline on the sewing board?? Make copies of all the outline maps for 2 kids??  Try to have the kids narrate the very tech-bookishy lessons (to no avail) on 3×5 cards (and search out every supply store for the 3×5 card mini binders)??  If you answered NO to all of the above, consider yourself lucky to have not spent too much time with a program that just wasn’t the right fit.  We made it to lesson 11.  I really wanted it to work, too.  I love the idea of it, but the application of it all was just not working. 

We ended up with one of the Modules from SCM and haven’t looked back and we have all learned/retained so much more.

Please know that I am not bashing, just realizing that not every program will work for every family.  I know several families using it, but I just can’t wrap my brain around it, but that’s just me.

Now, you did mention a copywork something or rather from Queens that you just love, right??  Would you please let me know what that is??  If it’s not you, just let me know.  TIA

[Heather]

Thank you ladies for giving me “permission” to slow down!  I think I will do just that and look forward to module 2 next year.

@my3boys, I did read-read-read, look for the index cards but backed out at the last minute, opted against the sewing board timeline and am still struggling through trying to get my kids to narrate! lol!!  I am almost ready to chuck the maps, but keep on doing the timeline figures.  I have the homeschool in the woods timeline figures and my kids are enjoying coloring them and gluing them into their makeshift “book of centuries” aka plain paper notebook with no dates.  Thank you for the laugh and encouragement!  And I have never used anything from queens, but I did post recently about how I am loving Primary language lessons by Emma Serl…was that what you were referring to?

[my3boys]

You’re welcome!  You really wouldn’t believe how much time/money I spent on that, but, hey, if I can relate to someone else or bring laughter, maybe it was all worth it.  My kids do still lol when we bring up our time of me trying to make something work, that just did not work!!  It’s actually pretty comical.

Well, I thought it was you that like that copywork, oh well…I’ll have to search it out.  Thanks anyway.

[Jackie Betancourt]

Hi ladies, I just stumbled on this post from 2 years ago and realized that I could totally relate. Thanks so much! We began our homeschooling journey with MFW 2 years ago, then fell in love with MOH last year. We ended up adding MOH with our studies, and did love the Biblical focus. As we began with MOH 2 this month, I just could not get my head around what was lacking last year, even though we wanted to love MOH. Was it the timeline that was overwhelming? Or maybe the challenge cards that we only completed for half of the volume because it was too much? Maybe it was my then 3rd grade ds who complained everytime we pulled out our notebooking sheets for the lessons, and he felt overwhelmed? After reading this post and the responses, now I see what the issue was/is. What an eye opener! This totally solidifies my reasoning into why I purchased my SCM books last week! Thanks everyone, I hope you all are doing well and enjoying this new school year. God bless!

Blessings, Jackie in TN