Okay, so, as many of you probably know I'm a sandwich generation homeschooler. My parents are taking more and more of my time so I'm actually buying curriculum now (I just cringed a little! LOL) Anyway, I'm trying to simplify. I've got Bible, math, phonics/reading and science covered. All that's lacking is SS. I'm looking into Mystery of History. I need something that's all planned out that I can just move on to the next lesson. (I'm fine if we stop and chase some rabbit trails tough of course! but once back on track, I want to open and go) From what I've been able to tell MoH covers history (world and Biblical) and geography. Is this right? Tell me what you and your kids loved, liked and hated about MoH, please. Y'all know how I love my free curriculum so I'm really stressing over paying for curriculum :shock:
To be fair, I haven't gone very far in our MOH book, and I can't give a detailed critique. My kids don't have an interest in history yet, so I've been holding back until they get a little bit older. I do plan on starting back with it this fall after some other detour projects and geography. Yes, it does cover world history, Biblical history, and geography. There are reproducible maps in the back for mapping activities. Things I like: 1. Flexible - there's a lot of room for extra study of people and places 2. Works well with lapbooking or notebooking 3. Covers a lot of varied topics 4. Offers different activities for different leveled students 5. The combining of world events with Biblical events Things that I don't like: 1. A little more parent intensive than I am able to handle at some points 2. Timeline and card activities are sometimes confusing 3. No color photos and very minimal illustrations
Actually, I'm feeling MOH inspired now! lol The kids have started getting into Bible events and reading lately, so maybe we'll start back in this week.
I tried to use MOH but it was just a bit dry for us. My kids didnt want to get really involved and they complained about it. Every. Single. Time. I switched to SOTW and they Love it! I like that the lessons in SOTW have many activities to choose from and tons of references so we can really research the stuff we want to. I didnt use MOH very long before I switched so I cant say if it gets better.
I've been completely through MOH once, and Phillip has just started Vol. 2 the second time through (he was four when we first started!). I plan on buying Vol. 4 when it comes out. Needless to say, I really like it. You can do as much or as little as you want. You can go off on rabbit trails if you want, or go strictlly "by the book". It's very flexible. (And if you DO choose it, let me know. Somewhere on here is a book list that I posted YEARS ago about fiction books that correspond with Vol. 1; I had copied it from somewhere else.) However, as Minthia clearly points out, it is not for everybody! If you could get your hands on a copy before buying it, that would be very helpful in your making a decision!
Here's that list you're talking about: http://homeschoolspot.com/showthread.php?t=5108 MoH is more teacher-intensive than I like, however I LOVE it, and it's what we use for world history. I like that you can do as much or as little as you want, and I also like that you can use it multiple times, and still do something new and learn something new with each lesson.
LOVE IT! We just got into it i the higher book, (red one) but I have kept it because Ilove it, i was going to sell it before and kept it incase I needed to home school my nephew eventualy... it seems to be something that could happen. Anyway- We loved how it had everything and then some, you do not have to do all the activities in the activity book but the map work was so good! it inspired us to do a year of Geography the following year, which we used Trail Guides to Geo as a spine for, also a good one that is great for various levels! If you want just a reader, Story of the World is good too, it has the same style of STORY OF THE WORLD but is written more like a story book of information.
I'm actually okay with teacher intensive history because I hated the dry, boring history in school so I didn't retain it. But now I love history and find it fascinating. I was looking and thinking if I buy it, they are so young now, we could probably do it again when my oldest is in high school....doing it on a different level and the time lapse would make it very feasible if it's as flexible as many reviewers seem to say.... So it would be like buying 8 years of history (the 4th one should be out by the time we get there if we start now and stick with it for 4 years) for 2 kids, so that helps me mentally account for the cost....We could do the younger activities now and the middle and older activities next go around...There would be a one year gap in between the 2 rounds with MoH I could easily do state history that year... Has anyone bought the The Mystery of History Volume I The Super Supplemental Collection? It sounds really useful...I'm thinking if I go with MoH I'll probably get that too... ETA: link to supplemental collection https://www.brightideaspress.com/st...ge=product_info&cPath=4_46_47&products_id=245
My kids absolutely love it! So much that they often ask for MOH when it's time to read books at bedtime. Each lesson is read like a story, and like a few people have already posted, you can do as little or as much as you would like. We choose not to do the timeline and cards because my kids are still young, but I plan on doing more of the "extras" when we go through it the 2nd time. We've done a few of the activities, but don't do one for every lesson. I like that the author has age-appropriate activities in each lesson, so older children can learn a little bit more than younger siblings that may be following along with you.
T'mom, no it isn't. She isn't doing an American History one. The fourth one is Revolutions and (something else), and will bring us into the modern era. It's not due out for a while yet. Josie, I've got the original MOH, so no, I don't have the Super-Supplemental Collection, whatever that is! (But I'll check out your link to it!!!) ETA: OH, MY!!! When I first bought MOH Vol. 1 new, it cost about $35. And you could get it used for about $25. Everything I needed was in that book. I honestly don't think I would have bought it if I felt I "had" to have all those "extras" in addition to the book!!!
Rats, We are doing US next year and I was hoping for a moment there. (I do plan on him going to the church school but I plan on doing the US HISTORY and MUS) with him sorry not hijacking really lol
No, I never bought the supplements, especially considering it was waaay more than what I paid for the book. I figured we'd be able to find free printables if needed. BTW: There is a excellent MOH Yahoo group that has plenty of links and files for pages that go with the book.
What do you plan on using for US? Blizzard, the Yahoo group I think is where I got the book list I posted on here, but I only was part of that my first year, about nine-ten years ago.
Jackie I downloaded a sample from somewhere that really intrigued me I will check it out and let you know where I got it from, its actually what made me want to still teach US History for ds even at the school. I love that our church's school lets me do that! So he can get in on the group stuff yet I can still be in charge of my ds' educational needs.
I have no idea how I got to their group, but it was probably from here at some point! They do have different groups for the different levels too. I'm on the Volume 1 list.
Lol, that shows you how long ago it was, because there was only one group for all age levels. Book Two was due to come out "any day" at that point.
We really enjoyed volumes 1 and 2. We have great memories and pictures from the activities in those. We tried volume 3 this year but they found it boring. The readings are longer in 3 and they just weren't interested in the content. I know others with younger kids love it but it just was not right for us this year. I'm not selling it, though, as I plan to use it again later when they are ready. My boys did not get into doing the timeline. I think the timeline is great so I did them myself. The memory cards were helpful because we could play review games with them and they were always so proud of themselves for remembering what they had learned. Their favorite parts were the activities and projects. They aren't really crafty kids at all so it surprised me when they would get so excited. We love MoH and will be going through all of the books again. I look forward to volume 4 and eventually finishing volume 3.
