Okay, so here goes….we're about to finish up the last book of a series that we're doing (well, at the end of this school year)….and I'm trying to think ahead. Keep in mind we live in PA which has funky standards, and we are part of a diploma program here which requires certain things. ANYWAY…. I'm thinking for next year for my oldest - who'll be in 10th grade - to do either the American History (with the Literature component), or maybe the Government/Economics books. Then for my other two - who would be in 4th and 8th respectively - to do the America the Beautiful or the Uncle Sam & You. My questions are…. Is it too much reading? too much work? Is it boring, is it clear, what do you like, what do you dislike. Do you think a 4th grader would be able to understand (with help) or should I do something else with her? Ugh. THANKS!
I can't comment from experience on the older books (although I like the looks of them), but my son (8 y/o, 5th grader) loves America the Beautiful. Because of his age, it's a lot of reading, so I've changed the layout a little bit, but otherwise, it's great! He's using the younger of the two workbook options (which also means no tests), and he takes a week off from the lessons each time a new literature book is introduced, instead spending a week reading that book cover-to-cover. This especially works well if it's a holiday week and we'll be spending several hours in the car to see family. We don't use the writing or Bible pieces of the puzzle. We only do the history and literature parts. We already have Bible covered, and developmentally, he's not ready for that much writing. (His motor skills are delayed to that of a 6 year old.) We use Writing Strands intermittently for writing, and we also use assignments that he gets from his occupational therapist. I like America the Beautiful because it's a very independent subject ... he does it 100% on his own. Period. He likes it because... well ... he just likes it! He loves it, actually! He spends hours looking ahead sometimes, because he'd rather do that than have to do something like math. He's quite the expert on procrastinating. From start to finish (including the text, timeline, workbook, mapping, and literature), one lesson takes him about 30-45 minutes per day. If I have to cut something because of time, I cut the literature and have him catch up on it the next time we're running errands or something. He enjoys reading in the car.
Thank you! That helps me a lot. My youngest will be 4th Grade next year, but I was worried it'd be too much for her. I certainly don't mind doing the literature component as read alouds (although, i think she COULD do the books alone, at least most of them), I think she'd enjoy that. And I did see the books that way. It's nice to know an 8 year old is doing it and loving it, also that it's not taking as much time as it seems it will on the website! It did scare me a little, trying to think of my 8 year old working on one grouping of a subject for 3 hours! EEEK!
The textbook is divided into two full-sized books (one per semester). Each unit has 5 lessons, which means one lesson per day or one unit per week. The lessons are only 4-6 pages long, and they include full color illustrations or photos. The book is also printed on heavier-than-average paper, so it would be just one textbook if written with regular paper and slightly smaller print. I think this makes it more inviting to younger students so that they're not overwhelmed by such a massive textbook. "We the People" is included in the literature portion. Some days, you'll read a couple of chapters from one of the chapter books, and some days, you'll read a page or two from We the People. The excerpts are very short. He's had days where the only thing he read was the words to the Star Spangled Banner, for example. The timeline literally takes 30 seconds to finish. Really. It's the size of a small, staple-bound coloring book you'd get at the dollar store, but it's higher quality than that. The assignment will say "write (event or person) on page 7 on the 1798 line" or whatever. (I just made that up, but you get the point.) The mapping book is the same size as the timeline. Some days, the mapping will take a little longer than others, but still, it's very manageable. You'll just need a set of colored pencils to complete it. It might say, "Lesson 37: 1822 - color the state of (whatever)" to show that it became a state that year (again, I'm making these dates up because I'm terrible with history! LOL) Sometimes it'll say, "draw a line from this to that" showing a route that someone would've traveled to do something. The younger workbook is just puzzles and games that review the key words, dates, events, or characters from the lesson. The older one has question and answers for longer responses, and it also has tests. At the back of the textbook, you'll find optional family activities for each unit (not each lesson), like baking a traditional type of bread, making a collage of the liberty bell, etc. This stuff is completely optional, but really fun if you have a hands-on learner.
Thanks sooooo much!!!! I've had a friend show me all the stuff she had (she had Uncle Sam & You and the HS World History), another friend had the America The Beautiful. I LOVE IT. My 2nd friend said that she starts ATB in 5th Grade and uses 1 volume a year, that way they can really dig in, and she says she does the literature with it as well. I think I will do that. I'm leaning towards having my younger two do a full year of state history next year, then using the America the Beautiful with my youngest in 5th & 6th, and the HS American History with my son in 8th. I'm not sure what to do with my 9th grader (who'll be 10th next year). I have to see what they are counting this year as for history, then I'll pick. I'm THINKING they'll count what we're doing (and combine it with 7th & 8th and count it as "world History")…if they do that, then I will have her to the American History next year, and the Civics/Economics in 11th. She shouldn't have to do any more history in 12th…..this way, too, my two youngers will be on a good schedule to do it the appropriate way when they get to high school.
The high school American History has LOTS of reading! It counts as American Lit, American History, AND Bible. Rachael did it, and it worked well for her. But I had Faythe do Streams of Civilization instead. She'd really get bogged down with all the reading.
Jackie - that's my intention - I would use it as her English/Literature Credit as well. I just need to find out what our co-op is doing next year before I make my final decisions. My oldest loves the lady who teaches Literature Discussion (this year they're doing short stories & poetry, and in addition, I'm having her research the author they're studying. In December when we're on break, I'm going to have her do a Glencoe Study guide for a book - haven't decided which). I was also thinking maybe to not have her do ALL the literature in the Notgrass - but pick 4 or 5 really good ones (actually, she's read 4 of the ones on the list already and really studied them, I'd hate to have her redo them just because, you know?…my thoughts were just to cut out those titles and stretch out the others). Another friend who uses it for High School actually does 4 Progeny Press Guides with 4 of the books and then doesn't do any of the other literature. We'll see. EEEEEK! Anyway, I do like the way it reads and the way the questions lead them, etc. So….we're going with it, just not sure WHICH ones yet!
I had a friend just lend me the American History for High School to review! OH MY it's so wonderful!!!! My oldest asked me what I was looking at and decided to read one of the lessons….she said "Wow, it's so clear! I like this!!!". I have to return the set by Christmas (my friend is taking a small hiatus to do the Constitution with her son). BUT, she said they'll be done with it by the end of the year and that I can borrow it all next year!!!! I do think instead of ALL of the literature. I might pick a few that have Glencoe Literature Guides, and couple that have Progeny Press guides and do them instead. THEN, I can let her take the co-op class for literature discussion, and it wouldn't overwhelm her, but it would all count towards her L/A credit for the year. Anyway, I will be doing PA history with the younger two next year. Then my son will be on Track to do the American History in 9th, World in 10th & Civics/Economics in 11th. YAY!!!! I'm going to spread the US and the Uncle Sam and you out for my youngest. 5th & 6th for the American. And 7th & 8th for the Uncle Sam one….then she can follow my son's path. I like having a plan. Finally. LOL
I believe the tests have questions from the literature selections. This something that can be worked around, as long as you know to look for it!
Ooooo….I hadn't thought of that. Hmmmmm….alright, I'll look through the exams and see if there are. I guess I could just eliminate those questions. I'm thinking MAYBE to have her READ everything, but not go crazy in depth on anything but 3 or 4 of them. (like progeny press guides have vocabulary, analysis and writing assignments). Hmmm… THANK YOU for the heads up!
We're using ATB right now with a 5th & 8th grader. My kids love it. I read it aloud & they only do the timeline & map. I'd skip the timeline book if I could change anything. I read aloud the literature. We don't do any other workbooks or tests. It is pricey to me but when my kids love something, it's worth it. I did find a good deal on it used.
Ugh….just realized that my youngest will HAVE to do State History again in 8th, sometimes I hate living in a state with heavy regs. I think I will spread the ATB out over 5th & 6th, but then do the Uncle Sam in 7th, and PA History again in 8th Grade. I already have the PA curriculas, thankfully. And they're a "preplanned" sort of thing….
