Oh, Dearest Mother, Sweetest Virgin of Altagracia, our Patroness. You are our Advocate and to you we recommend our needs. You are our Teacher and like disciples we come to learn from the example of your holy life. You are our Mother, and like children, we come to offer you all of the love of our hearts. Receive, dearest Mother, our offerings and listen attentively to our supplications. Amen.



Active Topics || Favorites || Member List || Search || About Us || Help || Register || Login
Across Time and Place
 4Real Forums : Across Time and Place
Subject Topic: From Sea to Shining Sea Post ReplyPost New Topic
Author
Message << Prev Topic | Next Topic >>
Dawn
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: June 12 2005
Location: Massachusetts
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3191
Posted: June 18 2005 at 5:59am | IP Logged Quote Dawn

Has anyone used a history textbook, such as From Sea to Shining Sea, as a spine, but balanced it with living books to keep history from being dry?

We are devoting next year to American history. Up till now we have used the Story of the World series, which I love, but I feel we don't know enough about our own country.

From Sea to Shining Sea looks great ~ but I see the need, especially because my boys are still young, to keep things interesting and alive. So now I am looking for ways to make this textbook work in a more Charlotte Mason friendly way ...

Thanks for any help and I apologize if this has been talked about before.

__________________
Dawn, mum to 3 boys
By Sun and Candlelight
The Nature Corner
Back to Top View Dawn's Profile Search for other posts by Dawn
 
mom3aut1not
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: May 21 2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 757
Posted: June 18 2005 at 1:09pm | IP Logged Quote mom3aut1not

Dawn,

Yes, I have used a text balanced by lots of interesting books. I used Seton's 1st and 3rd grade history books with about 60-70 additional books -- fiction, biographies, and nonfiction. I especially recall reading George Washington's Mother. (She was a pill!) I also remember my youngest dd's horror when I read to her that pilgrim children drank beer as a matter of course (If You Sailed on the Mayflower in 1620 IIRC). My kids and I really enjoyed Sarah Morton's Day and wound up discussing the differences between the way kids were raised then, in my father's childhood, and now.

I didn't use just textbooks later either. With Our Old World Background or Seton's 7th grade text I used about 25-30 additional books of interest. In high school I used so much supplemental material for Christ the King that it takes two years to cover the book. (In fact the supplements really more the course than the text is.) For Christ and the Americas I added things like The Political Philosophy of St. Robert the Bellarmine, biographies on people like Theodore Roosevelt, and fiction by people like Mark Twain and Willa Cather.

Of course when I did all this, I did not consider myself a CM type hser. I just wanted to add in all the interesting materials available and also make the text material more interesting. For American history there are so many interesting books!

In Christ,
Deborah
Back to Top View mom3aut1not's Profile Search for other posts by mom3aut1not
 
Dawn
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: June 12 2005
Location: Massachusetts
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3191
Posted: June 20 2005 at 6:46pm | IP Logged Quote Dawn

Thank you for your response Deborah I am glad to hear this type of history study worked for you.

Can you (or anyone else?) suggest any book lists or catalogs for good historical fiction? The Sea to Sea teacher's guide does give a nice list at the end of each chapter but I am always on the lookout for books others have enjoyed using

Thanks so much.

__________________
Dawn, mum to 3 boys
By Sun and Candlelight
The Nature Corner
Back to Top View Dawn's Profile Search for other posts by Dawn
 
Natalia
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Louisiana
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1343
Posted: June 20 2005 at 6:56pm | IP Logged Quote Natalia

Sonlight

They have excellent historical fiction recommendations .

Natalia
Back to Top View Natalia's Profile Search for other posts by Natalia
 
teachingmyown
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: Feb 20 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5128
Posted: June 21 2005 at 6:34pm | IP Logged Quote teachingmyown

From Sea to Shining Sea is not dry. It is very well written and presented. We enjoyed it as well as All Ye Lands. Of course, you always want to supplement. But for a text, it is great.

And I HATE textbooks!

__________________
In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
Remembering Today
Back to Top View teachingmyown's Profile Search for other posts by teachingmyown Visit teachingmyown's Homepage
 
Dawn
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: June 12 2005
Location: Massachusetts
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3191
Posted: June 21 2005 at 7:17pm | IP Logged Quote Dawn

Oh, I agree that From Sea to Shining Sea is not a dry text! In fact, I bought it, the first text I have ever purchased, because it seemed so un-like a traditional text !

I guess I was asking mainly because my two older boys are still relatively young (5th and 1st grade). The 5th grader will love it, as I know I will, as I use it to "steer" our studies, but I am sure the 1st grader will do well with lots of additional resources, more on target for his age.

Thanks for all the responses ... I am in midst of planning out next year and I am so grateful for all the help I have found on this forum !




__________________
Dawn, mum to 3 boys
By Sun and Candlelight
The Nature Corner
Back to Top View Dawn's Profile Search for other posts by Dawn
 
momwise
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: March 28 2005
Location: Colorado
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1914
Posted: June 21 2005 at 9:55pm | IP Logged Quote momwise

Dawn wrote:
I am sure the 1st grader will do well with lots of additional resources, more on target for his age.


Kid's Explore: America's Catholic Heritage by Young Writer's Workshop is a great American history spine for younger children if you want to hit mostly Catholic people and events. I used Through the Ages (a history booklist) by Christine Miller this past year but you have to be careful to avoid the possible antiCatholic books. Mostly, I use keywork searches at the library for certain topics. Designing Your Own Classical Curriculum has good booklists.



__________________
Gwen...wife for 30 years, mom of 7, grandma of 3.....
"If you want equal justice for all and true freedom and lasting peace, then America, defend life." JPII
Back to Top View momwise's Profile Search for other posts by momwise
 
MaryM
Board Moderator
Board Moderator
Avatar

Joined: Feb 11 2005
Location: Colorado
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 13104
Posted: June 22 2005 at 4:41pm | IP Logged Quote MaryM

Dawn wrote:
Can you (or anyone else?) suggest any book lists or catalogs for good historical fiction?


I like the booklists in the back of Michael O'Brien's A Landscape With Dragons. A good portion of the suggested books are historical fiction and he identifies for many which historic time frame it is set in.

__________________
Mary M. in Denver

Our Domestic Church
Back to Top View MaryM's Profile Search for other posts by MaryM Visit MaryM's Homepage
 
ALmom
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star


Joined: May 18 2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3299
Posted: June 22 2005 at 6:27pm | IP Logged Quote ALmom

For the Author's Sake is great. It doesn't have a lot of younger age material yet, but it organizes the material by country, time period, etc so it is very, very efficient. It also tells you up front if it is from Catholic, Protestant, Jewish or other perspective. It also gives a brief synopsis of the book and an approximate age range. All the books listed are worthy books - no twaddle. I ordered my copy from Emmanuel Books.

Last I heard, it is being updated to include material for younger readers. I cannot wait to see it.

Janet
Back to Top View ALmom's Profile Search for other posts by ALmom
 
mom3aut1not
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: May 21 2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 757
Posted: June 22 2005 at 6:38pm | IP Logged Quote mom3aut1not

Here is my list of books so far for early elementary American history. I used books like these for first grade years ago.

American History 1 for Young Catholics

and ----

Columbus by the d’Aulaires
...If You Sailed on the Mayflower in 1620
On the Mayflower
Samuel Eaton’s Day
Sarah Morton’s Day
Tapenum’s Day
Pilgrim's First Thanksgiving
...If You Lived In Colonial Times
What's the Big Idea, Ben Franklin?
A Picture Book of Benjamin Franklin ..
Ben Franklin by the d’Aulaires
A Picture Book of George Washington
George Washington by the d’Aulaires
A Picture Book of Paul Revere
And Then What Happened, Paul Revere?
A Picture Book of Patrick Henry
Where Was Patrick Henry on the 29th of May?
Why Don't You Get a Horse, Sam Adams?
A Picture Book of Thomas Jefferson
Sam the Minuteman
George the Drummer Boy
....If you lived at the Time of the American Revolution
Can't You Make Them Behave, King George?
George Washington’s Mother
Will You Sign Here, John Hancock?
The Boston Coffee Party
Phoebe the Spy
The Chestertown Tea Party
George Washington's Cat
Shhh! We’re Writing the Constitution
A Picture Book of Lewis and Clark
The Boy that Saved the Town
A Picture Book of Davy Crockett
A Picture Book of Frederick Douglas
Wagon Wheels
Chang’s Paper Pony
Long Way to a New Land
Long Way Westward
Just a Few Words Mr.LIncoln
Buffalo Bill and the Pony Express
A Weed is a Flower Life of George Washington Carver
A Picture Book of Thomas Alva Edison
Clara and the Bookwagon
The Real McCoy
Dust for Dinner?

This list is not finished.

In Christ,
Deborah Solinas
Back to Top View mom3aut1not's Profile Search for other posts by mom3aut1not
 
Dawn
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: June 12 2005
Location: Massachusetts
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3191
Posted: June 23 2005 at 5:21am | IP Logged Quote Dawn

Thank you for the wonderful list Deborah! I am printing it out to keep with my notes for history next year ... Thanks to everyone for your thoughts and ideas.

I have been going through From Sea to Shining Sea this past week, writing down what topics are covered within each chapter. I plan to cover each chapter over a two-week spread ...

So now I can look at our "schedule" and know, for example, that we will be studying the American Revolution in November and December. In this way I can plan field trips and activities such as a Boston Tea party etc. Also, I am making up a reading list for each month, generally noting what books I would like to read as we cover each topic.

I know this probably sounds overly "scheduled" but it really helps me to relax if I know I have a plan in place.




__________________
Dawn, mum to 3 boys
By Sun and Candlelight
The Nature Corner
Back to Top View Dawn's Profile Search for other posts by Dawn
 
mom3aut1not
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: May 21 2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 757
Posted: June 23 2005 at 5:58am | IP Logged Quote mom3aut1not

Dawn,

You're welcome.Please keep in mind that it is not finished.

If your son can listen to longer books as well, you could use some book for older kids (The Reb and the Redcoats or Mr. Revere and I or....) as read alouds for both the 5th grader and the 1st grader.

In Christ,
Deborah
Back to Top View mom3aut1not's Profile Search for other posts by mom3aut1not
 
ALmom
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star


Joined: May 18 2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3299
Posted: June 23 2005 at 11:34am | IP Logged Quote ALmom

Dawn,

You sound like me - I have to have that schedule/booklist as a guide or we just don't go forward. I do remain flexible if something comes up that supports what we are doing better, or the children take off with some real learning in another direction, so imho it's the only way I can cope and the children above 2/3rd grade all beg for clear lesson plans.

I found that my son read a lot of those books very quickly, even before formal history started and he really has caught the history bug. Emmanuel books sells a lot of them.

What do people do who just dread library day. I have a whole list of books that I've found from my booklists and people's recommendations but our library doesn't have them. We still end up with piles of books, but then I don't have a clue what the quality or point of view is. It saves me so much time if I just own the books. Am I lazy?

How do you make sure you have what you need, when you need it?

Janet

Janet
Back to Top View ALmom's Profile Search for other posts by ALmom
 
mom3aut1not
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: May 21 2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 757
Posted: June 23 2005 at 11:56am | IP Logged Quote mom3aut1not

Janet,

I own many of the supplementary books I mention and will try to get more in the next few years.(I got rid of a lot of books several years ago, but I have been trying to get them again since the birth of my son.) I find it easier to own most of the books except for really common ones like the "... If You" series

You aren't lazy. You are doing what works for you. I learned to prefer having books on hand when my youngest dd was a hyperactive autistic child who didn't understand how to behave in a library. I still prefer having them on hand, but I have to balance the cost of getting books for only one child against the inconvenience of getting common books from the library. For each family the balance is differenrt. I have a friend with a XL family. For her going to the library is a major hassle, and any book she buys will be used by several children. (She has 17 kids.) For another mother I know who will be dealing with only one small child and has extremely limited funds, the library is the best choice for books she doesn't already have.

I have been buying a lot of used books via amaxon.com's marketplace, and I have gotten some great deals! Another thing is to watch for sales at Border's for some of these books. And for unusual books, paying for them may be propping up some small business that I like. Going to used book stores is great for those who can manage it. I can't handle the sensory overload I experience in such places. Other people can't manage the logistics of many kids, little time, and few used bookstores nearby.

Whatever works! For each family it's a little bit different.

In Christ,
Deborah
Mom of Lisa 22, Katie 19, Kristin 17, and Joseph 5
Back to Top View mom3aut1not's Profile Search for other posts by mom3aut1not
 
mi4ol
Forum Rookie
Forum Rookie


Joined: June 24 2005
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 22
Posted: June 29 2005 at 3:43pm | IP Logged Quote mi4ol

Dawn,

You may want to check out www.bethlehembooks.com They have some wonderful living history books. I use many of their books to supplement the Seton text. I just use Seton for a quick outline/orientation then move on to the living history. We've had great success in using Century Books.

To round the books out I like adding the "Voices of America" CD's. These are great for car schooling and include a mini-lecture, excerpts of speeches from famous Americans (and others), and popular songs of the era. The kids beg to listen to the American Revolution one over and over. Even the 2-yob likes to "sing" along. This year we're going to be doing 19th and 20c and I just got the Civil War Voices CD. Check out www.corpsrediscovery.com for more of the CD's, history unit studies, period crafts, etc.

I like owning the books... It's really nice for me to know the book is available when we're ready for it, for as long as we want it.

Have fun!

__________________
God bless,
Debbie

Do whatever He tell you. John 2:5b
Back to Top View mi4ol's Profile Search for other posts by mi4ol
 
TracyQ
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: New York
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1323
Posted: July 11 2005 at 10:42am | IP Logged Quote TracyQ

Debbie,
   What a great resource! Thanks! The Voices of America series looks wonderful! We're studying American History this year too, and now I feel I'd really love these CDs!   

__________________
Blessings and Peace,
Tracy Q.
wife of Marty for 20 years, mom of 3 wonderful children (1 homeschool graduate, 1 12th grader, and a 9th grader),
homeschooling in 15th year in Buffalo, NY
Back to Top View TracyQ's Profile Search for other posts by TracyQ
 
TracyQ
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: New York
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1323
Posted: July 25 2005 at 9:28am | IP Logged Quote TracyQ

We're using From Sea to Shining Sea this year as our spine too, and I started it last night, and it's SO wonderful~ rich in history, and beautifully written!

I ordered the CHC Middle Grade Lesson Plans, because it has a study guide for this text, and ideas, etc. So it may help, and I'll use that guide a lot through the next few years with my 5th grader, so I felt it was a good investment.

This should be a great year!

__________________
Blessings and Peace,
Tracy Q.
wife of Marty for 20 years, mom of 3 wonderful children (1 homeschool graduate, 1 12th grader, and a 9th grader),
homeschooling in 15th year in Buffalo, NY
Back to Top View TracyQ's Profile Search for other posts by TracyQ
 
Donna
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: Feb 25 2005
Location: Pennsylvania
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1151
Posted: July 25 2005 at 10:10am | IP Logged Quote Donna

Dawn wrote:
Has anyone used a history textbook, such as From Sea to Shining Sea, as a spine, but balanced it with living books to keep history from being dry?


Have you seen the Mater Amabilis site? It has a reading list to go along with the text. Mater Amabilis.

Listed are living books that correspond with each chapter of the text book.

__________________
Donna
DH, Keven
Jason, Stevie, Marie, Jackson, Clara, and Aaron
Jacob, Sam, and Regina with God
Grandbabies Leigha and Elsie

Moments Like These

Back to Top View Donna's Profile Search for other posts by Donna Visit Donna's Homepage
 
TracyQ
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: New York
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1323
Posted: July 25 2005 at 11:16am | IP Logged Quote TracyQ

Donna wrote:

Have you seen the Mater Amabilis site? It has a reading list to go along with the text. Mater Amabilis.

Listed are living books that correspond with each chapter of the text book.


I've been to that site a LOT, and didn't even SEE that list! I missed it totally! But THANK YOU for posting about it, because it will help me SO much in our history studies this year!   

__________________
Blessings and Peace,
Tracy Q.
wife of Marty for 20 years, mom of 3 wonderful children (1 homeschool graduate, 1 12th grader, and a 9th grader),
homeschooling in 15th year in Buffalo, NY
Back to Top View TracyQ's Profile Search for other posts by TracyQ
 
Donna
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: Feb 25 2005
Location: Pennsylvania
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1151
Posted: July 25 2005 at 1:42pm | IP Logged Quote Donna

You're welcome
It's what we plan to use this year as well.

__________________
Donna
DH, Keven
Jason, Stevie, Marie, Jackson, Clara, and Aaron
Jacob, Sam, and Regina with God
Grandbabies Leigha and Elsie

Moments Like These

Back to Top View Donna's Profile Search for other posts by Donna Visit Donna's Homepage
 

Page of 2 Next >>
  [Add this topic to My Favorites] Post ReplyPost New Topic
Printable version Printable version

Forum Jump
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot create polls in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

Hosting and Support provided by theNetSmith.com