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.



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Across Time and Place
 4Real Forums : Across Time and Place
Subject Topic: rc history - connecting with history Post ReplyPost New Topic
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gracesknmom
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Joined: Nov 14 2006
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Posts: 8
Posted: Nov 16 2006 at 6:02pm | IP Logged Quote gracesknmom

Hi everyone,
I've lurked for a long time, but now I'm a 4Real newbie at last! I was wondering if this program has ever been discussed or if anyone out there using it can tell me about it. I searched the archives and can't find this topic, but that doesn't mean it's not here!
I will be using it with my 11 yr old (grammar level - vol. 1) and my alost 8 yr old (not getting the guide for him, but do intend to get the additional reading).
Thank you in advance!
Angel in the California desert!
married to dave 94, dd 95, ds 98 and baby in heaven 06
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ALmom
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Joined: May 18 2005
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Posted: Nov 17 2006 at 2:32am | IP Logged Quote ALmom

The Connecting With History has all the grade level plans in it. We got it and planned to use it this year. We loved making the timeline and really liked a lot of the book recommendations. Typical of my children, they read every book in the few weeks that I was trying to figure out what to do. They offer some great supports - map work, CDs with report pictures that include Catholic ones. I also like the timeline.

Now, I will say it has sort of gone by the wayside with all but my highschooler, who is using it as a quick overview while fitting in selected primary sources from the Kolbe Greek and Roman high school years. I don't think my lack of use is due to a real problem with the program as much as me once again running into my own limits. I just cannot seem to work with more than one child at a time and my children flounder without more guidance. I tend to like lots of detail in a sequential way that we can bring to life with real books, etc. and less open ended programs. I like having names and dates and events organized at my fingertips so something designed to be more open ended with lots of digging for these things on some of the details is hard on me - though she does have estimated dates for many of the events - but I found it harder to try and tie pre-history with Bible History and so we felt a bit like we were reading isolated things and trying to figure out how the ice age related to other things - and Usborne books opened up some questions I'm not sure I know how to answer.

I am glad I got this program and do use ideas, books, etc. There are plenty of suggestions. I expect we will use a textbook spine with the youngers and then take many rabbit trails using RC history ideas, books, etc.

I do tend to be more textbooky than a lot of folks here just because it seems to help my dc know where to go next when I am busy with someone else. I think a less textbooky person would find this really fun - especially if they wanted to do a great Catholic Bible History. The idea of doing our school altogether as a family to have more mom to go around was really appealing to me, until the reality that this has never worked in our family just hit - but the program is designed to do this and would work well with those who do try to have everyone together. (My dc go off together on their own to work on group projects after reading, studying, formal lessons independently but we just don't seem to ever get quite the right dynamic going trying to do the actual study together.) But this is just what it is for me.

Some of the problem may be that I just didn't have enough time to adequately plan before the school year was upon us. Perhaps if I'd had the whole summer, it would have worked great. There are lots of things for the teacher to plan/decide to taylor it to the individual. I'm not a good planner and do better modifying plans. Just wanted you to have the background so you can see where I'm coming as I think many would like things I find a bit hard to use. And I really do like what I see in this program!

Janet
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