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Topic: what are you using for history?

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Lisa R
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Joined: May 29 2005
Location: Ohio
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Posted: Aug 18 2005 at 5:51pm \| IP Logged

Hi!

I posted a question about TruthQuest History and didn't get any responses.

So.....can you tell me what your using for History? We'll probably be studying American History for now. What will you use for the other periods of history?

Thanks!
Lisa

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God Bless!
Lisa, married to my best friend, Ray and loving my blessings Joshua (17)and Jacob(15), Hannah(7) and Rachel (5)!Holy Family Academy

TracyQ
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Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: New York
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Posted: Aug 18 2005 at 9:02pm \| IP Logged

Lisa,
   I don't know much about TruthQuest History. My girlfriend uses it, and I looked at hers last year, just to see it. I study curriculum, and love to see all I can, just to help others in choosing theirs who may need help. I've been doing that for years.

   I wish I could remember it though. I DO remember liking what I saw in terms of how it was laid out and done. But I'm always leery too, in case it's not presented well.

    Now that's not to say that I use strictly Catholic books/materials, because I don't. I use lots of them, if they suit what the Lord is leading us to, but I also bring in other resources, etc. I use many resources in a year.

    Truthquest History for instance, on their website, says this about their Renaissance/Reformation section:

Your children must understand the deep issues of this time period! It was such a crossroad! They will see two different responses develop to the spiritual emptiness of the late Middle Ages--an emptiness quite like that of our own age, so we can learn much.
It was good for the people to seek truth, but where did they turn? Themselves? God?
How did the 'searchings' of the great artists, scientists, mathematicians, architects, businessmen, writers, philosophers, rulers, and explorers affect their awesome achievements?
This truth quest, and the decisions made in response, determined the future of many nations--those that were on their way to cataclysm and those headed for greater freedom.
The issues are not Catholic vs. Protestant, as TruthQuest History explains, so people of both faiths can feel safe using this guide.
Ideally for Grades 5-12, but younger siblings can participate. Includes book recommendations for all ages, where available.

You can see sample chapters at their website, with table of contents for each book. That might give you a better idea of whether or not it's for your family or not too.
TruthQuest History

I know for us, I decided this wasn't right for us, based on what I saw, even though I really liked the way it was laid out. They used Scripture out of *The Message* version of the Bible, and I just felt that the Lord was steering me from it.

This year, we're doing American History using From Sea To Shining Sea from The Catholic Textbook Project. You can see it here:
From Sea to Shining Sea

You can see a sample chapter by clicking on the lefthand side of the screen. These textbooks really are beautiful, and read more like stories than textbooks. They're very well done, and I'm very impressed with them. ANYone who knows me knows that I've NEVER used a history textbook in our homeschool! I don't like them generally speaking. But these are different.

I'm using it as a spine, then adding historical fiction, biographies, hands on activities, narration, copywork, etc., and we're going to make our own *history notebooks* using notebooking with all of it.

So for history, that's our plan for this year!

Hope this helps some anyway.

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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

Lisa R
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Joined: May 29 2005
Location: Ohio
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Posted: Aug 18 2005 at 10:11pm \| IP Logged

Thanks Tracy. Those look great. There are so many options out there! It gets so confusing. I want to make sure I don't give my boys the wrong information but I want history to be interesting too. We've only used Five In A Row up until now. I remember you from the boards

.

Where will you be getting your other books to read with this? Can you explain a little about your notebooking as well?

Thanks so much!

Blessings,
Lisa

__________________
God Bless!
Lisa, married to my best friend, Ray and loving my blessings Joshua (17)and Jacob(15), Hannah(7) and Rachel (5)!Holy Family Academy

TracyQ
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Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: New York
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Posted: Aug 19 2005 at 9:46am \| IP Logged

Hi Lisa! I only know FIAR people by their state next to their name! LOL That's how we identified each other from the earlier FIAR boards. I was Tracy(NY).

Glad to see you again!

I haven't actually decided which books we're going to use with our history study using FSTSS as our spine, but the resources I'll be using to find them are:

All Through the Ages by Christine Miller. You can see it here:
All Through the Ages

Turning Back the Ages of Time:
another of the books that give booklists that I can't seem to find anywhere now.

History Booklists online:

Reading Your Way Through History:
Reading Your Way Through History

A Book in Time:
A Book in Time

Then I also look at books suggested from different curriculums that are great booklists, such as:

Sonlight:
Sonlight

Beautiful Feet Books:
Beautiful Feet Books

Greenleaf Press:
Greenleaf Press

And I also get resources from wonderful free online curriculum that give great booklists, and I may use parts of their curriculum from time to time:

Mater Amabilis: (wonderful free Catholic Charlotte Mason curriculum!)
Mater Amabilis

Ambleside Online:
Ambleside Online

We are using notebooking along with every subject, so that by the end, I don't have just a folder with filled in the blank worksheets. We use so many different resources, that notebooking ties their courses by subject all together.

This year, I'm going to divide each subject into divisions per subject, so we can have less notebooks, with more included. For instance.....

History- American History, World History, World Geography, United States Geography

Religion- Catechism, Scripture Study, Saints, Prayers, Apologetics

Science- Physical Science, Life Science, Earth Science

Math- This Year's Work, Test Prep (we live in NY State)

English- Literature, Vocabulary, Grammar, Spelling, Test Prep (we live in NY State),Copywork for Handwriting

Music- Music History, Music Theory

Art- Art Work, Art History/Picture Study

You get the idea.

In our notebooks, we put everything we do for the year. We put in research work, pictures, maps, timelines, copywork, narrations, minit books (from lapbooking), art, worksheets, writing assignments, math work, science lab sheets, journaling of what we did if it's not a tangible piece of work (I'll do some of the journaling, they'll do some). For instance, if we listen to a piece by Bach, and talk about it, I'll journal about that, or they will, and that would go in their Music History section of their Music Notebooks.

That gives some ideas of what we do for notebooking. Then I also allow them to keep one notebook for themselves that we pull out often on Fridays. They pick the topic they want to research and study, and that is THEIR notebook for their interests. Those are the best notebooks we have. I also have MY Inspiration notebook with quotes, songs, poems, etc. in it as well, that I'll work on with them, and also on my own for Mother Culture!

There are some great notebooking websites that may help you to understand it more:

Homschooling with Notebooks

Homeschool Mom Notebooking

Home Hearts

Cindy Rushton has articles and a book on notebooking that is excellent. You can read the articles here (just scroll down to find them):
Cindy Rushton

Ignite the Fire:
Ignite the Fire

There are so many wonderful curriculums out there! I find when I go to God first, then talk to others, and research, He ALWAYS leads me to what's perfect for us! Oftentimes, that means something that looks all together different than what others are doing. We use many resources to teach one subject so often. I know God will do that for you too, Lisa. May you be blessed this year! I hope I've helped some!

__________________
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

Mary G
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Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Virginia
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Posted: Aug 19 2005 at 10:57am \| IP Logged

Tracy:

I'm not Lisa, but thanks for these great links -- something to do this weekend IF I can wrest the computer from the kids (and dh, come to think of it!) -- I love looking at these sites!

Thanks again

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MaryG
3 boys (22, 12, 8)2 girls (20, 11)

my website that combines my schooling, hand-knits work, writing and everything else in one spot!

TracyQ
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Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: New York
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Posted: Aug 19 2005 at 10:13pm \| IP Logged

You're welcome, Mary.

Lisa, I did get out my From Sea to Shining Sea tonight, and the teacher's manual that I bought with it.

The Teacher's Manual does have a list after each chapter (or most of the chapters) with suggested other reading resources, many of which I've heard about. I think it's a good resource too. :o)

Tracy

__________________
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

Molly Smith
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Joined: Feb 08 2005
Location: Virginia
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Posted: Aug 20 2005 at 11:54am \| IP Logged

I'm sorry that this is late, but I thought I'd include it anyway. We're doing the U.S. History course from Our Lady of Perpetual Help. We'll do lots of literature supplements, but at least the basics will be covered.

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Molly Smith in VA
Mom to seven beautiful children, ages 1-14

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