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pumpkinmom
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| Posted: Feb 22 2013 at 12:41pm | IP Logged
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I've been looking at this resource for over a year now and I can't decide if I need it. I can't tell from the website exactly what I'm getting. Can anyone give me a review of this product and tell me how you use it. If I get it, I would be getting volume 3.
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Cassie
Homeschooling my little patch of Ds-14 and Ds-10
Tending the Pumpkin Patch
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cathhomeschool
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You mean RC History Connecting with History? I've never used it but others here have I'm pretty sure. I'll see if I can find some old reviews that might help while waiting for others to chime in.
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Janette (4 boys - 22, 21, 15, 14)
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Betsy
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I have vols 1 & 2. My shorts answer is LOVE IT and HATE IT! 
I love many of the book selections and the intertwining of many CM friendly approaches with real History. I also love how you could do a whole family at once....which is much more appealing to me now that I am teaching many different ages.
I hate that for it to work for me I need to spend an inordinate amount of time laying out books and making schedules, especially when I am unfamiliar with all of the selections and most haven't been available in my library to check out. IMO, when you purchase this program you need to understand that only half of the work is done for you. Not to underestimate the work that *has* been done....it's good...for the curriculum to come alive the parent needs to understand the time frame the kids are study and lay out a plan to get the work done. Again, IMO, I think that it's necessary to develop a century chart to work with the ideas presented, as well. With that being said....it really isn't much different than the work that I need to do every year to lay out a plan. It's just that I sometimes wish it was a "plug and chug" type program...which CM never is! 
Also, it is not an inexpensive program. The books, while nothing outlandish, add up......especially if your are doing two levels at the same time.
I am considering starting over with Vol 1 next year when I have a 7th, 6th and 3rd grader. I started looking at the books that I had and needed to get and almost fainted (and I am use to spending $$$$ for a CM curriculum of books). But, the hardest part for me to wrap my brain around right now is making this all work together.
Anyway...that's my 2 cents.
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cathhomeschool
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Well there are several old threads, but some that mention how families use RC History:
RC History curriculum
RC History, Volume 2
rc history - connecting with history
RC History question and a little more
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Janette (4 boys - 22, 21, 15, 14)
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pumpkinmom
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| Posted: Feb 22 2013 at 1:39pm | IP Logged
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cathhomeschool wrote:
| You mean RC History Connecting with History? I've never used it but others here have I'm pretty sure. I'll see if I can find some old reviews that might help while waiting for others to chime in. |
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Yes, that the one. I will look at the threads you found. Thanks!
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Cassie
Homeschooling my little patch of Ds-14 and Ds-10
Tending the Pumpkin Patch
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pumpkinmom
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| Posted: Feb 22 2013 at 1:45pm | IP Logged
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Betsy wrote:
I have vols 1 & 2. My shorts answer is LOVE IT and HATE IT!
I love many of the book selections and the intertwining of many CM friendly approaches with real History. I also love how you could do a whole family at once....which is much more appealing to me now that I am teaching many different ages.
I hate that for it to work for me I need to spend an inordinate amount of time laying out books and making schedules, especially when I am unfamiliar with all of the selections and most haven't been available in my library to check out. IMO, when you purchase this program you need to understand that only half of the work is done for you. Not to underestimate the work that *has* been done....it's good...for the curriculum to come alive the parent needs to understand the time frame the kids are study and lay out a plan to get the work done. Again, IMO, I think that it's necessary to develop a century chart to work with the ideas presented, as well. With that being said....it really isn't much different than the work that I need to do every year to lay out a plan. It's just that I sometimes wish it was a "plug and chug" type program...which CM never is!
Also, it is not an inexpensive program. The books, while nothing outlandish, add up......especially if your are doing two levels at the same time.
I am considering starting over with Vol 1 next year when I have a 7th, 6th and 3rd grader. I started looking at the books that I had and needed to get and almost fainted (and I am use to spending $$$$ for a CM curriculum of books). But, the hardest part for me to wrap my brain around right now is making this all work together.
Anyway...that's my 2 cents. |
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This is exactly what I was thinking for looking at it and some of the threads I have read.
I'm struggling with putting history together in correct order. I guess I'm looking for a guide. There are other sources that I can purchase for a guide, so I want to know what else this book offers. Lesson plans won't be added! I think I saw that they are getting lesson plans though.
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Cassie
Homeschooling my little patch of Ds-14 and Ds-10
Tending the Pumpkin Patch
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Betsy
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Cassie,
I don't mean to discourage you, but I wanted to be honest. I have also heard that they are working on lesson plans....so that might be the key!
Again, this is my opinion, but I am not convinced that History needs to be studied in order. It's really is impractical to study History this way.
However, some way of sorting ideas is very helpful to put the bigger historical picture together overtime. We are just starting to use books of century (7th grade and up), Century Carts (5-6 grade and up) and time lines (all grades) and they are an amazing way to do this. 
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Booksnbabes
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They do have lesson plans now! I haven't checked them out, but I need to. I love the resources and the Catholic worldview, but found the lack of direction in how to use it meant I did not use it! I am not good at putting together a history plan on my own, so the new lesson plans might be key in getting me back on track.
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Mackfam
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I like the program and have used it as a jumping off point for Ancient History for several years now.
Rather than just re-typing a review, I'll just say DITTO what Betsy said.
:: Great booklists for all ages
:: Great jumping off point with the booklists
:: Good ideas for copywork/poetry
I tend to run with my own schedule and reading plan from there.
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SO...if you feel like you need a guide, and maybe this is your first go-round with formal history in home education...
Then this program could be a good value to you - giving you rails, or training wheels so-to-speak. Hey, we've all used them!!!
IF...you're more seasoned in homeschooling...
Then do consider if you NEED another program, or if simply looking at their fantastic booklists, narrating from books, perhaps adding other selections from recommendations here at 4Real and maybe also from Reading Your Way Through History would be a good direction for your history reading list. And possibly enough. 
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Jen Mackintosh
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SallyT
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Oh, I was going to suggest that Reading Your Way Through History list! That was the single most helpful resource to me in figuring out our history in the beginning; to that I'd add Maureen Wittmann's For the Love of Literature, which has history broken down into time periods and books labeled with recommended age ranges, so that you could have different kids doing the same period at their own reading levels, while you also do read-alouds for everyone (from which you could pull copywork as needed). Mater Amabilis also has good lists for extra/recommended reading in history. These all address the question of which period to study when in the great chronological scheme of things, if that's really what you're looking for, more than laid-out plans, per se.
My own inclination would be to look at a chronological list and/or invest in Maureen's book, which covers many core subject areas and is a total treasure mine, and then spend your money on the books themselves, rather than plans, particularly if your plans are going to look more or less like this:
1. Read aloud/narrate
2. Read independently/narrate
3. Do copywork
and maybe make a Book of Centuries.
At least, that's how I tend to "run with things," as Jen says. But her observation about the usefulness of a real, hand-held kind of guide in the beginning is right on as well.
Sally
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4Real Forums : Across Time and Place
Topic: Need a review for Connect with History
