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Martha in VA
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We use a 4 year chronological cycle to study history and have used Tapestry of Grace (with tweaking) for the past 4 1/2 years. This year, Tapestry offered online classes. My two teens, who thought they hated ancient history, have learned so much and are enjoying it! The teacher has really brought the subject alive for them. One of my teens said, "I don't hate history this year!"
My dilemma is that next year we're facing medieval/reformation history and Tapestry is very reformed protestant in it's viewpoint. I'm torn about enrolling them in classes again - which would provide them with a very capable and enthusiastic teacher and also a good understanding of the protestant view of this time period but also limit the time they have to read Catholic sources to give balance to what they're learning from class.
My girls are pretty solid in their faith so I'm not too concerned that they would be influenced by the teaching. Rather I'm concerned that they would be using so much of their time reading revisionist history books having little time left to read saint bios, etc. I want them to love history but I want them to have a solid Catholic understanding of history as well.
I'd so appreciate any help in thinking through this dilemma and also any suggestions of other online history classes for Catholics.
Thanks in advance.
ETA: I should also add that the Carroll books have historically not been a good fit for our family and actually turn my kids off to a Catholic perspective of history.
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guitarnan
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Martha, I am with you on the Carroll books - my son didn't take to them either.
I don't recall whether you take summers off, but if you do, perhaps your daughters could do some reading of more Catholic materials then?
We used a standard textbook for world history (neither Catholic nor Protestant) and as we went through the Reformation, we just talked about the textbook's biases. It didn't take too long. My son read some works by Catholic authors for English/Literature that year, which helped enrich his knowledge of Catholic history without adding too much to his workload. (No poet, he loved "Lepanto"!)
We're getting ready for world history next year...I'm looking forward to reading what other members suggest!
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Mackfam
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This year my 9th grader is studying this period. I don't have any online class recommendations (not because there aren't any....I just don't know of any off-hand, Homeschool Connections would be a good place to check for those.)
Here are some excellent books from this period written from a Catholic perspective:
** How the Catholic Church Built Western Civilization by Thomas Woods (also available as an Audio CD...but be warned, the narrator is less than easy to listen to. sigh. why did they do that???) The book is very good and well written. It would be an excellent antithesis to the typical language of the dark middle ages of suppression brought about by the mean ol Catholic Church.
** How the Reformation Happened by Hillaire Belloc
** Characters of the Reformation by Hillaire Belloc
** The Crusades by Hillaire Belloc
** Churchill's History of the English Speaking Peoples by Winston Churchill, edited by Henry Steele Commager - I thought this would be dry and dull, but my daughter has enjoyed it. It is only read a very little at a time so as not to be overwhelming. Obviously, you would read sections that pertain to the period you are studying.
** Celebrating 2000 Years of Christian History by Gloria Thomas and Warren Carroll - this is a small booklet (there is a larger one, but both are oop and I can't find the larger one right now) that has a great fly-over of the century along with a beautiful piece of art depicting the major figures and events of that century. Easy to read in one sitting before introducing a century - provides good context. Each century gets 2 pages only, so this is brief, not detailed.
** Outlaws of Ravenhurst by Sister M. Imelda Wallace - Classic!!! Compelling!!! Gives a great sense of the period. (17th century/Scotland)
** Blood Red Crescent by Henry Garnett - Another classic! (1570/Turks-Battle of Lepanto)
Saints of the period (or that specifically contributed to the Counter-Reformation) that you might want to read about:
** St. Joan of Arc (we really enjoyed Mark Twain's book on St. Joan of Arc, but there are many others to choose from!)
** Pope St. Pius V - Battle of Lepanto
** St. Thomas More
** St. Edmund Campion
** St. Robert Bellarmine
** St. Charles Borromeo
** St. Ignatius of Loyola
** St. Francis de Sales
Hope this is a start for you, Martha!
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Jen Mackintosh
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Martha in VA
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Thanks, Jen. I'm going to snoop around your blog to see how your putting it all together.
I'm afraid the "factor" that made history so unpleasant for them before was ME! Sad but true!! I just don't bring it alive for them.
Mackfam wrote:
This year my 9th grader is studying this period. I don't have any online class recommendations (not because there aren't any....I just don't know of any off-hand, Homeschool Connections would be a good place to check for those.)
Here are some excellent books from this period written from a Catholic perspective:
** How the Catholic Church Built Western Civilization by Thomas Woods (also available as an Audio CD...but be warned, the narrator is less than easy to listen to. sigh. why did they do that???) The book is very good and well written. It would be an excellent antithesis to the typical language of the dark middle ages of suppression brought about by the mean ol Catholic Church.
** How the Reformation Happened by Hillaire Belloc
** Characters of the Reformation by Hillaire Belloc
** The Crusades by Hillaire Belloc
** Churchill's History of the English Speaking Peoples by Winston Churchill, edited by Henry Steele Commager - I thought this would be dry and dull, but my daughter has enjoyed it. It is only read a very little at a time so as not to be overwhelming. Obviously, you would read sections that pertain to the period you are studying.
** Celebrating 2000 Years of Christian History by Gloria Thomas and Warren Carroll - this is a small booklet (there is a larger one, but both are oop and I can't find the larger one right now) that has a great fly-over of the century along with a beautiful piece of art depicting the major figures and events of that century. Easy to read in one sitting before introducing a century - provides good context. Each century gets 2 pages only, so this is brief, not detailed.
** Outlaws of Ravenhurst by Sister M. Imelda Wallace - Classic!!! Compelling!!! Gives a great sense of the period. (17th century/Scotland)
** Blood Red Crescent by Henry Garnett - Another classic! (1570/Turks-Battle of Lepanto)
Saints of the period (or that specifically contributed to the Counter-Reformation) that you might want to read about:
** St. Joan of Arc (we really enjoyed Mark Twain's book on St. Joan of Arc, but there are many others to choose from!)
** Pope St. Pius V - Battle of Lepanto
** St. Thomas More
** St. Edmund Campion
** St. Robert Bellarmine
** St. Charles Borromeo
** St. Ignatius of Loyola
** St. Francis de Sales
Hope this is a start for you, Martha! |
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My Conversion Blog
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Mackfam
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Martha in VA wrote:
| Thanks, Jen. I'm going to snoop around your blog to see how your putting it all together. |
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I might be able to save you a little time - here are the high school posts. All 2 of them.  I haven't yet posted anything on how the year has gone thus far, but hopefully you can get a sense of how we're approaching history. My first term plans are there for you to view. Here are the 3rd term (week 5-8) lesson plans which might also help you see how this works:
2011-02-16_095546_Schedule-9th-Term3-Week5-8.pdf
At the end of each term, I have been asking my high schooler to write an essay from each subject studied. She has enjoyed writing historical essays.
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Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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Martha in VA
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This is terrific! Thanks! And in my snooping, I've been reminded that LTAS was authored by your mom! Yes, it is indeed time for a reprint! I just bought a used copy this week!
Mackfam wrote:
Martha in VA wrote:
| Thanks, Jen. I'm going to snoop around your blog to see how your putting it all together. |
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I might be able to save you a little time - here are the high school posts. All 2 of them. I haven't yet posted anything on how the year has gone thus far, but hopefully you can get a sense of how we're approaching history. My first term plans are there for you to view. Here are the 3rd term (week 5-8) lesson plans which might also help you see how this works:
2011-02-16_095546_Schedule-9th-Term3-Week5-8.pdf
At the end of each term, I have been asking my high schooler to write an essay from each subject studied. She has enjoyed writing historical essays. |
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4dds,miracle son 4/09, 2 in heaven
My Conversion Blog
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MaryM
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Yes, I would suggest Homeschool Connections classes.
History (6 sessions): Roots of the Revolt (1417-1560) with Phillip Campbell is a specific class that has addressed the topic. The thing with Homeschool Connections is that they might not have every class every year, but if not you can subscribe to the archives and a student could go through the material that way even though it wouldn't be live.
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Mary M. in Denver
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4Real Forums : High School Years and Beyond
Topic: Dilemma: Med/Ref History for High School
