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Barb.b
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| Posted: March 28 2012 at 2:48pm | IP Logged
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Anyone use Bill Bennetts history books - I think titled "America's last best hope" (or something like that). I actually have vol. 1 here. I know there is a web site to use in conjunction with it. If you used it - do you and your kids like it? Did your kids like the style of writing of the book (not as textbook like). I was going to use it with my oldest years ago - but he actually did better with a more "textbook" like book.
Barb
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Mackfam
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We have the set and use it, Barb.
My daughter is reading through Vol 1, and narrating it this year. The volumes are lengthy, so we are taking 3 years to finish the two books, reading through them slowly and narrating as we go.
The books are well written and thoroughly bring to life the history of our nation. They are not written in as a text, but rather as a narrative of our nation's rich history. The books offer many details that fill in the hidden cracks of our history, which really make the history of our nation start to take shape in a colorful, living way. The set spans the years 1492 - 1989, covering wars, presidencies, and the many trials and triumphs of our great nation. The tone overall is patriotic and hopeful. Bennett's hope is to tell the nation's story, inviting us to embrace America's cause once again as "the last best hope of earth."
We found our set for a quarter at a Goodwill store, so I know there are sets out there that are quite inexpensive. It's a good, worthy, balanced and full account of the history of America. We recommend it.
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Jen Mackintosh
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Mackfam
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Here is the box set of Volume I and II available at Amazon. Used prices at the time of this post are around $4.00.
By the way, I forgot to mention that the box set comes with a CD titled, Remembering President Ronald Reagan. We haven't listened to that yet, so I can't really review it.
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Jen Mackintosh
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Barb.b
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| Posted: March 28 2012 at 3:36pm | IP Logged
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Thanks Jen,
I think I will use it - as my dd is my reader - I am hoping that the narrative approach of the book will appeal to her. Did you use the accompanying web sit - 'the roadmap'? I think I might start the year using it and just pick and choose from the web site what appeals to us. What is nice is I already have vol. 1 - so I won't need to purchase vol. 2 yet. As she will be 9th grade - I plan to wait and see how long it takes us - nice that we have the time to "play it by ear" and just see how long we want to make it. I see some syllabi show vol 1 and vol 2 in one year - but that seems so much in one year.
Barb
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Donna Marie
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We have used it and Margot Davidson has used it too. They do contain a lot of information. If you have any specific questions, I can ask my kids(18,18,16) because I can't remember  ...lol 
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Donna Marie from NJ
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Mackfam
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| Posted: March 28 2012 at 3:41pm | IP Logged
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Oh see - we're in good company if Donna Marie and Margot have used it, Barb!!!  
Honestly, I picked up the set for so cheap and was so thrilled in my little bargain, that I never thought to look to see that there might be a web site that went with the reading. So no, I haven't used that feature. Can you link it?
Oh, and do take your time in enjoying it!! I *wish* I found it a year earlier so I could stretch the two volumes out over 4 years. They make for fantastic slow, thorough reading material!
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Jen Mackintosh
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Barb.b
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Donna Marie: No specific questions - just maybe did they feel they retained any more with the narrative approach of the book (versus a textbook approach).
Also, did you ladies use tests and essays when using the text? I am thinking of using the sample tests and essays (just picking one or 2 per chapter) from the "roadmap" web site. The site seems to have a nice variety of tests plus essay ideas. I'd like to get dd used to a variety of tests plus more essay writing as she gets into high school and the "roadmap" web site seemed to have that.
Barb
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Kristen in TN
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I picked up my 2 volume set for a dollar or two at a GoodWill store. Around our area, they seem to have a bunch of them that must be remainders or something. They were brand new in shrink wrap!
God bless,
Kristen in TN
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Barb.b
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| Posted: March 29 2012 at 7:36am | IP Logged
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http://www.roadmaptolastbesthope.com/
I think this is a sample site only and a one year subscription. From what I see it is $20 per year for access to the site (but they have $30 for a "premium" subscription). Not sure what the difference is between the 2. But the link gets you to a sample site - from chapter 3. So you can see what you would get. I liked some of the activities on the site and think for my dd it would be worth it. I subscribed to the site briefly about 4-5 years ago - but ds needed a more text book so I didn't keep up with it.
Oh - I also remember the site has some audio of Bill Bennett discussing things related to the text. It is a nice addition.
Barb
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hsmom
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For those who have used this, would you consider it to cover government and possibly economics for high school as well? I would like to take it slowly too, but we have other high school social studies to cover!
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Mackfam
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I'm not sure I'd consider the Bennett books a course in government. The books treat more of the people, culture, the various influences, presidencies, wars - but not really government workings or economics.
Our favorite, and a highly praised and respected series for teaching government and economics in an accessible, common sense and thorough way for high school are Richard Maybury's Uncle Eric books. Here are a couple of reviews and sources:
Uncle Eric Books Sold
Uncle Eric Books by Maybury
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Jen Mackintosh
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Aagot
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Jen,
How many of the Uncle Eric books have you used? Would you recommend them in the order the author does or have you found just a few to be necessary or the best? They look interesting.
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Mackfam
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I have all of the Uncle Eric books. If you have a high schooler and you're looking to provide a course in government and economics, I recommend reading them in the order suggested. Each book builds on the one before it. Having said that, they all read very well on their own, so it's totally fine to read out of order. I really appreciate the recommended reading in Evaluating Books - if you read through a few of those, you've got a full course right there! Not all, but many are living book titles you'll be very familiar with (Roughing It and Life on the Mississippi, Mark Twain; Island of the Blue Dolphins, Scott O'Dell).
Whatever Happened to Penny Candy is probably his most well known book, and it's easily readable for a younger-than-high-school age child - perhaps 10/11+. And if you just wanted to focus on economics, you could pull out only his economics books (Uncle Eric talks about Personal Career, and Financial Security, Penny Candy, Money Mystery, Clipper Ship Strategy) and read those in order one year, and save the others for another year.
Here is a great suggestion for breaking up the whole set into three great courses that would total to a fantastic course in economics, government, law and politics:
The Business, Economics and Finance set
Personal, Career, and Financial Security
Whatever Happened to Penny Candy?
The Money Mystery
The Clipper Ship Strategy
The Law and Politics set
Whatever Happened to Justice?
Are You Liberal? Conservative? Or Confused?
Ancient Rome: How It Affects Us Today
Evaluating Books: What Would Thomas Jefferson Think About This?
The War set
The Thousand Year War in the Mideast
World War I, the Rest of the Story
World War II, the Rest of the Story
Beyond the Uncle Eric books, Bluestocking Press offers some other really great looking resources and books for a course in Gov't/Econ, and if you scroll down on this page, you can see some really fantastic suggestions for courses.
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Jen Mackintosh
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Wildflowers and Marbles
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Aagot
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Wow! Sounds great Jen.
Thanks so much.
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hsmom
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| Posted: April 18 2012 at 2:35pm | IP Logged
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Mackfam wrote:
I'm not sure I'd consider the Bennett books a course in government. The books treat more of the people, culture, the various influences, presidencies, wars - but not really government workings or economics.
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That is too bad. We will have to cover the Bennett books in 2 years  then since we also need a year for gov't and economics and a world history course. I already have the boxed set. It does look really good for U.S. history. I have not yet figured out if the roadmap is necessary for us or not. Dd is not good with narration so a question and answer formula may be better for us.
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4Real Forums : High School Years and Beyond
Topic: Bill Bennetts history
