Jacey Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 I really like the thought of doing the 4-year history rotation as spelled out in TWTM- however, unfortunately for us we didn't start homeschooling until spring semester of this year for my dd9 (3rd grade). I've been contemplating on how to get in the two 4-year rotations by the end of eighth grade. So, here is what I am contemplating..... will you please tell me your thoughts??? (ie....good idea/bad idea) We are currently doing STOW1 Ancients and will finish in a few weeks. In order to start the 2nd history rotation "on time" (5th grade), I've been thinking of doing STOW 2 this summer, STOW3 in the fall, and STOW4 in the spring/summer '09 to finish the 1st history rotation by the "end" of 4th grade. Then, I was thinking of starting TOG for the 2nd history rotation and taking the full year for each level: digging deeper, adding in the literature/projects, etc. My rationale for doing it this way is that since the first rotation is more about getting exposure I was thinking that at her age it would be okay to go ahead condense the first round in order to start the second on time. (And it's still WAY more than she would have ever gotten in ps.) Make sense/sound silly?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweetTN Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 :iagree: Our dd was in 3rd grade also when we began hs'ing. Since we plan on hs'ing year round we just started at the beginning of SOTW and will keep it going, hopefully catching up at some point. This has rapidly became dd's favorite subject so shouldn't be a problem. Like you, we have learned so much more than dd would have learned in ps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacy in NJ Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 We are currently doing STOW1 Ancients and will finish in a few weeks. In order to start the 2nd history rotation "on time" (5th grade), I've been thinking of doing STOW 2 this summer, STOW3 in the fall, and STOW4 in the spring/summer '09 to finish the 1st history rotation by the "end" of 4th grade. Then, I was thinking of starting TOG for the 2nd history rotation and taking the full year for each level: digging deeper, adding in the literature/projects, etc. My rationale for doing it this way is that since the first rotation is more about getting exposure I was thinking that at her age it would be okay to go ahead condense the first round in order to start the second on time. (And it's still WAY more than she would have ever gotten in ps.) Make sense/sound silly?? I actually wouldn't do this. I think you may end up feeling rushed to "get it all in". Where ever you happen to be in the history rotation, whether ancients or modern, you can begin logic stage work when your child is ready for it. Add in the Kingfisher or other grade appropriate reading. I also wouln't try to plan too specifically for upper grade work. By the time your child reaches logic and then rhetoric stage your plans will probably have changed. I try to keep an eye on my long range goals knowing that specific curriculum will change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamasgot5 Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 I am assuming that you were hoping to begin TOG Yr1 in 5th grade and continue through to 12th. You would then be covering the 4-year rotation twice, right? Do you feel that you need to push through all SOTWs before changing curriculum? You do not have to finish EVERYTHING. It will not hurt to go at your own pace until you are ready to start with TOG. Your child will simply have more knowledge of certain time periods as a background for later. And you could also use your SOTWs to supplement later. I would worry that pushing too hard now might cause you to feel burn-out. Just a thought. Good luck! Amie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen in TN Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 Another option would be to take your time with SOTW, adding in plenty of other reading and/or activities, then have an extra year or so to take your time with the final round starting around 7th grade. In other words, do 2 more leisurely rounds as opposed to rushing to try to finish three. This would also give you extra time to fit in a more in-depth American Government and an economics course in high school. Karen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keptwoman Posted May 23, 2008 Share Posted May 23, 2008 Another option would be to take your time with SOTW, adding in plenty of other reading and/or activities, then have an extra year or so to take your time with the final round starting around 7th grade. In other words, do 2 more leisurely rounds as opposed to rushing to try to finish three. This would also give you extra time to fit in a more in-depth American Government and an economics course in high school. Karen This is the approach I am taking. I am going to use the extra year to do an indepth study of our country history. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacey Posted May 23, 2008 Author Share Posted May 23, 2008 Thanks everyone for your thoughts.... This is something that I keep going round and round with.... One day I think: I'll just take my time and go in-depth, and then then next day: No, I'll go ahead and keep going through them all at the pace we're doing (1 ch & AG a day/3x week) and catch up to the rotation. Augh... I just can't decide! I will say, my dd9 is really enjoying them so far and doesn't have any problem with the rate that we've been going at- she loves history. She even asked me the other day if we could keep doing STOW over the summer :001_huh: (I was surprised-this is a big step for us- ie: wanting to do extra!), hence what started this whole thinking about catching up! I was all ready to just purchase TOG R2 (with STOW) for next year and go thru rest them slowly/in-depth and fill in the last 2 years (7th & 8th) with maybe geography/state history. Hmmmmm..... Anyway....thanks again for your thoughts- I will definitely keep them all in mind. For now, we'll keep doing what we're doing until I feel a strong sense one way or the other! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted May 23, 2008 Share Posted May 23, 2008 That sounds fine. Another option is to just start where you are and go ahead at a normal rate, accomplishing two, rather than three rotatations, perhaps with a year of state history in the middle. That would give you: SOTW 1 in 3rd SOTW2 in 4th SOTW3 in 5th SOTW4 in 6th State history in 7th Ancients in 8th Medieval in 9th Early modern in 10th Modern in 11th American history/civ in 12th. FWIW, Calvin is doing two rotations, with a year of Chinese history in the middle, ending at about age 16, in time for more specialised high school courses. Best wishes Laura Best wishes Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katrina Posted May 23, 2008 Share Posted May 23, 2008 I would recommend just doing SOTW slowly and deeply. I started homeschooling my dd in the middle of 3rd grade as well, and while I did use some volumes of SOTW, we rushed it to make sure we got on an appropriate rotation schedule, and in hindsight I wished I would have just used SOTW for four years, and then used a year for just US history and literature before starting the highschool rotation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WTMindy Posted May 23, 2008 Share Posted May 23, 2008 Thanks everyone for your thoughts.... This is something that I keep going round and round with.... One day I think: I'll just take my time and go in-depth, and then then next day: No, I'll go ahead and keep going through them all at the pace we're doing (1 ch & AG a day/3x week) and catch up to the rotation. Augh... I just can't decide! I will say, my dd9 is really enjoying them so far and doesn't have any problem with the rate that we've been going at- she loves history. She even asked me the other day if we could keep doing STOW over the summer :001_huh: (I was surprised-this is a big step for us- ie: wanting to do extra!), hence what started this whole thinking about catching up! I was all ready to just purchase TOG R2 (with STOW) for next year and go thru rest them slowly/in-depth and fill in the last 2 years (7th & 8th) with maybe geography/state history. Hmmmmm..... Anyway....thanks again for your thoughts- I will definitely keep them all in mind. For now, we'll keep doing what we're doing until I feel a strong sense one way or the other! If you are all happy, then I would keep going at the pace you are. The great thing about TOG (we used all 4 SOTW and then switched to TOG) is that you can revisit SOTW because they schedule it in as an alternate reading selection. So, even though we have done all 4 volumes, (and listened to them on CD) we enjoy including the SOTW chapters into our TOG week! I would get going so fast that you don't take time to enjoy the history (the projects and fun stuff) because that is one of the things that has given my kids a great love for history! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
profmom Posted May 23, 2008 Share Posted May 23, 2008 Here are a few other options to throw in: 1.) Use Abeka's 4th grade history book for a year of American history (beginning through modern), supplementing with library books as you go. Then start 5th grade with the 4-year cycle. 2.) Use MFW's 5 year history cycle beginning next year in 4th: 4th -- ECC -- year of geography focus 5th -- begin 4 year history cycle 3.) Throw in an odd history program for next year, such as WinterPromise's Sea and Sky program and then start the history cycle in 5th. 4.) Continue with year 2 in 4th grade and don't worry about completing a nice and neat 4-year history cycle with your oldest. If you think about it, if you're going to combine your kids for history, they won't each get the "perfect" history cycle that ends neatly with modern history in 12th grade. (My oldest and my youngest will have a complete 4-year history cycle beginning in 9th and ending in 12th, but my middle ds will have year 3 in 9th and proceed forward with year 4, year 1 in 11th grade, and year 2 in 12th.) I would feel pressured and rushed if I tried to complete the cycle according to your plan (1 SOTW per semester) -- that's a lot of info in a short amount of time! If you go ahead and try, I recommend that you stop and slow down if you find that you and your dc aren't enjoying the pace and/or if you start feeling pressured. I think there's a danger of burning yourself out at that pace, but you could always try and then stop if you find it isn't working. HTH! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
profmom Posted May 23, 2008 Share Posted May 23, 2008 I would get going so fast that you don't take time to enjoy the history (the projects and fun stuff) because that is one of the things that has given my kids a great love for history! :iagree: I'm finding that it's the history that is reinforced by projects that my dc remember from their elementary years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.