morningcoffee Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 Anyone have anything to share about Rod and Staff's middle and high school science and history? I haven't seen many reviews so anything you could tell me about them would be appreciated! I'm generally interested in grades 7 - 9 for both subjects; particularly in the grade 9's history as it looks most promising at this stage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PollyOR Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 We used their elementary books for both subjects. We didn't get very far into the history books for the older grades as they seemed to me to include more and more Anabaptist history and views. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G5052 Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 I agree on the history books. As an example, a lesson on the Civil War will focus primarily on how war is always wrong and specific pacifist responses by Mennonites during the period. IMHO, we prefer a broader view of such conflicts and believe that war is indeed sometimes justified. The science is good, but lighter than most. The branch of Mennonites that Rod and Staff is part of do not believe in going to college, and in some cases they stop school at 8th grade or just a little further. The less conservative Mennonites that we know who are planning college admissions mostly use Apologia for science. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2_girls_mommy Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 I haven't even looked at SS or Science after 2nd grade just from knowing the things above posters have already said. And I love all that I do use from R&S. I'm waiting on a delivery today from their half price seconds sale as I write this. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morningcoffee Posted October 12, 2016 Author Share Posted October 12, 2016 I agree on the history books. As an example, a lesson on the Civil War will focus primarily on how war is always wrong and specific pacifist responses by Mennonites during the period. IMHO, we prefer a broader view of such conflicts and believe that war is indeed sometimes justified. Thanks for the example. That is really making me pause ... especially when you consider how much warfare features in history! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverMoon Posted October 12, 2016 Share Posted October 12, 2016 I haven't seen the high school level materials. While we used their English, math, and spelling successfully for multiple years each, we found the science and history to be as dry as chalk dust. There are so many better options out there it wasn't worth supplementing and trying to liven up. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsquirrel Posted October 12, 2016 Share Posted October 12, 2016 I thought R&S books stopped after 10th grade? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morningcoffee Posted October 12, 2016 Author Share Posted October 12, 2016 I thought R&S books stopped after 10th grade? I think most subjects stop at 9th grade? I'm interested in some of their books from grade 7 - 9. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morningcoffee Posted October 12, 2016 Author Share Posted October 12, 2016 There are so many better options out there it wasn't worth supplementing and trying to liven up. Thankyou .... it's interesting you should say that because that's just what I was planning on doing (supplementing). What are some of the other options you liked for middle school/high school science and history? I was attracted to Rod and Staff because it looked like a straightforward and solid base which would allow time for adding literature, videos etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverMoon Posted October 12, 2016 Share Posted October 12, 2016 (edited) . Edited September 5, 2023 by SilverMoon 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PollyOR Posted October 15, 2016 Share Posted October 15, 2016 (edited) A little more info from what I can remember ... R&S social studies in the middle grades seemed like hit or miss. 6th grade Latin America was geography in the first half and then history in the second. We never made it to the history because the geography section was like reading a list of facts. Boring. The rest of the books (7-9) had good info in them but they did seem more fact based than the younger levels and I got tired of editing out the Anabaptist history (not for us personally). We like K12's The Human Odyssey and Critical Thinking's World History Detective better. I'm not sure what we will do after K12, but I'm looking at the books offered through Memoria Press. American and World We used R&S Science for 3rd - 6th grades. I have the newer grade 7 set , but it was harder for me to schedule (units vs. lessons). I know it is a lame reason to drop their science but I'm trying to be honest :tongue_smilie:. I haven't seen the science books in the grade levels above 7. It looks like they've published new science books for grades 9&10. edited to add: Facts are a good thing but it felt like we were just learning a list of facts. Edited October 15, 2016 by PollyOR 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rose Posted October 26, 2016 Share Posted October 26, 2016 This is a little old and you may have made up your mind but you might like CLE for history. It's more thorough and I think quite good. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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