Starting SOTW late?

[bluejay]

Was wondering if anyone else here is in this situation.  Is it OK to read SOTW1 in Grade 2 instead of Grade 1?  We're thinking of quickly going through it (not all chapters) before moving on to Medieval History, which I think we will cover for only a few months (I'm not that interested in it beyond knights and King Arthur LOL).  See, we have covered major civilizations with the Usborne books and Pipo video series. But we didn't cover it in depth like SOTW1 does.  My question is, should I do this now or can I save SOTW1 as a basic text for the Logic Stage?  What would you recommend? 

 

Like I said, DS is familiar with the major stuff (Greece, Egypt, Rome, etc.), but I am looking for a more thorough grounding.

[desertflower]

Yes, one can start sotw 1 in grade 2.  In my research, I've found that many people think that sotw 4 is too violent for a fourth grader.  I would not leave it for logic stage as I believe that it's written for the elementary grades. 

[....]

I've read through the SOTW series with 3 different kids.  I actually disagree with the age recommendations for the series in WTM.  I tend to start the series in 3rd grade.  It starts off simple, but there are so many details and it skips all over the world in SOTW 3 and 4.  My kids would sometimes have trouble figuring out where in the world I was reading about.  Also, I didn't want to read about the time period in SOTW 4 until the kids were older.  Even I was learning stuff in basically every chapter...   :o in SOTW 4.  

 

Ironically, the best year I had reading through that volume was with a 7th grader.  We were able to supplement with Youtube video footage of different historical events and we actually had a ton of great discussions about the reading.

 

So, yes, I think waiting to start the series until 2nd grade to start is fine.  Just my opinion.

[....]

In my research, I've found that many people think that sotw 4 is too violent for a fourth grader.  

 

I think it's THE most frightening time period in history - that's why.  And it's so close to "now", so it's even more real.  SWB probably couldn't have written it any differently...

[bluejay]

Thank you all. I'm assuming SOTW4 covers the world wars, right?  I can certainly understand that.  Of course all history has violent periods, but it hits especially close to home because it's more recent.  We've all had family go through that, directly or indirectly...

 

Should I hurry through it to make sure we cover some Medieval this year?  Or should I not worry about it?

Edited May 26, 2017 by bluejay

[rebbyribs]

We started SOTW1 when my oldest was in 2nd grade (her first year of homeschooling).  It seemed just about right, and I wouldn't try to rush through.  You might consider doing SOTW in grades 2-6, and then studying something else for a couple years in middle school (US history, history of science, world geography, the Eastern hemisphere) and then another 4-year cycle in high school.  

[Miss Tick]

You should totally not worry about following the suggested schedule. Start now and go at the pace that works for you. Maybe you'll find the middle ages more interesting than you expect, maybe your students will want to spend extra time studying ninjas and samurai, perhaps you will get an urge to spend a year in American history... Your school, your rules. I would caution that SOTW is often too "young" for logic stage, so saving it may not work out.

[wendyroo]

I would caution that SOTW is often too "young" for logic stage, so saving it may not work out.

 

:iagree:

 

Also, the books get progressively "harder" throughout the series, not just in terms of events covered, but also length and style of writing.

 

I can easily see working through SOTW 4 with a middle schooler, but I think my kids would find SOTW 1 & 2 very childish by then.

 

Wendy

[Kiara.I]

We started it late too, and then weren't consistent for the first while so fell father "behind." That's fine. We're moving quickly now, but will be finishing the first run through while my oldest is on grade 5.

 

I wouldn't save it for logic stage though. My kids are handling it just fine in grades 4 and 2, I'm going to be expecting more on the logic stage. (They'll hear it again in logic though, because of a younger sibling.)

 

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

[HS Mom in NC]

We took 2 years to go through SOTW 1: Ancients.  Youngest was very hyper active in 1st, so we had to do shorter sessions and a slower pace. It was 5 years to complete the history cycle using all 4 SOTW books along with the activity books that go with them.

We're going through the second cycle in 3 years.  Since we're using the Story of Science 3 book series by Hakim and we started late with SOTW, we're doing a compressed 3 year cycle to go with science which moved chronologically through time.

We used Greenleaf Guides that go with The Famous Men of Greece, Rome, Middle Ages, (selecting 3 per week of the most important chapters) for 6th grade.  For Early Modern times in 7th grade (next year) we're using Memoria Press's one year of American history called The Story of the 13 Colonies & The Great Republic from the Vikings in North America through the Spanish American War in 1898 is our spine and the workbook/activity book that goes with it.  I haven't decided on which modern history book I'll use next year for 8th grade.

That means we can do a full 4 year rotation for high school or a compressed one if she still plans to graduate early like her sisters.

[HS Mom in NC]

If you save SOTW 1 &2 for the logic stage, you'll need to bulk it up with the more mature fiction and non-fiction on the recommended reading lists in the SOTW activity books or other sources.

[prairiewindmomma]

Absolutely! We did it with my 2nd grader this year as her older siblings were all studying Ancients in their particular history cycles. 

[bluejay]

I think the consensus is pretty clear:  OK to teach now but better not wait til Logic Stage because it's too basic!   So I guess that's what we'll do.  If he gets bored, we'll move along. 

 

BTW, has anyone checked out the Usborne "handbooks"?  We really enjoyed the Roman soldier recruit's handbook. We're going to read the knight's and pirate's handbooks too!   So funny but also packed with information.