Hi,
I am looking for input from others who have used the following curriculums specifically, but also if you have another chronological history curriculum starting with ancient history that 1) you used and really really enjoyed & would recommend and 2) you think it would fit our family.
Veritas Press
Mystery of History
My Father's World (?)
Beautiful Feet ancient (what grade level?)
Sonlight ancient (what grade level?)
None of our family (including myself) has EVER taken ancient history, and I all but failed any history class I ever took in school. It was my worst subject, I am not good at it, I found it boring and could not relate to it at all. Since homeschooling, I have enjoyed history and am learning it along with my children. We've used Beautiful Feet Early American History (years ago), and Sonlight Core 5 (past 2 years). We loved them both. I am looking for something I can use with all of my kids (maybe not exactly) so I can keep them on the same (approximate) timeline. I also think I (and my kids) would be able to grasp history a little better if it 1) started at the beginning and 2) were tied in with Biblical history. My children:
-8th/9th grade boy who will be taking GBT I (Great Books Tutorial - reading Homer, Odyssey & Illiad, learning about ancient Greece & Rome, etc).
-7th grade girl who is a good reader, does well in school, scored high on her scholastic achievement tests EXCEPT for history which she only got 3/10 correct, and her scores (though above average still) have been getting lower every year since 1st grade. (And I know it's not all about the scores. :-))
-3rd grade boy who is gifted in some areas and challenged in others. He needs activity and challenge. He needs to be included, and no reading material is too hard for him (though it may be too boring for him to *want* to read it). He has just read the first 2 books in the Wayne Thomas Batson series for fun this summer (The Door Within trilogy) to give an idea of his reading level. His science skills and memory are great (except for math facts). His fine motor skills are VERY poor, and writing is difficult for him. He's had not much formal schooling (except for a page of ABeka math and ABeka Kindergarten writing per day that he's done on his own w/o much supervision from me) because he's so far ahead and I was working with other kids who I thought needed it more.
- 1st grade boy who wants to *do* something. He is forever trying to keep up with his older brother, and half the time succeeds. His reading skills are also good, but he is reading at about a 3rd grade level, not a high school or adult level like his brother. He's quite active, but can sit for periods of time.
- 4 yo. boy who wants to be included, but does not yet know all of his letters and can count only sometimes to 10. He is quiet & clingy and will sit & listen well. He doesn't like to get his hands messy. He can entertain himself all morning, but I don't think that's good for him and would like to include him somehow, even if he just sits on my lap.
Any thoughts on curriculum (chronological history) or what would be good for our family (for history)?
Thanks!