I agree with Chalkboard in that as long as your daughter is learning it is just fine . . . I plan to look at CLE more in depth at our homeschool convention in June. Here in Illinois the State Board of Education does not specify content for High School English. Homeschoolers do not need to follow the State Board requirements for high school graduation but I looked at them for a guideline for high school prep. Perhaps the state you live in is similar. My dd loves to read and write but she needs more study with grammar and mechanics. I might use CLE or Rod and Staff but I know I will probably need to place her in a lower level, but since the state does not even specify content for English class I figure I will do just fine. There are diagnostic tests at the CLE website which might help you "place" your daughter. The tests are for math and Language Arts only. So you could possibly place her the "high school" level for literature but a lower level for grammar. Also, CLE sells an inexpensive book that teaches diagramming and a comprehensive English Handbook which might be very helpful.

Fathersjoy, I pm'd you. Adrianne in IL

I have searched a little on the boards but I am not finding a clear answer which answers my question . . . I understand how SWB combines history and Great Books, but my rising 9th grader is not at that level. I have decided to use BF's Ancient History for History next year as I already own many of the books and I think the level will be good for her . . . she is not at the rhetoric level by any means. But I am confused about English credits . . . could any of the items we read in our history study be counted as lit for English? Or do I need to come up with another reading/lit list for English class? I already have a grammar, writing and vocabulary program and many excellent poetry books. Thanks much!

at least with the first book. We have never done a four year history cycle. History has been catch as catch can. I am thinking of having my rising 9th grader read the first volume this summer before we begin a more in depth study of the ancients. The SOTW books are concise and fun to read but hit the important names, places and facts in a way that help you remember.

I stumbled upon this plan by Carol Hepburn, a homeschool mom who combines Ambleside Online and Classical methods. She has designed a "Year 12" where the Ancients are studied, using the History of the Ancient World and primary and secondary sources. I may use her plan, but sub some of the primary sources with retellings from the logic stage as my rising 9th grader is not quite ready for the real deal. But I wanted to share in case this helps others! Adrianne in IL http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cheps/pdf/Y12guide.pdf

"Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it" Santayana I felt the same way. In preparation for learning the Ancients I purchased and read through the TruthQuest Ancient Egypt/Greece and Ancient Rome guides. The commentary was eye opening to me. I understand history in many ways is interconnected. For example, the Magna Charta was the precursor to the Mayflower Compact, which was the precursor to the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation and ultimately the Constitution. But when you look at ancient civilizations and see that some of the same things that led to the downfall of those civilizations is happening in our own country today, it is rather eye opening. I think it is not only helpful to learn about ancient history, but to have some type of guide or worldview to help in the understanding of cause and effect, etc. That is what the TruthQuest guides do for me. I am sure there are other resources that do the same thing, but I just wanted to share what has helped me. Hope that helps.

That is a good suggestion Rhonda. Thank you! Adrianne in IL

I was looking at History Odyssey Ancients Level 2 for next year for my older dd who has not been homeschooled in a classical way. I see the current edition uses the 1999 Kingfisher. I have the older 1993 edition; the one many families prefer. My dd is a very visual learner and I think this book would be great as a history text for her. Could I make it work with the older Kingfisher edition? Would that be possible with the subsequent History Odyssey books (Middle Ages, Early Modern and Modern Times)? TIA Adrianne in IL

I have not actually used this, but I do have it and am thinking of using it as a geography course for my rising 9th grader. If you email me at jeffelbe@earthlink.net I would be happy to send you a schedule which I found in the yahoo group. The group is not terribly active but there are some helps in the files section. It would be very helpful to have blank maps to use. I recommend the Blank Outline Maps of History and Uncle Josh's Outline Maps. These are both on CD and allow you to print out as many maps as you need. While you may save a little $ by looking for maps online, these resources save time and are high quality. Adrianne in IL

I am planning on using this + the activity guide. We probably won't have a great deal of time for the crafts, but I like the activity guide suggestions for narrations, map work, etc. I know there are some schedules out there, such as Biblioplan, but I would rather just use the SOTW as it is written, rather than jump around in the volume. While I know I could make up my own schedule, why re-invent the wheel? Thanks to anyone who has suggestions. Adrianne in IL

Yes, we own several. Some are recent purchases (within the past five years). Some my husband inherited when his Grandfather passed away. We live in IL which is one of the most anti-gun states in the nation, but we live in a town which permits handgun ownership. We have a special needs son so we take special care to make sure our guns are under lock and key and ammo is kept in a seperate location.

I have just recently ordered CLE math, LA and Reading for my younger dd. I have read so many good things about these subjects here on these boards. I used some R&S materials with my older dd, but had her copy the math and English assignments onto notebook paper. With CLE the student does all the work right in the workbooks. There is something to be said about that. The materials are also very affordable. The LA program is "all in one" which I like. I think both programs are excellent and foster independence in the student. They are both simple, yet "back to basics" programs. I don't think you can go wrong with either!

I have a pdf file that a kind person put together which places the readings from AO years 1-4 in a four year history rotation. That may be helpful to you. I am sure I found it through a post here on these boards, but I do not have a link to where I obtained the file . . . just the file itself. If you email me at jeffelbe@earthlink.net I will send you the file. There is also a file Missey Gray put together that might be of help to you. You will want to download the AO/SOTW outline . . . http://www.geocities.com/justahappygrl/ Adrianne in IL

My daughter just turned nine. She is a "late bloomer" as she has only recently become a fluent reader (after much worry and stress on my part). While I don't plan to totally turn her loose, I am looking for something she will be able to read on her own and then we will have discussion during our daily meeting time. There just never seems to be enough time in the day! Thanks all! Adrianne in IL

After spending years of putting together my own LA program, I have "discovered" Christian Light Education LA. The CLE program steamlines grammar, spelling, penmanship and writing into one program. I learned about CLE here on these boards. I have recently switched my younger dd to their LA, Reading and Math programs. The LA program is a stand alone curriculum, but I decided to add the Reading program because it is said to be excellent for teaching literary analysis skills. I am very pleased with the products and they are very affordable compared to other products out there. http://www.clp.org/

I am considering switching to a textbook approach next year to help my younger dd become more independent. Has anyone done this with the SOTW series? I plan to have her narrate and take the tests. We might do some of the projects from the activity guide if time permits, but I am looking for a "Social Studies" program my dd can do on her own the majority of the time. Thanks for any input! Adrianne in IL

The book is written directly to the student and can be done independently. I highly recommend the helps at Donna Young's website. Free schedules, vocabulary words, tips on creating a lab notebook, templates for worksheets, on your own questions, etc. Take a look at http://donnayoung.org/apologia/general.htm The book is heavy on creationism. You might find you need to do a bit of editing, or you might present all the material and then discuss your beliefs. Anyway, if you do decide to use I think the helps at Donna Young's site will be useful. Her site is a goldmine!

When we used the American History for Young Students series we did everything pretty much together. I read the commentary and a read-aloud. My favorite memory was reading "Amos Fortune, Free Man". What a fantastic book! My older daughter got the most out of the commentary and the reading, but everyone joined in and it was a warm, memorable way to do history together. I also had my older dd read some books on her own, but the main way we used the guide was together, with me doing the reading of the commentary, some discussion, and a great read aloud. I am planning history for rising 9th grader. I am thinking of having her read the commentary herself along with a spine and selected literature. She will probably write narrations or perhaps I may use IEW resources for the time period studied. I know when I read through the commentary alone in the guide it helps to serve as a "Worldview" which ties together the history.