Going back to Old School WTM

[FishMama]

There may be a post on this topic, but I'm probably using the wrong words to search it out.

 

I started w/ WTM when the 1st edition came out. Did preK - 2 with my oldest. Then we did TOG for about 5 years, using borrowed curriculum for the first 2 years. I own Y1-3, but have decided not to buy y4 (for a variety of reasons)

 

Now am going back to Old School WTM, using the Kingfisher/Usborne books as a spine. (My schoolkids range from 1st-8th grade, so I'm not thinking SOTW4 will work for everyone.)

 

Is anyone else still doing it the "Old School" way? I'd love to get feedback.

[dsmama]

Very good post. I first read TWTM in its second edition, and while I like the 3rd ed in many ways, I still remember the many suggestions from the previous book.

 

For our history, we are using a hybrid -- Usborne is a spine, especially for chronology. My kids love to see the pictures and ask questions. But I also have SOTW2 -- we will listen to the audio CD on a particular chapter while kids color a page from the student pages. Since my oldest is in 2nd grade, we can do this without any pressure other than to explore and learn and have fun. But I don't do much of the rest w/SOTW2. We read, we color, we talk, we write a little, we think, and then we move on. Whereas the kids always love it when Usborne comes out, and we end up flipping around and making connections.

 

I'd love to hear others' thoughts on this topic.

[Sebastian (a lady)]

There may be a post on this topic, but I'm probably using the wrong words to search it out.

 

I started w/ WTM when the 1st edition came out. Did preK - 2 with my oldest. Then we did TOG for about 5 years, using borrowed curriculum for the first 2 years. I own Y1-3, but have decided not to buy y4 (for a variety of reasons)

 

Now am going back to Old School WTM, using the Kingfisher/Usborne books as a spine. (My schoolkids range from 1st-8th grade, so I'm not thinking SOTW4 will work for everyone.)

 

Is anyone else still doing it the "Old School" way? I'd love to get feedback.

 

I've gone round from WTM to more scheduled programs to tweaking programs to realizing that the schedules in the WTM chapter (that are known to be a little over the top) would be a break from all that I'm trying to cram in.

 

I have so many resources that I don't use. The last thing I need right now is another program that requires some specific book I don't have. More and more I'm cracking open my copy of WTM and using the suggestions there.

 

I even had one of those V8 head slap moments yesterday when I was trying to decide what history encyclopedia to use when I realized that I have the (once coveted) Kingfisher Illustrated History of the World. :hurray:

 

It just isn't worth it to me to spend $100 on a teacher guide or an IG that I only use the schedule from. (Coming up with questions to ask isn't a weak point for me or my kids.)

[FishMama]

Thanks so much. It's nice to know I'm not the only one.

[Sebastian (a lady)]

Thanks so much. It's nice to know I'm not the only one.

 

I can say that I've really appreciated the schedules in something like Sonlight. And there are great book recommendations in some of these programs.

 

But then I get to tweaking because we've read this book or that one is boring. This point of view is disturbing or that one doesn't take into account topics that I think should be explored.

 

I think I'm concluding that it actually is easier to pick up a book, read it, and narrate back or write on it. And once I toss out all of the comprehension questions that often come along, I think we'll have time for just that.

 

I know that sometimes WTM seems overwhelming. But there is also a great deal of freedom in the way that science and history are outlined. Much more freedom than having a schedule and feeling that you constantly have things undone if you don't check all of the boxes.

 

And what a freeing sense to be able to say that I don't need to buy a bunch more guides this year. I just need to shop on our own bookshelves.

[catholicmommy]

:lurk5:

 

Still trying to decide what to do for history next year... Modern times or back to ancients and using HO or back to WTM style.