Please take pity on me....

[rookie]

I am supposed to start school and am not ready. Here's why:

 

I have a seven-week old.

 

My DH has been gone five of those seven weeks on business trips.

 

I have been alone to care for the five dc.

 

During that time I have had two dc come down with walking pnemonia and two others with bronchitis, I have mastitis now.

 

I loaned my copy of the WTM to a mom who was interested in hsing - I never got it back and do not have it to refer to.

 

 

So, I have two hours to plan today and order some books from the library (one which will be WTM!) for history and need a really pared down book chrono book list. Everything I search for offers loads of books and I just do not have the time or energy to figure it out.

 

PLEASE, I AM BEGGING - provide me with only 1-3 books - per each stage of history - that you would consider MUST READ IN ORDER TO HAVE SOME SEMBLANCE OF EDUCATION IN YOUR HS.

 

All of the dc are strong/above grade readers. They are entering 2, 4, and 7. The 7th grader is trying to do 7th and 8th grade in one year so needs to be challenged.

 

Just to make it clear, I would like 1-3 suggestions for Ancients, 1-3 for MidAges, 1-3 for Early Modern, 1-3 for Modern, for each grade level.

 

I hope to hear from you soon.

 

Many, many thanks.

[King Alfred Academy]

No recs. Just :grouphug:.

[plain jane]

I am supposed to start school and am not ready. Here's why:

 

I have a seven-week old.

 

My DH has been gone five of those seven weeks on business trips.

 

I have been alone to care for the five dc.

 

During that time I have had two dc come down with walking pnemonia and two others with bronchitis, I have mastitis now.

 

I loaned my copy of the WTM to a mom who was interested in hsing - I never got it back and do not have it to refer to.

 

 

So, I have two hours to plan today and order some books from the library (one which will be WTM!) for history and need a really pared down book chrono book list. Everything I search for offers loads of books and I just do not have the time or energy to figure it out.

 

PLEASE, I AM BEGGING - provide me with only 1-3 books - per each stage of history - that you would consider MUST READ IN ORDER TO HAVE SOME SEMBLANCE OF EDUCATION IN YOUR HS.

 

All of the dc are strong/above grade readers. They are entering 2, 4, and 7. The 7th grader is trying to do 7th and 8th grade in one year so needs to be challenged.

 

Just to make it clear, I would like 1-3 suggestions for Ancients, 1-3 for MidAges, 1-3 for Early Modern, 1-3 for Modern, for each grade level.

 

I hope to hear from you soon.

 

Many, many thanks.

 

Oh my. :grouphug:

 

I'll take a stab at it. I'm so sorry you are dealing with all of this. :grouphug:

 

I can't comment on grade 7 as my oldest isn't there yet and I don't know what would be considered meaty enough for that age.

 

Ancients:

Grade 2: Wanderings of Odysseus (Sutcliff), Black Ships Before Troy (Sutcliff), D'Aulaires Greek Myths

 

Grade 4: Children's Homer (Colum), D'Aulaire's Greek Myths, In Search of a Homeland (Lively)

 

 

Middle Ages:

Grade 2: D'Aulaire's Book of Norse Myths, Mary Pope Osborne's Favorite Medieval Tales (fantastic book!!), D'Aulaire's Lief the Lucky or Columbus

Grade 4: Children of Odin (Colum), Tales from Shakespeare (Charles & Mary Lamb), I would do either King Arthur or Robin Hood by Howard Pyle (or Roger Lancelyn Green may be more readable for this age)

 

Early Modern: aaaaa :willy_nilly: Hard to pick just 3 books that aren't controversial (or I'd vote Genevieve Foster) :willy_nilly:

Grade 2: D'Aulaire's Buffalo Bill, Pocahontas, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, America in the Time of Lewis and Clark (Isaacs),

 

Grade 4: either America's Paul Revere or Paul Revere's Ride, Johnny Tremain, George vs. George, Give me Liberty (Freedman)

 

 

Modern:

I have to think on this and come back to it in a bit. :) Ack. I'm planning this year out right now so I don't have first-hand experience with it. I don't think I can pick just 3 at the moment. Besides, I think we'll be doing Genevieve Foster. :leaving: ;)

 

Grade 2: D'Aulaire's Abraham Lincoln,

 

Grade 4: Abe Lincoln: Log Cabin to White House or Abe Lincoln Goes to Washington,

 

 

Gah! Good luck. I hope this list helps a bit. :grouphug:

Edited August 8, 2010 by plain jane

[~Kirsten~]

Many, many hugs! :grouphug: In your shoes, I'd probably do SOTW for 2nd and 4th, and I'd do the same time period for them both. In fact, I'd seriously consider just buying the audio and tossing it at them. :lol: That would more, MORE than cover a year of history. I'm going to be no help whatsoever for the 7th/8th, though.

 

But I might be misunderstanding; are you wanting 1-3 supplements for a program, or do you just want a program? I'm wondering if it's the supplements, since you want to go the library ordering route. For early grades and early time periods, I second Plain Jane's suggestion of D'Aulaires.

 

Really, I know this isn't that helpful, but I want to be! More hugs instead! :grouphug:

[rookie]

Oh my. :grouphug:

 

I'll take a stab at it. I'm so sorry you are dealing with all of this. :grouphug:

 

I can't comment on grade 7 as my oldest isn't there yet and I don't know what would be considered meaty enough for that age.

 

Ancients:

 

Grade 2: Wanderings of Odysseus (Sutcliff), Black Ships Before Troy (Sutcliff), D'Aulaires Greek Myths

 

Grade 4: Children's Homer (Colum), D'Aulaire's Greek Myths, In Search of a Homeland (Lively)

 

 

Middle Ages:

 

Grade 2: D'Aulaire's Book of Norse Myths, Mary Pope Osborne's Favorite Medieval Tales (fantastic book!!), D'Aulaire's Lief the Lucky or Columbus

Grade 4: Children of Odin (Colum), Tales from Shakespeare (Charles & Mary Lamb), I would do either King Arthur or Robin Hood by Howard Pyle

 

Early Modern:

 

Grade 2

I have to think on this and come back to it in a bit. :)

Grade 4

 

 

Modern:

 

Grade 2

I have to think on this and come back to it in a bit. :)

Grade 4

 

 

This is exactly the sort of help I need. Thank you!

 

Please if anyone can chime in with reading suggestions for 7/8th grade it would be awesome.

[ChemMommy]

I'd probably declare that school start Sept 30th and give myself a break. If that's not in the cards (and it should be--you can always add in Saturdays or an extra month NEXT summer to make up the time), I would declare that school consists of math and library books.

 

The two younger students would be assigned to find one history book and one science/nature book for the week, in addition to at least one chapter book that is mutually agreeable. I'd do two 30-minute math lessons a day, one for each child. While the baby is sleeping, I'd have the two younger student read quietly on their beds.

 

For art, I'd give them a pile of scrap paper and glue and tell them to make a picture of something they read about that week.

 

For PE, I'd plop the baby in a stroller and have the kids bicycle while you push the stroller.

 

I'd have them watch 30-60 minute of education TV (educational as YOU define it: Liberty Kids, WordGirl, Cyberchase).

 

I'd spend some time teaching each older child to do a specific chore around the house: dishwasher loading and unloading, vacuuming, clothes folding. And then give the task to them for perpetuity.

 

And seriously, you've had a baby and have had a very hard 7 weeks. School can start at any point this fall, IMHO. Use this time to recover and start when things settle down.

 

As for specifics, SOTW would work for both younger students, if you read it aloud for the younger one or if you buy the audio version.

 

For your older one, I would consider the series of books that starts with "Augustus Caesar's World". You can see the series and brief review here:

 

www.abasiccurriculum.com/reviews/foster.html

 

Or I would consider the Guerber history series:

 

http://www.nothingnewpress.com/guerber.shtml

 

 

 

I would have the 7th grader write one paragraph per day about what they had read that day in history and one paragraph about what they learned in science. I would grade the essay and correct whatever grammar, spelling, and composition errors you stumble over.

 

At this point in your life, only the educational progress of the 7th grader is critical. I would focus whatever energy and time I had available on that child. I'd keep the education for the next two kids as simple as what is outlined above. I would have the 7th grader choose one supplemental history book on the same topic they are reading. I'd have the 7th grader choose one science topic and read 1-2 books per week on that topic for a month before moving to a new topic. 7th grader would then be learning basic research skills AND supplementing their education.

 

BIG HUGS, darling!! Delaying school by four weeks will make an enormous difference in your life, but no difference at all in the educational progress of your children. Don't let other guilt you into burning yourself out--you have lots of little ones depending on you right now!!:grouphug:

[ma23peas]

For your 7th grader:

 

Mara, Daughter of the Nile (McGraw...any of her books!)

Hittite Warrior- Williamson

Eagle of the Ninth- Sutcliff

The Roman Mysteries series (my kids loved these!)

Pearl Maiden-Haggard

 

Medieval:

The White STag- Seredy

The Second Mrs. Giaconda-Konigsburg

Adam of the Road-Gray

Fine Print: A Story About Johann Gutenberg-Burch

 

Early Modern:

Island of the Blue Dolphin-O'Dell

Master Cornhill (McGraw..did I saw we loved this author?)

I, Juan de Pareja- De Trevino

Amos Fortune, Free Man- Yates

 

Modern:

Commodore Perry in the Land of the Shogun- Blumberg

Wolves of Willoughby Chase- Aiken

House of Sixty Fathers- DeJong

The Endless Steppe- Hautzig

Snow Treasure- McSwigan

 

Bless you! Rest and give yourself a break! :)

Tara

[M&M]

I'd probably declare that school start Sept 30th and give myself a break. If that's not in the cards (and it should be--you can always add in Saturdays or an extra month NEXT summer to make up the time), I would declare that school consists of math and library books.

 

The two younger students would be assigned to find one history book and one science/nature book for the week, in addition to at least one chapter book that is mutually agreeable. I'd do two 30-minute math lessons a day, one for each child. While the baby is sleeping, I'd have the two younger student read quietly on their beds.

 

For art, I'd give them a pile of scrap paper and glue and tell them to make a picture of something they read about that week.

 

For PE, I'd plop the baby in a stroller and have the kids bicycle while you push the stroller.

 

I'd have them watch 30-60 minute of education TV (educational as YOU define it: Liberty Kids, WordGirl, Cyberchase).

 

I'd spend some time teaching each older child to do a specific chore around the house: dishwasher loading and unloading, vacuuming, clothes folding. And then give the task to them for perpetuity.

 

And seriously, you've had a baby and have had a very hard 7 weeks. School can start at any point this fall, IMHO. Use this time to recover and start when things settle down.

 

As for specifics, SOTW would work for both younger students, if you read it aloud for the younger one or if you buy the audio version.

 

For your older one, I would consider the series of books that starts with "Augustus Caesar's World". You can see the series and brief review here:

 

www.abasiccurriculum.com/reviews/foster.html

 

Or I would consider the Guerber history series:

 

http://www.nothingnewpress.com/guerber.shtml

 

 

 

I would have the 7th grader write one paragraph per day about what they had read that day in history and one paragraph about what they learned in science. I would grade the essay and correct whatever grammar, spelling, and composition errors you stumble over.

 

At this point in your life, only the educational progress of the 7th grader is critical. I would focus whatever energy and time I had available on that child. I'd keep the education for the next two kids as simple as what is outlined above. I would have the 7th grader choose one supplemental history book on the same topic they are reading. I'd have the 7th grader choose one science topic and read 1-2 books per week on that topic for a month before moving to a new topic. 7th grader would then be learning basic research skills AND supplementing their education.

 

 

:iagree: :iagree:

 

We have had to re-arrange our school schedule many times due to morning sickness, new baby, the death of my bil, mil having cancer, etc...

You really must take time take care of yourself and that baby.

 

Ambleside Online has great book lists for all ages.

http://amblesideonline.org/

 

 

 

Last year we moved, 8th grade dd did this independently

http://ebeth.typepad.com/serendipity/2009/07/announcing-literature-for-a-young-lady.html We are not Catholic, so we skipped that part of it, dd did math also. I just gave my 5th grader some books to read, copywork, and math. The younger ones mostly played, listened to stories, and a little math and phonics when we had time. When we got settled in February, we started back to a more regular schedule, and everyone is fine. Dd 9th has some math to catch up on, but she always lags behind a little.

 

I have found that when we have taken a break, my children come back to their work with a new appreciation and maturity. Those bumps in life have their own lessons to teach us.

 

Please take care of yourself :001_smile:

[StephanieZ]

You have a 7 wk old and are staring hs'ing NOW?

 

Oh, no, dear heart, do not do that.

 

Give it 5 more weeks. Make it the 12 week mark for sure. That'll put your start date mid September. Just grand. Perfectly grand.

 

Take a bath. Snuggle your infant. Read your older(s) a bed time story.

 

Put hs'ing out of your mind for a month. OK, I permit you two hours twice a week to plan/read these boards/order books/meditate/organize. That's it for the next month. You'll be just fine.

 

Meanwhile, go take a nap!!!!!! This is supposed to be fun! (Both motherhood and hs'ing) Starting with the handicap of a brand new newborn is no way to start!

[Country Mouse]

You have a 7 wk old and are staring hs'ing NOW?

 

Oh, no, dear heart, do not do that.

 

Give it 5 more weeks. Make it the 12 week mark for sure. That'll put your start date mid September. Just grand. Perfectly grand.

 

Take a bath. Snuggle your infant. Read your older(s) a bed time story.

 

Put hs'ing out of your mind for a month. OK, I permit you two hours twice a week to plan/read these boards/order books/meditate/organize. That's it for the next month. You'll be just fine.

 

Meanwhile, go take a nap!!!!!! This is supposed to be fun! (Both motherhood and hs'ing) Starting with the handicap of a brand new newborn is no way to start!

:iagree:

 

And :grouphug:.

[Sebastian (a lady)]

I am supposed to start school and am not ready. Here's why:

 

I have a seven-week old.

 

My DH has been gone five of those seven weeks on business trips.

 

I have been alone to care for the five dc.

 

During that time I have had two dc come down with walking pnemonia and two others with bronchitis, I have mastitis now.

 

I loaned my copy of the WTM to a mom who was interested in hsing - I never got it back and do not have it to refer to.

 

 

So, I have two hours to plan today and order some books from the library (one which will be WTM!) for history and need a really pared down book chrono book list. Everything I search for offers loads of books and I just do not have the time or energy to figure it out.

 

PLEASE, I AM BEGGING - provide me with only 1-3 books - per each stage of history - that you would consider MUST READ IN ORDER TO HAVE SOME SEMBLANCE OF EDUCATION IN YOUR HS.

 

All of the dc are strong/above grade readers. They are entering 2, 4, and 7. The 7th grader is trying to do 7th and 8th grade in one year so needs to be challenged.

 

Just to make it clear, I would like 1-3 suggestions for Ancients, 1-3 for MidAges, 1-3 for Early Modern, 1-3 for Modern, for each grade level.

 

I hope to hear from you soon.

 

Many, many thanks.

 

Out of curiosity, why are you looking for books from each stage of history?

[Angie in VA]

:iagree:

 

I'm currently in bed with mastitis as well, and want to implore you to just focus on resting, feeding your baby, and getting better. You've been under a lot of stress, and mastitis is a sign you need to slow down for a bit. :grouphug:

 

ITA w/ this and w/ the words of wisdom you've received.

 

Ya know, when my mother was dying (she was in the hospital for nearly 3 months) and I drove 90+ miles (one way) to stay her almost every night, and had dc who were 3 and 7, we did do "school work." (The Lord sustained me on about 2 hours of sleep a night. Not humanly possible otherwise!)

 

We snuggled on my bed and read books and did the bare minimum for the 3 R's w/ the older one. The biggest lessons during that time were that you take care of your family and you make their last days on earth as comfortable as possible. In your case? You take care of you and your newborn. Do what you can, but first take care of you.

 

You know what the airlines tell parents: first put YOUR oxygen mask on, then assist your dc.

 

Ditto for life, or else you can't help anyone else.

 

:grouphug:

Edited August 9, 2010 by Angie in VA

[AudreyTN]

I definitely would wait to start. If you really feel that you need to start tomorrow then just keep it simple. Math and maybe some language arts. Give it another month to really start.

 

:grouphug::grouphug:

[LearningGrace]

Found your post and am praying for you tonight to find the grace/courage to do what's fundamentally best for your family right now. For whatever my two pennies are worth, my vote is for rest, enjoying the snuggles of that sweet, tender-skinned newborn who will be sleeping and eating better in 5 more weeks and whose Mommy will be too...especially if that mastitis goes away quickly. I'm afraid if you don't listen to your body, you'll feel so sick you won't be able to care for your sweet ones without some major help. We only have two, but I regret not taking more time off when she was born to just snuggle her while we watched her brother play. A couple of months of school will probably seem much easier to 'catch up' when Mommy is feeling well and more rested.

 

:grouphug: and prayers ~

[texasmama]

:grouphug:I would take it easy and slow, too. That is hard to do, but it is okay to do at for a few weeks.:grouphug:

 

If you are looking for grade level book recommendations, you can look at Sonlight by grade level Core for ideas.

[rookie]

What sweet posts!

 

I often push when I should be still. Thank you for reminding me of this. My personal worth is tied to being productive and timely (one of my inner issues) so I get anxious if I wait. But, I can grow, right? So, I will read aloud and do some fun things for now while we recuperate. If I organize one subject per day, I can be ready by the end of the month.

 

Thanks both for the advice and recs! :)

[ubermomto5]

i struggle with this too, having an 8 wk old (though my dh hasn't been gone) and 5 others that need attention. but as i ALMOST got mastitis and just caught it soon enough, i can't say enough that you are being VERY PRODUCTIVE by nursing and caring for your new baby! if you wait till 12 weeks at least to work yourself you'll be much more able to take care of everyone else. after my 4th i forgot this lesson and spent about 6 months in a confused, tired fog. i barely remember that time. a few weeks now mean a better mommy later. and ask yourself if in 2 years you'll be sorry you didn't start school 'on time' or if you'll be sorry you didn't enjoy your tiny baby when you could.

[Catwoman]

I agree with everyone else -- don't feel that you have to start school because the calendar says it's a certain date. That's the beauty of homeschooling; we can make adjustments and take breaks when we need them.

 

You're being too hard on yourself during a very difficult and stressful time. Please give yourself a break and try not to worry. If you start a month (or more) later than you planned, it's not the end of the world. You can always catch up later (if you really feel the need to do that,) by taking a shorter break at Christmas, or ending your school year a bit later next summer.

 

Realistically, none of your dc are heading off to college next year, so a minor setback right now isn't going to hurt anyone --- and it will definitely help you calm down and take the time to plan what you want to accomplish, instead of feeling panicked because you're trying to do too much all at once, just to meet an arbitrary deadline on the calendar.

 

Now, take a deep breath and go have some fun with those great kids and that wonderful new baby! Or else take a nice little nap!

 

:grouphug::grouphug::grouphug:

 

Cat

[Aubrey]

What sweet posts!

 

I often push when I should be still. Thank you for reminding me of this. My personal worth is tied to being productive and timely (one of my inner issues) so I get anxious if I wait. But, I can grow, right? So, I will read aloud and do some fun things for now while we recuperate. If I organize one subject per day, I can be ready by the end of the month.

 

Thanks both for the advice and recs! :)

 

My #4 was born 2 Augusts ago. For the time that mil was w/ me, I wanted to get some sch done...I wasn't sure what I'd be able to do later, kwim?

 

I didn't really plan anything, though. We read The Wheel on the School & a chunk of Hans Brinker. Since those both happened to be set in Holland, we read more about Holland & then about tulips & storks. We kind-of...read in circles around that one place--history, legends, etc., but not much more in depth than the stories were, if that makes sense. Nothing hard, nothing planned, nothing to feel we hadn't finished something.

 

It's my favorite hs'ing memory of all time! I'd love a curric that could reproduce that feeling/experience. Anyway, my point is...could you try... a simpler, more unit-study approach? Less planning? I hope that doesn't frustrate you to suggest!

 

But for your first request--I can't speak to *essential* books, but beyond SOTW, some of our favorites so far for the moderns have been Two Miserable Presidents & Which Way to the Wild West. We're reading First People for an overview of Native American history.

 

:grouphug:

[M&M]

I didn't really plan anything, though. We read The Wheel on the School & a chunk of Hans Brinker. Since those both happened to be set in Holland, we read more about Holland & then about tulips & storks. We kind-of...read in circles around that one place--history, legends, etc., but not much more in depth than the stories were, if that makes sense. Nothing hard, nothing planned, nothing to feel we hadn't finished something.

 

It's my favorite hs'ing memory of all time! I'd love a curric that could reproduce that feeling/experience. Anyway, my point is...could you try... a simpler, more unit-study approach? Less planning? I hope that doesn't frustrate you to suggest!

 

 

 

Aubrey,

 

Could it be that you had that experience/feeling because you were not following a curricum? This is not a criticism, I just wonder if that element is missing in our homeschools because we are "chasing that train" to finish the curriculum. :confused:

[Aubrey]

Aubrey,

 

Could it be that you had that experience/feeling because you were not following a curricum? This is not a criticism, I just wonder if that element is missing in our homeschools because we are "chasing that train" to finish the curriculum. :confused:

 

Actually, I was loosely following an old SL...I can't remember if it was 1st or 2nd. But as we were going, I "tweaked" it...hehehehe. I've since come to the conclusion that SL isn't...quite...for us...I'd love for it to be, but it's not. *However* that few wks has given me a picture of something else, if that makes sense, & I've changed the way I plan my curric more & more to match that experience.

 

But, no--I've gone w/out curric before, & this was not the result of that! :blink: W/out curric is a disaster *for me.* :001_smile:

[MelissaMinNC]

I'd probably declare that school start Sept 30th and give myself a break. If that's not in the cards (and it should be--you can always add in Saturdays or an extra month NEXT summer to make up the time), I would declare that school consists of math and library books.

 

The two younger students would be assigned to find one history book and one science/nature book for the week, in addition to at least one chapter book that is mutually agreeable. I'd do two 30-minute math lessons a day, one for each child. While the baby is sleeping, I'd have the two younger student read quietly on their beds.

 

For art, I'd give them a pile of scrap paper and glue and tell them to make a picture of something they read about that week.

 

For PE, I'd plop the baby in a stroller and have the kids bicycle while you push the stroller.

 

I'd have them watch 30-60 minute of education TV (educational as YOU define it: Liberty Kids, WordGirl, Cyberchase).

 

I'd spend some time teaching each older child to do a specific chore around the house: dishwasher loading and unloading, vacuuming, clothes folding. And then give the task to them for perpetuity.

 

And seriously, you've had a baby and have had a very hard 7 weeks. School can start at any point this fall, IMHO. Use this time to recover and start when things settle down.

 

As for specifics, SOTW would work for both younger students, if you read it aloud for the younger one or if you buy the audio version.

 

For your older one, I would consider the series of books that starts with "Augustus Caesar's World". You can see the series and brief review here:

 

www.abasiccurriculum.com/reviews/foster.html

 

Or I would consider the Guerber history series:

 

http://www.nothingnewpress.com/guerber.shtml

 

 

 

I would have the 7th grader write one paragraph per day about what they had read that day in history and one paragraph about what they learned in science. I would grade the essay and correct whatever grammar, spelling, and composition errors you stumble over.

 

At this point in your life, only the educational progress of the 7th grader is critical. I would focus whatever energy and time I had available on that child. I'd keep the education for the next two kids as simple as what is outlined above. I would have the 7th grader choose one supplemental history book on the same topic they are reading. I'd have the 7th grader choose one science topic and read 1-2 books per week on that topic for a month before moving to a new topic. 7th grader would then be learning basic research skills AND supplementing their education.

 

BIG HUGS, darling!! Delaying school by four weeks will make an enormous difference in your life, but no difference at all in the educational progress of your children. Don't let other guilt you into burning yourself out--you have lots of little ones depending on you right now!!:grouphug:

 

:iagree:

 

You had me at "I have a 7 week old." I had a baby last year at this time, and whew - it's hard! Even when everyone's healthy and the baby is "easy" it's still hard to do all that you're trying to do. Please take care, rest, recover and enjoy that new baby!

 

:grouphug:

Melissa

[M&M]

 

But, no--I've gone w/out curric before, & this was not the result of that! :blink: W/out curric is a disaster *for me.* :001_smile:

 

 

 

:lol::lol: It would be pretty scary around here as well. Something in me wants to believe that w/o curriculum my kids will step up and learn on their own. It must be like that dream I keep having that when I wake all the laundry has been done and the house has been cleaned...not happening here!