Transitioning from SL Core 4 to Ambleside Online

[sparrow]

We're about half way through SL Core 4 and I'm starting to plan what we'll do next. I was originally thinking we'd use SL Core 6, but I'm starting to lean toward going back to AO. We used AO Years 1 & 2 prior to switching to SL 3 because the kids were begging for American history.

 

We've really enjoyed the past two years with Sonlight, but I don't know how much further I want to go with it. I don't think I'd go past SL Core 7. I would like to go back to AO, but I'm not sure how/what year to make a successful transition. Ideally, I would like to do ancients/world history next year, which is where SL Core 6 would put us, but when is a good time to switch back to AO?

 

Sorry, this is kind of rambling, but my brain is tired of thinking about it! Thanks for any thoughts :001_smile:.

[sparrow]

:bigear: Anyone?

[suzf242]

Hi. You might get a better response on the AmblesideOnline Yahoo Group. The ladies there are very helpful and knowledgeable.

 

Ambleside has a 6-year rotation, so I don't believe they will cover ancients until Year 6 or 7.

 

We are only in Year 3 so far, but I have been looking at what lies ahead. Years 4 and 7 are transition years, where the workload/difficulty increases. In Year 4, you start Shakespeare, Plutarch and written narrations, and they should be able to read most of the other selections independently.

 

I think if I were you, I would closely look at the booklist and see what I thought my dc could handle.

 

Hope you get some more knowledgeable responses!

 

Take care,

Suzanne

[sparrow]

Thanks, Suzanne. I've posted there, too :001_smile:. No answer yet, but hopefully someone has been in a similar situation and will chime in with their thoughts.

[leann_in_tx]

I will take a shot at answering this, even though my kids aren't school age yet:) I really like AO and hope to use much of it in the future. I am not in love with their history sequence though, so I've poked around a bit to see what others have done.

 

One option would be using the Truthquest history guides, http://www.truthquesthistory.com/ , which are suggested on the AO site as an alternative - I believe the ancient history guide is for fourth and up, so that could be a good fit for you.

 

Another option would be to take a look at the Milestones academy website, http://www.milestonesacademy.com/Site/Family_History_Rotation_%28Elementary_Years%29.html , where I believe they have tweaked AO to fit a chronolgical history cycle, using the M.B. Synge history books as a spine, and there are plenty of other reading suggestions to go with.

 

SimplyCharlotteMason.com also has a suggested history outline with plenty of ancient history selections. http://simplycharlottemason.com/planning/scmguide/history-modules-overview/

 

If I remember correctly, the regular AO schedule lists some ancient mythology, (like Tanglewood tales) in the extra reading lists for years 3,4, maybe 5, I forget now. And if your children are ready for Plutarch, that's ancient history straight from the source. If you like doing a history spine as a read aloud, I think some of the books from year 6 would be a good fit. And I've seen the Foster book, (the world of Caesar Augustus I think?) as a suggested read for third grade in the Veritas Press catalog.

 

I like history, can you tell?

 

Anyway, I hope you are able to figure out what you would like to do.

[AngelBee]

I will take a shot at answering this, even though my kids aren't school age yet:) I really like AO and hope to use much of it in the future. I am not in love with their history sequence though, so I've poked around a bit to see what others have done.

 

One option would be using the Truthquest history guides, http://www.truthquesthistory.com/ , which are suggested on the AO site as an alternative - I believe the ancient history guide is for fourth and up, so that could be a good fit for you.

 

Another option would be to take a look at the Milestones academy website, http://www.milestonesacademy.com/Site/Family_History_Rotation_%28Elementary_Years%29.html , where I believe they have tweaked AO to fit a chronolgical history cycle, using the M.B. Synge history books as a spine, and there are plenty of other reading suggestions to go with.

 

SimplyCharlotteMason.com also has a suggested history outline with plenty of ancient history selections. http://simplycharlottemason.com/planning/scmguide/history-modules-overview/

 

If I remember correctly, the regular AO schedule lists some ancient mythology, (like Tanglewood tales) in the extra reading lists for years 3,4, maybe 5, I forget now. And if your children are ready for Plutarch, that's ancient history straight from the source. If you like doing a history spine as a read aloud, I think some of the books from year 6 would be a good fit. And I've seen the Foster book, (the world of Caesar Augustus I think?) as a suggested read for third grade in the Veritas Press catalog.

 

I like history, can you tell?

 

Anyway, I hope you are able to figure out what you would like to do.

I would use the lit. selections from the year you feel is most compatible to where your children are and adapt the history readings to fit into the Ancients.

 

Some of my favorite Ancient selections for around that age (not sure how old your children are):

-If you are Christian, Old Testiment Stories and History (can give some suggestions if you want)

-A Child's History of the World (can be used for about 3 years as it covers more than just Ancients)

-Story of the World 1:Ancients

-Many of the suggestions here (LOVE this site too)

http://oldfashionededucation.com/3rdgrade.htm Scroll down and you will see History selections. My kids LOVED Cave Boy. :)

 

There are more if you want me to keep going... ;)

[michelle l]

:lurk5: