Intro to Classical Studies by Memoria Press

[RainbowSprinkles]

I'm looking into this now as I've decided to combine my dc for history. I planned on using SOTW 1 with my younger dc. Now that I'm doing ancients for both, I'm looking into what I can add for my upcoming 4th grader.

 

Has anyone here used Intro to Classical Studies? What did you think? Pros/Cons? Likes/Dislikes?

 

Anyone used it together with SOTW?

 

I guess if I chose to go with the Classical Studies Intro, I wouldn't need a separate Bible program for dd? We are using CLE Bible and it's working great for us.

[chiguirre]

Intro to Classical Studies has questions for the Golden Bible, Famous Men of Rome and D'Aulaires' Greek Myths. I own it, but I probably have an earlier edition. I like the book because it takes the place of the comprehension workbooks for D'A and FMR as well as the Christian Studies books. I'd feel guilty if my kids didn't write the answer to every single question, but with Intro to Classical Studies, we can do some orally and just a couple written without me feeling that we didn't take full advantage of the resource. It's also a lot less expensive and has a grid schedule to coordinate readings. Depending on your personality, that can be good or bad. If you need a schedule to keep on track, you're set. If you'll be upset if you don't keep up or want to move on in one book before the others, I'd ignore the schedule.

 

I haven't used the book yet because I'd like to have my kids read the books instead of using the questions with read-alouds and they're not ready yet. I did like the book and it's a keeper for me.

[Woodland_Mom]

This is the first time I've seen this resource. It looks excellent. I like the books they've chosen and consider it a real tplus that you focus on 3 books rather than have to work your way through a large number of resources, as is common in so many programs.

 

This classical studies cource makes real sense. It seems that being well versed in Roman history, Greek myths and the Bible would truly give one a solid foundation for studying higher level classical works. The background will have been set and students will be ready to layer on more.

 

I like the "Honors" questions. I think lots of kids might enjoy those.

 

It would be nice to know the specifics of how someone uses the book.

 

I'm going to put this on my wish list.

[Karen in CO]

I have it on my desk to start next week. I don't think it would coordinate easily with STOW 1. I'm using this with my dd9 - we have had the FMoR sitting on the shelf since the beginning of school and hadn't used it yet. I really like the honors questions and think they are perfect for what I need now. It was an easy add for me since we already had all three books.

 

If you want to coordinate with STOW and keep your own bible study, it may not be what you want.

[Poke Salad Annie]

I picked up two of the books at the thrift a couple of months ago (D'Aulaires and Golden Bible). I'm thinking of using it next year.

[Dawn E]

I think it is a great resource. We are using it and have been since the end of last school year. I think that while it is possible to use it in addition to the others you may decide that you don't want to. I had planned in way too much history this year and have scaled back. I cut out CHOW and decided dd can read through that next year. We're still doing American history read-alouds and readers. I have felt the Bible time has been sufficient for our studies. The readings often lead into deeper discussions over biblical issues, so it makes for a solid Bible time for us. I've been very pleased with The Golden Bible. It sticks closely to the scripture and doesn't add commentary.

 

Some other things that I have liked about the program: The memory work and "facts to know" section is great. I love having memory work that folds so nicely into what we are learning. Also, I love that it is set up on a four-day-week schedule. That makes it so much easier to catch up when life scoots in--sick days, field trips, etc.

 

Dd has very much enjoyed this addition to our day. I agree with the pp about less stress with having to fill in all the blanks. You can pick and choose from the list of questions and discuss them orally.

[RainbowSprinkles]

Thank you for your reply. Does it cover all three years of Bible, that is normally broken up into three books? I'm just trying to figure out where we would end up in Bible after this course. Thanks!

 

 

Intro to Classical Studies has questions for the Golden Bible, Famous Men of Rome and D'Aulaires' Greek Myths. I own it, but I probably have an earlier edition. I like the book because it takes the place of the comprehension workbooks for D'A and FMR as well as the Christian Studies books. I'd feel guilty if my kids didn't write the answer to every single question, but with Intro to Classical Studies, we can do some orally and just a couple written without me feeling that we didn't take full advantage of the resource. It's also a lot less expensive and has a grid schedule to coordinate readings. Depending on your personality, that can be good or bad. If you need a schedule to keep on track, you're set. If you'll be upset if you don't keep up or want to move on in one book before the others, I'd ignore the schedule.

 

I haven't used the book yet because I'd like to have my kids read the books instead of using the questions with read-alouds and they're not ready yet. I did like the book and it's a keeper for me.

[RainbowSprinkles]

So,if I use this for my dd and SoTW1 for my ds, what do I use for the Middle Ages? My ds would the do SOTW2. Would I then move on to the next Famous Men Books? And where would that put me with Bible?

 

I have it on my desk to start next week. I don't think it would coordinate easily with STOW 1. I'm using this with my dd9 - we have had the FMoR sitting on the shelf since the beginning of school and hadn't used it yet. I really like the honors questions and think they are perfect for what I need now. It was an easy add for me since we already had all three books.

 

If you want to coordinate with STOW and keep your own bible study, it may not be what you want.

[RainbowSprinkles]

Thank you, this is very helpful.

 

 

I think it is a great resource. We are using it and have been since the end of last school year. I think that while it is possible to use it in addition to the others you may decide that you don't want to. I had planned in way too much history this year and have scaled back. I cut out CHOW and decided dd can read through that next year. We're still doing American history read-alouds and readers. I have felt the Bible time has been sufficient for our studies. The readings often lead into deeper discussions over biblical issues, so it makes for a solid Bible time for us. I've been very pleased with The Golden Bible. It sticks closely to the scripture and doesn't add commentary.

 

Some other things that I have liked about the program: The memory work and "facts to know" section is great. I love having memory work that folds so nicely into what we are learning. Also, I love that it is set up on a four-day-week schedule. That makes it so much easier to catch up when life scoots in--sick days, field trips, etc.

 

Dd has very much enjoyed this addition to our day. I agree with the pp about less stress with having to fill in all the blanks. You can pick and choose from the list of questions and discuss them orally.

[RainbowSprinkles]

Thank you all for replying. I have 2 more questions to those whohave used this program.

 

1. After this course, where do we end with Bible? What did you choose for Bible after this course?

 

2.After this course, where did you continue in History? Did you go on to use the remaining Famous Men Books, or did you choose something else? Or what are you planning on using next?

 

Thanks again!

[mo2]

Slight hijack: How is the Christian material handled? We are not Christian, but I want my kids to be familiar with Bible stories for cultural literacy purposes. Is it preachy? Would it be *too much* for secular use?

 

Thanks.

[Karen in CO]

Slight hijack: How is the Christian material handled? We are not Christian, but I want my kids to be familiar with Bible stories for cultural literacy purposes. Is it preachy? Would it be *too much* for secular use?

 

Thanks.

That is how I'm planning to use it. There are questions and lists of things to memorize, not commentary. The questions so far seem to be good discussion questions, not leading, preachy questions.

[Dawn E]

Slight hijack: How is the Christian material handled? We are not Christian, but I want my kids to be familiar with Bible stories for cultural literacy purposes. Is it preachy? Would it be *too much* for secular use?

 

Thanks.

 

I agree with Karen. You should have no problem using it for this purpose. Basically you will just be reading the major Bible stories throughout the Old Testament and New Testament retold very closely to the originals without added commentary. There are memory verses, but you could easily skip that if you weren't interested. Most of the questions pertain to the Roman history portion, but those about the Bible passage will not be preachy in nature.

[mo2]

That is how I'm planning to use it. There are questions and lists of things to memorize, not commentary. The questions so far seem to be good discussion questions, not leading, preachy questions.

 

I agree with Karen. You should have no problem using it for this purpose. Basically you will just be reading the major Bible stories throughout the Old Testament and New Testament retold very closely to the originals without added commentary. There are memory verses, but you could easily skip that if you weren't interested. Most of the questions pertain to the Roman history portion, but those about the Bible passage will not be preachy in nature.

 

 

Thank you both. It's hard to find secular Bible materials. (How's that for an oxymoron?)

[Dawn E]

Thank you for your reply. Does it cover all three years of Bible, that is normally broken up into three books? I'm just trying to figure out where we would end up in Bible after this course. Thanks!

 

By the end of the 30 wks you will have read the entire Golden Bible, so it will definitely present all the material of the three books, just in more of an overview format. You won't have a series of questions pertaining only to the Bible passage like in the three-year study, but you will be able to take it deeper if you want to by discussing the stories and addressing the questions that come up. We have greatly enjoyed this format, and dd and I both have learned a lot. :)

[RainbowSprinkles]

Thank you, that's helpful. After the intro course, would I then be able to the Christian Studies series with their own guides? I'm guessing it would be the same material just more in depth?

[Dawn E]

Thank you, that's helpful. After the intro course, would I then be able to the Christian Studies series with their own guides? I'm guessing it would be the same material just more in depth?

 

I haven't seen the guides, but I'm assuming that would be a good plan. Since they also split it up into three years, the children should be spending much more time in each individual story. We are planning to use Walking with Jesus from the Noah Plan. I bought this a long time ago because I really liked the looks of it, but next year will be the right time to use it. It will hopefully help her to begin to dig deeper into the scriptures on her own.