enviromommy Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 My older two (eleven year-old DD and nine year-old DS) did Oxford's World in Ancient Times this past year. We are going to continue with Medieval and Early Modern Times this year, using the teaching and student guides. My question here is, when you say you "do history" a certain number of days a week, does that mean the number of times you meet to discuss, or the number of times the kids have assignments? Last year, I had them read a chapter a day and do the assignments from the teaching guide, and then we met just on Fridays to go over everything. I feel like it wasn't interactive enough. On the other hand, if we meet more frequently, I don't see how I will get through teaching everyone all the subjects we have to get through! So how do you schedule history? Do you assign reading and then meet a couple of times a week to go over it? Do you "teach a class" and then assign homework? Would I put it on their schedule everyday but only schedule "in class time" certain days? There is just so much material there- I can't see spending a whole week on a chapter, it would take the whole year just to get through one or two books in the series. Thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PenKase Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 (edited) Last year, with dd10 at the time, history DID take a lot of time. I am currently struggling with whether or not I want it to consume as much time as it did for us last school year. Like your dc, she did most of it independently but it felt like a check list of things she had to get through just to call it done. What did inject life into our studies was our literature/history read alouds and narration. Last year, we used the WTM's suggested reading list (SWB's insists it's not an exhaustive list, but as it was our first year of homeschooling, I didn't have the time and energy to look elsewhere for more suggestions.....we did supplement the list with books from the library and STOW whenever possible though). Some of the books I chose as read alouds which led to some pretty great discussions. We also connected during the times we reviewed her narrations of assigned history readings. Oh, and dd loved listening to the STOW audio CD's. If it wasn't for the CD's, the read alouds and yes, the STOW projects and coloring pages (she loves to draw/color) dd would have found history a pure drag. We did supplement with WAT and K12 Human Odyssey but you're right...getting through them a chapter at a time would take forever. There are some members (or is it one memember, can't remember) who have coordinated the books so they can be done in a reasonable amount of time. Try doing a search for "STOW & K12" or "STOW & WAT." I'll see if I can fish it up for you. I just may have to take another look at it myself. HTH ETA: Here is the schedule I was talking about. Also, you may get more responses on the Logic Stage Board. Good luck! Edited August 10, 2011 by PenKase Added info.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enviromommy Posted August 11, 2011 Author Share Posted August 11, 2011 Thank you so much for those suggestions. I think we really need to focus on getting history more interactive even if we cover less. I've been starting to feel guilty because I remember doing really great history projects in the excellent brick and mortal school I went to as a child (country reports, explorer reports, Maya, Inca and Aztec project, etc.) and I was starting to freak out that the my kids aren't doing enough interesting stuff and they won't remember the history they are reading about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivka Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 One thing that might work to add color is to assign the older ones to do a project from the SOTW Activity Guide with the younger ones. You could have them do some background reading so they'll be able to answer questions or make adjustments to the project, and then have them guide the littles through project assembly, etc. Everybody wins! (1) Olders get to enjoy projects they might otherwise have considered themselves too old for, (2) Everyone gets hands-on history opportunities, which (3) you don't have to find the time or enthusiasm to run yourself, because the older kids are in charge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enviromommy Posted August 11, 2011 Author Share Posted August 11, 2011 One thing that might work to add color is to assign the older ones to do a project from the SOTW Activity Guide with the younger ones. You could have them do some background reading so they'll be able to answer questions or make adjustments to the project, and then have them guide the littles through project assembly, etc. Everybody wins! (1) Olders get to enjoy projects they might otherwise have considered themselves too old for, (2) Everyone gets hands-on history opportunities, which (3) you don't have to find the time or enthusiasm to run yourself, because the older kids are in charge. This is such an incredibly smart idea! You know what, you are the one who should have five kids, and I'm the one who should have only two. I'm so not good at this creativity thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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