Anyone use WinterPromise Ancients?

[Samiam]

I know, I know, all about WP's horrible shipping, even worse Customer Serivce, and stinky resell policy. I tend to rule them out for all of these reasons.

But man o'man, is their website pretty and enticing:glare:.

 

Looks like their Ancients program is just what I am wanting. That being said, I am aware that people often say it's not as good as it looks, disjointed etc.

 

Any reviews or thoughts specifically about their Ancients program?

[threeofakind]

I don't have any experience with the program, I just wanted to say that I was discouraged from ordering from them at all for those reasons you mentioned. However, I felt their LA program would fit my son better; so I just have to say my experience was they were very helpful and answered my questions and my order came in a very reasonable time! Anyway I just wanted to share my positive experience with them and I'm glad I did it, the program is a great fit for my son! :001_smile:

[Down_the_Rabbit_Hole]

I did not use their ancients but looked it over. I liked what I saw and the only reason we did not go with it was the child I wanted it for does not enjoy crafts or other hands on type work. Not sure what you mean by disjointed, but what I saw looked like it flowed. I cannot remember if there was a true spine or not so maybe this is why you feel it is disjointed...no spine.

 

I will say this about WP. I Have ordered several themes from them and have never had a problem with getting the books. There were several that came in separately from the main box over a month but all books were there when I needed them. The costumer service I received was excellent and they went above and beyond on 2 different occasions for me.

[3peasinapod]

I haven't used it either. I used to use WP for 3 years, and I have had years where it was just okay shipping and years where it was crummy with missing items and having to call. After I called, the item was at my step a few days later, but why do I have to call?

 

Anyhow, regarding QAW, it uses MOH as it's spine, but it doesn't go in chronological order. It jumps around MOH, and it drives some people nuts. QAW is arranged thematically. So if you don't think that would bother you, it might be a good program for you. We did find the programs we did, particularly AW and AS1, to be choppy and not really lining up as well as it could have been. It was easy for me to see where things would have flowed better, but the guide didn't provide that for me.

 

I really like the looks of QAW notebooking pages, and I think I'll buy those when we come around to ancient history again.

[Homeschooling6]

I hope to use QAW next year with my boys, so I haven't used it. I do like WP though. I have used three of their programs in the past. This year a few of their LAs. Like another poster said, I have had everything come in a timely manner but other times I had to call to get my last few books. This year I only purchased what I couldn't find elswhere. I normally like to order the whole package but I wasn't sure if I'd have to wait or not.

 

With all that said, this year I am usig HIH with my four younger children and we are enjoying it.

 

With people saying it's disjointed, I have heard the samething said about MFW, SL etc. :tongue_smilie:. This kind of thing doesn't bother me. I'm just happy that someone else put it all together (found the books and scheduled them) for me.

 

I think almost every homeschooling mom tweaks things to fit their family (myself included) ;).

Edited November 2, 2011 by Homeschooling6

[edelweiss]

I haven't used it yet, but I am pretty sure that we'll use it next year. I've looked at some other programs, but WP is what we know and I feel more comfortable sticking with them for history. We've used several WP programs and I've been happy with them overall. Of course, I tweak things, but I would do that with anything.

[ChrissySC]

Let me just add that I loved some of the books, and I wanted to go in order of MOH. I found items elsewhere that I wanted, I planned, and I added juvenile and advanced resources.

 

This is where I think you are best ordering MOH with notebooking pages and challenge cards, activity books from WP, additional literature, and maps (wonder maps or knowledge quest maps).

[thowell]

Let me just add that I loved some of the books, and I wanted to go in order of MOH. I found items elsewhere that I wanted, I planned, and I added juvenile and advanced resources.

 

This is where I think you are best ordering MOH with notebooking pages and challenge cards, activity books from WP, additional literature, and maps (wonder maps or knowledge quest maps).

 

 

Don't you want to share your plan??

 

 

I also wanted to say that Jen over at Guest Hollow has an excellent Ancient program for free which also uses MOH. You have to email her for the schedule but it looks amazing and again the schedule is FREE!!!!

[savmom]

I used it & it IS disjointed:tongue_smilie: It is not scheduled chronologically but rather by civilization so the MOH lessons are all out of order.

 

That being said, we really enjoyed it once I rewrote it lol! I could not believe I had spent so much for a schedule that I had to rewrite :glare: but it taught me to research my possible purchases more thoroughly!

 

If you like/want a schedule similar to WP QAW, join the Mystery of History yahoo group and peruse the files section. There are schedules almost identical to WP but MUCH better. Seriously. They include activities, crafts, videos, books, websites, etc that make the WP guides seem a little wimpy (all my opinion of course). Best part: they're FREE :D

[kolamum]

I'm using WP this year, first time, and don't find it disjointed, but then I'm not using QAW, I'm using All American 1. I had no issues with shipping either, but then I ONLY purchased EXACTLY what I needed from them. As in, WP exclusives ONLY.

 

Everything else {books} I purchased through Book Depository because it was free shipping for me. :D I also had no issues when speaking with them, but I did order a book called for in their younger age range and it's loaded with the word dam. and took God's name in vain which enraged me considering this is a Christian Curriculum. I'm not sure if there's a warning in the other Core about the content of the book, but honestly I think they could have chosen better.

 

ANYWAY.. I just wanted to toss it out there that I don't find it disjointed. We have really enjoyed the journey despite planning to move to SL next year. I just felt the book selections with SL for the other half of US history were more what i was after. :) I'm not sure if I'll move back to WP or not. My dh is not happy with their resale policy because of reasons many have stated here.

[edelweiss]

I used it & it IS disjointed:tongue_smilie: It is not scheduled chronologically but rather by civilization so the MOH lessons are all out of order.

 

That being said, we really enjoyed it once I rewrote it lol! I could not believe I had spent so much for a schedule that I had to rewrite :glare: but it taught me to research my possible purchases more thoroughly!

 

If you like/want a schedule similar to WP QAW, join the Mystery of History yahoo group and peruse the files section. There are schedules almost identical to WP but MUCH better. Seriously. They include activities, crafts, videos, books, websites, etc that make the WP guides seem a little wimpy (all my opinion of course). Best part: they're FREE :D

 

Oh, WP is scheduled by civilization instead of chronologically? I think I'll like that MUCH better!! Thanks for sharing that. I think that WP QAW might be the best choice for us. :001_smile:

[ChrissySC]

Our Sept, Oct, Nov (first quarter) is up on my blog. I added other supplemental and advanced reading as I went. Keep in mind that I do not use all of it either. We predominately stick to the SOTW, CHOW, Usborne and Kingfisher. I use Streams of Civilization to enrich and read aloud when interest dictates, as well as the Story of Mankind. I planned activities, but we don't always do all of them. Where I have listed to do the memory cards, these are the challenge cards or the self-created memory cards. I use Knowledge Quest maps instead of Wonder maps. Preference will always determine what resource that you choose. I will say that I added Victor Journey Through the Bible, an advanced resource, but far easier than deciphering the old English of the KJV Bible.

 

Along the way, I added Netflix movies too along with various links. Copywork is up on my blog for ancients too.

 

As we read, we fill in WOW (words of worth) bookmarks for our literature selections. I am using a BF guide for Gilgamesh, which is scheduled in our LA subject content.

 

HTH! Use what you like!

 

Note: I tried the continental approach to the student notebook. This failed. We decided to line up chronologically and according to the quarters for MOH. This has proven to be a more effective student notebook. We will add tabs to pages to dictate the dates. In a way, I suppose, this will be more of a comprehensive timeline book with our copywork, maps, and notebooking pages. :) We have just begun to arrange according to this format. I am still yet undecided as to whether or not the quarters will be bound by comb or 3-rings. I'll post pictures soon.

Edited November 3, 2011 by ChrissySC