BusyMama Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 We have used Tapestry of Grace and Mystery of History, using a history rotation. My oldest daughter, would like to study a US History textbook, but I'm not sure what to get her. She doesn't care for her BJU Geography text, so I doubt that I want to go the BJU route. (Though we are Christian, she feels their texts have too much editorial commentary.) We have All American History, but I am looking for a text that is all in one year's study. We prefer curriculum like MOH and AAH that are interesting and engaging, but that may not be possible. Is there anything else out there that I haven't already mentioned? LOL! She's in high school. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
In The Great White North Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 America: the Last Best Hope. We did the first volume in the fall and the second in the spring. I did get the Roadmap (online fluff) for the multiple choice tests, just to make my life easier. It's memorable reading and the kids still pick it up (for free reading) occasionally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TechWife Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 We are using A History of the United States by Daniel Boorstin. We were able to get a free copy from a school that was discarding theirs. It is excellent. Boorstin's writing style is very engaging. I think you could probably find a used one somewhere (try Amazon or Abe Books). If not, you can purchase new from Pearson/Prentice Hall. Another recommendation that I have would be the series The Americans, again by Daniel Boorstin. They are not textbooks but instead resemble the style of SOTW. The titles are: The Americans: The Colonial Experience; The Americans: The National Experience; The Americans: The Democratic Experience. Another series to look at would be America: The Last Best Hope by William Bennett. The three volume set is supported by a web site for teachers & students that has additional info., video lectures, quizzes, etc. Volume I is titled From the Age of Discovery to a World at War. Volume II is From the World at War to the Triumph of Freedom. Volume III is From the Collapse of Communism to the Rise of Radical Islam. You can find the online resources at The Roadmap to America: The Last Best Hope. There is a subscription fee and it is available to homeschoolers. FWIW, we started the year with Notgrass' Exploring America. It is very dry and boring, not at all how we are used to covering history. I also found that the number of questions at the end of each lesson was overkill. Of course, YMMV. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 America: the Last Best Hope. We did the first volume in the fall and the second in the spring. I did get the Roadmap (online fluff) for the multiple choice tests, just to make my life easier. It's memorable reading and the kids still pick it up (for free reading) occasionally. I have ordered the books because I heard so many good things about them. Can you tell me more about Roadmap? Did you find it worth it (besides making quizzes available)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
In The Great White North Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 Volume III is From the Collapse of Communism to the Rise of Radical Islam. How is Volume III? It came out after we used I and II. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TechWife Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 How is Volume III? It came out after we used I and II. Well, I've only read the contents & done a quick look, but it looks good! I'm definitely behind in my reading. :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BusyMama Posted February 28, 2012 Author Share Posted February 28, 2012 Thank you! I'll look at those. My second daughter has asked that we use textbooks for her high school career instead of Tapestry of Grace, and now my oldest is wanting more of the same for herself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
In The Great White North Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 (edited) Can you tell me more about Roadmap? Did you find it worth it (besides making quizzes available)? The Roadmap had a ton of links to "original" documents, related articles, books, movies, maps, pictures, and essay questions. If you were aiming at the AP test, it would provide the documents for the "document based essay" type questions. If you had the time, you could get a lot out of it, but about 75% was stuff any fairly internet adept person could find on their own. My kids had little to no experience with MC questions at that point, so I found that useful. We also watched several of the movies listed. I'm not sure either child actually signed in (til ds got an assignment out of the book in college. LOL) Time is money, as they say, and the time it would have taken me was worth more than the $50 (I have no idea what they charge now.) Ds was doing college apps that year, so time was at a premium. ETA. One of the chapters in vol I was free when I ordered it, so you could see what was offered. Edited February 28, 2012 by In The Great White North Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 The Roadmap had a ton of links to "original" documents, related articles, books, movies, maps, pictures, and essay questions. If you were aiming at the AP test, it would provide the documents for the "document based essay" type questions. If you had the time, you could get a lot out of it, but about 75% was stuff any fairly internet adept person could find on their own. . Thanks! We are not aiming at AP. We want to do a four year history progression (in the course of which aspects of US history naturally come up), but in order to satisfy anybody who wants to see US History as a separate item on the transcript, I was thinking of doing a bare bones no frills US history credit. We go above and beyond in other subjects; US History does not need to be one of them. We want to "check the box". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matryoshka Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 I've bought K12's American Odyssey based on the awesomeness of their Human Odyssey series, and the recommendation of others on this board. I have yet to use it, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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