Sue G in PA Posted March 3, 2013 Share Posted March 3, 2013 Hi everyone. I'm planning the American History course for our co-op's middle and high schoolers for next year. I would like to use the SAME program for 6th-12th to keep costs down for our parents who have children in both grade levels (like myself!). I realize that there will have to be some tweaking involved to accommodate the needs of all but would like to have a "spine". I thought of using All American History and tweaking "up" for the high schoolers but I used this curriculum this past year and my children didn't really enjoy it very much. Neither did I. :/ We have looked at Notgrass and I love America the Beautiful for Middle but fear it would be too hard to tweak to make it credit worthy for high school. Does anyone have any suggestions for a program/curriculum that might fit this need? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue G in PA Posted March 3, 2013 Author Share Posted March 3, 2013 Is Hakim enough for a high schooler? My now 11th grader used Hakim in 5th grade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lily_Grace Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 What are you looking for in a history class? I think I would go in the direction of Mysteries In History, since it requires student co-operation and logical thinking skills. I'd bump it up for the high schoolers with more required reading of primary sources (through Library of Congress and various free sites), and perhaps a Jackdaw. Middle schoolers would rely more on research with secondary sources and documentaries. Many times the activities are set up so that groups of students could each do smaller bits of research and come together to share notes. The only problem is, it doesn't go chronologically and within a short time span. I think the American history book goes from the 1400s to the Kennedy assassination. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3andme Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 I also think Hakim's books would work well. There is a new concise version (4 vol.) which has been recommended on a few threads. Another alternative might be BJU's American Republic. It's designed for 8th grade and I think probably closer to High School than Middle School level. Here's a thread discussing BJU in more detail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ByGrace3 Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 Hakim use SL 100 for inspiration? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverMoon Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 (edited) . Edited July 12, 2022 by SilverMoon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gretchen in NO. CA Posted April 7, 2013 Share Posted April 7, 2013 Sue, Did you decide what you'll be using for your co-op class? I am considering teaching American History in our co-op and am looking at either the Notgrass American History or Bill Bennett's The Last Best Hope books. I'd love to find out what you are doing. We meet weekly for 3 hours but I'm not sure what I'll be doing with all that time. Thanks, Gretchen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue G in PA Posted April 7, 2013 Author Share Posted April 7, 2013 Gretchen, we decided to use Notgrass America the Beautiful with the middle schoolers. The children are only required to purchase the Maps and Timeline book but encouraged to purchase the whole curriculum. I'm not sure how this will work with some students having the book and some not, but I suppose the ones who don't can simply follow the Table of Contents and research the info. in another source. :/ High school will be using Notgrass Exploring America. We just couldn't find an appropriate spine to fit both middle and high that was cost effective. As for filling 3 hours...I don't know. Our classes are only 1 1/2 hours tops. We are trying to make it more project based, using activities that are more group oriented. I'll be teaching the 3rd-5th American History using A Child's History of America as our spine (can I just tell you how much I hate that book? Talk about bias. Wow). I'm researching alternatives b/c many families are not happy with it. :( Thanks, everyone, for your recommendations, btw. I am looking into Hakim's more concise 4 vol. set as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delaney Posted April 7, 2013 Share Posted April 7, 2013 All American History? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue G in PA Posted April 7, 2013 Author Share Posted April 7, 2013 All American History would actually be a perfect fit, but I tried 2 months of AAH 1 this past year and hated it. :/ I wanted to like it. I wanted to love it. I love most things BIP puts out. But this was an epic fail here. :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted April 8, 2013 Share Posted April 8, 2013 biblioplan? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted April 8, 2013 Share Posted April 8, 2013 I would say Hakim is fine as a text for a high schooler, assuming you supplement it with literature and primary sources. But I would say a high school US history course should always be supplemented like that regardless of the text. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donna A. Posted April 8, 2013 Share Posted April 8, 2013 Simply Charlotte Mason? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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