Michelle My Bell Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 I am looking for a well laid out program for my daughters next year, grades 6 and 9. Here are my requirements... Not too expensive. $150 max for both girls. I have access to a library. Literature Rich Independent (This is a must as I am in college full time) Some sort of comprehension questions or something that I can check in with them to see that they are doing their work and learning. Grade level appropriate EASY to implement Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommamia Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Me too Bumping Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Another Lynn Posted February 27, 2015 Share Posted February 27, 2015 I would be tempted to use $100 for the 6th grader if Veritas Press has a special again for self-paced online. It's engaging, it has comprehension checks, and you can add suggested reading from the library (hopefully, or find substitutes from the library). That leaves more than enough for a used spine, hopefully living, and maybe some other used books, for your 9th grader and then rely on the library to add literature in. She could write brief outlines or summaries as her comprehension checks. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverMoon Posted February 27, 2015 Share Posted February 27, 2015 (edited) I can't think of anything that complete that you could get two levels of with that budget. Oak Meadow for the 9th grade would be inexpensive if you get the Glencoe textbook used. You'd have to add lit. SWB's high school ancients book with guide would also be inexpensive. You'd have to add lit. The little one could use History Odyssey from Pandia, but you'd need to add more literature. Classical House of Learning has schedules with history and lit for free that could work for the little ones. Edited July 12, 2022 by SilverMoon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle My Bell Posted February 27, 2015 Author Share Posted February 27, 2015 Just came across Biblioplan. Any thoughts on this program? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birchbark Posted February 27, 2015 Share Posted February 27, 2015 TruthQuest? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sahamamama Posted February 27, 2015 Share Posted February 27, 2015 I am looking for a well laid out program for my daughters next year, grades 6 and 9. Here are my requirements... Not too expensive. $150 max for both girls. I have access to a library. Literature Rich Independent (This is a must as I am in college full time) Some sort of comprehension questions or something that I can check in with them to see that they are doing their work and learning. Grade level appropriate EASY to implement For $115.80 (plus shipping),* you could have your daughters work their way through two of these Memoria Press history courses in one school year: The Book of the Ancient World The Book of the Ancient Greeks The Book of the Ancient Romans The Book of the Middle Ages You'd need to purchase two complete sets, plus an additional student guide for each course. Each course has approx. 28 lessons, so if the girls completed about two lessons each week and took the tests, one course would last for a semester. I think you'd need two courses to make up a History credit for your 9th grader. You could supplement these courses with additional reading from the library. If you look at this page and this page and this page, you can get some ideas for which books to add in to your students' schedules. IMO, these courses would be easier than most to implement because the Student Guides and tests provide accountability and a check that students have done the readings. You aren't left with an annotated book list and the need to develop your own plans, questions, and tests. (And I think the well-written Dorothy Mills books are much, much more readable than the choppy, awkward, non-narrative BP Companion, but that's just me). I think that Ancient World, in particular, would be easier than most "ancients" courses to implement because it is arranged by culture, rather than strictly chronologically. What this means for you is that when your girls are "on Egypt," you could swing by the library, pick up the best books on Egypt, and be done with it for a few weeks. Next stop, Mesopotamia. You'll always know what books to place on hold. There is not so much hopping around from culture to culture, as there is in most Ancient History courses. If you want the girls to also grasp the chronology, they can (and should) construct a timeline. If I went this route, I would spend the rest of my history budget on either a map product, such as Wondermaps, or a timeline product, such as History through the Ages timeline figures. If you check your girls' map work and timelines at the end of the school day, these two pieces of work can tell you a TON about what they are learning and retaining, plus connect you to their studies. If your students need to work at different levels, but you want them on the same subject, also available are: Famous Men of Greece Famous Men of Rome Famous Men of the Middle Ages Of course, this would add to your costs. Another option is Ambleside Online, which is definitely literature rich and inexpensive. I don't know how easy it would be to check up on work with AO, though, since there are no teacher guides with discussion and comprehension questions (that I know of). Another option for your girls is Mystery of History or All American History. HTH. * Edited to Add: These MP books are priced lower at Rainbow Resource ($108.90), and your shipping would be free. ;) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TGHEALTHYMOM Posted February 27, 2015 Share Posted February 27, 2015 What about HOD? I know they are more CM centered and have diversity in history options for different ages. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lara in Colo Posted February 27, 2015 Share Posted February 27, 2015 Have you looked at TRISMS-- history makers? You could the same purchase for both children-- the younger would just take 2 years instead of one-- it is research based, (more independent) uses IEW writing integrated into the lessons, also integrates history of art, music, science and other things into the curriculum-- critical thinking as well-- I will be doing HM for my 6th grader in two years and I currently have my 9th grader doing the 1st high school program.. You can get it used fairly easily and buy you can do quite a bit at the library (or you might have a lot of the books at home) You can always add more literature if you want it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom22ns Posted February 28, 2015 Share Posted February 28, 2015 Just came across Biblioplan. Any thoughts on this program? This recent thread on the high school board included a lot of discussion of Biblioplan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EndOfOrdinary Posted February 28, 2015 Share Posted February 28, 2015 If you chose Omnibus 1, that would work for both girls (one year early for the 6th grader as it is technically for 7th). They could discuss themselves and you could discuss with them periodically quite well. Literature dense. Written to the student. Comprehension questions, but also lots of discussion based work and writing. If they were willing to. Work together, you would only need one Omnibus book and the library could supply the rest. That would make your monitary limits as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 28, 2015 Share Posted February 28, 2015 l would take a look at this. We have used it for grades 5-8 and love it! I don't have any experience using BP at the high school level though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodland_Mom Posted February 28, 2015 Share Posted February 28, 2015 Just came across Biblioplan. Any thoughts on this program? I think Biblioplan would fit your requirements. It is easy to implement, inexpensive, and many of the resources they schedule can be found at a decent library. A few years ago they updated their materials by adding new features like discussion questions, "reader" companion, and more in-depth questions that students work through as part of their weekly routine. I have used pieces of Biblioplan for the Ancient and Middle Ages time periods. I liked the book choices and appreciated the easy-to-use format. Biblioplan might be your best bet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneStepAtATime Posted February 28, 2015 Share Posted February 28, 2015 I am looking for a well laid out program for my daughters next year, grades 6 and 9. Here are my requirements... Not too expensive. $150 max for both girls. I have access to a library. Literature Rich Independent (This is a must as I am in college full time) Some sort of comprehension questions or something that I can check in with them to see that they are doing their work and learning. Grade level appropriate EASY to implement Veritas Press is having a half off sale and the Omnibus program might really be a good fit if you can afford it. The teacher teaches it for you, grades are tracked, it is a very in depth program for what it is and you can be as hands on or off as you choose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SFM Posted February 28, 2015 Share Posted February 28, 2015 Just came across Biblioplan. Any thoughts on this program? My first thought was Biblioplan, I find it is easy to implement and can be used for multiple children in different stages. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest caseyjgh Posted March 1, 2015 Share Posted March 1, 2015 Have you heard of "The Big History Project?" The teacher version has supplements to help you and even project ideas. It was created by a history professor and funded by Bill Gates (who tried to overhaul the way history is taught in high schools). A 6th grader would understand, but may need to skip some of the more complex readings. It can be completely independent, and it's FUN!... Oh and I almost forgot, it's FREE! :) (NOTE: There may be some conflicts with some religious beliefs, but if that's a problem you can always skip the conflicting sections and teach your version. This is what they have to say... There are numerous explanations of the origins of our planet as well as the Universe as a whole. Since the time of the earliest humans, we have struggled to make sense of our world. Big History represents one point of view, and is considered a modern, scientific origin story. ) https://www.bighistoryproject.com/home Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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