Mommy to monkeys Posted October 22, 2015 Share Posted October 22, 2015 Looking toward next year (because I'm a crazy person),I'm looking for the good and the bad about using Beautiful Feet's history guides. Specifically the newer guide for modern history geared at middle schoolers. I realize not many people may have used that particular guide, but would you share your experiences with any of the guides you have used? I've looked at the samples and like what I see and am I finding that almost all of the books would be available used or in my library system making it more affordable than I assumed it would be when I first glanced at it. I'm vacillating between whether I prefer this program or Notgrass's Uncle Sam and You. I DO like the looks of Notgrass, but my first instinct is that it may be a bit light for an 8th grader. I bought the Uncle Eric books used because I've heard such rave reviews and thought they'd be great to use, but they aren't really what I was looking for. So hit me with your thoughts, pretty please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KeriJ Posted October 22, 2015 Share Posted October 22, 2015 I love it, but it depends what you are looking for. Honestly, in the middle guides, it is primarily discussion questions. There are a few other assignments such as drawing a map, or comparing, or writing a short report. But the bulk of the guide is scheduling pages and discussion questions. However, for me, it fits the bill. I like the flexibility with a little bit of structure. I tend to assign CM or TWTM type of writing assignments to our reading and this fit well with BF. The price of the guide is great, and most of the books are at our library. There is also the freedom to skip books and add or take away anything you like. Some of the readings can be long, but it is supposed to be both history and literature. For me, the beauty of it is the book list, the loose schedule and just enough structure with just enough freedom. As a side, my kids have always loved the book selections more than anything else we've used! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susie in MS Posted October 22, 2015 Share Posted October 22, 2015 We have used BF in the past and did like it however, I remember ditching the guide. This was for Middle Ages. I had forgotten that until recently. The lower levels I like the notebooking and pacing. The upper levels start getting too much for me to handle if done by their schedule. It took me hearing the same question from several people, "Have y'all been able to finish this guide in ONE year???" to jog my memory. But other than that I truly love the books. We enjoyed the science guide and part of the geography guide pretty much as is. I am going to use the geography guide with my youngest along with the Hollings books as we come to them with the AO schedule. I don't know if I will use any other BF guide because of the heavy schedule for the upper levels. I will probably use many of the books with what ever we are doing though. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmstranger Posted October 22, 2015 Share Posted October 22, 2015 Looking toward next year (because I'm a crazy person),I'm looking for the good and the bad about using Beautiful Feet's history guides. Specifically the newer guide for modern history geared at middle schoolers. You're not crazy...I've been looking ahead, too! I'm glad you posted this. I have never used BF, but I've been waffling over what to do for next year. We would be looking at Early American and World. I like the books, but I just want to put my hands on a guide. A 3-page sample is just not enough for me, I guess. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KeriJ Posted October 22, 2015 Share Posted October 22, 2015 You're not crazy...I've been looking ahead, too! I'm glad you posted this. I have never used BF, but I've been waffling over what to do for next year. We would be looking at Early American and World. I like the books, but I just want to put my hands on a guide. A 3-page sample is just not enough for me, I guess. We are doing part of Early American and World right now. We definitely skip books, because for us there are too many. We also divide up some of the reading since it seems like a lot some days. Here is an answer BF posted recently about some of this discussion: BFB studies are complete History and Literature programs so it is not necessary to supplement apart from a language arts course. And because you are covering two subjects the reading requirements are heavier than with a history-only curricula. -Our newer Study Guides do include more detailed notes on each book in addition to web links, vocabulary, and other resources. We made this decision to offer parents and students more resources but all of our Study Guides are just that... guides. They are not designed to dictate how you move through the study and what you do on a daily basis. They are there to provide structure and give you everything you need for the course but don't feel unduly bound to them. If moving through all the assignments in the Guide is slowing things down too much, simply begin leaving out books/questions/assignments/web links/research projects/etc. -Our main objective is to make learning history enjoyable and interesting. If the amount of books or assignments in the Study Guide is interfering with this then break away from the outline and customize the study to your needs and goals. Skipping a book here or there, having your student do every other writing assignment or do more independent reading, or focusing a discussion on just one question, will make things progress more according to your timeline while still exposing your children to great books and great history. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommy to monkeys Posted October 22, 2015 Author Share Posted October 22, 2015 I love it, but it depends what you are looking for. Honestly, in the middle guides, it is primarily discussion questions. There are a few other assignments such as drawing a map, or comparing, or writing a short report. But the bulk of the guide is scheduling pages and discussion questions. However, for me, it fits the bill. I like the flexibility with a little bit of structure. I tend to assign CM or TWTM type of writing assignments to our reading and this fit well with BF. The price of the guide is great, and most of the books are at our library. There is also the freedom to skip books and add or take away anything you like. Some of the readings can be long, but it is supposed to be both history and literature. For me, the beauty of it is the book list, the loose schedule and just enough structure with just enough freedom. As a side, my kids have always loved the book selections more than anything else we've used! I think this may be the balance I'm looking for. I just can't keep up with the pace of super structured programs but I need SOME structure other than just a stack of books. Don't get me wrong. We've done lots of "just reading books" but as my big kids grow, I'd like a little guidance with things to discuss and such. We have used BF in the past and did like it however, I remember ditching the guide. This was for Middle Ages. I had forgotten that until recently. The lower levels I like the notebooking and pacing. The upper levels start getting too much for me to handle if done by their schedule. It took me hearing the same question from several people, "Have y'all been able to finish this guide in ONE year???" to jog my memory. But other than that I truly love the books. We enjoyed the science guide and part of the geography guide pretty much as is. I am going to use the geography guide with my youngest along with the Hollings books as we come to them with the AO schedule. I don't know if I will use any other BF guide because of the heavy schedule for the upper levels. I will probably use many of the books with what ever we are doing though. That's good to know. I remember hearing that Sonlight was much heavier as far as the amount of reading. I don't mind dropping books, though if necessary or just moving them to the "optional free reading" stack. You're not crazy...I've been looking ahead, too! I'm glad you posted this. I have never used BF, but I've been waffling over what to do for next year. We would be looking at Early American and World. I like the books, but I just want to put my hands on a guide. A 3-page sample is just not enough for me, I guess. Phew. That's a relief. ;) And I agree that I wish there were more samples or more reviews online!! We are doing part of Early American and World right now. We definitely skip books, because for us there are too many. We also divide up some of the reading since it seems like a lot some days. Here is an answer BF posted recently about some of this discussion: BFB studies are complete History and Literature programs so it is not necessary to supplement apart from a language arts course. And because you are covering two subjects the reading requirements are heavier than with a history-only curricula. -Our newer Study Guides do include more detailed notes on each book in addition to web links, vocabulary, and other resources. We made this decision to offer parents and students more resources but all of our Study Guides are just that... guides. They are not designed to dictate how you move through the study and what you do on a daily basis. They are there to provide structure and give you everything you need for the course but don't feel unduly bound to them. If moving through all the assignments in the Guide is slowing things down too much, simply begin leaving out books/questions/assignments/web links/research projects/etc. -Our main objective is to make learning history enjoyable and interesting. If the amount of books or assignments in the Study Guide is interfering with this then break away from the outline and customize the study to your needs and goals. Skipping a book here or there, having your student do every other writing assignment or do more independent reading, or focusing a discussion on just one question, will make things progress more according to your timeline while still exposing your children to great books and great history. This is very helpful KeriJ. Honestly, this sounds like just what I'm looking for. And the fact that the guides are inexpensive and almost all the books are at our library means this is a literature based program that is actually feasible for us to use!! I've never been able to say THAT before. I'd like to schedule history days and then pick and choose assignments/questions to discuss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiramisu Posted October 22, 2015 Share Posted October 22, 2015 I have the ancients guide that covers the intermediate grades and high school. For my standards, a lot of work is scheduled for one day. I've taken ideas from it but it's just too much as written...for my family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommy to monkeys Posted October 22, 2015 Author Share Posted October 22, 2015 I have the ancients guide that covers the intermediate grades and high school. For my standards, a lot of work is scheduled for one day. I've taken ideas from it but it's just too much as written...for my family. Thank you for you feedback as well. I would really love to get eyes on an actual guide to get a feel for how much is scheduled for each day. I think we toe the line between being relaxed and structured. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lollie010 Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 We are doing the Medeival guide--intermediate. It is exactly what we needed this year. The books are just wonderful. I don't enjoy long stretches of read alouds because I have younger kiddos that distract. The BF readings have been just about right for us time wise. There is a lot of good stuff in the guides but we haven't had a chance to get to much of it. The reading and an occassional website are all that we've needed so far. I could not have made the schedule myself so I still feel the guide was worth the cost. I was a sonlight failure, but this fits us. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SFM Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 We are doing the Medeival guide--intermediate. It is exactly what we needed this year. The books are just wonderful. I don't enjoy long stretches of read alouds because I have younger kiddos that distract. The BF readings have been just about right for us time wise. There is a lot of good stuff in the guides but we haven't had a chance to get to much of it. The reading and an occassional website are all that we've needed so far. I could not have made the schedule myself so I still feel the guide was worth the cost. I was a sonlight failure, but this fits us. Precisely! It fit the bill for us perfectly this year. I love it, but it depends what you are looking for. Honestly, in the middle guides, it is primarily discussion questions. There are a few other assignments such as drawing a map, or comparing, or writing a short report. But the bulk of the guide is scheduling pages and discussion questions. However, for me, it fits the bill. I like the flexibility with a little bit of structure. I tend to assign CM or TWTM type of writing assignments to our reading and this fit well with BF. The price of the guide is great, and most of the books are at our library. There is also the freedom to skip books and add or take away anything you like. Some of the readings can be long, but it is supposed to be both history and literature. For me, the beauty of it is the book list, the loose schedule and just enough structure with just enough freedom. As a side, my kids have always loved the book selections more than anything else we've used! Again, precisely. :) I recommend it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdventuresinHomeschooling Posted October 24, 2015 Share Posted October 24, 2015 I haven't used this guide, but I have used another. Pros: the books are wonderful, rich selections. I still use many of their literature choices. Discussion questions are also done for you making it a doable open and go literature based curriculum. If you prefer a more note booking approach to history, they are also a good fit. Cons: not too many projects or crafty type stuff if you prefer that. Some of the selections are chopped up into too many chunks, I think. Some of the discussion was not as deep as I would prefer. These can be a pro or con depending on your preference. For me, they were a con. The discussion guide is VERY providential based. I had a lot of providential based history as a child, and this one was very heavy on this emphasis. The literature, itself, contains faith based elements, but the discussion guide takes it to a new level. It isn't that I disagree that God had a role in history, but I prefer more open ended discussion on the events and not seeing God's hand in every single detail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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