Keeping the chronology while bringing in the younger sibs

[beansprouts]

Is it possible or even desirable to maintain a perfect chronological approach with history while bringing along the younger siblings? Or do most prefer to simply fold the younger ones in as they are able to participate at whatever era the older children are studying? If you break the chronology for your younger children (i.e. starting your first grader with SOTW3 because that is what the other kids are doing) how does this work out in the long run? And how does this work if the oldest happens to be studying the modern era (holocaust, etc.,)?

[PeterPan]

You have 4 years between the older two, so you have essentially a perfect 4 year cycle between them anyway. By the time your middle is old enough to need formal history, your oldest may be doing it relatively independently. The 3rd just folds in wherever.

[beansprouts]

Actually my oldest is going into 5th grade next year and my middle will be 4 1/2. I messed up that "perfect 4 year cycle" by starting dd early. Plus there is actually almost 5 years between them anyways. I do plan to let ds1 participate as much as he is willing and able to do so this coming year.

[Kelli in TN]

Our chronological cycle is driven by the oldest kid in the family, always.

 

Right now it is my 11th grader. She is on year 3 of the cycle so we are all on year 3 of the cycle. This time it works out perfectly that my next one up will be finishing year 4 in 8th grade, but even if he were not I would most likely have him start at year 1 in 9th grade and go through the cycle by graduation. And his younger siblings would do what he did.

 

Consider that if you stay this course, you will have 3 opportunities to go through the cycle. So if someone jumps in on year 3, don't sweat it. History really does repeat itself. Every. Four. Years. :D

[beansprouts]

History really does repeat itself. Every. Four. Years. :D

 

LOL! :cool: