How can I make history more pick-up-and-go?

[home4school]

I love the chronological idea of studing history, coordinating geography, artists, and composers. But, its just not getting done here. Too much prep, too little time, I don't know.

 

I have been trying to do the Los Banos American History. I like it, but I just haven't been able to pull everything together for an extended period. It seems like every night or every weekend, I'm trying to get together notebooking pages, what artist, what composer...then I get distracted looking for a program that has all that done for you!:(

 

The only things that get done consistently here are workbook things, math, spelling, etc. Is there a program that ties it all together that would have the sheets made up?

 

I have even looked tonight at LifePacs. They seem to be chronological with some geography, but no art, no music. There again, I would be trying to print their notebooking pages, etc.

 

I don't know, maybe I'm just needing a break. But we started in Jamestown in September and haven't made it thru all the colonies.:( No artists, no composers.

 

With TOG, MFW, WP, Learning Adventures, what papers or sheets do the students actually do? I guess I feel like we NEED to DO A SHEET to actually seem like we've done something. Does that make any sense? If they have something tangible laying there for them in the morning they know they have to get that done and will work til it is. This "we have to DO history" just isn't getting it.

 

I've also looked at Trisms History Makers for 2 years from now. But right now I need to get thru at least to the Civil War this year and wanted to do Modern next year, then pick up with HM after that.

 

Any suggestions?

 

Thanks!

Kim

[Lori D.]

How about just throwing in whatever composer fits with your history, using the two "Meet the Composer" books and the website: http://www.classicsforkids.com. That way you only have 2 resources to quickly skim once a month to see if there's any composer who fits in your history time frame, and then take your time alloted for history on that one day a month to cover that composer(s).

 

BEST of luck! Warmly, Lori D.

Edited December 11, 2008 by Lori D.
corrected sentence grammar

[Christine]

I love the chronological idea of studing history, coordinating geography, artists, and composers. But, its just not getting done here. Too much prep, too little time, I don't know.

 

I know the feeling. I have to have a schedule. Generally, if I have a schedule, I find the "prep" time minimal. However, creating the schedule is a mega time eater.

 

I guess I feel like we NEED to DO A SHEET to actually seem like we've done something. Does that make any sense? If they have something tangible laying there for them in the morning they know they have to get that done and will work til it is. This "we have to DO history" just isn't getting it.

 

Accountability / Proof. Have you thought of "journaling" (or having your child write down what he learned today)? Have you looked around at some of the notebooking sets. Or do you want a worksheet (fill in the blank)?

 

Any suggestions?

 

 

Possibly, this really depend on the age of your child, look at some unit studies (if Los Banos schedule really isn't working for you). Some unit studies are very thorough, and give you all the information that you will need for that unit, as well as suggestion for further study. (books, etc.) Some lapbook makers do full unit studies. However, I have yet to discover a unit study that delves into music and art, unless it is specifically a music or art unit study.

[arcara]

IMO, if you're only worried about missing the artists and composer, just try to stop worrying about it! :) If you're getting all the rest, that's what's important, and it's much more than most other kids in school are getting.

[home4school]

Thanks for your suggestions. I will take a look at that book, Lori. I actually have the Classical Music website bookmarked, I just never get around to doing anything with it.

 

I want it all, Christine! I want them to narrate on their beautiful notebooking pages, complete an awesome map, make an entry on their timeline, and do a "workbooky type" worksheet!

 

All these vendors, all these choices...still not what I'm looking for! Could someone please write this curriculum? Just tie Bible, history, geography, art, and music together with an awesome spine. Add interesting literature and a student "workbook" that includes notebooking pages, maps, different types of questions, and reading comprehension.

 

IMO, if you're only worried about missing the artists and composer, just try to stop worrying about it! :) If you're getting all the rest, that's what's important, and it's much more than most other kids in school are getting.

 

Lately, NOTHING is getting done. I just haven't been able to pull together the things for them to do. We started the year doing a sheet I made up for each colony. We're half way thru those and they're boring. :glare:But, I don't want to quit bc we need these to go in their notebooks. I made up a notebooking page, but just haven't been able to get those printed when I need them.

 

I guess I'm just burnt out trying to print this sheet, pull that sheet, find something that goes with that thing, print that map, print this thing.....

 

How do you all do it? :bigear: Do you work all summer pulling together workbooks, then you can just open and go during the year? I need a plan for me to plan! :tongue_smilie:Any planning and organizing of a student "workbook" would be really valuable to me!

 

Maybe, if I stay off this board and spent more time.......no, that couldn't be it!

 

Thanks!

Kim

[Hoggirl]

You don't say the ages of your children, but MOH would meet most of your requirements. There are pre-tests, worksheets or quizzes, mapwork, and timeline assignments each week. Students are encouraged to make a note card about each lesson, but you could easily expand that and have them do a true narration. There are also additional activities suggested each week. MOH 1 covers Creation to Christ, MOH 2 covers Pentecost to 1453, and MOH 3 covers 1453 - 1707. I do prefer the writing style in volumes 2 and 3. You could just pick it up wherever you are time-wise. Not sure about composers, but artists are definitely covered in volume 3.

 

After MOH 3, we are going to do All American History.

 

For composer study, I am using A Young Scholars Guide to Composers put out by Bright Ideas Press. Again, a lesson WITH a worksheet.

 

I understand what you mean completely. My ds retains nothing about history (other subjects, yes, but he is not "into" history) unless he does something with it.

 

Alternatively, there are tests that go along with SOTW.

 

ETA: Oops! Missed where you were chronologically! I vote for All American History or SOTW with tests. SOTW 4 is more advanced than the others, IMO.

[rafiki]

.

[Another Lynn]

what about notebooking pages from history scribe? (I think that's what it is called.)

 

http://www.historyscribe.com/hs-products.htm

[WTMindy]

I find that if I take the time up front to put together what I want, then it gets done. I use TOG and make quarterly notebooks for the kids with their discussion questions, map, notebook pages, etc in it. Then, it is in their "workbook" and I'll be more likely to get it done.

 

I also agree with the posted who talked about accountability. We have cousins who come over at a certain time to do history projects. Knowing they are coming over forces me to get a project prepared and ready. Otherwise, it would just not happen.

 

I am really biased against history programs that are just work-booky, etc because I think they are pretty dull for kids and sap the joy of history from them. But, it is hard to make it happen!!

[siloam]

Kim,

 

TOG hands down has all the pieces you want, but it is not completely scheduled for you. I usually take a week off and schedule a whole quarter, print out all needed sheets, ect... By the time I am actually hsing I have an open and go product.

 

Now SL, MFW and WP all have daily schedules. Open do, done. I don't know a lot about MFW, but both WP and SL will touch on composers, artists and such. Not in the detail that TOG will but when it comes down to having the ideal and not getting it done, and compromising a little to have something that gets done, well I think getting it done and letting go of the ideal is probalby the best plan.

 

Hope you find what works.

 

Heather

[Tabrett]

It doesn't include composer study, but History Portfolio looks pretty open and go. There are 2 levels for each time period. The Junior level is more worksheet like and less writing. The older level is more journaling and map work. Only Ancient and Medieval have a junior level. The author hasn't finished the other junior levels yet.

 

The older level does require the student to research and find pictures to put in the portfolios. It would be easier if we new the ages of your dc.

[Laura Corin]

Can you put together spreadsheets for what you want to do, so each day you just pick up and go? I tend to do these in summer: it doesn't take too long and really makes a difference to the year.

 

Best wishes

 

Laura

[angela&4boys]

We love notebooking pages here! They give the boys a defined space on which to write their history narrations and have a nice illustration. I also appreciate that they have varying amounts of lines and in some cases, spacing.

 

We are presently using the following for our Ancients study:

http://www.notebookingpages.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=77_81&products_id=203&zenid=4332912cc2ae33fdf5304c88647549ef

 

And plan to use the following for Middle Ages:

http://www.currclick.com/product_info.php?products_id=21197&it=1

Edited December 11, 2008 by angela&4boys

[3Rivers]

I SO understand what you are saying. I think the curriculum you're looking for is: "My Father's Winter Tapestry of Sonlight's Promise" or something like that. :tongue_smilie:

 

I agree with the poster who suggested preparing ahead. If I'm not getting it done, I look at why. Usually it's because I didn't do enough prep ahead. If I don't do the prep ahead, then I ask myself why, and the answer is usually:

a) circumstantial, i.e. too busy right now but I'll get to it.

b) not convinced I really wanted to do it in the first place, or

c) I just really need a break and a fresh perspective, OR

d) the curriculum does not gel with my goals at this time

 

I'm having that problem with my son's piano lessons. I know the problem is not lack of motivation on either part, but I realized that I simply needed to make a few changes to make it more "open and go".

 

It *sounds* to me like maybe you are possibly momentarily overwhelmed and need to take a step back?? I say that because you sound like me when I get in the spiral of unending possibilities and pretty soon I am just layin' on the floor thinking I'm so unorganized and my kids are learning nothing and will never make it to college....but that's me. :001_rolleyes:

 

I also think spines help. In the midst of all the possibilities for learning and creativity I need the structure of a spine to pull me back in and give me direction and ...

Goals. I find I can't determine whether we are accomplishing anything if I don't have specific goals.

I've been oogling over TOG. It looks like a great spine for providing both the academic goals and a structure for creative projects...plus it includes fine arts!!

 

Jamie R.

 

BTW, Mindy: You look really familiar. Are you the Mindy that sang in Triumph at Biola?

[Nan in Mass]

I do TWTM in a more open-and-go way. If I have my act together, I go though the history list for the year (usually at the end of the year before) and pick ONE book from each time period (by now I often know which series my children like - they love the History of Everyday Things, for example) from the list, and then I put them in a box. If not, I just go to the library every few weeks and grab whatever looks appealing for the period off the shelf. I divide the number of pages of Kingfisher to be covered that year by 30. There are 36 weeks in our school year, but some are half weeks when history doesn't get done, so I just count on 30. That is the number of pages they need to cover each week. Then when we do history (usually Fri. afternoons), if they are grammar stage, they read SOTW and summarize it, or if they are logic stage, they read the Kingfisher pages, outline one spread, and if there is time, they put a few things on their timeline and do a report or a project (if they thought of one they wanted to do). The rest of the week, they read their extra book, which I've pulled out of the box or gotten out of the library. I don't try to coordinate art and music. The extra reading often has references to that, anyway. I did composers one year. I had a book of brief bios and some CDs and I read the bio and put the CD on while they drew something, and we talked about which bits we liked. I also have an art history book, and when I think of it, I pull it off the shelf and they look at the pages relating to their history. It is very easy if you do it this way, and you still have lots of choice about books and lingering here or there. If they want to read more about King Tut, you can get more books from the library and have them just read their history pages and substitute the extra reading for the outline and report. Or they can double up the reading the next week. You still get to choose the books, too, but if you either choose them all first (from TWTM list) and order them from Alibris, or do it on the fly at the library, it is easy.

HTH

-Nan

[home4school]

Thanks for the great suggestions. Maybe the break for the holidays will help me some. I will just have to buckle down, focus, and get some things printed off and try not to get to distracted!

 

And please let me know when this program is ready to buy:

"My Father's Winter Tapestry of Sonlight's Promise"

 

I'll take it (as long as its a hard copy - NO DIGITAL HERE)!

 

Blessings,

Kim

[Guest Lorna]

I think the curriculum you're looking for is: "My Father's Winter Tapestry of Sonlight's Promise" or something like that. :tongue_smilie:

quote]

 

 

:lol:

 

When do they bring this out?

[Mesa]

"My Father's Winter Tapestry of Sonlight's Promise" or something like that.

 

I'll take two!

 

 

ROFL