Quiver0f10 Posted February 7, 2009 Share Posted February 7, 2009 Which one do you prefer and Why? Which one would offer more critical thinking? What literature did you use alongside whatever your choice was? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChildofGrace Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 Which one do you prefer and Why? Which one would offer more critical thinking? What literature did you use alongside whatever your choice was? Thanks! Well, I had originally planned on using BJU, but after looking it over very carefully, ended up using Notgrass (American History). Some of the things I liked about BJU included a more engaging text, colorful illustrations/photos, interesting "perspectives" sections which provide a more in-depth look at a historical person or event, and tests with a variety of questions. Also, BJU does include prepared "critical thinking" questions after each section that I liked. In spite of those strengths, however, I decided to utilize Notgrass for the following reasons. I really wanted to include primary source readings, of which Notgrass provides an ample amount, already scheduled for me. I also wanted to have some historical fiction and autobiographies to flesh out our program, so we use the literature already scheduled in the text. (We do not use those readings for our literature studies, though.) Another plus for us is that, while Notgrass is definitely written from a Christian worldview, it is not written from the providential approach (as opposed to BJU, which is.) I have been very pleased by our success with this program. After having used SL for a number of years, the text seemed a little "dry" to me, but my two dc using it both surprised me by their positive response to it. They both say it is their favorite course this year. HTH a little.:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ga girl Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 Well, I had originally planned on using BJU, but after looking it over very carefully, ended up using Notgrass (American History). . I also wanted to have some historical fiction and autobiographies to flesh out our program, so we use the literature already scheduled in the text. (We do not use those readings for our literature studies, though.) ) What do you use for lit? I am planning on using Notgrass for this next year, as well. BJU actually looked drier to me than Notgrass! I think I am biased against BJU for the year as we've been trudging through a couple of the courses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SusanAR Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 would you mind posting a link to Nutgrass- I see it mentioned oftn, but I've never found a website. :001_smile: Susan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChildofGrace Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 What do you use for lit? I am planning on using Notgrass for this next year, as well. BJU actually looked drier to me than Notgrass! I think I am biased against BJU for the year as we've been trudging through a couple of the courses. Well, I put together a "homegrown" course, using LLATL American Lit. as our spine. In addition to that work, my dc are reading: Selections from Washington Irving Scarlet Letter Portable Poe The Adventures of Huck Finn Billy Budd My Antonia Our Town The Crucible To Kill a Mockingbird The Chosen We are using some of the free Glencoe Study Guides for a few of these, and SparkNotes for others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChildofGrace Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 would you mind posting a link to Nutgrass- I see it mentioned oftn, but I've never found a website. :001_smile:Susan Sure thing! Notgrass can be found here. HTH! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HiddenJewel Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 Lightning Lit from Hewitt Homeschooling is an option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quiver0f10 Posted February 8, 2009 Author Share Posted February 8, 2009 Well, I had originally planned on using BJU, but after looking it over very carefully, ended up using Notgrass (American History). Some of the things I liked about BJU included a more engaging text, colorful illustrations/photos, interesting "perspectives" sections which provide a more in-depth look at a historical person or event, and tests with a variety of questions. Also, BJU does include prepared "critical thinking" questions after each section that I liked. In spite of those strengths, however, I decided to utilize Notgrass for the following reasons. I really wanted to include primary source readings, of which Notgrass provides an ample amount, already scheduled for me. I also wanted to have some historical fiction and autobiographies to flesh out our program, so we use the literature already scheduled in the text. (We do not use those readings for our literature studies, though.) Another plus for us is that, while Notgrass is definitely written from a Christian worldview, it is not written from the providential approach (as opposed to BJU, which is.) I have been very pleased by our success with this program. After having used SL for a number of years, the text seemed a little "dry" to me, but my two dc using it both surprised me by their positive response to it. They both say it is their favorite course this year. HTH a little.:) Thanks. I was thinking of using Notgrass with the assigned books and then adding a lit program on top such as LL. I wasn't sure if that would be over-kill or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ga girl Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 Thanks. I was thinking of using Notgrass with the assigned books and then adding a lit program on top such as LL. I wasn't sure if that would be over-kill or not. I think I am going to do the same. BJU wasn't enough literature for a family coming from Sonlight. I LOVE SL's literature, but feel that I need more tangible results for a grade (tests) for high school level work. Hewitt also offers online classes for their lit and will grade/keep transcripts for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.