Mommy7 Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 What if we used some "easier" books that cover the same subject. Would that be doable? For example, could we use the Canterbury Tales that is a hardback and doesn't have the objectionable material in it? Or an easier translation of Beowulf? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommy7 Posted April 10, 2009 Author Share Posted April 10, 2009 :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterPan Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 I'm not meaning to butt in, but are you aware what Omnibus really is? It's meant to have multiple hours a day of reading, essay writing, and should have parental interaction for discussion. It's an intensive course, or is meant to be. You've been saying how you have Lyme, some of your kids are sick and not feeling well, etc. Are you sure you're up to that? VP does offer Omnibus as an online, live, teacher-taught course, and that might be more realistic. Or wait on Omnibus. Have you looked at the BJU dvd's and hard drive options? They give you everything and have teachers teaching directly to the student. I truly don't meant to butt in, and I know it's none of my business, but if I felt I didn't have time to teach my young kids math (which is what you've said), then I sure wouldn't have time for Omnibus. Just make sure you're being realistic. There are lots of great options out there. There, I've said it. All meant in kindness. And if that would have been better said in private, I'm really sorry. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommy7 Posted April 10, 2009 Author Share Posted April 10, 2009 (edited) OhElizabeth, I have been merely researching the options. I am wanting something that can be done fairly independently and that will challenge my 7th grader's thinking (about the "why" of things) I am fully aware that I do not have a lot of time to devote to it. I have not actually looked at it yet, but a friend of mine is going to let me see it today. Everyone has a different opinion. Some say that it needs lots of interaction on a daily basis. Others say that it does not require that much because it is so well laid out. Just curious, have you ever used Omnibus? I was wondering if what you said was your impression of it or your personal experience with it. Yes, you are absolutely right. I need to be realistic about it. The disadvantage to posting versus a conversation, is it doesn't show the whole picture of what a person is thinking. Instead, you just see that one train of thought. Sort of like how email is, unless it's really long! I am wanting something that will challenge my 7th grader's thinking, but not be too intensive for me(or her, for that matter). Omnibus may not be it at all. I am just investigating it. I am also considering just adding Beautiful Feet for the same period the rest of us will be studying using VP. Then, she could be pretty much totally independent with the BF part and still take part in our history. The literature choices for Omnibus are a little intimidating, anyway. It truly may be a better high school choice. I have said these things in various posts regarding Omnibus. I don't know if you saw my "I've decided what to do" post. I am staying the course, just tempering the amount of time I teach Shurley and Saxon. Don't misunderstand...I am definitely teaching my children Math. But, for next year we will be going to TT....for several reasons. Thank you for your concern. :) Edited April 10, 2009 by Mommy7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterPan Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 Nope, haven't used Omnibus. If you think about it, they're *all* right. You can use Omnibus lots of ways. The question is whether you'd be happy with the results, or whether you'd be happier waiting and doing it more fully later. Did you know VP does a very fine online version of Omnibus? The wife of the teacher is on the yahoo group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vp_elementary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommy7 Posted April 10, 2009 Author Share Posted April 10, 2009 Yes, I am aware of the on line course. That would be the perfect solution, for sure!!!! But, it is rather expensive. I'm not sure we could swing it financially. Thank you for the link to the yahoo group. I'll check it out. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kate CA Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 What if we used some "easier" books that cover the same subject. Would that be doable? For example, could we use the Canterbury Tales that is a hardback and doesn't have the objectionable material in it? Or an easier translation of Beowulf? I think you *can* do any of the suggestions you offered, but I think that in order for your daughter to understand much of the subject, you will have to read the books along with her and engage in the discussion. That is one of the key ingredients to Omnibus and while you *can* do what you suggest, I am not sure it is to your dds benefit. We are doing OII this next year and I have already started reading the books and deciding what I want her to read and what I don't as well as how I will modify the use of OII for our family. We will not be doing all the books and she has already read some of the secondary books for pleasure reading. (LOTR, Hobbit) We chose to do this year because of its heavy emphasis on church history and high quality literature, but they are not grab and go books. Unless your dd is really capable of grappling with complex church history issues (persecution, heresies, theology) and is advanced in her ability to understand the literature, I think it is better waiting until she is older. My dd, when she does OII, will be in 9th grade. She is *so* much more mature than she was in 7th and is really ready to grapple with some of these issues and is now able to comprehend the serious subjects in the more complex literature. I don't have to give her easier books to read because she is ready to read the real ones. I think your dd is better served with something more age-appropriate until she is really ready for the real thing. Just some things to think about. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommy7 Posted April 10, 2009 Author Share Posted April 10, 2009 Thank you so much for your kind and gentle response. I will definitely give that thought. There is so much good stuff to choose from that it is hard to decide. Do you have any suggestions for this age for history? (7th) I'm doing Veritas Press Medieval with my other children this fall. I thought about adding a Beautiful Feet guide on the Medieval period for my almost 13 yo and letting her still be a part of our history. That way she would have something more challenging to do independently, but maybe not as big a leap as Omnibus. She is a very avid reader (for pleasure), but has not done a lot of advanced reading for information, etc. The maturity of the issues is an important consideration. You've given me a lot to think over. Thanks again! :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kate CA Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 Thank you so much for your kind and gentle response. I will definitely give that thought. There is so much good stuff to choose from that it is hard to decide. Do you have any suggestions for this age for history? (7th) I'm doing Veritas Press Medieval with my other children this fall. I thought about adding a Beautiful Feet guide on the Medieval period for my almost 13 yo and letting her still be a part of our history. That way she would have something more challenging to do independently, but maybe not as big a leap as Omnibus. She is a very avid reader (for pleasure), but has not done a lot of advanced reading for information, etc. The maturity of the issues is an important consideration. You've given me a lot to think over. Thanks again! :001_smile: I think your suggestion of using BF is a really good one. They have great age-appropriate reading choices for her age and a beautiful timeline to boot! I love the BF folks and feel they have a real understanding of great literature and appropriate time tables for learning the material. My 14yo (will be 15 when she does OII) still sits in with us in our history time and really enjoys it. We are using MOH Vol. II at this time and there is a great deal of "meat" to this level. I also have her reading other books on the side to flesh out the important subjects/people and I read other books out loud to do the same for all of us. The VP program you are using with your younger ones is a great solid program that your oldest will still benefit from yet she will not have the added (possible) burden of the more weighty issues presented in OII. I looked at both OI and OII when my dd was younger and just didn't feel at peace about the subjects covered. I just felt there were too many things I didn't want to tackle with her at that young age--adult subjects I didn't feel she was ready for. I know many moms feel OK about it and my feelings are not a judgment upon others' choices to use it as the younger level. It just wasn't for us at that time. :001_smile: Sometimes it is hard to know where our older children fit in and I really empathize with your dilemma! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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