Rome to the Reformation - without "Streams?"

[mom2jjka]

Has anyone here used MFW's Rome to the Reformation - but also used the SOTW 2 Activity guide with it?

 

I purchased RTR for next year, but I'm just not crazy about parts of it (namely Streams of Civilization.) I was wondering if I could leave out Streams and just use more SOTW 2 (?)

 

Any experience with this?

[razorbackmama]

I don't know what the activity guide is like, but I recently bought some H.A. Guerber books to use instead of Streams. From what I heard they line up pretty well, and the reading is way more interesting LOL.

[Donna A.]

Streams is used as a reference for more detail on some topics, and is intended for YOU to read and then summarize for your children as they're working. It's not like you just "read" through Streams. It's a resource. If you really don't like/want to use Streams where those page assignments come up, then you'd need something else for that further research.

 

Some families with older kids (junior high age) like to use Streams for more advanced assignments, i.e., let their kids read the assigned pages and answer the comp questions at the end of the unit, do additional research, etc.

 

RTR has a lot of hands-on activities, appendix pages including coloring sheets, memorization sheets (emperors of Rome, for example), mapwork, etc. Then there's that huge list of additional book options at the back. I actually bought the SOTW 2 AG at one point thinking I could pull some ideas from it as well, but it proved to be mostly redundant. And, no offense to the SOTW lovers here, but I honestly liked both the maps AND the coloring pages in the RTR manual better than in the SOTW AG.

[razorbackmama]

Streams is used as a reference for more detail on some topics, and is intended for YOU to read and then summarize for your children as they're working. It's not like you just "read" through Streams. It's a resource.

 

I've read this elsewhere on a forum, but I haven't been able to find in the MFW where it actually talks about it. Help???

[Lori in MS]

I got SOTW 2 AG to use with RTR as my children were young. We used a few pages but I ended up selling it. It really wasn't needed.

[Donna A.]

I've read this elsewhere on a forum, but I haven't been able to find in the MFW where it actually talks about it. Help???

 

What do you mean, Kirstin? Where it talks about what, specifically?

[Ashkraw]

I think using "Streams" depends on your children. My Dd (11) loves history and likes all of it read aloud and I do to. I like the info in "Streams", it seams to recap everything you are learning. With RTR you do not start off with SOTW right away. You begin with, I believe Augustus Caesar's World and "Streams" reinforces with some new information. There are some days at the end of the curriculum that I have found it not necessary but for the most part we have enjoyed all the information from all the books.

 

I do suggest on days that you do not have map work or sheets to color, to allow your children to color while you are reading. I suggest this if you have a child that is not able to sit and listen but has a need to be occupied while listening. I have one of each. And attentive listener and one that listens while moving about. This was very distracting for me, so I started having her color while I read. This was only on days we didn't have a map or activity sheet. It seems to help alot and she retains everything.

 

We have really enjoyed this study. It has been great and look forward to next years: :) Exploration to 1800's

[Donna A.]

I think using "Streams" depends on your children. My Dd (11) loves history and likes all of it read aloud and I do to. I like the info in "Streams", it seams to recap everything you are learning. With RTR you do not start off with SOTW right away. You begin with, I believe Augustus Caesar's World and "Streams" reinforces with some new information. There are some days at the end of the curriculum that I have found it not necessary but for the most part we have enjoyed all the information from all the books.

 

I do suggest on days that you do not have map work or sheets to color, to allow your children to color while you are reading. I suggest this if you have a child that is not able to sit and listen but has a need to be occupied while listening. I have one of each. And attentive listener and one that listens while moving about. This was very distracting for me, so I started having her color while I read. This was only on days we didn't have a map or activity sheet. It seems to help alot and she retains everything.

 

We have really enjoyed this study. It has been great and look forward to next years: :) Exploration to 1800's

 

:iagree:

 

SOTW doesn't begin until about week 14 or 15, as you do 13 weeks of Ancient Rome first, using ACW.

 

Oh, and Marie suggests that you photocopy the 2-page spreads of "all those crazy Romans", in my dd's words, from ACW for them to color while you're reading aloud. We did this, and it was very helpful for the girls to keep the people and family members straight, even at their ages.

[Julie in MN]

I've read this elsewhere on a forum, but I haven't been able to find in the MFW where it actually talks about it. Help???

 

I think it gets confusing between CTG & RTR. In CTG:

week 1 - streams isn't used

week 2 - one picture/box is used

week 3 - the guide clearly states both in the grid & notes that Streams is to be summarized for younger students

 

 

 

In RTR, it's slightly different:

 

1. There is already a story-type narrative going. Augustus Caesar's World and later SOTW will be "narrative" spines. Added to that is the Bible itself (as well as support materials - Victor Journey through the Bible, How the Bible Came to Us, and so on). Also, a colorful book from Usborne and read-alouds that bring the stories to life, including the science biography.

 

2. Finally, Streams is added both alongside the narratives (adding more facts/maps/etc) and as a transition between them (in order to connect the gaps between the various narratives). So replacing streams with yet another story narrative, which would be in yet a different order, would not seem to be trading apples for apples. A more logical comparison would be the encyclopedia - but one which was not afraid to believe in God.

 

3. Notice that regular readings from Streams are usually short, but of course you can use your own discretion.

 

4. Advanced readings from Streams are clearly marked for older students only.

 

 

 

Does this help?

Julie

[razorbackmama]

I think it gets confusing between CTG & RTR. In CTG:

week 1 - streams isn't used

week 2 - one picture/box is used

week 3 - the guide clearly states both in the grid & notes that Streams is to be summarized for younger students

 

 

 

In RTR, it's slightly different:

 

1. There is already a story-type narrative going. Augustus Caesar's World and later SOTW will be "narrative" spines. Added to that is the Bible itself (as well as support materials - Victor Journey through the Bible, How the Bible Came to Us, and so on). Also, a colorful book from Usborne and read-alouds that bring the stories to life, including the science biography.

 

2. Finally, Streams is added both alongside the narratives (adding more facts/maps/etc) and as a transition between them (in order to connect the gaps between the various narratives). So replacing streams with yet another story narrative, which would be in yet a different order, would not seem to be trading apples for apples. A more logical comparison would be the encyclopedia - but one which was not afraid to believe in God.

 

3. Notice that regular readings from Streams are usually short, but of course you can use your own discretion.

 

4. Advanced readings from Streams are clearly marked for older students only.

 

 

 

Does this help?

Julie

 

 

YES! I don't have CTG, so maybe that's why I couldn't find it! Though I will also go back and look in the earlier weeks in RTR. Thanks!

[Donna A.]

YES! I don't have CTG, so maybe that's why I couldn't find it! Though I will also go back and look in the earlier weeks in RTR. Thanks!

 

Kirstin, I'm still not clear on *exactly* what you're searching for -- instructions on how to use Streams? -- but I pulled out my RTR manual to see if I could find some specific examples for you. If you go to the front of the manual to the section on "Teaching Tips" where she breaks down instructions by subject, look under History on the 5th page of those Teaching Tips. (There aren't any page #'s in this section.) The second paragraph talks about Streams.

 

Then an assignment from Streams appears on Day 1 of Week 1 in context of the story of how Rome was founded, along with assignments from Ancient World and The Roman Empire.

 

What week are you on now?

[razorbackmama]

Kirstin, I'm still not clear on *exactly* what you're searching for -- instructions on how to use Streams? -- but I pulled out my RTR manual to see if I could find some specific examples for you. If you go to the front of the manual to the section on "Teaching Tips" where she breaks down instructions by subject, look under History on the 5th page of those Teaching Tips. (There aren't any page #'s in this section.) The second paragraph talks about Streams.

 

Then an assignment from Streams appears on Day 1 of Week 1 in context of the story of how Rome was founded, along with assignments from Ancient World and The Roman Empire.

 

What week are you on now?

 

We are on Week 18.

 

What I had never seen before was the part you shared earlier in the thread, how the parent was supposed to read Streams and then summarize to the student.

 

All I'm seeing in the Teaching Tips is that "Advanced" readings are for 5th-8th graders and that parents should read those. It also says that there are research projects for 7th and 8th graders in Streams.

 

But I'm not seeing ANYTHING that talks about using Streams as a reference only and summarizing for my students.:confused:

[AudreyTN]

But I'm not seeing ANYTHING that talks about using Streams as a reference only and summarizing for my students.:confused:

 

We are getting ready to start CtG (and I've not seen RtR) and I did see that. Maybe they didn't mention it in RtR assuming that you've used CtG?

[razorbackmama]

We are getting ready to start CtG (and I've not seen RtR) and I did see that. Maybe they didn't mention it in RtR assuming that you've used CtG?

 

That is what I'm thinking as well. That's totally FINE...I have just been so lost since I keep hearing that LOL!

[Donna A.]

We are on Week 18.

 

What I had never seen before was the part you shared earlier in the thread, how the parent was supposed to read Streams and then summarize to the student.

 

All I'm seeing in the Teaching Tips is that "Advanced" readings are for 5th-8th graders and that parents should read those. It also says that there are research projects for 7th and 8th graders in Streams.

 

But I'm not seeing ANYTHING that talks about using Streams as a reference only and summarizing for my students.:confused:

 

Hhmm, well, I guess that's the interpretation of this statement from that paragraph:

 

"All parents should read these sections, as they provide valuable background information for parent-teachers."

 

Kirstin, sometimes I'd read the passage in Streams aloud to the girls, and sometimes I didn't. It just depends on the topic and whether they look like they're bored out of their minds or not. Sometimes I read it to myself, but then summarize what it says. Sometimes I just skip it. Take it on a case by case basis. ;)

[Donna A.]

We are getting ready to start CtG (and I've not seen RtR) and I did see that. Maybe they didn't mention it in RtR assuming that you've used CtG?

 

:iagree:

[razorbackmama]

Hhmm, well, I guess that's the interpretation of this statement from that paragraph:

 

"All parents should read these sections, as they provide valuable background information for parent-teachers."

 

Oh, I interpreted that to mean that the parent should not leave the advanced students to read it on their own.

[Donna A.]

Oh, I interpreted that to mean that the parent should not leave the advanced students to read it on their own.

 

That's okay, too. :) And if you interpreted it that way, then that would assume you don't do Streams at all with younger children. Problem solved! :D

[razorbackmama]

That's okay, too. :) And if you interpreted it that way, then that would assume you don't do Streams at all with younger children. Problem solved! :D

Actually no, but I'm nak and can't dig my book out again.

 

It really doesn't matter anyway.

[Donna A.]

It comes down to making the study work for you, not the other way around.

 

I think that the instructions to read and summarize SOC is in CtG. I think the intention is that you read SOC aloud in R2R but if it works better for you to summarize, then do it that way. The MFW police will not come after you.

 

I think the kids sometimes find SOC a bit dry but I can see why they choose it. There is a lot of good information in there! I pick and choose what I read to the younger ones, but the older ones pretty much get all of it. I have learned to edit on the fly if a section is getting a bit long for the girls. It is a Jr. High text after all.

 

I wouldn't want to sub a different book because it is a main spine. If you sub the main spines then what is the point of paying someone to do the work for you? There is a lot more to MFW then just history and much more than just SOC, but one of the reasons I use MFW is so I don't have to try and line everything up. Changing the spine means I have to do all of that work and it defeats the purpose.

 

Yes, that's exactly what I was trying to say! :D

[razorbackmama]

It comes down to making the study work for you, not the other way around.

 

This is EXACTLY what it is boiling down to for me.:001_smile:

 

I think that the instructions to read and summarize SOC is in CtG. I think the intention is that you read SOC aloud in R2R but if it works better for you to summarize, then do it that way. The MFW police will not come after you.

 

I'm just glad that I wasn't totally "off"! This is what I've been doing, but boy is it a yawner! I'd really prefer NOT to summarize, actually.

 

I wouldn't want to sub a different book because it is a main spine. If you sub the main spines then what is the point of paying someone to do the work for you? There is a lot more to MFW then just history and much more than just SOC, but one of the reasons I use MFW is so I don't have to try and line everything up. Changing the spine means I have to do all of that work and it defeats the purpose.

 

Well, it's not really that big of a deal. It's one book, it's pretty easy to pick out the different topics (it's not like we follow Streams perfectly in order either;) ), and they seem to have very similiar information, just a bit more "lively."

 

I'm honestly not sure what the big deal is for me suggesting this to the OP.:001_huh: If it doesn't work out well or gets to be a pain, I'll go back to Streams. But I'm just glad that, as you said, the MFW police won't be out to get me for tweaking a bit.