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Teach Homeschool History

How To Shop For History Curriculum at a Homeschool Convention + Printable Cheat Sheet

February 7, 2014 | 4 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

This is a sponsored post and I am proud to be partnering with Great Homeschool Conventions this year because I LOVE their convention philosophy.

Homeschool History How to Shop For Curriculum at a Convention

Affiliate Link Elements

Convention season is just around the corner.  I like to plan early so I have time to mull over my choices, but especially my choices for my favorite subjects like history and geography.

Today, I am focusing on giving you a few things that I look for in a history program.  Instead of listing them in importance to me, I just listed them so you can decide which ones are important to you and which ones can take a backseat this next year.

Homeschool History Cheat Sheet

Too, I have prepared a cheat sheet for you by helping to separate the history vendors into different approaches.  This saves valuable time at a convention because you can spend time with the vendors that fit your approach.

choosing a homeschool history program free cheat sheet

You can download the Vendor Cheat Sheet here.

1.) Time Period Covered Quandary.   Before I purchase, I have to have an idea of what time period I want to focus on.  Do I want to cover history chronologically beginning with the ancients or do I want to hone in on one particular time period?  Look at my post here 8 Ways to Teach Homeschool History Other Than Chronologically if you are undecided.  For example if you want to cover one time period then look at the companies like My Father’s World or Knowledge Box Central.

2.) Children’s Abilities Quandary.  Instead of focusing on your children’s age which may be different than their ability, look for history curriculum that will either quench their thirst for history or scale it back into bite size pieces.  Be sure you are looking at levels above and below your child’s level to be sure you are making a good fit.

3.) History & Bible Together. I am always up for covering more than one subject at a time, but I always like choosing my own Bible reference material too.  Some history curriculum is lighter on Bible content, others not.  You decide what works for you this year.  For example, Story of the World at Rainbow Resource would be lighter on Bible content whereas Mystery Of History has more Bible coverage.  The most important thing to me is that I cover Bible along with history.

4.) Hands-on/Hands-off Learner.  If your child is not interested in crafts and wants to pick up and read and be done with it, then look at some of the text book providers or classical approach providers like Classical Conversations or Bob Jones.   If you’re like me and you would prefer that your children didn’t want to do any hands-on things, but that won’t ever happen (just kidding, I love doing these with my boys and NO I am not a crafty person, I just know it works) then look at the unit study approach and some of the books in the Variety category.  Look at BooksBloom, Great Hall Productions and Usborne books that can be used for hands-on ideas and for living books or audios.

5.) Business Matters.  Look over copyright usage for multiple children or how you are suppose to use it for your personal use.  Can you copy the material? Can you use it with more than one child?  Determine the actual price for you.

For example, though a history program that covers several time periods may be more expensive, it may allow usage for multiple children.

Do your math to compare apples to apples.

Look at this sample: If the cost of the history program is $80.00, then divide that by 3 (or number of children you have) = $26.66.

Then, if it can be used for multiple years, then divide that number again by the number of years.   If it’s a 4 year program, then it’s $6.66 per year per child.

Wow, what a deal, what a steal now.  Use both your business mind-set and teacher mind-set when you are shopping.

Shopping for homeschool history and supplements at a homeschool convention is one of my very favorite luvs and one of the best parts about being a home educator.  I love the smell of all the new books in the convention and the frenzy of shopping at each vendor’s booth.  Even at big conventions I always run into somebody I know too and visiting with each other is such a huge part of the fellowship felt when you go in person.

What about you? What is your favorite part about shopping for curriculum?

Have you decided which convention/s you are going to? Remember to register with Great Homeschool Conventions! Click on the graphic above to register.

I have some more posts on how to choose curriculum and some more free printable checklists to add to your arsenal.  Check it out below!

Free Checklists.

Master the Subjects Form – 5 Days Of The Benefits & Challenges of Teaching Mixed Ages Together – Day 4: Embrace Homeschooling Multiple Grades

Teacher’s Manual Checklist – {How To Series} How to Determine if a Teacher’s Manual is Treasure or Trash? + {printable checklist}

Should Homeschool History Be Covered In Chronological Order?
8 Ways to Teach Homeschool History Other Than Chronologically
Curriculum & Conventions: Cures for Cabin Fever
Stop Switching Your Curriculum – Switch Your Course of Study
Finding Curriculum for Unique Learners
How to Choose Curriculum Other Than the Looks Good Method

Hugs and love ya,

2012Tinasignature Day 1. Unit Studies Define & Redefine the Meaning. 10 Days of Diving into Unit Studies by Creating a Unit Study Together.

This is also a blog hop. This blog hop is organized by iHomeschool Network, a collaboration of outstanding homeschool bloggers who connect with each other and with family-friendly companies in mutual beneficial projects. Visit us on Pinterest, Twitter and Google Plus. And of course, click the image below to visit all the other blog articles from the homeschool moms of the iHomeschool Network.

hows-whys

4 CommentsFiled Under: Choose Curriculum, Sponsored Posts, Teach Homeschool History Tagged With: homeschoolconvention, homeschoolhistory

8 Ways to Teach Homeschool History Other Than Chronologically

November 2, 2013 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

My homeschool roots are in classical education because so many things just chimed true and made complete sense to me like covering history in chronological order when I first started homeschooling.  Too, my own education in high school mostly focused on American history with no real start in early civilizations or Bible. So when I answered part of Laura’s question on  Should Homeschool History Be Covered in Chronological Order, I just had to expand on it.

 

I know my family has reaped many benefits for following an organized cycle, whether a curriculum provider does that in 3 or 4 years.  On the other hand, after that history has to have life or you can lose interest in repeating the same story line.

History is an adventure to say the least because there are so many action packed stories and other side show events or people’s lives that are running parallel to each other that eventually you want to stray off that organized cycle to explore some of the sideshows.

 

Because children take in a lot more than we give them credit for at times, I don’t feel it confuses them but infuses them for a love of history when we take time to cover history in other ways.

Humdrum History

Before I list other ways to teach history, look below to understand how to maximize these other ways in your journey.

 

  • They work for families who have just taken their kids out of public or private school and are feeling overwhelmed and burned out.
  • They work for families too who have been homeschooling for a while and have hit the humdrum of history. Sometimes you just need a new bounce or spring to your history studies.
  • They work for families that savor history and want to cover it in more depth and for gifted learners who need more substance.
  • Some of the ways work for families who have special needs children who learn through different senses;
  • And depending on the resource, they work for families who have very young children and may not really get the benefit of understanding chronological ord 

    er or care how the Egyptians kept time before clocks were invented.

History Confusion or Infusion?

Look at the approaches below, all of which I have done at some time or another though  new curriculum has come along.

(Source: Beautiful Feet)

1. Teach History Through The Lives of Characters. Though this may seem like a literature approach because you are using great literature, it is not.  A literature approach uses many great books and focuses on many topics of a time period. Teaching history through the life of a person that lived in that time period focuses on events that affect your main character. It is more in line with taking a biography approach to history.

This is how we cover history presently. My very favorite set of books for older kids that we wallow in as much as we can are the books by Genevieve Foster by Beautiful Feet. These are keepers in my homeschool and ones we never tire of reading. When you learn that Daniel Boone was a little boy growing up at the same time as George Washington, then you appreciate the impac

 

t both made on American history.

For younger kids, it is very easy to find books or biographies on famous people like George Washington and for girls like Pocahontas. Another keeper for younger grades is the D’Aulaire collection by Beautiful Feet too.

The American Girl dolls are also a fun way to learn. I think about Native Americans with the Kaya doll. Look here at a Squidoo lens for crafting with dolls.

Make history meaningful by reading the lives of real people with lively literature.  Too, this way is one I feel is better to teach real young kids because they remem

 

ber people easier than understanding what time period they lived in. There is not a  lack of literature on most famous persons of history and enough to choose from for kindergarten to high school age.

 

 

Teaching American History Through Art CD | Main photo (Cover)

 

(Source: Rainbow Resource)

 

2. Teach History Through Art. In classical education, art and science are tied into the time period you are studying. However, art does not have to be studied that way. When history can be learned along with something else that your child loves, it makes it more meaningful. One curriculum that does this is Visual Manna.

Another example is Mapping the World With Art. Geography and history are inextricably linked as it should be and you learn while you watercolor or make maps.

(Source Joy Hakim)

3. Teach History Through Science. For science lovers who need to learn a bit of history through a science brain, Joy Hakim has a series called The Story of Science that we are going to try next. I have seen rave reviews and talked to homeschoolers who used it.  This is a secular source. Sometimes for me that is a good thing so I can add my own Bible content, but many times too it means they tout a no need to believe in God or an evolutionary belief which is contrary to what I want my children to learn. But as homeschoolers I don’t think any of us are not use to tweaking curriculum for our beliefs and worldview. So I will address our belief in creation and dependency on the Creator with my children. From what I have seen the story is so engaging that it is worth the time to tweak those parts. This is another way for us to sneak in some more science with history that we love. Since we haven’t read these yet, the jury is still out on this.

 

 

4. Teach History Through Drawing. Children have a natural disposition toward drawing and doodling. So encourage that. Some grow up to draw beautifully.  Mr. Senior 2013 was like this and I used Draw Write Now for him when he was younger.

 

(Source:Rainbow Resource)

Then also came along Draw and Write Through History which we have used too and love.

 

 

The History in Scribe is another fun way to learn about historical events and writing and drawing about them too. This can be used for a child that you expect a little more writing from. There are a lot of free notebooking pages, mine included, where ample space is left for visual diagrams. As you can see, you don’t even have to have a curriculum, just an imagination. For example, a child can draw the flora and fauna that Lewis and Clark saw along their expedition. Then a love for history beyond boring dates that makes me yawn too is revived. They also have a beautiful nature journal to keep as well.

Too, if you have a child delayed in motor skills or a reluctant writer, then drawing is a fun way to engage them, build motor skills AND teach history.

 

Let go of ALL that thinking that history has to be taught a certain way when you need to and trust your mommy gut on what is best for your child. They will not forget it as they grow older or what you taught them.

5. Teach History By Topic. Though this may sound like a unit study it really is not because the emphasis isn’t on covering all subjects like science, math, and art, etc.,  but it is more about understanding the people and culture from the earliest civilization to present day. Our geography quest we did on Turkey was an example of this.

 

Turkey%20Report%203%20August%202012 Mini Unit Study:Turkey + {10 Country Report Notebooking Pages}

 

Though we covered some other topics, the focus was still on the main topic which was to explore the changes ancient to modern on Istanbul, Turkey. We covered it in a few short weeks from the time it was Constantinople until present day. No  restraint on time periods, no control, no cycle 1 or 2, ju

 

st unequaled and sheer delight in reading and learning what my sons were fascinated with at the time.

famous figures of medieval times cathy diez-luckie famous figures of the civil war by cathy diez-luckie
american revolution activity book cathy diez luckie ancient history activity books cathy diez luckie

6.  Teach History Through No Ordinary Paper Dolls. Figures in Motion is geared toward younger children and could obviously be used to enrich your history too. But using something hands on and that is historically accurate, it will help your child to understand the characters of history and build a love of it too.  Give these to your younger children to hold, play with and imagine the time period as the older children tell the story of history.

 

Copy of Co-op with Chelly 020

 

(Viking ice cream boat made with vanilla ice cream in a rectangle box and icing in a can with skewers for the sail.)

7. Teach and Learn History With Others. And no, I don’t mean a co-op unless you have the energy to do one.  Keep it simple always and plan with just one other family that your children enjoy being around. That is kind of important. You still want to be friends afterwards so it helps if not only you and another homeschool mom are friends, but the  children are too.

Buddy up with just one other family keeps history something to look forward to each week or every other week. This allows you an off week to cover something you want to about the subject.

One year we studied history with another family and decided what topics to cover each time. No rhyme, no reason to the order of it, just whatever delighted our children to learn together. Too, we met every other week and it was just perfect for us.

 

Co-op with Chelly 024

 

We made ice cream Viking ships (of course had to eat it too) and exploded volcanoes when learning about Crete.Co-op with Chelly 010

 

8. Teach History By Watching Movies. Pop some popcorn and enjoy. Episodes of Liberty’s Kids can be found free on YouTube and there is a free series by John Green on YouTube too for American History.   Movies like Alexander the Great, The Nightmare in Jamestown about the first colony and Lewis and Clark Journey West to name a few can be viewed on Netflix. Be sure to watch with your kids because some of the documentaries give the vivid facts of history that are not so necessary for younger children.

 

There is also Drive Through History which is on DVDS. Sit back and be entertained by Dave Stotts as you visit places both ancient and modern.

There are so many more ways to teach history other than chronologically.

I know I have said it before too but I am still totally delighted with Brimwood Press because it covers history chronologically in 14 lessons or big huge chunks and not in cycles. Up until this time, again, we had no choices if we wanted to cover it chronologically and move faster. Now, I can use Brimwood Press at anytime or if we lose our way chronologically and still include one of these other ways. I have a choice always too of covering it chronologically in depth by using one of the other providers like I mentioned in my earlier post: Should Homeschool History Be Covered in Chronological Order?

 

Choices, lots of choices! Give me choices anytime. What about you? Have you found one that fits your needs right now or that you might want to scoot into later?

Hugs and you know I love ya,

8 Ways To Teach Homeschool History Other Than Chronologically @ Tinas Dynamic Homeschool Plus

 

 

Leave a CommentFiled Under: How To - - -, Teach Homeschool History Tagged With: american history, early American history, hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling, history resources, historyspine, homeschoolcurriculum, homeschoolhistory, middle ages history, secularhistory

Should Homeschool History Be Covered in Chronological Order?

October 28, 2013 | 5 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Should homeschool history be covered in chronological order @ Tinas Dynamic Homeschool Plus

I love your questions and answer them as I can. I have a couple of questions from Laura, but I am helping her out with one of them today and will save the other one for next time.

Hi there Tina!!
Laura here (a most grateful “follower” who thinks your site is awesome).  I have two questions……..

Regarding history, ancient world and American,  do you think history needs to be done in order?  Ie.  ancient and then leading up to American or is it possible to do a little Ancient and then American.  It seems like the latter may lend itself to confusing the kids.  Your perspective if you don’t mind and at your convenience.  I know you’re busy.

My simple answer to this question is: It depends. If you are relatively new to homeschooling (under 4 years or so) or have never covered history in a systematic way, it is extremely beneficial. You should do it at least one cycle through to form a history skeleton on which to place key events.

Having a flow to the story of history has helped my sons tremendously in being able to place key events and important people  close to the right time period. Too, I wanted them to be able to understand Bible chronology, i.e. history began with creation,etc.

I say it depends too because the whole purpose of covering a curriculum in a 3 or  4 year cycle is to get a bird’s eye view. That means leave off all unnecessary details and dates that bog us down. Therein lies the rub. Some curriculum providers in an effort to beef it up so speak, stress both child and parent alike because key points are lost in all the details and background information. The child may end up having a dislike for history and that is putting it nicely because instead us of moving on and reading the story, we may have taken many bunny trails.

That is the reason I was SO over the  top and still am about us using Brimwood Press History. It is the first of its kind  which covers history in great big HUGE chunks so we can get the full picture quickly.

However, if you have time and your children are younger, then you don’t have to go as fast. A program like the ones I list below in the chart will be of value to you. You have time to go through a cycle and will have more background information. Just remember to trim the fat if you feel like you are going too long or lagging. If you pulled your child out of high school and you only have a few years to cover history, your children already have a dislike for history or  if you feel you are even lagging behind in your understanding of it, then using a program like Brimwood Press first will help to minimize burnout and bring some fun back into your journey.

The chart below has some history providers that follow a chronological approach.  I just added a few, not all of them.  Some have more than one volume to choose from for a time period and others stick to 3 or 4 volumes, but this helps us to see some of our choices.

Curriculum Name

Provider

4 Year Cycle

3 Year Cycle

Multiple Ages of Children

Story of the World

Peace Hill Press

√

√

The Mystery of History

Bright Ideas Press

√
*Note Volume IV Coming.

√

History Revealed

Diana Waring

√

√

Tapestry of Grace

Lampstand Press

√

√

Truth Quest

Truth Quest History

√ Yes, but numerous grade level volumes to choose from instead of just 4.

√

TRISMS

TRISMS

√ Yes, but included 1 more volume to choose from for middleschoolers.

√

Sonlight

Sonlight

√ Yes, but numerous grade level volumes to choose from instead of just 4.

√

However, there are more things to consider too.

Understanding how children naturally learn at different stages, which is normally tied in to their ages, but not always, helps you to find a better fit for your family.

Learning in chronological order may not be of benefit to your children right now if they are all very young like pre-k or kindergarten age, if they don’t care for history  or they are suffering from burn out.

For example, most public schools teach “social studies” to pre-k and kindergarten age starting from the inside, or their immediate world and go to the outside world. Because very young children understand their immediate world like their family, their house and the street they live on, teachers first teach them things like learning about their community and community helpers. Then,  from there to their state, to their country and then to the larger world as they grow older. There is some logic to this because children are single minded at that age and it’s all about THEM. Too, though children that age are learning with every breath they take, their world is small because of their developmental age.

Would a pre-k or kindergarten child benefit from understanding the Minoans,  appreciate that Herodotus is referred to as the Father of History or grasp the conflict between Athens or Sparta?

Probably not.  However, they would appreciate good stories from Aesop’s fables, which has its start in Ancient Civilizations or cycle 1.

It is my experience and I agree with Susan Wise Bauer that it is better to start teaching history chronologically when your first child is older.  Susan Wise Bauer suggests first grade and I would recommend even later is okay too.  I started in first grade with Mr. Senior 2013, but see that I could have even waited until he was second or third grade and would have been fine too.  Of course I was worried about him “getting behind” but realize now that even with a year or two older we could have moved faster and covered more in depth.

In a nutshell: If you have older children or if your first one is at a second or third grade level, it is very practical, useful and absolutely a delight to cover history in chronological order.  It is like making an outline. An outline doesn’t have all the supporting details right now, but gives you a sweeping overview. Later, you can come back and add details.

I taught Mr. Senior 2013  following the public school method like learning about his community and  community helpers when he was in pre-k because I did not know of any other methods. But there are other methods of how to teach young kids history or children that have history burnout.

I have a second post I will share with you on this shortly or toward the end of the week, but first I have a post or two coming about a hands on history kit for South America that I am excited to tell you about.

Hugs and love ya,

2012Tinasignature Review of What Every Child Needs to Know About Western Civilization by BrimWood Press.

5 CommentsFiled Under: Dynamic Reader Question, Teach Homeschool History Tagged With: homeschoolhistory

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