heartofdakota.com

Ladies,
I am struggling with that nagging feeling of not doing what EVERYONE else is doing! My dd8 is in Bigger this year. I am hearing from other parents how their children her age younger are memorizing all the states and capitols. I really haven't added much to HOD. This is our 3rd year using HOD and we are really pleased with everything that we are doing. I guess my question is...should I be drilling my kids with the states and capitols? I am not a fan of the classical model and drilling information into my children unless it is scripture. Is anyone else adding this stuff in and if so, what are you using and do you think it is worth doing?

Thanks for any help on this!
Mary

My oldest couldn't name or find many states on a map (she really even struggled with pointing at the USA ) when we began Bigger. By the time we ended Bigger without any drilling she can find pretty well any state you ask her (she struggles with New England). She doesn't just KNOW the capitals, but she knows how to find them on a map.... I never actually taught her the capitals (is it al or ol? I cannot remember... it's past my bedtime) though, so I have no idea if she would have learned them, too...

So all that to say, if you think it's highly important that they can rattle off the states and capitols (just in case ) then get some flashcards... otherwise, Bigger will at least teach them where they are on a map and how to find everything on a map. I think I learned them the first time in 5th grade. It was either 4th or 5th... so I'm not worried about it right now. Especially since I didn't actually LEARN them until the 3rd or 4th time I had to know them for a test, and I was at LEAST in Jr High if not High School.

I agree with Lora Beth above. Do it if you really feel like you need to. But when's the last time you needed to know the capitol of Wyoming?

Part of the geography plans in Bigger includes making state flashcards with the postal abbreviations on one side, and including the capitols is optional And, you have a full-blown study of the 50 states in RevtoRev-HOD really does a great job of hitting on all the essentials, and building on previous learning year after year If you really want to have her learn the states by heart, you can look for "fifty nifty united states" on youtube

Thanks, ladies! I will just keep going and trust that we get all the bases covered!

Mary

Mary,

The ladies have done a terrific job of answering your question! I just wanted to pop-in and let you know that in Rev2Rev your child will do a Christian state study on all 50 states as part of the guide. It goes quite in-depth with each state and it does have your child focus on memorizing the states, capitols, and abbreviations. So, it is coming, but we wait to focus on memorizing that information until it actually means something to the child geography-wise. Then, in Missions to Modern Marvels, we will be setting aside time each week for the child to do a study of his/her individual state.

Blessings,
Carrie

Thank you ladies and Carrie!

It's funny! I just got to the lesson today where we start doing the 13 colonies with their abbreviations. Carrie, I just love your approach this! I am so thankful that we found this curriculum in the beginning (Kindergarten). I see so many moms struggling trying to figure out when and how to do stuff and you have it all planned for me! I was thinking a few weeks ago that I really wanted to get my dd8 started on a Common Place book but really didn't know how to go about it. Then I look at Preparing and it's already there! I also have seen several curricula that other moms have shown me that I wanted to try and well, I look ahead and you're already using them.

I am really loving the questions during the Bible Study time. My husband and I lead our 1st-6th grade students in our Weds night program and most of our church kids are not getting this sort of probing at home. My daughter is really being forced to think and not just regurgitate information. By doing this we are really teaching them to break down Scripture verse by verse. Carrie, the more I see from HOD, the more impressed I am at what the Lord is allowing you to do. Keep it up! I know this got off topic but just had to say it!

Mary

Oh! I'm so glad! Thanks so much for sharing!

Blessings,
Carrie