As I get ready to share this next sneak peek, I have to admit that I am surprised that I am actually excited about this peek.
The reason is because this particular sneak peek has to do with the study of Economics. Now, while some of you may be thrilled about the topic of Economics, I must say that from my past experience with the study of economics I was less than enthused about pursuing options for study of this topic for our guides. 
With that being said, I did truly enjoyed reading Whatever Happened to Penny Candy? and Common Sense Business for Kids along with MTMM and also with reading Whatever Happened to Justice? along with the US1 Guide. So, with that in mind, we desired to put together something unique for the study of economics.
With our oldest son, we spent time reviewing all of the standard options, and even many that weren't standard, for his study of economics. When it came time to review options for the upcoming US2 Guide, we reviewed even more options, wanting to find the best possible mix of resources to both engage and educate the student. With the desire to study both macro and micro economic topics, we came up with the following exciting plan for economics. I hope that you will be as excited about this study as we are!
We will use a combination of resources to earn 1/2 credit in Economics. The study will be done daily for an entire year in order to utilize shorter sessions. We will begin the year with Money Wise DVD: Biblical Principles of Work & Finance combined with lessons from the first part of Intro to Economics: Money, History & Fiscal Faith. While the Intro. to Economics: Money, History & Fiscal Faith also schedules Bankruptcy of Our Nation, we will not be using this resource and instead will be replacing it with a variety of other resources that include Economics: A Free Market Reader with included questions, The Myth of the Robber Barons: A New Look at the Rise of Big Business in America with narrations, The Money Mystery and its corresponding study guide, and Money Matters for Teens with annotations. We believe this combination of living books and resources will make the study of Economics come to life for our students!!
It also matches the time period of the US2 Guide well, as you'll notice when you read the overviews of several of the resources below. Publisher descriptions of each resource are included below. Money-Wise DVD: Biblical Principles of Work & Finance:
Money Wise is a fun, engaging, and fact-filled DVD journey into God's wisdom on work and money. Throughout Money Wise, Chad Hovind explores God's principles, His teachings, and His directions for living a life of liberty, prosperity, and generosity. Chad presents a biblical case for free-market enterprise, and offers God's perspective for the economic decisions of an individual, a family, and even a nation. Money Wise explains that God wants us to live a life of freedom to serve him, to provide for ourselves, and to bless others.Includes: 14 - 30 Minute Lesson
To see the DVD topics, view the Sample Pages in the Table of Contents at the following link: (Note: We will use the first semester topics only and will be using these on a more condensed daily schedule balanced with other resources as well: ) http://www.masterbooks.com/downloads/dl ... th_plp.pdf
The Money-Wise DVD is done by Chad Hovind and incorporates and expands his Godonomics DVD sessions. To view a clip of Godonomics to gain an idea of Chad Hovind's style, click on the following link and then click on the video clip: http://godonomics.com/index.html
Economics: A Free Market Reader
Economics: A Free Market Reader is a collection of thirteen articles by noted economists selected to enhance students' understanding and appreciation of the subject of free market economics. (These selected articles originally appeared in The Foundation for Economic Education's monthly study journal, The Freeman. The articles were compiled by Bettina Bien Greaves and were subsequently reprinted in Free Market Economics: A Reader.)
Economics: A Free Market Reader also includes two types of study questions (original to the book): "What Do You Think?" questions, and "Thought Questions". Prior to each article the "What Do You Think?" questions should be answered based on the reader's current knowledge and/or opinion of the topic. These answers should be revisited after reading the article to see if the perspective/knowledge base of the student has changed. Following each article are "Thought Questions" which are designed to facilitate student-teacher discussion, and to enhance the student's understanding and appreciation of the subject matter.
Table of Contents for Economics: A Free Market Reader:
1. Publisher's Note
2. How to Use This Book
3. A King of Long Ago
4. Not Yours to Give
5. How Much Money?
6. Eternal Love
7. Back to Gold?
8. Not Worth a Continental
9. The Gold Problem
10. Jobs for All
11. Competition, Monopoly, the Role of Government
12. The Broken Window
13. Food from Thought
14. Million Dollar Dream
15. The Candlemakers' Petition
Answers to Thought Questions
The Myth of the Robber Barons: A New Look at the Rise of Big Business in America
The Myth of the Robber Barons describes the role of key entrepreneurs in the economic growth of the United States from 1850 to 1910. The entrepreneurs studied are Cornelius Vanderbilt, John D. Rockefeller, James J. Hill, Andrew Mellon, Charles Schwab, and the Scranton family. Most historians argue that these men, and others like them, were Robber Barons. The story, however, is more complicated. The author, Burton Folsom, divides the entrepreneurs into two groups market entrepreneurs and political entrepreneurs. The market entrepreneurs, such as Hill, Vanderbilt, and Rockefeller, succeeded by producing a quality product at a competitive price. The political entrepreneurs such as Edward Collins in steamships and in railroads the leaders of the Union Pacific Railroad were men who used the power of government to succeed. They tried to gain subsidies, or in some way use government to stop competitors. The market entrepreneurs helped lead to the rise of the U. S. as a major economic power. By 1910, the U. S. dominated the world in oil, steel, and railroads led by Rockefeller, Schwab (and Carnegie), and Hill. The political entrepreneurs, by contrast, were a drain on the taxpayers and a thorn in the side of the market entrepreneurs. Interestingly, the political entrepreneurs often failed. Without help from the government, they could not produce competitive products. The author describes this clash of the market entrepreneurs and the political entrepreneurs.
In the Mellon chapter, the author describes how Andrew Mellon an entrepreneur in oil and aluminum became Secretary of Treasury under Coolidge. In office, Mellon was the first American to practice supply-side economics. He supported cuts on income tax rates for all groups. The rate cut on the wealthiest Americans, from 73 percent to 25 percent, freed up investment capital and led to American economic growth during the 1920s. Also, the amount of revenue into the federal treasury increased sharply after tax rates were cut. The Myth of the Robber Barons has separate chapters on Vanderbilt, Hill, Schwab, Mellon, and the Scrantons. The author also has a conclusion, in which he looks at the textbook bias on the subject of Robber Barons and the rise of the U. S. in the late 1800s. This chapter explores three leading college texts in U. S. history and shows how they misread American history and disparage market entrepreneurs instead of the political entrepreneurs. This book is in its fifth edition, and is widely adopted in college and high school classrooms across the U. S.
The Money Mystery
The Money Mystery further expands on the economic model presented in Whatever Happened to Penny Candy?
The Money Mystery explains the hidden force effecting your career, business, and investments. Some economics refer to this force as velocity, others to money demand. Whichever term is used, it is one of the least understood forces affecting your life. Knowing about velocity and money demand not only gives you an understanding of history that few others have, it prepares you to understand and avoid pitfalls in your career, business, and investments.
During the 1980s the velocity of circulation of the dollar became erratic; now the whole country is affected. The Money Mystery explains why Federal Reserve officials remain so afraid of inflation, explains precautions you should take, and explains the wild swings in the stock market.
Using the epistolary style of writing (using letters to tell a story), Mr. Maybury plays the part of an economist (Uncle Eric) writing a series of letters to his niece or nephew (Chris). Using stories and examples, Mr. Maybury gives interesting and clear explanations of topics that are generally thought to be too difficult for anyone but experts.
Mr. Maybury warns, "beware of anyone who tells you a topic is above you or better left to experts. Many people are twice as smart as they think they are, but they've been intimidated into believing some topics are above them. You can understand almost anything if it is explained well."
Table of Contents for The Money Mystery
Uncle Eric's Model of How the World Works
Study Guide Available
Author's Disclosure
Fable of the Frog
1. The Financial Panic of 1980
2. A Shot of Inflation
3. Misleading Propaganda
4. The French Example
5. Stage Two Inflation
6. Khomeini
7. The Grain Embargo
8. Ramifications of the Panic of 1980
9. The Gloom-and-Doomers
10. Two Important Questions
11. The Financial Hair-Trigger
12. Federal Reserve Behavior
13. Another Important Lesson
14. The Lesson of the 1987 Crash
15. What You Can Do About It
16. Summary
17. The Velocity Demon Updated
18. A New, or Very Old, Form of Inflation
The Money Mystery Study Guide
A Bluestocking Guide: Solving the Money Mystery by Kathryn Daniels (author and co-editor of several Bluestocking Guides, Economics: A Free Market Reader, and Common Sense Business for Kids) is a student study guide designed to reinforce and enhance a student's understanding of the subject matter presented in the primer, The Money Mystery: The Hidden Force Affecting Your Career, Business and Investments.
Money Matters for Teens
They're on the brink of adulthood, but are teens ready for financial independence? Teens always want more money. However, they often do not know how to handle the money they do have. Larry Burkett knows teens need to be educated on solid, biblical money management if they’re to exercise these habits as adults. “How we handle money matters is about how we handle ourselves” states Burkett. These books make it easy and practical for teens to learn godly money management principles. Drawing from biblical principles, financial expert Burkett shows young people how to make the best use of their money. He shares Bible-based wisdom on getting and keeping a job, how banks and creditors work, managing a savings/checking account, budgeting, planning, giving, saving, investing, credit, debt, paying for college, knowing when to borrow(and the dangers involved), buying a car, stewardship, the stock market, paying for college, business - their own, career, and much more. Chapters titles include: Stewardship, Money, Attitude, Planning, Banking, Spending, and Career. In Money Matters for Teens, Burkett address issues of specific concern for teens and teaches them the basics to help them prepare for financial independence.
Economics is typically a required course in each state. Some states allow either Economics or Finance credit to be earned interchangeably. The US2 Guide will schedule both Economics and Finance, allowing families to choose between the two courses or to choose to complete both courses. Our oldest son completed both Economics and Finance and felt that the combination was wonderful training for his future.
Our next son will be completing both courses as well. For further information on what we have scheduled for Finance in the coming guide, click on the link below to read our previous "Finance" Sneak Peek: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=17011&p=118803#p118803Blessings,
Carrie
I'm also wondering *why* I didn't see this yesterday.... 
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