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I am confused and I'd love to hear some advice from those who have been there and done that. I have a ten yr old that is roughly starting the 4th grade now. If I keep on my current path of combining all of my kids, then for 5th we'll do Bigger, then 6th is Preparing, and 7th is Ancients.

I am currently happily combining all 3 kids in Beyond. My youngest, soon to be 6, is only doing the left side and storytime...I'm okay with that. I'm trying to fold them in together to ease my load. I also really want them to be doing the same history time frame.

I'm stuck on what course (academic history path) to take with all of my kids. I know I shouldn't let it bother me, but it is. I'm wanting my oldest to go through 2 history rotations before graduation. If I keep on my current path then he will be a 10th grader doing Carrie's last history program. This will not allow us to go through two rounds of a four year history cycle with him. Also, I have no idea what constitutes a high school history course, and if Carrie's programs will be considered enough for that.

To further confuse me, I had thought I would be doing history during each year of high school, but when I saw our states history requirements it says to do a total of 3 credits in U.S. History, Economics, Government, World Geography, and World Civilization. I don't quite know what all of that (except the U.S. History part) really is...and I don't see room to cover the four year cycle.

I wish I could be more specific with my scattered thoughts. I'm just confused and looking ahead trying to figure things out, and now I'm further confused.

Any suggestions, comments? Also, how do you know what makes up a credit or half credit in high school?

Alison

I know you would like to have a plan all the way through. Let the Lord lead you and try not to worry about whether or not you'll get two full history cycles in.

Thanks for the encouraging words Lee Ann. I definitely do need to rest in the Lord a bit.

I would still love to hear some advice for middle/high school level's and which packages will suffice for high school.

Alison

Allison,

I have no words of wisdom or advice for you, but thought this would bring a smile to your face. I was reading through the titles of the topics and there is a smudge on my computer screen and though your title said "Looking/plotting our torture" Glad it wasnt.

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh how funny , "Looking/plotting our torture".

Oh, that's a good one. Thanks for the laugh.

Well, some days it can feel like that. I think my 10 yr old will agree with your title

Alison,

First of all, I'm so glad that you're getting a chance to enjoy Beyond with your kiddos. They will be set up well to head into Bigger Hearts with extensions next year.

Next, I'll just share that at HOD our history plan is different from other companies in that we like an overview year prior to delving more deeply into the typical 4 year history cycle. So, our overview years, actually enable you to double-dip your kiddos in the history cycle, in essence covering it twice. For example LHFHG, Beyond, and Bigger all have American history in them. LHFHG has the least (being more of an overview year) and Beyond and Bigger are completely American history (thus two dips into American history with 2 different approaches).

Then, when you head into Preparing Hearts, your kiddos will have a Biblical overview of world history before heading into the deeper 4 year cycle (which will be the second dose of world history and even third dose if you count LHFHG).

So, by the time your kiddos are in high school, they'll already have had two layers of each part of the history cycle, as they head into a third overview of the history cycle in high school. Typical high school scope and sequences look like the one you shared (encompassing geography in 9th grade, a year of world history in 10th, a year of American history in 11th, and a semester each of Economics and Government in 12th grade).

So, you're in good shape to cover what you desire history-wise with HOD.

Blessings,
Carrie

Carrie, if I stay on my current path then my oldest will be in 9th grader and still be working on your next to last program. Would your last two programs be adequate for high school credit and also, could I call this a geography course for 9th, even though it will actually be a history period with geography included.

I'm just confused, I get that the last year of the cycle would be American History and that would be a high school credit, but can you use a history package to cover geography...or would I need a specific high school history package. I just know other parents are using history cycles in high school, but I don't see how they equate to what the state says we have to cover.

So, should I try to go a bit quicker through a package for my oldest? Or skip Bigger (which I don't want to do) and have him get into a seperate time period?

Thanks for your advice.
Alison