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I just had to share a little journey we've been on recently. We used and enjoyed Beyond the past year with our then 9 and 6 year olds. My 9 year old had/has some catching up to do, and it was the right fit for us.

At any rate, I read something a couple of months ago that convinced me that a standard textbook approach would be better. Soooo... about a month ago, I ordered History and Science textbooks/activity books/test & quiz books (and answer keys!) from a major Christian textbook publisher for my soon-to-be 4th and 2nd graders. It was quite expensive, I might add!

Well, when these textbooks came in the mail, I was totally blown away with how little there was to connect with personally (in other words, how little there was that would be memorable) and how MUCH busy work was required! Oh. My. Pages and pages per week of worksheets and comprehension questions!

We had also ordered Preparing, so that my husband could do just the history and science readings from that in the evenings with all the children. The books in the textbook order and the books in Preparing were quite a contrast! I think you can guess which ones the children saw and the oooo'ed and aaahhhh'ed over!

Well, after much prayer and discussion, my husband and I packed ALL the textbooks up and shipped them back. We then eagerly ordered Bigger for my now 10 and 7 year old. (My 10 year old will be doing Bigger with the extension package.)

Well, Bigger just arrived today, and I can't wait to open up the box and dig in to the REAL BOOKS that will be there. Boy, it was hard to stomach paying so much for each component of the textbooks we had ordered previously from the Christian textbook publisher. Those texts/activity books/test & quiz books would ONLY be used when assigned, and never by choice, I'm sure. But with HOD, my children have REAL BOOKS from each level in the house to be read and enjoyed in the future.

So, all that to say ... I'm so glad to be back on track with HOD! It was a worthwhile experience, because I was able to see that the standard textbook route is NOT one that lines up with our goals for our children. (One of the most important is for them to love learning!)

Oh, and in case you're wondering: We're going to hold on to Preparing to be done as written after we finish Bigger.

Thanks for listening!

I've done that too. I just wanted my bases covered and not have to think about curriculum anymore. I knew I could just add living books to whatever topic we were on. I did this a few years back as well. This year I almost did the same thing, but got smarter. I ordered one very, very used and cheap copy of a history text. The only thing that stood out to me were capital letters, italic words and numbers. That means names, places, dates! That's it. Like 20 in 4 paragraphs? This is NOT what learning is about.

We are happily staying with HOD!

annaz wrote:I've done that too.

I'm glad I'm not the only one!!!

annaz wrote:The only thing that stood out to me were capital letters, italic words and numbers. That means names, places, dates! That's it. Like 20 in 4 paragraphs? This is NOT what learning is about.

I noticed this, too! To me, it made the text seem like it was saying, "Only these bolded and underlined words matter, there's really nothing interesting or real here."

I'm trying hard to imagine what on earth you read that could have convinced you of that and I'm sharing your relief and joy over your new box of real books.

I can understand, I too have read that some people like the textbook approach but I couldn't stand it! Living books are just SO MUCH BETTER!

mater est laetus wrote:I'm trying hard to imagine what on earth you read that could have convinced you of that and I'm sharing your relief and joy over your new box of real books.

Well, it's true that the textbook approach, at least for my 4th grader, would have been less of my time than Bigger will be. See, my in-laws live with us, and my mother-in-law is very ill. Sometimes my help is needed during the day to help care for her, so we were trying to find a solution that would free up my time a little bit. BUT, after seeing the textbooks, we've decided that in our situation, it would be better to do engaging and interesting history and science (HOD!) even if we have to skip a few days here and there because of helping my dear m-i-l, than it would be to have boring, dull, busywork-filled, independent history every day. Does that make sense?

I'm sure textbooks work for some, but NOT for this family!!!

netpea wrote:I can understand, I too have read that some people like the textbook approach but I couldn't stand it! Living books are just SO MUCH BETTER!

Yes!!! It was such a joy to go through our Bigger box of books last night (with extensions!). My husband and I relished each book as we pulled it out! And it seems reasonable to pay for each of these lovely books, whereas with the textbook approach I was paying $5.00 for one answer key, $10.00 for this test booklet, etc., etc., etc. And those were all items that in and of themselves were WORTHLESS. But a good book? Ahhhhh! Good books are such a better investment!

I know that textbooks have their place, and that even HOD uses some in a careful, CM-style way. But, I had to quote one of my college professors who NEVER used textbooks. He said, "Textbooks are where ideas go to die!"

Heart_Mom wrote:

mater est laetus wrote:I'm trying hard to imagine what on earth you read that could have convinced you of that and I'm sharing your relief and joy over your new box of real books.

Well, it's true that the textbook approach, at least for my 4th grader, would have been less of my time than Bigger will be. See, my in-laws live with us, and my mother-in-law is very ill. Sometimes my help is needed during the day to help care for her, so we were trying to find a solution that would free up my time a little bit. BUT, after seeing the textbooks, we've decided that in our situation, it would be better to do engaging and interesting history and science (HOD!) even if we have to skip a few days here and there because of helping my dear m-i-l, than it would be to have boring, dull, busywork-filled, independent history every day. Does that make sense?

I'm sure textbooks work for some, but NOT for this family!!!

I can understand being motivated by such a situation to consider an approach I wouldn't normally if I thought it would be a more efficient way to meet our primary goals. I was thinking it was just the weight of the argument for textbooks in and of itself that was so good it persuaded you and if someone had put together such a persuasive argument for textbooks, I wanted to read it - not because of an interest in educational approaches but rather an interest in persuasive argumentation ... if that makes sense.

mater est laetus wrote:

Heart_Mom wrote:

mater est laetus wrote:I'm trying hard to imagine what on earth you read that could have convinced you of that and I'm sharing your relief and joy over your new box of real books.

Well, it's true that the textbook approach, at least for my 4th grader, would have been less of my time than Bigger will be. See, my in-laws live with us, and my mother-in-law is very ill. Sometimes my help is needed during the day to help care for her, so we were trying to find a solution that would free up my time a little bit. BUT, after seeing the textbooks, we've decided that in our situation, it would be better to do engaging and interesting history and science (HOD!) even if we have to skip a few days here and there because of helping my dear m-i-l, than it would be to have boring, dull, busywork-filled, independent history every day. Does that make sense?

I'm sure textbooks work for some, but NOT for this family!!!

I can understand being motivated by such a situation to consider an approach I wouldn't normally if I thought it would be a more efficient way to meet our primary goals. I was thinking it was just the weight of the argument for textbooks in and of itself that was so good it persuaded you and if someone had put together such a persuasive argument for textbooks, I wanted to read it - not because of an interest in educational approaches but rather an interest in persuasive argumentation ... if that makes sense.

Yes, that makes sense!

Heart_Mom,

We're glad you're back too! Enjoy your year!

Blessings,
Carrie

Carrie wrote:Heart_Mom,

We're glad you're back too! Enjoy your year!

Blessings,
Carrie

Thanks, Carrie!

I just have to mention that my husband and I are SO PLEASED with the extension books for BIgger. I guess that when I saw the list of included books in the catalog, I didn't "see" what great books would be there. Those 16 books that my son will read independently this year will (in my opinion) be SO MUCH BETTER than if he had read a history textbook on his own! He LOVES to read, but does not like to do a lot of writing. The extension pack will give him lots of real reading without adding an overwhelming amount of writing.

So, thanks for putting the extension packs together, Carrie! I'm hoping to read those books myself this summer!