Sneak Peeks 2015: New American History Guide

[Carrie]

Ladies,

I love this time of year, because it is the time that we begin sharing "sneak peeks" from our new upcoming guide! It is especially exciting for me to be writing high school level guides right now, as we have our own high school student using each guide right upon my heels as I'm writing! As we complete the high school path through HOD, it is our prayer that we will be able to write the guides in such a way that students who go through all 4 high school HOD guides will have everything needed for graduation and college entrance (with the exception of Physical Education). Our planned scope and sequence can be viewed by scrolling to the bottom of the following link: http://www.heartofdakota.com/scope.php

The target age range for our new American History guide will be ages 15-17, extending through 12th grade with adjustments in math and science as needed. It is important to note that only those 15 year olds who have first come up through the HOD World Geography and the World History guide should attempt the American History guide. All other 15 year olds would be better served by beginning with either the HOD World Geography guide or the World History guide. Our own 15 turning 16 year old is currently using and enjoying the World History guide this year for his sophomore year of high school. For those students who are 16 on up, if they fit well in this guide placement-wise, they could enter it without having done the prior HOD high school guides.

After having our oldest son go through high school without the benefit of having HOD guides written for his level, I cannot tell you what a blessing it has been for me to have the HOD World Geography and World History guides written for my next child in line (who has used HOD for his first two years of high school thus far)! I am a less frazzled and more sane momma/teacher with my HOD guide in hand than I was with my older son (who had to endure my less than polished sketchy, chicken scratch type plans).

With our oldest son graduating from high school last May, this coming school year my husband and I will have a college sophomore, a junior in high school, a middle school student, and a fourth grade son at our house. Since our own high school junior will be in need of the new American History guide, I am eagerly anticipating this guide as much (or more) than many of you!

Our plans for the first American History Guide are to follow a similar pattern to what we have been doing for the World History Guide this school year. This means that we have decided to allow families the option of receiving this guide's plans in parts as it is being written. This will enable families to use the American History Guide a year earlier than if we waited for the guide's completion prior to making it available.

To save me the deadlines, and our company the added expense, I had considered only making the American History guide available in rough form for my own son (and for my sisters' kiddos) for the 2015-2016 school year, and not making the guide available to the public until it was complete. However, for now, it seems that families are happy and appreciative to have the opportunity to use the World History Guide as it is being written, so we plan to continue on a similar course for the first American History Guide this coming fall.

I look forward to sharing the journey with many of you!

Updated Sneak Peek #1: Science viewtopic.php?f=6&t=16078
Sneak Peek #2: Bible viewtopic.php?f=6&t=16144
Sneak Peek #3: Girl/Boy Devotional Study viewtopic.php?f=6&t=16148&p=113423#p113423
Sneak Peek #4: Government viewtopic.php?f=6&t=16205&p=113812#p113812
Sneak Peek #5: Constitutional Literacy viewtopic.php?f=6&t=16226
Sneak Peek #6: Grammar/Composition viewtopic.php?f=6&t=16327&p=114629#p114629
Sneak Peek #7: American Literature viewtopic.php?f=6&t=16362
Update on the new guide (August 19, 2015): viewtopic.php?f=6&t=16622&p=116513#p116513
Sneak Peek #8: Foreign Language viewtopic.php?f=6&t=16628
Sneak Peek #9: Living Library viewtopic.php?f=6&t=16629&p=116566#p116566
Sneak Peek #10: Math Recommendations viewtopic.php?f=6&t=16630&p=116567#p116567
Sneak Peek #11: History viewtopic.php?f=6&t=16632&p=116587#p116587
Link to Ordering Page: http://www.heartofdakota.com/us-history ... ckages.php

Blessings,
Carrie

[grapedrake]

Carrie,

Thank you so much for continuing to send out the guides piece by piece. I started my son with HOD as a freshman using your World Geography guide and would be very frazzled if I had to change curriculum on him. I'm sure I am not the only momma who is appreciative of this. My son is also 15 going on 16 and using HOD's World History course currently for his sophomore year same as your son.

Thanks again, Carrie!
Luella

[Carrie]

Luella,

Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts! I am so glad that you are getting a chance to use HOD for High School and that you are happy to be able to continue with the new American History Guide through installments. We are thankful to have these plans for our own son too!

Blessings,
Carrie

[my2beauties]

So exciting to see what is coming up! I can't wait to see what awesome literature you choose! I was just wondering today if you were going to have some of the classics like Moby Dick, A Tale of Two Cities, Oliver Twist, Pride and Prejudice, any of the Sherlock Holmes, Edgar Alan Poe, etc?????

[Nealewill]

Pride and Prejudice is included in the literature study in the World Geography guide.

[Carrie]

my2beauties,

Our latest sneak peek should help answer your question. It is linked here: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=16362

Blessings,
Carrie

[KaraHaakenson]

If I am following the Sneak Peeks correctly, I am understanding that the "History" for this American History focus year is the "Government" (1/2 credit) and "Constitution" (1/2 credit). Or is there another spine used as well? Thanks!

[my12kiddos]

Any more sneak peaks?

[LynnH]

KaraHaakenson there will be American History in this guide. The government and constitution are electives. Carrie just hasn't released the history sneak peeks yet.

[KaraHaakenson]

Thanks very much! I thought I was maybe missing something there ... can't wait to see what she chooses!!!

[DeniseK]

' It is important to note that only those 15 year olds who have first come up through the HOD World Geography and the World History guide should attempt the American History guide. All other 15 year olds would be better served by beginning with either the HOD World Geography guide or the World History guide'

I am wondering, based on the above quote regarding the AHI curriculum, what your thoughts are on beginning my son's 9th grade year with American History I. He is finishing up a 2 year World History course with Sonlight Curriculum. I hate to start out with "World" anything, I think we both need some new scenery.
Thanks for any insight -
Denise

[Carrie]

Denise,

Welcome to the board! You may wish to begin a new thread in order to get more responses, as this particular thread dealt mainly with sharing sneak peeks for the new World Geography Guide that I was writing in 2015.

We are currently traveling, and I only have a few moments, but I did want to quickly answer you to let you know that the World Geography Guide would cover very different material than what your son has just completed. If you are coming from a different curriculum, you will also find that there will be a bit of adjustment to Heart of Dakota too, making jumping ahead several guides beyond what we typically suggest for a freshman a difficult transition.

I would encourage you to spend some time looking at the placement chart linked below to see if you think World Geography would be a good placement for your son. We like to place students based on skills rather then on the history cycle if at all possible, as then the students are better able to succeed within their placement. The placement chart is linked here: http://www.heartofdakota.com/placing-yo ... school.php

After perusing the placement chart, feel free to pop back and share your thoughts (either here or in a new thread.) If you post here, not many moms will take a look though... simply due to it being an old thread.

We look forward to getting to know you better.

Blessings,
Carrie