Advice/Encouragement - Afraid I won't like teaching CTC

[amcampbell4]

Hi Everyone, this is my first time posting, but I have used HOD with my youngest son for the past 4 years. We have 8 weeks to go in Preparing and have LOVED it. Each new guide just gets better and better! So here is my problem: we will be starting CTC in the fall for 5th grade and after looking through the resources, I am dreading it! Ancient history is my least favorite time period, and I am afraid it is going to be boring for my son as well. Have any of you had an experience where you as the teacher just didn't connect with the material? If it were only one book here and there, that is one thing, but this seems to be the whole guide for me! I have no desire to switch from HOD--we love it. But I don't want to dread school every day either. Help!

[Nealewill]

If you liked the beginning of Preparing, then I think you will like CtC.

As for feeling disconnected, I actually am not a fan of medieval history. Even with me not liking that time period, my oldest dd loved RtR. I have found that it wasn't a big deal at all. Plus, with CtC, your child will be doing a lot more work alone in this guide than in the previous guide. And there are definitely aspects of the guide that aren't focused on ancient history. Science is can be independent. And there is a poetry/watercolor study. Those are amazing. But the books are still really good and you may surprise yourself with what you do like from the guide.

[amcampbell4]

Thanks for the reply, Daneale!

[LynnH]

I remember thinking the same thing, that I wouldn't like CTC because I don't like ancient history. It turned out I actually like it quite a bit and learned a lot. I read all the books during the summer before he read them. I learned how biblical history was so interconnected with what I thought of as secular history. It really helped my understanding of biblical history. My son struggled a little with understanding the history spines at first, but he grew so much that year and it laid such a good foundation for the rest of the years. The watercolor paintings were so much fun that my high school aged dd joined in. My ds loved the science that year. Some of the storytime books from that year are still some of his favorite stories we have ever read. One thing I would suggest is that you don't let your dd know that you aren't looking forward to CTC. I have found my attitude towards things really can impact my son's attitude. If I am enthusiastic about something he is more likely to be at least ok with studying it, but if I am negative then I can guarantee he will be negative. If you want to look at some of the fun things that are in CTC you can look at 2010 on my blog which is linked in my signature.

[amcampbell4]

Great advice, thanks Lynn!

[momtofive]

I'm another one who wasn't wild about the idea of doing ancient history, but the year we did CTC with my oldest was such an amazingly wonderful year. HOD truly just keeps getting better each year. If you loved Preparing, then you'll also love CTC. Such a rich, Christ-centered year of learning!!

Another little thought I'll share is that I always thought I wouldn't enjoy doing a guide again with a younger child, that I had previously taught an older child. Turns out, I'm loving it! This year is my fourth time going through CTC, and it's such a blessing each time!

[amcampbell4]

Thanks for the insight and encouragement, Lisa! You have all helped me feel more positive about CTC. I'm sure it will be great, just as all the past years have been.