Independent History in Preparing

[momofabcd]

Could someboy please tell me about how many pages/day are assigned for the indepentent history reading in Preparing for books like
Noah's Ark, Noah's Flood, The 5000 Year-Old Puzzle, etc.? It's hard to get a feeling of what bite sized chunks really mean from the samples because that first week uses Draw and Write through History.
Thanks.

[my3sons]

Deena - I just had to respond to this thread when I saw its title because both my ds and I have loved the Independent History in PHFHG this year! It has been a great feeling to have my ds independently doing some extra history reading from awesome living books, with assignments that he can do independently while I work with my other dc - did I mention that I love that this wonderful peek into history is done independently? I've done lots of other curriculums that called things "independent" that truly were NOT independent. So, this has been a fresh look at true independence for me. Plus, my ds loved it. O.k., back to your question - I paged through the PHFHG guide until Unit 17, and the daily pages range from 4-9 pages, averaging somewhere in the middle of that range (I'm not including the 2 page range of Draw and Write Through History in this makeshift average ). The independent Science Exploration box has about the same range of pages, though sometimes less, and guess what? Did I mention that we love it because it can truly be done independently? Anyway, you will love these 2 friendly little boxes in the plans. They get 2 thumbs up from both my ds and me!

In Christ,
Julie

[Kathleen]

Did I mention that we love it because it can truly be done independently?

Julie - You're cracking me up! I'm so looking forward to doing Preparing with Grant next year! He'll love the independent work...and so will I. It's so fun to see him grow up and mature. Everything I've seen about Preparing this year just looks great. (Now I just have to wait till July to order...) Oh, it's going to be so fun! All those books look wonderful!

Deena - have you checked out some of the Week-in-Review posts. There are lots of great sneak peeks into Preparing there!

Kathleen

[momofabcd]

Julie, thanks for your very positive post. I'm trying to decide whether or not the independent reading will be too much for my reluctant reader ds (9). I really want to do Preparing, but am wavering between it and Bigger because of his reluctance.
Is the Week-in-review the weekly check in?

[MamaBear23Cubs]

I purchased the read outlouds to read during our lunch time/down time as a family. Having the Week In Review with pictures is one of the reasons I am bringing my oldest back into the HOD products. I showed her the posts too and she is very much interested. At first she wasn't thrilled about working on her own but after looking at the books she is looking forward to starting back up after our summer trip to visit the grandparents. I am happy to hear good things about the Independent parts too.

[momofabcd]

MamaBear,
Is your dd a reluctant reader? I'm pretty sure ds will do fine with the writing, so I don't think that will be an issue. Maybe I could really make sure dc are doing a lot of reading this summer and go ahead with Preparing. You never know when he'll decide to take off.... The week-in review pictures look great, and Preparing just looks sooooooo wonderful!!!!! It's everything I'm looking for already pieced together for me. CTC looks the same way. I also feel like Carrie and I are on the same wave length when it comes to the book choices. She seems to choose quite a few books I already have on hand.

[my3sons]

MamaBear,
Is your dd a reluctant reader? I'm pretty sure ds will do fine with the writing, so I don't think that will be an issue. Maybe I could really make sure dc are doing a lot of reading this summer and go ahead with Preparing. You never know when he'll decide to take off.... The week-in review pictures look great, and Preparing just looks sooooooo wonderful!!!!! It's everything I'm looking for already pieced together for me. CTC looks the same way. I also feel like Carrie and I are on the same wave length when it comes to the book choices. She seems to choose quite a few books I already have on hand.

Deena - could you please share some books your ds has read comfortably on his own lately? That would help with us giving advice about whether the books for independent history would be too challenging or not for your ds. You could consider doing BHFHG otherwise, with the extensions for your older dd (if you are combining them). I seem to remember you weighing that decision earlier - if so, and you've definitely decided on PHFHG, than it is probably just a matter of him needing to grow into the reading for PHFHG. As you said, you never know when he'll take off - reading just seems to go that way. I'm so glad that you got a chance to check on the pics on the weekly check-in, and it sounds like you have good taste in books. HOD's book selections are top of the line. If you could just share some book titles your ds is reading - I'll check back (and I'm sure others will too), and we'll chat about it until you feel at peace with it.

In Christ,
Julie

[momofabcd]

Okay. He is reading through the 2nd Elson Reader and doing well. I'm trying to build his reading confidence back up. We had to pull him from a classical christian school in January because he was stressed and falling behind. He just wasn't ready for the books they were reading, like Misty of Chincoteague, and Ancient Myths (can't remember the name of the book but it wasn't Greek Myths). He was doing okay with The Sword in the Tree when we pulled him out. He is also reading books like, Tornado, A question of Yams, Riding the Pony Express, and Viking Adventure from the Sonlight Intermediate 2 readers. He's reading Riding the Pony Express right now in small chunks. When he looks at the length of the chapters, which average 7 pages, he almost cries. He doesn't like the thought of having to read that much in one sitting although I'm sure he is capable. I am a bit concerned that a book like Little Miriam of Galilee, which is one of the scheduled books, will cause him anxiety. That's why I was wondering how long the independent readings are. I had him and his sister read through Noah's Ark, Noah's Flood together last year. Each would take turns reading a page at a time. He did fine with that last year, so I think he can handle more. He just doesn't think he can. Thanks for thinking this through with me

[MamaBear23Cubs]

Chapter books were not quickly accepted by her when we started Bigger. She liked her readers which is why I think I own all the ones that are girl related. I pushed thru the guide working with her. We would do one paragraph at at time, taking turns. Then it was a page at a time and now it's chapters. Recently she has wanted to read two chapters at a time. We are reading Captive Treasure right now. Okay we were, I misplaced it because I took it to the park and now we cannot find it. She likes the Boxcar children and I know she reads it because she tells me about the books. As school related, I have had her read and reread if needed for the lesson. The reread is done outlound on the couch near me.

[my3sons]

Okay. He is reading through the 2nd Elson Reader and doing well. I'm trying to build his reading confidence back up. We had to pull him from a classical christian school in January because he was stressed and falling behind. He just wasn't ready for the books they were reading, like Misty of Chincoteague, and Ancient Myths (can't remember the name of the book but it wasn't Greek Myths). He was doing okay with The Sword in the Tree when we pulled him out. He is also reading books like, Tornado, A question of Yams, Riding the Pony Express, and Viking Adventure from the Sonlight Intermediate 2 readers. He's reading Riding the Pony Express right now in small chunks. When he looks at the length of the chapters, which average 7 pages, he almost cries. He doesn't like the thought of having to read that much in one sitting although I'm sure he is capable. I am a bit concerned that a book like Little Miriam of Galilee, which is one of the scheduled books, will cause him anxiety. That's why I was wondering how long the independent readings are. I had him and his sister read through Noah's Ark, Noah's Flood together last year. Each would take turns reading a page at a time. He did fine with that last year, so I think he can handle more. He just doesn't think he can. Thanks for thinking this through with me

From what you've shared, I think the independent history reading will be a bit hard for him. As I mentioned earlier - there is an average of 4-9 pages of reading for that box each day, which might be tough for him since one of the titles is Little Miriam, and you mentioned that might frustrate him. Are you combining him with your 10 yo? Have you decided for sure to do PHFHG? If not, then I'd say do BHFHG with him. It seems like it would fit him perfectly. You could do BHFHG with your 10 yo too, and just add the extensions and have her do maybe the right side of the PHFHG guide. Otherwise, if you stick with PHFHG for him, you could read the independent history box with him, alternating as mamabear suggested.

In Christ,
Julie

[momofabcd]

Thanks MamaBear and Julie, you've given me some nuggets to chew on. Both dc are very excited to do world history, so I might just do as mamabear suggested and help him with the readings and gradually require a little more of him until he is doing them on his own. I'm really going to work with him from now until September, when we will start. Maybe he'll be ready by then. He's made great strides already.

[my3sons]

Thanks MamaBear and Julie, you've given me some nuggets to chew on. Both dc are very excited to do world history, so I might just do as mamabear suggested and help him with the readings and gradually require a little more of him until he is doing them on his own. I'm really going to work with him from now until September, when we will start. Maybe he'll be ready by then. He's made great strides already.

It sounds like you and your dc are excited to begin PHFHG - as you well should be! PHFHG gives a sweep of history from Creation to present, and it's very exciting to read through all of those amazing events and get to know all of those intriguing people. You have a good plan to work with your ds through the summer on his reading, and I bet by then he'll have grown so much. Reading is just like that - all of a sudden great strides and - wa-lah- they've taken off! I think you'll enjoy PHFHG, and you're all set to ease ds into it if need be. Now you'll just have to share your box day with us - it's a bit of an HOD tradition - we like to celebrate with you!

In Christ,
Julie

[momofabcd]

Julie, Well box day won't be until June, unfortunately. But, I will let you all know when box day draws near BTW, after some prayer and advice from Carrie and an couple ladies on another thread of mine, I've decided to go with Bigger. I makes sense to ease into school to give ds more confidence in his reading skills and probably his writing skills. It's so hard because we all soooooo want to do that sweep through history. Preparing looks like such a fun year!!!

[my3sons]

Well, I can completely understand your choice of BHFHG. That will take the pressure off of ds's reading and let you just enjoy next year. PHFHG will be waiting another year - either way, BHFHG and PHFHG gave our ds great memories of schooling together. I will have have a hard time waiting for your box day - but it's nice to spread box days out, celebrate a little this day with someone and a little another day with someone else - which always makes a very nice "trip" to the board.

In Christ,
Julie