Bigger History Readings

[montanamom]

My dd 7 (8 in Sept./ 2nd grade) is struggling with the history readings in Bigger (& honestly, I am too ). We have just started week 5 & I having been hoping that it would get better as we went but, it seems the as though the struggles are getting worse. She comprehends it fairly well but is totally not 'into it'. About the only time that she has been a bit excited about it was when we read about Pocahontas, who she had already knew alot about from a book she had read over the summer. We used LHFHG & Beyond which we enjoyed greatly! We are doing Bigger full speed and she is able to complete everything within the suggested time frames so, overall it seems the right placement/speed, she is just not enjoying it much at all. Does anyone have any suggestions for making Edward Eggleston's reading's more exciting? ...or some other way to get her (& I) more excited about history this year??

Pam

[lissiejo]

Last year with Beyond I had my daughter draw a picture or create something out of clay about what I was reading. She understood it, but she too was just not into it. After a while she started enjoying it more. We're only on Unit 3 of Bigger, but have been going half speed so far so she hasn't complained about the readings although she is having a harder time comprehending this year. She asks to read sometimes and I'll let her do that as much as possible. Maybe since she liked the part about Pocahontas you could get some books for her about what you're going to be reading for her to read now so when she gets to that section she is more interested? (That sentence seems really confusing now that I'm reading over it again But I can't figure out how better to say it!)

I'm going to keep up with this post to see what others have to say
Melissa

[mrsrandolph]

I made this identical post when we did Bigger!! It DOES get better. Hang in there. I would pre-read material and summarize some.

[psreit]

We just finished the first unit in Bigger. I thought we may have a similar problem, but what I try to do is, as the pp said, summarize what you read. I try to dramatize it a little bit. Even when we did the vocabulary words, to help dd understand the word 'lamentation', I acted as the men who were with Columbus and cried out, "We're going to die! Why did you bring us out here?" Something along that line. If you dramatize it a little more, it sinks in a little better. I know it helps my dd.

[tjneary99]

My kids really enjoyed Bigger last year. They did love the books. I remember initially there was some time needed to get used to the style of Eggleston's history spine and sometimes I would sum up a few sections to help them with comprehension. I did this for a few weeks and then they were fine with the readings and enjoyed them very much. We had many wonderful conversations about the readings, and they often read the books outside of school for fun. The loved the 'Stories of Great Americans' book also...lots of interesting and exciting true tales. I felt the chapters and reading selections were short enough to keep their interest also. We had a great year with Bigger and are now loving Preparing too. Hang in there!

[montanamom]

Thanks for the ideas & encouragement! From what you all have said we just need to give it more time. In the meanwhile we will use some of your suggestions like drawing or forming with clay during the readings, & trying to find 'extra' ,more exciting, readings about the characters & possibly letting her read some of it on her own...thanks again for the help!

Pam

[frankesense]

I was just thinking about this the other day...I remember feeling/thinking the same thing at the beginning of Bigger with my two dc. But getting on the message board and reading about the experience of other moms and Carrie's suggestion to keep at it until at least Unit 9. I knew we should just keep persevering. My kids got it but the readings just weren't as enjoyable. But as the time went on I didn't even think about it anymore and somewhere along the way we did begin to enjoy the history readings, without even noticing that it was happening. And now, half way into Preparing, I just now thought of this. Hopefully, this is what will happen for you and your dc as well.

Stephanie

[momtofive]

We did Bigger last year with my son, and now this year with my daughter. Last year, I remember him having a harder time understanding the readings, so I'd add in little explanations to help him better understand the text. Now, this year, I'm having NO trouble whatsoever with my daughter understanding it. I think because I read these books last year to my son, it's familiar to me, and therefore I can add in voice inflection (raise and lower my voice, faster or slower depending on the events happening in the story). It works out really great and my daughter is getting SO into the stories. Last year it was unfamiliar to me, and now this year I kind of know what to expect, which helps. Maybe read ahead in the book, so you can dramatize a little bit which may help your child better understand and relate to the stories.

The Eggleston books aren't the only history books used through the year, as I'm sure you already know! There's Journey's in Time, and the Wright Brothers and Their Sister, which are great books, too! Hang in there, eventually you'll find your groove and things fill flow more smoothly. There are a lot of really great suggestions given so far, keep asking questions as this board is great for finding help or answers!