History Odyssey...hit or miss

[Michelle in AL]

For those of you that have used level 3, how did your kids like it? I have the middle ages. It's hard for me to tell how well it will be liked since I don't have the spine yet (A New History of the World). Did it light a fire for history? Did htey enjoy it?

[rwalizer]

I haven't used level 3, but we did ancients level 2 last year. I'm not sure if you want an opinion of HO or if you specifically want an opinion of level 3 courses, so I'll just tell you what we thought of it. I really did like it, since my ds had become bored to death with textbooks. The only reason we switched was because I found Trisms, which combines history and literature thus saving time. We used The History of Mankind as a spine. I will say that we weren't always able to do every assignment because there are so many, but that's okay.

[Nicole M]

Level 3 Ancients was asking too much of a 9th grader, in our experience. If they are going to stick with so much very difficult reading, then I feel that they need to provide more help for the teacher, questions to gauge comprehension, sample answers for some of the assignments, just so the parent / teacher has a ballpark idea about whether the student is on target. It was a nightmare, really, and looking back, I would not do it again. I don't know whether the Medieval program would be more appropriate, though.

I switched mid-way to a different spine, and that did help.

[Michelle in AL]

Nicole, was the spine you used The New History of the World? The book is expensive, I hate to get it if it's not an enjoyable read.

[Nicole M]

Nicole, was the spine you used The New History of the World? The book is expensive, I hate to get it if it's not an enjoyable read.

Yes. It is very dense. I enjoyed it, but my son, who, btw, is a totally competent reader, did not. I switched to Spielvogel's Human Odyssey.

[ereks mom]

Level 3 Ancients was asking too much of a 9th grader, in our experience. If they are going to stick with so much very difficult reading, then I feel that they need to provide more help for the teacher, questions to gauge comprehension, sample answers for some of the assignments, just so the parent / teacher has a ballpark idea about whether the student is on target. It was a nightmare, really, and looking back, I would not do it again. I don't know whether the Medieval program would be more appropriate, though.

I switched mid-way to a different spine, and that did help.

I looked at the samples and decided that Level 3 would be too much for EK, but I felt kind of bad about deciding to "step down" to Level 2 for a rising 9th grader. We won't be using HO exclusively, so I will skip some of the stuff that's too "young" for her in Level 2. It should work out fine anyway, as I have several history resources, and I'm putting together our Ancients program by picking and choosing from the best parts of each of them.

[Michelle in AL]

Well Erek's mom I have an 8th grader and without looking at the spine I decided it was too much for her and will use Mystery of History Vol 2 with supplements.

I already have Spielvogel, maybe I should use that instead.

[ereks mom]

Well Erek's mom I have an 8th grader and without looking at the spine I decided it was too much for her and will use Mystery of History Vol 2 with supplements.

I already have Spielvogel, maybe I should use that instead.

I didn't look at the spine, either. I just saw the online lesson plan samples. It seems pretty intensive for 9th.

Two of the other resources I have on hand is Mystery of History and Spielvogel Human Odyssey. I'm considering HO as a spine.

[NJKelli]

I also looked at the online samples and knew that Level 3 Ancients would be too much for my rising 9th grader. I've really started thinking that the "ancient" period great books would be too much in any case. I wish I had more options for a chronological history starting in high school....:glare:

[Kissy]

If HO seems like too much you should look into Beautiful Feet. They have high school level too and they use lots of good books. Sometimes the books are a little dry at first but my son really enjoyed the books once he got into them. Just a thought if you still want an approach that uses lots of books. BF has questions in it that you ask and talk to your child about what they are reading. They have answers for most questions but I found reading the book myself to be a great help, when discussing the book. We didn't do the high school level ancients but we did do the junior high level and it has the high school level in it so if you had any questions I could look in it and answer if you needed. :)

[Michelle in AL]

Thanks Kissy, I do like Beautiful Feet. We used it when the girls were younger. They really enjoyed it. I do have Spielvogel's Human Odyssey here. I think I'm going to add to it in order to spend less money.

[NJKelli]

I just wanted to say thanks for the Beautiful Feet recommendation.

:D

[Nicole M]

I was so nervous about posting! I am still on the history odyssey listserv, and I am always surprised when I hear parents say their just-turned-14-yo is doing Great! with level three ancients. I am glad I'm not the only one who sees it as a little much -- though I wish I'd figured that out a little sooner!

Alas. Sometimes I fear the boys will be packing for college and I'll be chasing them out the door, Wait, wait! I finally figured out middle school!