History similar to TOG

[mom2three]

Is there a history program out there that has teaching notes, questions for socratic discussions..maybe timeline.. etc...like TOG, but just focuses on history and not all the other subjects?

I really like the history part of TOG, but the program overwhelms me. I think if I only had the history portion, I would be happy. I don't think it's worth buying the program for just the history though. I also don't need to teach multi levels.

TIA.

[LisaNY]

I don't know anything that has what you are looking for, except TOG. I am using TOG with just one child, and I am not finding it overwhelming. I did get overwhelmed with it when I used it w/both of my dds a few years ago. This time around, I have a clear idea of what I want from the program, and I feel more free to pick and choose what I want from it.

You can use the program for the teacher's notes, discussion, and timeline, and ignore the rest. As you get used to the format, you can add things as you like, or not. :) That is what is so nice about TOG. You can use it as a "bare bones" curriculum, and add to it as you see fit.

[Karie]

Sonlight has discussion questions. That is probably the closest history program to what you are looking for.

[Linda in NM]

while it doesn't have "Socratic" questions, it does have questionnaires that encourage the students (from middle school up) to research information about various topics, from inventions, scientists, and explorers in middle school to art and architecture as well in high school. I'm happy...we use living books, timelines, geography information, and, of course, the research questionnaires with my 13 yos.

I picked up a study guide for the Prince and the Pauper from an external source; I was not overwhelmed by the questions they posed, and I realized that we include similar types of questions as he narrates what he's read or we discuss the current reading...

[Kathie in VA]

For 7th grade+ there is Omnibus from Veritas Press that might come close. It includes history, literature, theology though. There are discussion questions and essay questions (and in the TE there are suggested answers). {Now I'm considering this but haven't seen it yet.}

Truthquest might be another alternative. It is history and lit from a Christian viewpoint. It does have discussion/essay questions.... and there are suggested answers in the back. The schedule, however, it up to you. It gives you some narration on what you will read about (from a Christian viewpoint), then it give lists of suggested books that you may want to assign. There are 'ThinkWrite' questions now and then that can be used for essays &/or discussion.

hth some

[Heather in VA]

I would say that Sonlight would be the closest since it includes questions, map work and you can get writing assignments.

If you want something less formal then Truthquest is a good commentary but doesn't have official questions and other work etc.

[Darcy from LWM3B]

Can Sonlight history be bought all by itself? I've found the Sonlight website hard to understand because it seems they try and push the complete package.

I also find it hard to find grade levels since they sell cores by letter.

If I wanted to do Sonlight along with SOTW 3 for 2nd and 3rd graders, with readers... how would I do that?

Thanks!

[Tokyomarie]

Can Sonlight history be bought all by itself? I've found the Sonlight website hard to understand because it seems they try and push the complete package.

I also find it hard to find grade levels since they sell cores by letter.

If I wanted to do Sonlight along with SOTW 3 for 2nd and 3rd graders, with readers... how would I do that?

Thanks!

The pre-school and kindergarten level cores are sold by letter. Currently the cores targeted for grades 1 and above are sold by number, but each level of history is meant to serve a range of ages so the numbers roughly correspond with the LOWEST grade level that would suit the typical student.

Over the years, Sonlight has expanded the options for combining components of the curriculum into packages at the younger age levels because of differing pace of development in reading and writing in young students. Have you looked at the actual catalog- not just the online descriptions? I find it easier to understand the various options for purchasing components by looking directly at the catalog. There is a PDF of the catalog available for download. Of course, you can also request the paper version. The new catalog comes out every year in April.

To answer your basic question, yes, Sonlight's history component can be purchased individually. You would also need to purchase the IG because it is not included in the package labeled "history." If you want to cover the same time period as SOTW 3, look at the Level 2 history.

[EvergreenEclecticAcademy]

Can Sonlight history be bought all by itself? I've found the Sonlight website hard to understand because it seems they try and push the complete package.

I also find it hard to find grade levels since they sell cores by letter.

If I wanted to do Sonlight along with SOTW 3 for 2nd and 3rd graders, with readers... how would I do that?

Thanks!

Darcy,

The Sonlight website can be a bit frustrating to navigate, especially since the Cores & Readers can be confusing by themselves. You can just order the Core Instructor's Guide with the Readers Schedule. I actually just did this myself. We're currently doing SOTW1, so I ordered the Core 1 Instructor's Guide with the Grade 3 Readers Schedule for Ms. Gigi. I didn't order the entire package, because almost all of the books are available at our library (& because I'm cheap...errrr...thrifty :D). Here's a link to the listing of Instructor's Guides:

Sonlight Instructor's Guides (http://www.sonlight.com/ig.html)

At the top of the page, directly under "Instructor's Guides," just click on the level you want.


As far as choosing the Readers level, check out this link:

Readers Packages & Literature (http://www.sonlight.com/readers.html)

Again, just select the appropriate level, then click to see which books are included on that schedule. (But you can just order the Readers Schedule by itself.)


Now...coordinating SOTW3 with a Sonlight Core? Since we're just on SOTW1, I don't know how much help I'll be in that area. But fortunately, someone else has already done this.

Sonlight Books Arranged by WTM 4-Year Cycles (http://homescool-ed.blogspot.com/2007/04/sonlight-books-arranged-by-well-trained.html)

Paula's Archives (http://www.redshift.com/~bonajo/index.htm) also has some great SOTW & Sonlight resources.

HTH!