A question regarding "content" of high school history

[Christy B]

I understand that we will need to earn a "credit" for World History, American History, etc.

In order to have a credit for World History, must one complete a course of study of *all* of world history? Or could one take a year and study in depth a particular era? For example, Ancient Civilizations (Egypt/Greece/Rome); or Reformation/Renaissance. And then perhaps an indepth study of the Civil War, or World War II, for a credit in American history?

I'm just curious, as I think ahead to long range planning. We are finishing up our third year of our first four year history cycle. To be honest, I don't relish the idea of doing another full sweep of history (I know, I know, but see, I'm not *really* a classical homeschooler, I just play one on the internet). I would rather do more of a unit study approach (much like I've just discovered in a resource that I've overlooked dozens of times -- Remembering God's Awesome Acts) and help dd to choose just a couple of topics or eras of history to really "specialize" in for high school.

I would love to think this would work -- I remember *nothing* of my four years of high school history and geography, but I still have notebooks, maps, books, etc from my own personal study of Vietnam that I did "for fun". And I still remember most of what I learned!

[JennW in SoCal]

I thought you might like to see one state's content standards for high school world history, just as another point of reference. This is from the California Dept. of Education.

http://www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/hstgrade10.asp

Now, in my free-thinking homeschooler mind, you don't have to follow anybody's formula for what constitutes world history! My ds is using a unit study approach to world history this year, focusing last fall on WWI and currently on WWII. It fits in quite nicely with last year's unit study for American History on the 1920s and the Great Depression. It is a far richer study, for him at least, than another broad sweep through history as he doesn't care to go any more in depth into ancient or medieval history. I'd rather have him engaged and producing some quality work than going through the motions of the expected course of studies for a "classical homeschooler".

Its the output that counts at this stage, more than the input, if that makes any sense, and to me, that's what comes naturally from a unit study approach.

[Happy]

I found *my* report cards from high school~back in the dark ages of the early 70s. I had ONE semester of world history. We studied the Roman Empire the entire time. This I remember because the teacher would write alllllllll the notes on the huge blackboards and we would dutifully copy them down in our notebooks. I made an A. :p

One semester of world history. No wonder I kept telling my dh I've never heard this stuff before when our sons studied Egypt, Greece, Babylon, THE MIDDLE AGES for crying out loud. I have a deep and passionate love for ancient and world history that had been completely unfed until homeschooling. ;)

If you feel your children have a solid grasp of the sweep of history, then indulge your passions for history in depth. It sounds splendid!

[kathleen]

No, you absolutely do not have to study all of world history (as if we could!). Goodness, I think one could take four years just to study American history. My oldest son did a year of ancient history, one of American history from 1865-present, one of 19th C world history, and one of medieval history. I did have him read Paul Johnson's A History of the American People so he would have the whole sweep of American history, but he didn't actually have that in a class.

My younger son has taken a two-year western civilization course, American history, and next year will take a 20th C world history course.

There are really lots of ways you can do history. Most colleges only require a year of American history and one of world history, but the world could be just a part of world history.

[mcconnellboys]

My older son's world history class in a private school this year starts at the Renaissance and comes forward, so no, the classes offered in schools will vary as to what gets covered, both in topic and in time period.

Regena

[Christy B]

We have so *thoroughly* enjoyed our sweep of history using SOTW, I honestly think that anything we try to follow up with will fall flat! I will encourage my dd to read through SWB's history series for "adults" as she goes through high school (maybe summer reading?) because I know she would benefit from it -- even if she just "skimmed" the parts that she didn't find as engaging. Shoot, we could listen to the SOTW CDs again during the summers and she would STILL have a far better high school history education than I did!

However, I am more and more inclined -- especially after reading your posts -- to allow her "official" high school history studies to be deep, rather than wide.

Besides, it will be fun to plan. :-)

[Christy B]

It is a far richer study, for him at least, than another broad sweep through history as he doesn't care to go any more in depth into ancient or medieval history. I'd rather have him engaged and producing some quality work than going through the motions of the expected course of studies for a "classical homeschooler".

Its the output that counts at this stage, more than the input, if that makes any sense, and to me, that's what comes naturally from a unit study approach.

My thoughts EXACTLY, thank you for articulating that for me!

You mention that your son is using a unit study approach; if you have any materials or publishers to recommend, or any advice on how to put together a study, I would appreciate it!

[JennW in SoCal]

Hi Christy,

My favorite part of homeschooling is researching and finding materials and putting together a unit study. It takes me back to my old days in grad school when I loved doing research for papers. I didn't realize for years that what I did as a homeschooler could be called a "unit study" -- its just what comes naturally for me.

So I haven't relied on any particular publisher, haven't used anything pre-packaged. What I do is to scour our library system, amazon, netflix, and the teaching company, I google topics, and eventually wind up with a list of titles, then a stack of material on the coffee table. Ds watches the lectures or documentaries, refers to reference books, reads related fiction and non-fiction. For the literature analysis, I've used the Well Educated Mind as my starting point. For analyzing the history, I'll have ds write an essay on something he has been interested in, perhaps have him do the research on a particular person, sometimes have him write a critical review of a documentary.

Quite often one thing will lead to questions about something else, as is the case with this year in learning about World War I and II when my ds now realizes he has got to learn more about the Russian Revolution and Stalin.

The Teaching Company has many great lecture series to use as a starting point. This year we've been using a series of lectures on the 20th century.

I don't know if that is any help or not!

[Sue in St Pete]

I ordered my high school transcript. I took 1 year of American History, 1 semester of Law Am Soc, and 1 semester of Pol Behav. One of the last 2 was American Government. I see Constitution Test Passed stamped on it. No wonder I learned so much using SOTW.

[Christy B]

My favorite part of homeschooling is researching and finding materials and putting together a unit study.


So, I can safely admit to you that I actually prefer the research and planning to the actual teaching? :o This is, I think, one of the reasons I am starting to get excited about high school -- I see myself more in the role of curriculum developer and administrator, while letting dd take off in more self-directed learning.

It seems that the less time I spend "teaching" this child, and the more time "discussing" her materials, the better our relationship. So yes, reading your description of how this worked for you was very helpful. While I can see that it will be a lot of work on my part (more than just choosing a textbook for each subject) I can also see that we would both find it worth the effort.

Thanks!

[Christy B]

I ordered my high school transcript. I took 1 year of American History, 1 semester of Law Am Soc, and 1 semester of Pol Behav. One of the last 2 was American Government. I see Constitution Test Passed stamped on it. No wonder I learned so much using SOTW.

I graduated from a Christian school -- an ultra-conservative Christian school. I think I had *one* year of non-American studies the six years I was there.

When dd was in second grade and I started thinking this homeschooling thing might actually work long-term ;) , I started taking note of catalogs -- which ones had a nice balance of world and American history, which ones did not, etc.

I agree, I have learned SO much from SOTW.