Contemplating switching from WP AS 2... read my 6.5 dd's story

[Omma]

For those who may remember my concerns about whether I should shorten up or quit WP AS 2 for now, due to a sensitive 6 dd (7 in Nov.) who doesn't like all the talk of wars, etc.... I wanted to share with you a story that she just wrote.

The Old Women

Once opon a time in a forest on the edge of a clering there was a small cottege were there lived a old women who was poor. She had little food. when winter came she ran out of food. So she whent out into the chilly night and froze thier, soiled (solid) like an ice cube and died. It was that very day that it was Crismas Eve. When her family came to visit the next day they foud no one in the house ecsept her cat and bird. When they foud out she was ded they wept. That was a very sad day for them. They were so sad that they kild thereselvs and that very day they died right next to the houes. The End


I mentioned to my dd that this was a very sad story, and she told me that it was from reading Jason's Gold and the Fighting Ground and books like that. It is true that these books deal with suicide and death. I feel like I have chosen unwisely in what I have read to her. Meanwhile, my 8 ds and my dh have really enjoyed all the books from AS 1 and AS 2 that we have done as RA's.

What should I do now? I can tell you that my dh has sat down and talked to her about how it wasn't good that the rest of the family killed themselves, and that that isn't what God would want us to do, etc. Now I am thinking that I need to go much gentler in curriculum for her than I have been. We are on week 16 right now of AS 2. I have MFW ECC and SL Core 2 waiting in the wings, and I have to say that I am even contemplating switching to TOG at some point. I just haven't felt totally confident in MFW, SL or WP now. MFW is very gentle, but my dh has often thought it to be too light for our dc. Sigh...

Brenda

[OhElizabeth]

If she's that sensitive, what about getting her some R&S or CLE books (sappy happy, always positive) and having your older dc read those other books by himself? Or read those other books when you put your 6 yo down for some quiet time in her room? You can't change everything for your 8 yo just because your 6 yo has this quirk. Clearly though, her vivid imagination runs with stuff and feels it or sees it more intensely! Keep flooding her with positive things, I guess. Are you careful what you show her on tv as well?

I don't see how TOG solves anything for you, not on this issue. It's about either editing, skipping the books, or removing your younger from the room when reading them aloud, seems to me.

[~Summer~]

For those who may remember my concerns about whether I should shorten up or quit WP AS 2 for now, due to a sensitive 6 dd (7 in Nov.) who doesn't like all the talk of wars, etc.... I wanted to share with you a story that she just wrote.

The Old Women

Once opon a time in a forest on the edge of a clering there was a small cottege were there lived a old women who was poor. She had little food. when winter came she ran out of food. So she whent out into the chilly night and froze thier, soiled (solid) like an ice cube and died. It was that very day that it was Crismas Eve. When her family came to visit the next day they foud no one in the house ecsept her cat and bird. When they foud out she was ded they wept. That was a very sad day for them. They were so sad that they kild thereselvs and that very day they died right next to the houes. The End


I mentioned to my dd that this was a very sad story, and she told me that it was from reading Jason's Gold and the Fighting Ground and books like that. It is true that these books deal with suicide and death. I feel like I have chosen unwisely in what I have read to her. Meanwhile, my 8 ds and my dh have really enjoyed all the books from AS 1 and AS 2 that we have done as RA's.

What should I do now? I can tell you that my dh has sat down and talked to her about how it wasn't good that the rest of the family killed themselves, and that that isn't what God would want us to do, etc. Now I am thinking that I need to go much gentler in curriculum for her than I have been. We are on week 16 right now of AS 2. I have MFW ECC and SL Core 2 waiting in the wings, and I have to say that I am even contemplating switching to TOG at some point. I just haven't felt totally confident in MFW, SL or WP now. MFW is very gentle, but my dh has often thought it to be too light for our dc. Sigh...

Brenda


Hello Brenda,

In my opinion WP American Story 2 is aimed at the older range of the 2nd-4th grade recommendations. Many of WP's programs are advanced in their literature. I personally would not feel comfortable reading those stories to my 7 year old.

I have ordered, sold and reconsidered ordering MFW. But I too felt that it was too light to meet "our" homeschooling needs.

We started the year with WP and have switched to Tapestry of Grace and couldn't be happier:D. I have not had any problems with any of the book selection in Tapestry of Grace. We are in a unit right now that is light on the literature selections...but I am actually happy that "I" can choose what chapter books we will be reading.

I think Tapestry of Grace would be great for you if you wanted peace in your book and literature selections, great activities if you want them, more for weeks you want more, less for weeks you need less, and a curriculum that can meet *all* age levels in your home.

[Omma]

Thank you, ladies, for sharing your viewpoints. I would agree that AS 2 would be better for the older side of the 2nd-4th grade levels. I could just give the books to my ds to happily read on his own. The one thing I am particularly intrigued with (myself) is studying the Great Depression, now that we've heard so much talk about the big bailout and all the sour economic news these days. Hmmm....

I shared this on the WP site, but I'll share this here, too. I asked my dd this evening (as I tucked her into bed) what she would like to learn about in a curriculum. She says she wants to learn how to bake and how to be a princess, and about Cinderella! :lol::lol: Well, I did ask!! :D

Actually, though, I am getting more and more intrigued with TOG. But then I would have to decide which year plan to get. We haven't studied the Middle Ages, but we have done a lot with the age of exploration up to 1900. I guess I should go back and do the Ancients, even though we did SL Core 1 the year before last. I also could do countries and cultures, but I have done GtG for 6 months plus a year of WP Animal Worlds (covering animal habitats as well).

Decisions, decisions...

Brenda

ds 8.5 (3rd grade)

dd 6.5 (1st grade)

[Tree House Academy]

I have a sensitive 9 y/o ds who is impacted even by certain video games. I think you definitely need to stop the death/suicide books with your daughter. She needs something more fun and light. That story is...wow! :(

[RoughCollie]

Have you thought about using Five in a Row(FIAR) with your DD? My kids enjoyed it immensely in 1st and 2nd grades.

http://fiveinarow.com/

Message boards: http://fiveinarow.com/~gbprnhrz/forum/index.php

[Stacia]

I would definitely lighten up. She is quite young, after all.

What about Story of the World for her, w/ the Activity Guide? Or, some of the other programs that folks have suggested?

Also, she might really enjoy reading lots of different cinderella stories from around the world. You could read them together & then discuss the similarities & differences. There is a lot to be learned there, imo. I know there are books like The Korean Cinderella, The Persian Cinderella, one set in the Southwestern US, etc.... I think Scholastic even makes a teacher guide about studying world Cinderella stories.

I'd go w/ something fun & interesting to her & let her find the joy & hope in learning again. Kwim?

[paula j]

If your dd wants to learn about baking you might want to check out the Sugar and Spice unit studies by Marmee Dearest. They are on sale for 1/2 price right now at http://www.marmeedear.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=8

Thank you, ladies, for sharing your viewpoints. I would agree that AS 2 would be better for the older side of the 2nd-4th grade levels. I could just give the books to my ds to happily read on his own. The one thing I am particularly intrigued with (myself) is studying the Great Depression, now that we've heard so much talk about the big bailout and all the sour economic news these days. Hmmm....

I shared this on the WP site, but I'll share this here, too. I asked my dd this evening (as I tucked her into bed) what she would like to learn about in a curriculum. She says she wants to learn how to bake and how to be a princess, and about Cinderella! :lol::lol: Well, I did ask!! :D

Actually, though, I am getting more and more intrigued with TOG. But then I would have to decide which year plan to get. We haven't studied the Middle Ages, but we have done a lot with the age of exploration up to 1900. I guess I should go back and do the Ancients, even though we did SL Core 1 the year before last. I also could do countries and cultures, but I have done GtG for 6 months plus a year of WP Animal Worlds (covering animal habitats as well).

Decisions, decisions...

Brenda

ds 8.5 (3rd grade)

dd 6.5 (1st grade)

[Omma]

Great ideas! Actually, we own Korean Cinderella, as my dd was adopted from Korea. I will check into the other cinderellas of the world and maybe incorporate into MFW ECC! Still pondering.... The Sugar and Spice Unit sounds fun, too, if only I weren't on a strict diet right now. Hmm...

BREAKING NEWS UPDATE:
I have just realized a medical reason why my dd could've written this sad story. She is on two new medicines this week as she has asthmatic bronchitis (her first time to ever have a wheeze). She has been taking Proventil inhaler about 4x a day and is on Zithromax, so I am also giving her Threelac as a probiotic. She has never been on an inhaler before, and I believe these meds. could have anxiety for a side effect. That doesn't explain everything, but it could be a contributing factor!

Brenda

[OhElizabeth]

Brenda, have you considered using the Little House books with her? My dd, who loves to bake and cook btw, LOVED the books at that age, read them over and over. And I also got the whole series on audio cd. They're so well done, complete with the fiddle music by Pa and the whole nine yards. Then you can get Little House craft books and Little House cookbooks and Little House song books... Make her a hat and dress and she's good to go! My dd made some biscuits from the LH cookbook herself this past week and they were quite tastey. She's older, so your dd would need some assistance. Even so, it would be fun.

I wouldn't stress about integrating a 1st grader into history at all. You could do separate things with her like Little House this year and let her read COFA's (Childhood of Famous Americans) in 2nd and 3rd. Get a nice american history spine to read with her and call it good. I don't think a girl has to be taught history the same as a boy, if that makes sense. Your ds might be all into the economics and political ramifications and stuff, but my dd (who sounds like yours) wants to dress up and live the history, cook the history. She loves to think about who was whose mother and how the sons turned out and whether they had brothers that were equally good. She'll read across a family line of bios like the COFA's in order to get a sense of the family. But another kid, a politically minded boy?, might not even care about that, lol. So if you have a gentle spine reading the two do together and then let them diverge for activities, that might be good.

When I suggested TOG wouldn't solve your problem, what I meant is a sensitive child could be sensitive to anything, even books that most people would approve or that would be fine later. At some point you just have to edit and recognize the issue. If it's the meds causing it, that sure would be an explanation. Hopefully they're not something she has to be on long-term? In any case, check out the LH stuff and COFA's, as my dd has enjoyed them a ton.

[Omma]

Oh Elizabeth... wow, I could see that your dd and my dd would get along very well! My dd also likes to talk about how people might be related to others in any picture book we pick up. Also if someone looks like they are angry or sad, she tries to figure out why. She is very relational and practical.

We have read some Little House books together (about 3 or 4) and we have a few seasons of the T.V. show on video.

I guess I have more than overdone the history component for her, as this is what she has already done, (alongside her brother who is 20 mos. older than she is):

SL Pre-K and much of Core K
MFW K and 1st grade
WP Animal Worlds
Galloping the Globe (six months worth)
SL Core 1 (Ancient History)
WP AS 1 (1st half of Am. History)
WP AS 2 (currently 1/2 way through it)

You are right in that it is obvious to me that my ds processes historical and scientific facts much differently than she does (even when he was only 5). And my ds has NEVER enjoyed fairy tales, whereas she adores them! My ds was only 2 when he asked what made the moon stay up there (in the sky), and he was only 5 when he asked why people had wars when they already had a castle... what, do they want two castles???

I thought I would be able to do history and science with both of the dc together always, but maybe I had better rethink this. There is only so much time in the day, so it is hard to give all of this individualized instruction. I think it will be much easier when I can give my ds more work to do independently, although I really enjoy the comraderie from shared stories read together.

Anyway, I just went to the library today and picked up 20 CINDERELLA BOOKS from around the world, and my dd and Daddy are in the kitchen right now reading one together (it's about a Wild West Cindy Ellen, and he's got the accent down 'real good' :D).

Brenda

[Stacia]

Anyway, I just went to the library today and picked up 20 CINDERELLA BOOKS from around the world, and my dd and Daddy are in the kitchen right now reading one together (it's about a Wild West Cindy Ellen, and he's got the accent down 'real good' :D).

LOL. Hey, I know which book you're talking about!

BTW, here's (http://www.amazon.com/Teaching-Cinderella-Stories-Around-Grades/dp/0439188431/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1222541690&sr=1-1) the Cinderella teaching guide I mentioned. You can look inside it. (Ignore the star rating -- it looks like it's low because someone tried to order a used copy & didn't receive it.)

Your dd might also like Portraits of American Girlhood (http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=697705&event=CFN), based on seven of the American Girl historical fiction characters.

[OhElizabeth]

Brenda, even if you do them together for history LATER, her needs as a 1st grader are so small, with little/no sense of time to boot, that it's not really imperative that you do anything formal with her. Remember, what the WTM is really advocating is that you fill their minds with stories. Sure it could be ancients and in order, but it could be american and out of order. In fact, my dd doesn't care about order one bit! She reads american and ancients at the same time, both prolifically.

On the LH stuff, I read the whole series to my dd, but she still enjoyed going back to them and reading them over and over for herself. And with the books on tape (which you really, really want, try them!), she'd follow along in the book while listening.

The further I go (my dd is now in 4th), the more I see where I stressed when I could have relaxed, where I tried too hard to be formal when I could have just given her a bunch of fun resources and read a nice spine, etc. And I do think there's a difference between that and what you do with a boy, even if it's not pc to say it. You've gotten in one mode or found a gear to work in because of your boy, but you can step back and re-gear, re-tool for a girl. I know I've been thinking about that with this new baby due, that if it's a boy I'd get the book "A Thomas Jefferson Education" and really try to back up and rethink how I homeschool to see if I'm doing everything a boy really deserves. I don't want to turn my girl into a little man, and I don't want to turn a little man into a girl either. To me they're unique and should be nurtured appropriately, as fits their bents.

3rd is still a little young to just toss him off to everything by himself, so I understand what you mean. But over the next year or two, you'll find yourself doing that more and more I think. Maybe find a balance, doing a once a week spine reading or discussion time with him and having him do the rest by himself.

[Omma]

Stacia,

I just ordered the Cinderella guide that you mentioned. Thanks so much. You know, I never expected that someone would really come up with ways to actually implement my dd's dream desires for a curriculum. I just mentioned it here on a whim! I'm smiling from ear to ear right now as I realize the wealth of knowledge and experience here on this site, available at the mere click of a mouse!

Oh Elizabeth,

You have given me lots to think about, as I was trying to do everything the same for my two dc, minus math and LA. I will definitely modify that approach now! And you sure are right about rereading books. I have made the mistake before of selling something on the used curriculum sites, just because we had already read that book... and then found out that my dc were looking for it to read it again later!

Thank you for all your ideas!!!

Brenda

[siloam]

Great ideas! Actually, we own Korean Cinderella, as my dd was adopted from Korea. I will check into the other cinderellas of the world and maybe incorporate into MFW ECC! Still pondering.... The Sugar and Spice Unit sounds fun, too, if only I weren't on a strict diet right now. Hmm...

BREAKING NEWS UPDATE:
I have just realized a medical reason why my dd could've written this sad story. She is on two new medicines this week as she has asthmatic bronchitis (her first time to ever have a wheeze). She has been taking Proventil inhaler about 4x a day and is on Zithromax, so I am also giving her Threelac as a probiotic. She has never been on an inhaler before, and I believe these meds. could have anxiety for a side effect. That doesn't explain everything, but it could be a contributing factor!

Brenda

Hi Brenda!

Your dd and my dd could get together and be best friends! Really, Pumpkin hates any story where someone dies. She can handle a little of it if it happened before the story opened or if it isn't a character that she was attached to (a side character), but no main character better die.

I had originally bought a lot of SL Core 3 books before I realized just how sensitive she was. I have had to shelve them, or just allow my oldest to read them on her own.

TOG might be an answer for you. I do still have to soften an issue. The kids are used to me pausing when I am reading, and usually what I am doing is trying to quickly re-word something to be more gentle. Recently in a If You Lived with the Sioux there was a reference (can't remember what) that I knew would bother her, so I quickly reworded it and she was fine. Overall the LG TOG choices have been good for us.

Mostly what works about TOG is that it doesn't have RA's, so I choose those and I can then choose something very conservative. Second is that I can have our read aloud time be on the LG level, then just assign extra reading for Sweat Pea, so she still gets the depth she needs. Long term I will end up holding Pumpkin back into an easier level because of her sensitivity issues.

You will work it out. She is who she is for a reason. (((Hugs)))

Heather

[Alte Veste Academy]

I don't know if you are leaning toward moving on for other reasons or just because of this issue of your daughter being sensitive to the readers. If the readers are for LA 3, can you switch or supplement with books that are more age appropriate? I wouldn't particularly want to read to my 6 year old about suicide--or deal with much death either, as my daughter is also very sensitive. I think being in a 3rd grade LA package at a 1st grade age might be a problem. For early readers, I know many parents struggle to find books that offer substance without the more mature storylines that are inappropriate.

If you do want to stick with WP for the year and include your daughter in history, I second the idea of incorporating more of the Little House books. Since she wants to learn to cook, I highly recommend The Little House Cookbook. It is wonderful. You could read the books, listen to the Happy Land and Arkansas Traveler music and bake up a storm.

http://www.amazon.com/Little-House-Cookbook-Frontier-Ingalls/dp/0064460908/ref=wl_it_dp?ie=UTF8&coliid=I3RXI7ICCAV1M3&colid=CQJB76703GAE

I know the pioneers won't last forever but you could just try to augment AS2 with the happier parts of history. There are some very mild books out there about immigration, women's rights, etc.

If I were you, I would read through the LA 3 readers and keep the ones that are too disturbing away from your daughter. I would read the lighter ones and I would purchase LA 2 just for her. The books from the main AS 2 program (aside from LA) don't seem like ones that would cause problems with sensitive children, but I could be wrong. So, you could stay the course and just modify for LA readers.

I was also considering TOG for my kids but because mine are so close in age, I'm personally concerned that by the time I get to middle school or high school, the guide that I purchased and was hoping to use three times would be obsolete by virtue of books being either out of print or just not necessarily the best of the best anymore. I do know people love it though and if I had a bigger spread in ages that let me use more than one level at a time, I would probably take the leap.

Go with your instincts and your heart always, though.

Kristina

[Omma]

Kristina,

I just told my dd about your idea of the Little House Cookbook, and she said, "Oooooo.....!!" So, I think it could be a big hit! :D I am tending toward trying to stay the course with AS 2, but switch to the lighter end for my dd (plus some Cinderella readers and lessons), and let my ds read about the wars on the side lines.

I was going to try to switch gears to MFW ECC, but I am just not in the frame of mind to make all those copies and plan all those library trips right now. Plus, I am intrigued to get to The Great Depression, especially with what is happening in our economy right now. I will be much more aware of the sensitivity of my dd, and, like Siloam has mentioned, I will filter out violent scenes from our RA's for my dd's sake.

And I agree with Oh Elizabeth in that I really was just cruising along, gearing the curriculum to my ds who is the oldest, and that really isn't fair to my dd who needs some specialized programming attention, too!

Thanks again to all, BTW, for your thoughtful responses.

Brenda

[woolybear]

Paula J, have you done the Sugar and Spice unit studies from Marmee Dearest? I am intrigued but can't quite get a sense of what is in there.

I really appreciate this whole thread as it has given me a lot to think about as well. Although my situation is different, I have found a lot of the advice here helpful. I think I was also directing too much toward my older ds (8 yo). I'm still not sure how to balance the two and am still reworking it all. So I am grateful to see much of this.

[Stacia]

I just ordered the Cinderella guide that you mentioned.

I hope you & your dd have a great time! :001_smile:

Our library had a wonderful audio version of the Caribbean Cinderella, so you may want to look for that too when you reach that point.