Why would you choose CHOW over SOTW?

[NJKelli]

I've been following the threads about CHOW lately...

I will have a 2nd and 4th grader next year. My 9th grader will be doing ancients. The younger ones have never done any type of world history yet. I've been thinking SOTW 1 with the activity book would be good because I could do it with both younger one and keep the family together on ancients. At the same time, I don't know if working together is really that feasible because one of them is a bit of a active rascal and can be disruptive to the quieter, more sensitive one.

I've also started thinking about CHOW. I like that the workbook includes outlining even if some people haven't been thrilled with it. I could possibly coordinate the Calvert reading with it. Both dd's could do it independently of each other. The older reading on her own and me reading to the younger on days when togetherness isn't a good thing.

If this helps: I need a lot of assistance to stay organized and on track with four kids. I've been successful so far last year and this year, but it's a struggle for me. I need things that are easy to implement.

Which would you advise for us and why?

Thanks! :D

[MIch elle]

SOTW is great for 2-4 years of more detailed world history; AG makes it a full program with maps, review card/outlines & discussion questions (optional activities) and suggested corr. literature for ea. chapter; tests are a big plus to use as tests or as worksheets for re-enforcement.

[homeschoolmomtutu]

We did Chow in about a 3 month overview of world history...then went back and have done ea SOTW book w/ activity guides etc... in a 1 year history programs of each major time period of history (total 4 yr SOTW program)...
If you have done SOTW, you really don't need CHOW...but if you have done CHOW you should move to SOTW series (IMHO)

[NJKelli]

We did Chow in about a 3 month overview of world history...

Homeschoolmomtutu, Did you use the workbook from Calvert? If so, did you find it helpful?

Thanks for your helpful response!

[NJKelli]

SOTW is great for 2-4 years of more detailed world history; AG makes it a full program with maps, review card/outlines & discussion questions (optional activities) and suggested corr. literature for ea. chapter; tests are a big plus to use as tests or as worksheets for re-enforcement.


Michelle, Is the outlining in the AG for SOTW or the Kingfisher Encyclopedia?

I'm wondering about doing 1 year of world history, a year of American history or world geography after that, and then possibly starting the Mother of Divine Grace ancient and medieval cycle two years later when one dd will be in 6th grade. I have to decide if I want to do that, and then if CHOW would fit in well if I'm aiming for that. I hate to overly plan the future because I will never know what our needs will be then but I like the idea of some kind of general guideline. KWIM?

Thanks so much!

[homeschoolmomtutu]

Yes...and I think we did our history 3 times a week w/ chow (but only once or twice a week w/ SOTW)...there is a section on chapter outlines and then one on Enrichment type activities in the workbook...There are about 90 stories in CHOW and we covered anywhere from 4-6 a week...sounds like a lot, but it wasn't...we did many stories as bedtime reading and reviewed w/ the outlines/activities the next day in class:)

[Jenny in Florida]

I'm not sure why, but I've just never cared for SOTW. (Sorry, SWB!) It may have something to do with the fact that my kids are never the right age/stage for the volume that goes with that historical era.

So, we have used a variety of other things as spines for our history studies (children's history encyclopedias, the Peter Bedrick History of the World series, etc.). Last year, I went looking for something else to add to the mix, to provide more of a through-line. We ended up with CHOW for the computer.

We're spreading it out over, probably, three years, having him do just the stories that align with each year's historical era. He likes it, but, again, for us it's just a supplement.

[Stacy in NJ]

Are you planning on using the workbook with the younger kiddo? I think the workbook is just about right for a 4th grader, it may be to difficult for a 2nd grader.

I like CHOW and am using it with my 4th grader, with the workbook, right now. But, using SOTW not only allows to to keep your kiddos together this year but for the next four years as well.

[WTMindy]

I am biased, but I love SOTW and I would use that together for the kids. I thought CHOW is fine, but we LOVED all 4 volumes of SOTW and I would have traded those for anything we've studied. They gave my kids a real love of history.

[Kfamily]

but I didn't use them. I keep forgetting I have them. They are like new and I would be happy to sell them if you are interested. I will post this on the curriculum for sale board but I wanted to let you know it will be there.

Dd really outgrew CHOW but it was great for us in her earlier elementary years.

HTH:001_smile:

[homeschoolmomtutu]

Are you planning on using the workbook with the younger kiddo? I think the workbook is just about right for a 4th grader, it may be to difficult for a 2nd grader.

I like CHOW and am using it with my 4th grader, with the workbook, right now. But, using SOTW not only allows to to keep your kiddos together this year but for the next four years as well.

For what it is worth, mine was 8 when he did the CHOW workbook pages...they are all fill in the blank (from what I remember?) and the activity pages we did together:)

[Tree House Academy]

I like CHOW, but it is a one year deal for us. It is a condensed version of the whole story...whereas SOTW goes into more depth and has more of religious take (even though CHOW is definitely biased Christian). So, we are using CHOW for 4th grade. For 5th, we will be starting SOTW I and also doing American History. :) But we do LOVE our CHOW.

[MIch elle]

Michelle, Is the outlining in the AG for SOTW or the Kingfisher Encyclopedia?

I'm wondering about doing 1 year of world history, a year of American history or world geography after that, and then possibly starting the Mother of Divine Grace ancient and medieval cycle two years later when one dd will be in 6th grade. I have to decide if I want to do that, and then if CHOW would fit in well if I'm aiming for that. I hate to overly plan the future because I will never know what our needs will be then but I like the idea of some kind of general guideline. KWIM?

Thanks so much!

The outlining is only for SOTW 4 in the AG (http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=860355&netp_id=370906&event=ESRCN&item_code=WW&view=covers#curr)(outline guidelines for SOTW 4 chapters in the student section). We never got to it last year (did sotw 2 & 3 w/ Abe Lincoln's World and Hakim on audio).

I would never have my dc outline from KF because it's so condensed already.

CHOW is great for a one yr. overview of world history but it's VERY weak on modern history.

We're following Sonlight 6 history (only) this year which does world history over 2 yrs with SOTW series and Genevieve Foster books. We are also attempting to follow Calvert's plan of 2 yrs geography along with history.

My younger ds looks like he will be attending school next year. That school does world geography in gr.7 and No. American history in gr.8

My 9th grader is doing a 2 yr world history course using Holt World History Human Journey (http://go.hrw.com/hrw.nd/gohrw_rls1/pKeywordResults?keyword=SP3%20TOC) at his high school. They have them outline every chapter but it's not so hard because they use the sub-titles for outline topics. I bought the summary of the textbook chapters on audio cd (http://cgi.ebay.com/HOLT-WORLD-HISTORY-THE-HUMAN-JOURNEY-AUDIO-CD-PROGRAM_W0QQitemZ300152827008QQihZ020QQcategoryZ22 28QQssPageNameZWD1VQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp 1638Q2em118Q2el1247)cheaply on ebay, and he does the online quizzes to help him do well on his tests (linked).

[NJKelli]

I am biased, but I love SOTW and I would use that together for the kids. I thought CHOW is fine, but we LOVED all 4 volumes of SOTW and I would have traded those for anything we've studied. They gave my kids a real love of history.


Dd8 keeps saying she HATES history. I'm hoping to find something for next year that will turn her feelings about history around. I just know we can't do American history next year! She's really sick of it.

Thanks everybody for all your responses! I will keep going back to them as they have given me a lot to think about.

Kelli