Does anyone have experience with Diana Waring?

[Heather in VA]

I was looking at the website and trying to see how it works. Has anyone here used it? Likes? Dislikes?

Thanks

[Sue G in PA]

That being said, I do think her material is geared more toward the middle-high school level. *I* love her audio CD's b/c I think she's a great story-teller. I had the pleasure of hearing her speak at our homeschool conf. at Sandy Cove in North East, MD last year. Her curriculum is broken into "phases" or weeks, each geared toward a different learning modality. Week one you present the lesson (a few pages about the topic you are studying) and listen to the audio CD. Week 2 is writing, researching, reading books related to the topic. Week 3 might be more hands-on ways of "cementing" the information like building, cooking, arts/crafts type activities and Week 4 incorporates more music, theatre, dance, etc. (the arts) as a way of cementing the material. I don't use her curriculum exclusively b/c I found my dc needed more "bite-size" lessons like MOH provides. BUT, I've supplemented w/ DW's audio CD's, used MANY of her activity suggestions, etc. in our studies. I am planning to use her Anc. Civ. and the Bible with my dc when they get older (next round of the history cycle). Right now...I'm personally learning sooo much about history as God's story than I ever knew. Hated history as a child but Diana has really sparked a real interest in it for me. HTH. Oh she does have a Yahoo group called sharingdwaring. LOTS of great suggestions there and a bonus...Diana herself posts frequently and answers questions! She did just get finished revised her Romans, Reformers and Revolutionaries curriculum. Also, another neat thing...Answers in Genesis has picked up her curriculum and will be her new publisher!

[Hoggirl]

We had been using MOH 1, and, though I really like MOH, we aren't going to be able to use it all the way through since the series isn't complete. I had DW on my shelf (I am a curriculum junkie, :)), so I thought we would try one of her four week units. We are currently doing Greece. I, too, like her audios, although I know some do not. Her program requires lots of supplementing with additional books. I wish her "text" were a bit stronger in terms of standing on its own. The pace is quick and additional reading is needed to fill out details, IMO. She has terrific ideas for writing, activities, etc. in her program. However, I fear I may be too much of a box-checker for us to use this program well in our family. The program is very flexible, but I am not, if you kwim. Also, I feel like all the "work" is crammed into the first two weeks and all the "fun" is crammed into the last two weeks. Perhaps, however, I am not really scheduling her material in the best way. At any rate, I think we will be using Biblioplan next year. My plan is to do "history" history three days a week, "church" history one day a week, and fun/project-type stuff on Fridays. DW has an audio-tape entitled "That's Why They Call It Grace" which covers church history which we will definitely use. In addition, I have bought her second year set of history audio-tapes. We will continue to listen to those, but I can't say that I am going to be using her curriculum to take the lead. It is really about style. If you are looser/more flexible it is a great fit. However, for someone like me who has to make sure all t's are crossed, it might not be a go. I have really tried to like the whole package, but I think we will only continue to use the audios. Just my opinion, fwiw.

[Heather in VA]

Thanks to you both. I have been thinking about using it as a suppliment. The problem I'm finding as I now have a jr. higher and am heading into high school is that the programs I like the most academically are secular. I was wondering if I could use DW as the Biblical suppliment to our history studies. Do you think that would work?

Thanks

[Sue G in PA]

Diana, herself, had a much more relaxed way of hsing. She was not a box-checker! She encouraged more creativity, freedom to explore and go off on tangents, etc. You get a good feel of her personality on her audios! I *wish* I could be more like her in my hsing philosophy. I'm too much of a "box checker", too. We must get A, B and C done...no time for tangents, KWIM? I'm trying so hard to be more relaxed and hopefully that will come. We've just spent 2 weeks working on a project on the 10 plagues of Egypt which is putting us so far behind. BUT, the kids are actually having FUN with it! DD11 put together a Powerpoint presentation w/ the help of dh, ds9 made a book, and ds8 made a big poster! They had FUN which is a first when it comes to school work. They ASKED to work on it! I must remember this and stop fretting over the "lost" time.

[Lizzie in Ma]

We use them regardless of what history curriculum we are using. I actually don't care for her written materials but have listened to the cds with SOTW and now with MOH. I have been known to just pop them in when we are knitting and on car trips too. Her style is delightful. I WOULD listen to the samples on the website first, there are some people who find her incredible annoying. Unfathomable. :D

[Sue G in PA]

if not a complete history program for a jr. high/high school student. Her whole program is built around showing God's hand throughout History. She is very knowledgeable about her Bible history and does a super job incorporating it into the typical secular history. I've learned so much from her audios. I think Diana would make a great supplement to your History studies whatever you choose!