Story of the World Question

[todaniel]

I have younger children who are just beginning SoTW and I see there are 4 volumes (grades 1-4). I have read in descriptions that they are a great curricula for elementary-aged children. I'm wondering if, after we finish these 4 volumes and enter the logic stage (and then rhetoric), do we start again with Volume 1 of these books and supplement with other reading? Is there another set of books for older stages?

Thanks so much!
Terry

[Sue in St Pete]

We are using History Odyssey for logic stage, but I have not been happy with it, and will probably abandon it after 2 years.

There are people who use SOTW for logic stage, adding in Kingfisher and additional reading.

SWB weighed in on the question in this thread:
does anyone do SOTW for the 2nd round of history? (http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=67974&highlight=history)

HTH!

[melissaL]

I used SOTW with grammar stage and start over again with logic stage doing the extra work suggested in WTM. there was a thread about this a while ago. I have just started the rhetoric stage, and we are using History of the Ancient World & spielvogel western civ for that.

[WendyK]

We are using History Odyssey for logic stage, but I have not been happy with it, and will probably abandon it after 2 years.

There are people who use SOTW for logic stage, adding in Kingfisher and additional reading.

SWB weighed in on the question in this thread:
does anyone do SOTW for the 2nd round of history? (http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=67974&highlight=history)

HTH!

I was eying the History Odyssey for use after SOTW. What do you not like about it?

After reading the above link, I think reusing SOTW would be good. I hadn't thought of doing that.

[Kathie in VA]

Another option for a narrative history that is written more for logic stage could be the Guerber books. You can get them online or get the republished ones from Nothing News Press.

NOTE: There's a bit more reading with these as there are more than 4 books to the series.

hths

[MSNative]

We use and love SOTW for my elementary kids. However, I don't think it will work for us for logic stage. I'm sure it could for very energetic and organized hsers who will take the time to do all the prep. I am not that person, so I am looking at other resources that are geared specifically for logic stage. (TOG, MFW... there is an alphabet soup of choices out there)

[JudoMom]

We just finished volume 4, and will pick up again in the next few months on our second cycle. My plan is to use Mystery of History and supplement with SOTW (for my younger boys).

[todaniel]

Thank you all very much. That helps a lot. I will note the other materials being used either as supplements or substitutes to SOTW. I have children ages 8, 7, 4 and 21 month-old twins, so I love the feedback to get ideas about what may work for us in the future.

Terry

[Sue in St Pete]

I was eying the History Odyssey for use after SOTW. What do you not like about it?

Here's my review:

I chose HO because it's the only secular history program I know of for logic age. We completed HO Ancients 2 for 6th grade and are using HO Middle Ages 2 for 7th grade. I have mixed feelings about the curriculum.

Pros:
• History is all planned out
• A large amount of history is presented
• Outlining is learned and practiced
• Map work and timeline work is helpful
• Can be done independently
• HO is secular

Cons:
• KHE is DULL (reading snippets of information and picture captions)
• The program is writing intensive
• No review/discussion questions to assess comprehension and/or retention
• Little supplemental reading
• Required literature is rarely discussed, only read
• History Pockets & Medieval Castle involve too much time for knowledge gained
• Expensive if you buy package
• Too much freedom for an unmotivated student to do a mediocre job
• This is picky, but the study guide in the 3 ring binder format is completely falling apart because of all the flipping back and forth that has to be done. We have to keep those little, sticky o-reinforcements right in the binder because the pages are constantly being ripped out. I resolved it 2nd time around by having it comb bound.

20/20 Hindsight:
• Buy only the study guide (maps included) and timeline
• Do not buy the supplemental books – get them from the library, substitute from the library, or buy used
• Do not buy the History Pockets or Medieval Castle unless the child likes cut & paste & color
• Add Life in the Ancient World by Bart Winer

To be completely honest, I am not sure if part of my disappointment has to do with the fact that we used SOTW for 4 years and loved it. It's a hard act to follow, imo. . I have not yet decided if we will continue with HO next year. The only alternative I have found is History at our House, an online program.

[Cadam]

This is exactly what we do. My logic stage kid uses SOTW for outlining and then we fill in with Streams of Civilization and more historical fiction at his level.

[WendyK]

Here's my review:

I chose HO because it's the only secular history program I know of for logic age. We completed HO Ancients 2 for 6th grade and are using HO Middle Ages 2 for 7th grade. I have mixed feelings about the curriculum.

Pros:
• History is all planned out
• A large amount of history is presented
• Outlining is learned and practiced
• Map work and timeline work is helpful
• Can be done independently
• HO is secular

Cons:
• KHE is DULL (reading snippets of information and picture captions)
• The program is writing intensive
• No review/discussion questions to assess comprehension and/or retention
• Little supplemental reading
• Required literature is rarely discussed, only read
• History Pockets & Medieval Castle involve too much time for knowledge gained
• Expensive if you buy package
• Too much freedom for an unmotivated student to do a mediocre job
• This is picky, but the study guide in the 3 ring binder format is completely falling apart because of all the flipping back and forth that has to be done. We have to keep those little, sticky o-reinforcements right in the binder because the pages are constantly being ripped out. I resolved it 2nd time around by having it comb bound.

20/20 Hindsight:
• Buy only the study guide (maps included) and timeline
• Do not buy the supplemental books – get them from the library, substitute from the library, or buy used
• Do not buy the History Pockets or Medieval Castle unless the child likes cut & paste & color
• Add Life in the Ancient World by Bart Winer

To be completely honest, I am not sure if part of my disappointment has to do with the fact that we used SOTW for 4 years and loved it. It's a hard act to follow, imo. . I have not yet decided if we will continue with HO next year. The only alternative I have found is History at our House, an online program.


Thank you so much. That really helps. The snippets thing kills it for me.

[Stacy in NJ]

I'll have a 5th grader and 7th grader doing the Ancients. My 5th grader will use SOTW I as a spine, reading it independently, along with the AG and additional fiction reading. My 7th grader will use A Little History of the World, Augustus Ceasar's World, Story of the Greeks, and Kingfisher.

My 7th grader would be board with SOTW I. It's just too babyish for a 12 yo, IMHO. I think the later volumes of SOTW are fine for logic. My 6th grader is doing Modern history this year with SOTW IV, and it's been a great fit.

[Lovedtodeath]

I have younger children who are just beginning SoTW and I see there are 4 volumes (grades 1-4). I have read in descriptions that they are a great curricula for elementary-aged children. I'm wondering if, after we finish these 4 volumes and enter the logic stage (and then rhetoric), do we start again with Volume 1 of these books and supplement with other reading? Is there another set of books for older stages?

Thanks so much!
Terry I have a feeling that by the time you are done with the 4 volumes, someone will have written a logic stage program similar to SOTW. ;) Just wait and see. There are a lot of people still writing.