Changes in the air...

Well, we have made a few changes in the last couple of days here at Willis Creek School.  They are good changes, even if they do make me a tiny bit melancholy.  We have decided to switch from MyFather’s World Exploring Countries and Cultures to Story of the World Book 2.  This is not a decision made lightly.... but it is the right decision.  We spent last fall finishing up Story of the World Book 1 and when we finished just before Christmas the timing seemed perfect to begin ECC.  Jackson and I had done ECC several years ago and it was one of our favorite homeschooling years.... and Jonathan and Jackson were both excited to jump into it in January.  However, once we got started, it just became apparent that it wasn’t a good fit with Jonathan at all.  Although he liked the topics, the curriculum was just too stifling.  I do tend to tweak everything we do, but I wasn’t able to tweak it to suit us, this time around.  Finally, last week, Jonathan literally begged me to go back to SOTW.  Jackson was fine with the idea, so I ordered via Amazon Prime and we got it yesterday morning!!  We have already completed 2 chapters and everything is smooth sailing again.  We have just gone back to most of the things we were doing in the fall that were working so well....

Story of the World (Book 2 - The Middle Ages)
Exploring Creation Through Astronomy (we did Zoology 1 before) 
A Child’s Geography (finishing up Book 1 with Book 2 ready to go) 
Greenleaf Guide to Old Testament History (finishing up this as well)

I really believe in Exploring Countries and Cultures - it is a WONDERFUL curriculum.  But, as we have discovered in everything else, my 2 boys are as opposite as can possibly be.  If something works/worked well with Jackson, it will likely be a disaster with Jonathan.  Luckily, Jackson is old enough that we can make just about anything work for him - so finding a fit with Jonathan has been the priority.  SOTW is great in that regard, except for the fact that Jackson is really pushing the top limit in terms of his age.  I can make it work for him right now, but he really needs *more* at his age.

For the future, I am seriously looking at Tapestry of Grace.  I need to see it in person to get a real feel for it, but from searching the website and visiting with others who are using it, I am thinking it could be the way for us to truly blend the boys learning styles and academic levels.  Donna uses Year 2 Redesign and has offered to let me take a look at hers - so that should give me a better idea.  But I am really hopeful.  For now, we will do SOTW on super speed (planning to complete most of it this semester) and will be planning toward the fall.
 I am also working through a re-evaluation of our Language Arts for both boys.  I have a feeling that is what I will be concentrating on at our homeschool convention this year.  This has been a year of tremendous growth for both boys and we are ready to move on in several ways.


9 Comments

Kerry
Hey Laura,
Jackson might be interested in this 45-minute video on "The Shape of the Earth," which introduces basic observational astronomy while also clarifying some interesting facts about the middle ages -- so it would seem to be relevant to two of your topics this semester.
Click this link to download the movie (very large file, 400 MB):
<ahref="http://hsci.cas.ou.edu/images/mov/Shape.mov.zip">http://hsci.cas.ou.edu/images/mov/Shape.mov.zip</a>

Click this link to watch a streaming version online (doesn't always work):
<a href="http://hsci.cas.ou.edu/exhibits/exhibit.php?exbid=45&exbpg=1">http://hsci.cas.ou.edu/exhibits/exhibit.php?exbid=45&exbpg=1</a>

Click this link for true-false study questions to complete while watching the video:
<a href="<a href="http://homepage.mac.com/kvmagruder/hsci/01-beginnings/reading2-shape.html">http://homepage.mac.com/kvmagruder/hsci/01-beginnings/reading2-shape.html</a>

PEACE Kerry
Thursday, February 28, 2008 - 05:06 PM

Kerry
Here are the links again without extra gibberish (sorry for the above): 
Click this link to download the movie (very large file, 400 MB):
>http://hsci.cas.ou.edu/images/mov/Shape.mov.zip

Click this link to watch a streaming version online (doesn't always work):
http://hsci.cas.ou.edu/exhibits/exhibit.php?exbid=45&exbpg=1

Click this link for true-false study questions to complete while watching the video:

http://homepage.mac.com/kvmagruder/hsci/01-beginnings/reading2-shape.html

Thursday, February 28, 2008 - 05:07 PM

Kerry
PS: Here are some questions for discussion after watching the video:
http://homepage.mac.com/kvmagruder/hsci/01-beginnings/interpretation.html

Also, the link for streaming video appears to be working.
PEACE Kerry
Thursday, February 28, 2008 - 05:19 PM

Laura
Oh thank you, thank you, thank you!  I was just telling Mom today that I sure wished you were around!  We need your expertise.... and here you are sharing some of it!  :)  We read about monks and bookmaking today and I told the boys about your wonderful library vault.  We want to see it again when we come this summer.
Thursday, February 28, 2008 - 05:29 PM

Kerry
Thanks, Laura! It's fun to read your blogs....
I forgot to mention that at the website linked to above there's an instruction guide for activities to do before and after watching the video.  For example, one of the activities is to make a star clock to tell time by the Big Dipper:
http://homepage.mac.com/kvmagruder/bcp/instruments/starclock/clock.htm

The video includes lots of photos from the History of Science Collections, as well as a number of voices that will be familiar to Jackson.  :-)  Jonathan may be too young to want to watch it, though (give him a few more years, I guess).
PEACE Kerry
Thursday, February 28, 2008 - 06:17 PM

Jodi
Good that you could switch to something that's a better fit fairly easily.  We are probably going to try TOG next.  I think it is the type of thing which can work for a variety of homeschooling styles.  At least I hope so!
Thursday, February 28, 2008 - 07:09 PM

Kristine 

We've long enjoyed Story of the World.  We (meaning just Trevor and I) are in Vol. 2 this year, and he's LOVING it.  We are also using it totally differently than I used it with Holly at this age.

I very highly recommend the Activity Guide.  For us, that's made the difference between SOTW being just another book and making it the RIGHT book for us!

I like that it's so flexible, gives me a bit of guidance, but after that, I can do whatever I want with it!

It's been a different year for us too, as this is the first time my kids (4 years and 3 grades apart) have used different science and history curriculum.  But it's working and going more smoothly than I thought. :)
Saturday, March 1, 2008 - 06:36 PM

Kristine
Oops! I just saw the "super speed" goal.  <blush>  Maybe the activity guide would instead slow you down!

I don't know what, if any projects you are interested in as you go along in SOTW, but let me know what the kids like to do, and I can flip through my book to see if there are any good ideas for you.
Saturday, March 1, 2008 - 06:38 PM

Laura
Kristine -
Thank you so much for your offer!  I failed to mention in the post that I got the Activity Guide, too.  I do LOVE Story of the World and agree that the Activity Guide adds so much. We used it with SOTW 1, too.  Jackson is just really at the top of the age range for this curriculum, I think.  I hate that.... But, doing it in warp speed should work perfectly - allowing us to move on next year.... (the boys will be 3rd and 7th next year.)

You and Trevor might really enjoy watching the video that my brother posted a link to above.  It is called "The Shape of the Earth" and has a lot of info pertaining to this time period, including some that might surprise you! :)
Saturday, March 1, 2008 - 07:55 PM