Classic Historian Review- Mosaic Reviews

Today I have another review for you from Mosaic Reviews. I was able to review The Classical Historian Modern American History 32-Week Guide, The Socratic Discussion in History book and DVD, as well as the Ancient History Go Fish Game.

I had never hear of The Classical Historian before so I was intrigued. We already take a classical approach to our history program and this fit right into that. The Socratic Discussion is exactly what I needed to implement Socratic discussions into our school.

This DVD has an introduction to the company as well as the program and helps orient you if you have never used this type of curriculum before. There is a good description of what is and how it helps you teach history.

"The Classical Historian teaches students how to strive for the truth in history and trains teachers to challenge students to become their best as historians and people. The Classical Historian encourages teachers and students to systematically learn and practice the highest academic ideals, such as honesty, virtue, patience, and logical analysis. This program shows the teacher how to teach the tools of the historian including all the analytical tools, how to lead the Socratic discussion, and how to teach analytical writing as it pertains to history."

The Socratic Discussion in History DVD Curriculum

1. The Grammar of History

2. The Tools of the Historian

3. How to Research and Read History Texts

4. The Socratic Discussion

5. Analytical Writing in History

This is not a history content curriculum but a teaching and learning method that is essential to teach your child how to be a critical and independent thinker, speaker, and writer in History. This DVD course does not cover content but teaches the student how to approach all history.

 

If you want your student to become an independent thinker and an effective communicator, this is the program for you. After this DVD course, the student will know how to distinguish between fact and opinion, make good historical judgment, analyze primary or secondary sources, use quotes effectively in argumentation, how to paraphrase historical text, how to analyze and answer interpretive questions in history, how to conduct research, how to participate in a Socratic Discussion in History, and how to write analytical essays including: Writing an Outline, Writing a Rough Draft, and Revising. The complete DVD course includes over seven complete hours of instructional taping, 13 class lessons, a student course booklet and parent guide.

The Classical Historian does a good job of walking you through the steps you need to know in order to teach your children how to think analytically. It gives the teacher confidence in helping their students without having to have done it in school themselves. The 32-Week Guide walks you through the DVD's and The Socrastic Discussion in History-working in tandem. The Guide tells you the pages you need to have the student complete and what to watch on the DVD.

On the DVD you will find that Joh De Gree walks you through holding a Socratic discussion. You don't have to figure it out based on written words on a page. You actually follow along with your students and learn how to do it. That is super helpful. Each lesson gradually gets harder and more in-depth leading to a student that can have a well thought out response to questions with facts as their basis.

You can't ask for much more than that. A student that can listen to information decipher it and then decide if it is fact, fiction, a mix of both, and have reasons to support their decision. Love it! The DVD's are a little dry and not quite as flashy as others on the market but they are full of wonderful information.

Now, for this review I did not receive all the sources(reading books) they list as needed in the curriculum. But, I found that I could make this program work with our current curriculum and that makes this one golden. You can purchase this set for $79.99. It includes the 3 DVD's and The Socratic Discussion in History guide and is for Grades 9-12.

Now, for the other part of this review I regret to say that I did not receive one of the books necessary. I didn't receive the Take a Stand Student book but I did receive the 32 week Guide for Modern American History. The 32 week Guide lays out each lesson for you and all you have to do is follow it. It is laid out well and seems easy to follow. Unfortunately I didn't realize I was missing a piece. Sometimes companies only send you parts of sets and so I thought it was just me missing something. I can only imagine that the Student book is as well laid out as well.

For the last part of this review we received the Ancient History Go Fish Game. Yup, Go Fish! I love a good game of Go Fish but when you add in an educational aspect it becomes just about perfect. This game actually comes with FOUR different options so you aren't stuck with the same game over and over. The four games you can play are: Collect the Cards, Ancient History Go Fish, Continents Game, and Chronology Game. The cards are on heavy stock in full color. They are well worth the $11.95 you can get them for. If you want to purchase your set and see what other options there are head over Here and check them out. This game is fro Grades 6-8.

If you haven't found a history curriculm yet, I suggest you head over to The Classical Historian and check them out. You won't be sorry. Don't forget to check out their About Us page, Q and A page, and the rest of the products they offer.

 

 

Apologia How Do We Know God is Really There? Review

I know in our house kids can ask some pretty tough questions and like most parents I don't have all the answers. I know, I know...I probably shouldn't admit that out loud but it's true. And my kids already know it anyway. I am learning every day just like they are.

There have been times they have asked questions and I didn't know the answer. But there have also been times that they have asked hard questions and I just didn't know how to answer. I knew what I believed I just couldn't put it into words that would help them understand.

That's where this 'little' book comes in. How Do We Know God is Really There? is a sweet book that packs quite a punch. It tackles the hard question kids have about Gods existence and walks them through the reasoning and science behind it.

Here is a little about the book:

"Thomas and his father escape to their backyard tree house most evenings to watch the night sky through a telescope. Thomas is dazzled by what he sees of God’s creation, but he has questions. “Dad, how do we know God is out there?” he asks one night. “I know the Bible says He’s there. But how do we really know that’s true?” Together, Thomas and his father begin to examine the cosmological evidence for God’s existence. This is the first in an exciting new series of picture books designed to introduce kids to important questions of the Christian faith in terms even pre-readers can understand. Read this aloud with your family, and you’ll come away knowing that “the heavens declare the glory of God and the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” (Psalm 19:1)."

How Do We Know God Is Really There is a sweet book with fun illustrations and a simple way to talk to your kids about the existence of God. This is the first book in a series that will address some hard questions for kids. I know I will be on the lookout for this series!

Aren't these illustrations sweet? They are fun, engaging and help convey the importance of the story.

If you want to purchase this wonderful book for yourself, you can head over to the Apologia Site and snag one for yourself for $16.

How Do We Know God is Really There? is a tool evey family can and should use to help children learn to know what they believe and why.

While you are at Apologia's website don't forget to check out all the other great products they have available.

 

Renita

Breathe in Breathe out

Now that the convention and theater camp are over I can think about getting ready for vacation. Since we leave on Sunday I think I better start working on that!

I am so not ready this year. I haven't made any lists and the house is a wreck. I am ready to get away but not ready to get ready. lol

Somehow getting seven people ready to leave for a week is a little stressful. Not sure why! today will be filled with errands, shopping, laundry, packing, cleaning, and searching for lost things.

 

The Show

Well, we made it to the end of the week and no baby has appeared! lol The show was great and the kids were so sweet. Sarah did a great job on her duet but completely killed her Mad Hatter scene. She is such a natural actress and comes alive on stage. I love watching her act.

Naomi did a great job as well. Her song, When She Loved Me, made me cry. She acted well and had a lot of fun.

Did I get any pictures? Nope. I was too busy directing. But I think Steven did so I will have to confiscate them sometime.

I am tired

I knew this week would kill me but I didn't know how hard it would kill me! I left Bethany, Hannah, and Bug home on Monday but soon realized I would need them with me the rest of the week. Why you ask? Well, Nina, the director is pregnant and due any day. If she were to go into labor I would need Bethany there to help me put on the show and corral the kids.

Thankfully, it's Thursday and she hasn't gone into labor yet!

I am just about done though. Dancing and singing and being peppy for the kids from 9:30-12:30 is either going to really be the death of me or get me in better shape!

On the upside the kids are doing great and the show is coming together really well. ;-)

The show is cast...

Auditions went really well today and we cast the show! I think we have the perfect kids in the perfect spots. Each kid that wanted a solo has one and everyone has lines to memorize. And let me tell you, there are a ton of lines to memorize.

Sarah got the solo/duet What is this Feeling, playing Elphaba. She is also playing the Mad Hatter and has a solo in Good Morning Baltimore.

Naomi is singing When She Loved Me from Toy Story 3, a solo in Part of your World, and You've Got a Friend in me. She is also playing Jesse and a maid in Little Mermaid and Kim in Bye Bye Birdie.

It is going to be a long week but it will be well worth it.

It has started

This summer is panning out to be as busy as last summer and that worries me just a bit. It started with convention and is on a roll with theater camp this week. Triple Threat Music Theater company is putting on a summer camp called Random! It will be a show that includes music from Singing in the Rain, Wicked, Toy Story 3, Alice in Wonderland, Jr., and scenes from those shows and a few others. We will have auditions on Monday and then have Tuesday through Thursday to rehears. The show is on Friday.

Not long is it? We ask a lot of the kids and they always deliver. There will be choreography, singing, acting, and a few costumes to figure out and implement. I can't wait to see the kids and cast the show.

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Teaching Parents Association Homeschool Convention

Yes, I am behind in my posting. Again.

May 30th and June 1st was the dates for our local homeschool convention this year. It is put on by The Teaching Parents Association here in Wichita and they do a fantastic job. It is held at Century 2 convention center and is a two day event you shouldn't miss if you are in the mid-west.

This year we had the honor of listening to Carol Barnier and Israel Wayne as the main speakers as well as Andrew Pudewa and many others. The vendor hall was full of wonderful vendors and the workshops had useful information.

This is a convention put on for the local homeschoolers by local homeschoolers who care about our community. They are in the trenches for us every day helping to ensure our rights as homeschoolers. Plan on supporting the TPA at next year's convention. Until then, visit their website and facebook page to get information and help on your journey.

 

 

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