New to WP (5th grader)-if you've used AS1, can you help?

[Jen in Japan]

Hello. I have a question for *someone* that has completed AS1 and is either using AS2 or already owns it.

Basically, I am a longtime HSer and a longtime SL user (6 years). Where SL was a perfect fit for my oldest kids, I realized this past spring that my dd (9 yrs, 4th grade) has retained NOTHING from Core 3. NOTHING. I have suspected that she is more a visual learner (and hands on) rather than auditory, nor does she like to read all the SL readers. WP looks like amuch better choice for her.

And basically, she could re-do early American history, having gotten zilch from Core 3.

But, I have never used WP before! I was all set to order AS2 and just "keep going" but then I wondered...

I know that AS 1 is for younger grades. She will be a 5th grader. My question: Could we do both AS 1 and AS 2 in a school year, skipping Indians and African Americans, money, and government? Hit the "history only" of both AS 1 and AS 2, creating a sort of Core 3+4? Would this work?


I have looked at the WP samples, but seeing only a single week of each is hard. I am a veteran "tweaker", but I can't gauge how aggressively the History books are paced. We could do some projects each week, but I am in love with the notebook pages, maps, and timeline work.

I could always just do AS 2 with her and nevermind the early Am hist (let her get it later on). I don't have the heart to drop back and "re-do" only AS 1 or AC1 with her (besides, AC1 looks too aggressive for her... she now "hates history").


Whatdaya think? Could a 5th grader manage the "history only" of AS 1 and AS 2 as a school year? Or, would mom be a raving maniac by the end? ;)


Jen

[LININJAPAN]

For someone who has "taken the plunge" from SL. And done both ASI and ASII (finishing up now) I can honestly say, that I believe your child will enjoy WP much better! (Because of the hands on, because of the good books that in my opinion are much more interesting for kids).

I would just do ASI (without the extras) I myself didn't use the indian focus much, although I purchased it. Then, if you see mid-way through the year it's going well, and you could finish mid-year, I'd go for ASII. I think though you'll find ASI is plenty good for a 5th grader and interesting.
I did ASII with a 5th grader this year and I would expect he would have enjoyed it as a 6th grader as well.

I hope you choose to go ahead with WP. I think you'll be happy with it.
I'll be ordering WP QAW this FALL. That makes 3 years with WP!
It's got the best of SL, (good books) but more fun!

[LININJAPAN]

Wait a minute! :D
I just noticed you were in Japan!
I've got ASI and soon be finished with (this July) ASII WP! Are you interested? PM me.

Where in Japan are you???

[LININJAPAN]

BTW....I also have WP LA 1 and 3 with readers for ASI.
Great books! (look practically new)!

[alisarussell]

Hi Jen,

Just had to say I agree with what Lin said. We have finished our second year of homeschooling and of using WP (AS 1 and AS 2). My boys loved our history, and they have learned so much. The older one was in 4th grade when we did AS 1 and in 5th grade when we did AS 2. It was perfect for him. I am planning for both dc to hit American History again in late junior high/high school, but for the elementary level, I would recommend AS 1 wholeheartedly.

HTH,

[4arrows]

You could do both by dropping the additional focuses, and just doing some of the light hands-on stuff. Or you could add in the Middler program for older dc (4-6th grade). That's what I did this year. I did AS 1 with all 3 dc (2nd, 4th, 7th grades) and added the Middler program for my oldest. She did the reading and assignments on her own. It worked out well for us.

[BevG]

I used AS1 with a 5th and 1st grader this year. We will be doing AS2 this coming year with a 6th and 2nd grader. It is definitely meaty enough for the older kids. Since you now have the choice of American Crossing 1, you could order a version designed for the older kids.

The IG tells you which books you might want to swap out if doing the program with an older child - Celebrate America and the Bible are the first 2 that come to mind.

There is also a schedule for adding in the History of US books. These allow your student to dive into more detail on the topics.

[Jen in Japan]

You could do both by dropping the additional focuses, and just doing some of the light hands-on stuff.


Yes, this is what I was wondering. As good as AS 1 looks, frankly neither she nor I could stomach one more book about Indians. I was thinking of AS 1 from the Revolutionary War forward through Lewis and Clark, the AS 2 through WW II. I think the problem is that I am still thinking like a SL'er (Core 3+4)!

If it's too cumbersome to combine (I'm still up for comments and suggestions!), we'll probably just go with AS 2. I want my dd to begin to love history again! I sense that just going back and doing the topics in AS 1 again would be too stale for her. Does that make sense?

Additional question: what did you think of the AS 2 readers? I looked them up on Amazon and I didn't recognize many. I also own Core 4 which has some pretty good ones.



(Another) Jen

[alisarussell]

We thought they were great! Most of them went up to at least a 6th grade reading level which was perfect for us. There was only one I thought was too easy--the book about Helen Keller.

[SnowWhite]

If you have done Core 3, I would TOTALLY go on to AS2. She will have the opportunity to study early Amer history again at an older age (with American Crossings).:D

[jenn&charles]

If you have done Core 3, I would TOTALLY go on to AS2. She will have the opportunity to study early Amer history again at an older age (with American Crossings).:D

I agree with SnowWhite. You can always come back to the topics in AS1 at a later date. That's what I did with my big kids who did SL 3+4 and also didn't retain anything.
It didn't hurt them at all to move on. ;)
We finished up AS2 a couple months ago. Otter had such a great time with it!
Good luck with your decision!
http://www.memorableplaces.com/temp/wpheartavatar.gif

[Jimmie]

Yep, I agree with Jenn & SnowWhite. Just move right on into AS2. I bought both AS1 & 2, so I have them on hand. We're using AS1 now.

Oh, and I'm in China -- your somewhat nearby neighbor! :-)

[Jen in Japan]

My question was really about combining and I think you all are telling me that it would be too cumbersome. Thank you.

Yesterday I mentioned George Washington to her and she visibly blanched. :D I think it best to move on to AS 2. I already did consider that she could just see early Am Hist later on, but the obsessive-compulsive in me saw all the great notebooking/timeline work and thought, "Ah ha! She could just "get it" now with all these great materials!" I suspect that *some* of you know how that can be. <grin>


OK, thank you! AS 2 it is. I'm hoping that this year will get her to love history, so I am thinking AS 2 (not Crossings) but with (maybe?) the 50 States books and worksheets. So much to consider!


Jen (NOT Japanese, from the heartlands of IL)

[JennyMaine]

I think AS II is a great choice. I think that if you try to combine, you will end up cutting out all the fun, hands-on items in order to get through all the material - and that would defeat your purpose.

I had ASII, but it wasn't a good while I was working and in college full-time - I ended up shelving it. After struggling with curriculum decisions the past few weeks, I just pulled it all out again to begin with my son. I have the readers and I think they're wonderful!

There is so much reinforcement of the topic in ASII - not just timelines, but websites, videos, links for music, games & crafts, and the Make Your Own history pages. I'm looking forward to doing it all now that I've flipped through the lesson plans again! My son just doesn't retain things from just reading or listening to a read-aloud. I can mention a character or event a couple months later, and I just get the doe-in-the-headlights expression! LOL He needs that hands-on review.

[Jen in Japan]

Well, I'm sold.

I think WP will be a good fit for DD, who didn't thrive under SL. Actually, I'm sort of excited, too, to be "new" to something. I've done every SL core except 300, 400, and BL. It will be fun to be a "newbie" for a change.

Besides, I've always looked longingly at notebooking programs. However, my big boys would have none of that. <smiles>




Jen

[Jimmie]

Jen (NOT Japanese, from the heartlands of IL)

Oh, you're not in Japan? I'm American too, but I live in China. From your user name, I assumed you were currently living in Japan. I never thought a Japanese woman would be homeschooling her kids with an American history curriculum. ;) I figured you were an expat. But then again, stranger things have happened!

Jimmie

[Jen in Japan]

Oh, you're not in Japan? I'm American too, but I live in China. From your user name, I assumed you were currently living in Japan. I never thought a Japanese woman would be homeschooling her kids with an American history curriculum. ;) I figured you were an expat. But then again, stranger things have happened!

Jimmie


Jimmie,

No, I've really confused everything. I AM American and I AM in Japan. I am just NOT Japanese. Pure, All-American Chicago area native. :D


Jen (who canNOT manage the slippery Japanese vowels, but whose kids can)

[Siloam]

Yes, this is what I was wondering. As good as AS 1 looks, frankly neither she nor I could stomach one more book about Indians. I was thinking of AS 1 from the Revolutionary War forward through Lewis and Clark, the AS 2 through WW II. I think the problem is that I am still thinking like a SL'er (Core 3+4)!

If it's too cumbersome to combine (I'm still up for comments and suggestions!), we'll probably just go with AS 2. I want my dd to begin to love history again! I sense that just going back and doing the topics in AS 1 again would be too stale for her. Does that make sense?

Additional question: what did you think of the AS 2 readers? I looked them up on Amazon and I didn't recognize many. I also own Core 4 which has some pretty good ones.



(Another) Jen

Jen,

Funny but I was going to say you were thinking in SL terms.

You could read all of AS 1 and AS 2 in a year, but to do so you would strip away everything tht would make it work better for your dd's learning style. Probably end up with another year of learning nothing.

I really like the idea of picking up with AS 2 and moving forward.

To be honest when we first moved to WP my kids were SOOO excited to be able to DO something that the insisted we do EVERY craft. :rolleyes: It took us two days to get a WP day done. Not because the reading was difficult, nope that was half of what Core 3 probably is. It was all the crafts and activities. It was rough on me because I am not a craft type of person, and I really (for ME) missed the depth of the SL books even though I realized the WP books were engaging the kids more. But I did get used to crafts, so did the kids and after a couple of months we started picking and choosing what to do and suddenly we could do a day of WP on one of our hs days.

Heather

[jamberrymama]

Jen - i am starting AS1 now with my 10 yo (so going into 5th grade). We are doing ASI without all of the adventure reading, with a couple ACI and AS2 books added in so we cover the same time period as our local district (syncs us up with what will be on the state test for SS content). So i do think it is doable. BTW - my son sounds like your child.....and being a hands on learner can be a very good thing. He made his own project list to complement american history to add even more projects so he would have many of the skills of folks who settled this country. So maybe he is less of a bookworm...but at the end of the day, might learn more. what i like about AS!/2 for him is the content is very visual and he is very active in the learning process. We have done other WP themes - this is the right combo for his learning style. hope that helps.