Posted on 08/16/2010 8:24:45 AM PDT by ModelBreaker
info request ping
If I may ask, how do you teach?
Do you have selections that you choose for your child to read? Do you read and orate, or do you use assignments? A combination? I might be able to help a little more if I know how you teach, then again, I might not. ;)
In the meantime, these links might help. It is from a web group “Conservative Homeschoolers.” (I tried to link directly to the topics of interest for you. Hope it helps.
http://freedomtoschool.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=usgov
http://freedomtoschool.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=curriculum
Our son has just completed “high school”, combination of Cyber School and home schooling, most of the Cyber Books originate out of California, and we did the best we could to continue with the program, by supplementing the PC textbooks with those prior to 1960s.
The books are available
http://books.google.com/
http://www.google.com/search?tbs=bks:1&tbo=1&q=American+History&btnG=Search+Books
Well, since you asked...I would never use the pagan, politically correct k-12 curriculum. It was created explicitly to be acceptable to government schools so that they could make money with virtual charters.
Here is the solution: The Principle Approach, which is published by the Foundation for American Christian Education. What distinguishes FACE’s curriculum is that is it is mainly based on source documents. If you were using k-12, then you really need to go back and start with the Reformation. YOU CAN’T UNDERSTAND AMERICA AND ITS FOUNDING WITHOUT KNOWING REFORMATION THEOLOGY AND ITS RESISTANCE THEOLOGY, which k12 avoids in any detail. Consequently, I would supplement FACE with 2 books by Otto Scott: The Great Christian Refvolution and his biography of James I. I would also get from Netflix the 1970 film Cromwell, which is unuisually accurate (except for battle scenes, which are unimportant). I would also go too SermonAudio and listen to the lectures on Christianity and the American Founding by Dr. Archie P_. Jones. Otto Scott also has a number of very interesting lectures on SermonAudio.
For prior periods of world history, you’d be better off with Streams of Civilization supplemented with Henty novels.
We never cyber-schooled. Our history curriculum was Trisms. I think their site is trisms.com; great way to get kids thinking. Have them read, read and them read some more.
Study the Revolutionary War, then the War of 1812. In depth.
The 5000 Year Leap would make a great read.There is tons of information in it about the origins of natural law and our founding father’s beliefs. Maybe not for a whole curriculum, but at least part of it.
You might go back and get some of the old US History textbooks used in the 1950’s, before everything was PC’d.
I got one and it was refreshingly accurate and free of apologetics and dissembling. Also, you can teach a lot about history by doing a lot of field trips, luckly we live in a rich historical area (DC)
A Beka
www.abeka.com
A Beka produces curriculum for Christian schools, and it is used at many of the better academic schools across our general area, including the largest and most well known private school in my county. [In addition, my wife went to a private school that used A Beka, so it was familiar to her.]
They are very conservative, Christian, and neither my wife nor I can find much to argue with A Beka’s curriculum, except that we do find very minor issues with a few points in the Bible classes [our concerns are very minor, and way superseded by the overall quality of the product].
Many consider the math to be too hard because it uses the “circular method,” meaning that new concepts are introduced while keeping up practice on old concepts. The math is harder, but it makes for great training for future engineers and scientists because the students cannot simply put a technique into their short-term memory, test on it, and then forget the concepts.
The English is hard, and by senior level becomes college quality. The history, your question, I found to be very intelligent, thought provoking, and without political correctness. I read the history books for fun, and I read a lot of history. Blatant inaccuracies or subtle left-wing indoctrination would be very annoying to me.
As your child enters high school, I highly recommend a copy of the Patriots History of the United States, written by a Freeper.
http://www.patriotshistoryusa.com/
“The 5000 Year Leap would make a great read.There is tons of information in it about the origins of natural law and our founding father’s beliefs. Maybe not for a whole curriculum, but at least part of it.”
Agreed!
did use 5000 year leap, a pocket constitution/dec of independence, and heritage foundation resources at their site. Covers it all.
another suggestion- my kids (6th graders) and I just enjoyed the movie “April Morning”- it’s an oldie, makes a good perspective for the kids about the very first Rev War clash at Lexington, how the American colonists were just ordinary men and women, not military soldiers, and they had to make a life-and-death choice to stop talking about freedom and liberty, and risk everything to take a stand
I’d recommend Abeka for History and this:
http://www.americanheritage.org/
Specifically this:
Resource Update...
America’s Heritage: An Adventure in Liberty K-12 lesson unit resource is a $150.00 value offered FREE for educational purposes! To download or order, see K-12 Lessons or Contact Us. Get 2009 edition!
America’s Heritage has been tested and shown to improve students’ performance in history and social studies. It requires no teacher training. See K-12 Lessons.
AHEF has distributed over 91,000 copies of America’s Heritage to teachers in all 50 states and beyond. Resource use continues to increase—a national leader! See K-12 Lessons and Partnerships.
AHEF and educators have impacted over 1,400,000 students throughout America!
America’s Heritage: An Adventure in Liberty
K-12 Teacher Lesson Plan Resource
$150.00 value!
Order Lesson Plan CD (free!) or printed binders
America’s Heritage: An Adventure in Liberty is a tested lesson plan resource and supplement for Kindergarten-12th grade teachers of social studies, U. S. history, U. S. government, political science, economics, geography, speech, and/or related subjects. Written by fellow teachers, the resource consists of age-appropriate and modifiable lesson plans grouped into three separate books according to level: elementary, middle, and high school. Each elementary school lesson plan correlates practically with the nationally applicable Core Knowledge Skills (grades K-6) (national edition). Each middle and high school lesson plan correlates with the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) standards (national edition). All lessons emphasize one or more themes of freedom, unity, progress, and responsibility. The resource aims not simply to present historical facts but to provide opportunities for students to explore and understand the factual and philosophical significance and meaning behind events, causes, and effects—the whys—relating to and influencing the early history of the United States.
Each resource book includes an introductory essay regarding the curriculum rationale, lesson plans to specifically consider the American heritage themes, and activities in which students assess and analyze their own identities as Americans. The elementary school lesson plans include lessons about the colonists’ experience under monarchy; the context for the writing of the Declaration of Independence; the creation of important American symbols, songs, and holidays; and the character traits modeled by great national leaders and presidents. The middle school lesson plans include lessons focusing on concepts within the Declaration of Independence, the Gettysburg Address, and other important texts and American symbols as well as the ideals for which many fought and sacrificed their lives. The high school lesson plans include lessons for in-depth analysis and understanding of the ideas, intentions, arguments, rights, and meanings addressed in significant texts from the Mayflower Compact and the Declaration of Independence to Federalist 47, the First Amendment, and a government letter on religious expression in public schools. A brief summary of each lesson plan can be found at the appropriate grade-level links.
America’s Heritage has been evaluated in a study for performance results of students of eighth-grade social studies as indicated by the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS), a test measuring American history objectives taught by schools around the nation. Consistent with the goals of AHEF, the study showed a positive learning difference based on TAAS results with regard to historical concepts and information in students whose teachers used America’s Heritage. These findings demonstrate the value for teachers in using the resource to increase student performance as measured on the TAAS.
2nd Assessment (2003)
Student Performance Results of Teachers Trained In and Using
America’s Heritage: An Adventure in Liberty
An evaluation of student performance was made with data from the Spring 2003 administration of the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) comparing performance of students of teachers trained in and using America’s Heritage with students of teachers who have not had training in or used this resource. There was a statistically significant difference for the experimental subgroup of Hispanics on the objective Economic and Social Influences in U. S. History on the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS). The study indicates that Hispanic students whose teachers were trained in and used the resource increased in performance in the objective Economic and Social Influences in U. S. History on the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS). This finding is important for schools and teachers seeking to reduce the achievement gap between Hispanics and other ethnic groups, with Hispanics being the fastest growing sub-population in the United States.
See 2nd Resource Evaluation Study.
1st Assessment (2002)
Student Performance Results of Teachers Using
America’s Heritage: An Adventure in Liberty
America’s Heritage was evaluated for 2002 performance results of students of 8th-grade social studies as indicated by the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS), a test measuring American history objectives taught by schools around the nation. Consistent with the goals of AHEF, the study shows that students whose teachers use America’s Heritage increase in performance in social studies historical concepts and information as measured on the TAAS. These findings demonstrate the value for teachers in using the resource to increase student performance.
See 1st Resource Evaluation Study .
In 1995, the Texas Legislature directed the State Board of Education to implement the following law:
The State Board of Education and each school district shall foster the continuation of the tradition of teaching United States and Texas History and the free enterprise system in regular subject matter and in the reading courses and in the adoption of textbooks. A primary purpose of the public school curriculum is to prepare thoughtful, active citizens who understand the importance of patriotism and can function productively in a free enterprise society with appreciation for the basic democratic values of our state and national heritage.
Texas Education Code §28.002(h)
In support of the Texas Education Code, America’s Heritage: An Adventure in Liberty was developed by the American Heritage Education Foundation, Inc. (AHEF) in cooperation with the Houston Independent School District and the McNair Foundation. It was first published in the spring of 1996 as a lesson plan resource for middle school teachers. In 1998, work began on K-12 lesson plan material which was published in 1999. A revised edition was published in 2001 and 2003 and is updated regularly. It is distributed and currently used in school districts nationwide. It can be freely downloaded at the links below and/or ordered in CD or binder format. An updated 2007 edition as well as an elementary Spanish edition are currently available.
The American Heritage Education Foundation, Inc. (AHEF) is a non-profit (501.c.3) corporation dedicated to the understanding and teaching of our nation’s factual and philosophical heritage to promote freedom, unity, progress, and responsibility among our students and citizens. AHEF has provided these materials to help students become thoughtful, active, and productive citizens.
Elementary School Lesson Plans
Middle School Lesson Plans
High School Lesson Plans
(All files are in .pdf format. Adobe Acrobat is needed to view these files.)
What Teachers Say About AHEF Resources and Workshops
Feedback about the materials, presentations, and presenter was obtained from classroom teachers and other education professionals who attended American Heritage workshops and conference sessions. Comments are taken from actual feedback forms. Email or mail us your feedback.
About our MATERIAL
“This topic (American Heritage) is conspicuously lacking in so much of public education today. Keep up your efforts.”
“I plan to incorporate more citizenship into my American History class. These methods were interesting and enjoyable. The lessons were about things that are interesting, left out of textbooks, and important. The methods were concise and appealing.”
“The American Heritage Education Foundation has provided materials to help students become thoughtful, active and productive citizens.”
“Provided wonderful classroom materials to help give students a sense of what it means to be an American and to understand our history and our heritage. Great presentation; very practical.”
“We came away with some good teacher tested materials for introducing American liberty and democracy into American history classes with the use of symbols and documents not many times found in the textbooks.”
” . . . workbook has a much needed emphasis on traditional American philosophy in classroom-ready format.”
“The materials given out are both helpful and necessary since we do not receive this info in textbooks. Very practical.”
“Fantastic! Actual materials and ideas I can use in my classroom!”
“...Wonderful handouts.... The best...in the entire seminar.”
The notebook contains practical activities which can be modified for various subjects.
“Sensational seminar-to-classroom material!”
“Good information for teachers! We need this!”
“The resources will be helpful. I didn’t know we had a creed. My students will benefit from some of the details about our heritage. Thanks.”
“Very easy to follow, step by step - very creative ideas.”
About the VERSALITY of our material
“Even though I teach fourth grade, I see a lot of material I can revise and use. . . Thank You!”
“I will use lesson plans in 5th grade American History classes.”
“Materials are useful across a broad spectrum of grades.”
“Materials readily adaptable to all levels”
“Not limited”
“We look forward to using your lesson in our 8th-grade American History class beginning in the fall.”
“Excellent materials - introduced ways to adapt the lessons - adaptability for all ages”
“We are a family of 9 and our 3 oldest are currently in college.... The next children are young men ages 16, 14, and 9. I greatly appreciate the opportunity to give the kids the truth about America and believe it is the only way we can preserve her future.”
About the PRESENTATIONS and the PRESENTER
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“Enjoyable presentation, a very relaxed atmosphere”
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“One of the most helpful presentations. His workbook is terrific. What a tremendous educator.”
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“Excellent presentation – dynamic speaker - something concrete to offer teachers”
“This workshop was very worthwhile because it presented different teaching strategies.”
“Very informative! ...I am so glad that I attended this session. He understands the classroom because he is a middle school teacher himself.”
“Well organized - much info to share”
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See Partnerships for awards and more responses on AHEF projects.
America’s Heritage: An Adventure in Liberty
Lesson Plan Resource Response
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Order Lesson Plan CD (free!) or printed binders
http://www.americanheritage.org/k-12_lessons.html
BTW the America Heritage series is FREE!
They would welcome donations though but it is free.
Elementary school lesson plans
http://www.americanheritage.org/elementary.html
Middle school lesson plans
http://www.americanheritage.org/middle.html
High School lesson plans
http://www.americanheritage.org/high_.html
Order it here:
http://www.americanheritage.org/contact_us.html
HA! Our thoughts exactly.
We do a little mixing-and-matching.
Used to use SonLight exclusively, but have transitioneed over to My Father's World, with a few add-ins from other companies.
We cycle back through American History each year - we do other parts of the world history, of course (Greeks, Romans, Middle Ages, Far East, etc), but American History is also touched on every year.
I was speaking with my brother-in-law recently (he teaches high school history), and he recommended that title as well.
Bookmark
“Patriots History of the United States, written by a Freeper.”
I didn’t know the author was a Freeper.
We have that. I haven’t read it through yet. I’ve used it to look up some events and it is good, however I wouldn’t recommend that for a middle schooler. I’ts more a high school or college level history book BUT if kids are SHARP - by all means unleash them on that book.
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