Homeschooling info - might be useful for some peole

[David19]

I recently just came across this site (http://www.patriotshistoryusa.com/), which is the homepage for a book called 'A Patriots History of the United States' by Larry Schweikart and Michael Patrick Allen (http://www.amazon.com/Patriots-History-United-States-Columbuss/dp/1595230017), and it has some sections for homeschooling kids and teaching them about U.S. history, which look good (then again, I don't know much about U.S. history so I could be wrong), and I thought some people might like this.

These 2 sections of the site are probably the most relevant for Homeschoolers:

Elementary and Homeschool (http://www.patriotshistoryusa.com/elementary.htm)

Secondary and Homeschool (http://www.patriotshistoryusa.com/secondary.htm)

Bonus Materials (http://www.patriotshistoryusa.com/bonus_mat.htm)

Anyway, what are your thoughts on the site?, would you or have you used the book or the site for homeschooling your kids?.

[Lyrien]

We use A History of US (http://www.amazon.com/History-US-10-Vol-Set/dp/0195152603), and we waited till just about middle school to start. Younger kids get US history a little bit as they go along, but full-on US history needs to be for kids that can comprehend the information.

I don't know if you are in the US or not, but just in our self-centered fashion, schools and universities but a big emphasis on US history over world.

[David19]

We use A History of US (http://www.amazon.com/History-US-10-Vol-Set/dp/0195152603), and we waited till just about middle school to start. Younger kids get US history a little bit as they go along, but full-on US history needs to be for kids that can comprehend the information.

I don't know if you are in the US or not, but just in our self-centered fashion, schools and universities but a big emphasis on US history over world.

If you don't mind me asking, what's Middle School, that might seem a dumb question, but I'm not too sure, here in the UK, we have primary school (for ages 4-10) and secondary school (ages 11-16), then there's 6th Form (16-18), although you don't have to go into 6th Form, you can leave at 16 after you've done your GCSEs (and sometimes 6th Form will either be part of the secondary school, like mine was, or will be an entirely seperate 6th Form college, just for 6th Formers).

Would Middle School be similar to secondary school or would that be High School?.

BTW, again I hope you don't mind me asking, but does U.S. education focus mainly on U.S. history 'cause America happens to be a big country or is it some kind of patriotism? (also, is world history taught at all, like do you go in depth about Nazi Germany and WW2, like we do over here, and other areas).

Sorry about all the questions, it's just I'm quite curious :).

BTW, just remembered something else, when you Homeschool, do you get to decide what to teach them, like could you focus more on world history if you wanted too or is there a standard curriculum you have to follow?.

[aranarose]

In the U.S. there is elementary/primary school, which is Kindergarten (age 5) to 5th (age 10) grade. Then there's middle school/junior high, which is 6th grade (age 11) to 8th (age 13) grade. High school is 9th (age 14) grade to 12th (age 18) grade.

[Lyrien]

In the U.S. there is elementary/primary school, which is Kindergarten (age 5) to 5th (age 10) grade. Then there's middle school/junior high, which is 6th grade (age 11) to 8th (age 13) grade. High school is 9th (age 14) grade to 12th (age 18) grade.

Ya, what she said.

US schools and colleges/universities are different. In most states you can leave school at 16 legally, but it gets you nothing. You have to complete 12th grade (or take a ged test) to get a high school diploma and to continue with school. There is no real difference between what Americans refer to as college or university. In reality, a university is a collection of several colleges, but is just referred to as ..college. College is typically 4 years (or two if you want an associate degree), and then you get a degree in whatever it is you studied. From there you can get a masters, which is another two to three years. And so on.


Yes, as a homeschooling parent I choose what and how to educate my children. Each state has it's own rules, but the majority give you the freedom to choose whatever you want without interference. I have chosen to teach world history AND American history, with world history being the emphasis.

World history is taught in the public schools, but a US history or American Government class is generally required to graduate high school and is usually a required class for college/university.

Most schools do not teach history until middle/high school. The grades before that the schools teach 'social studies' and that's generally map reading, populations, cultures, local state history, and the like.

Help?

[David19]

Thanks, that was helpful :).