Reading Like a Historian

It took me some time to realize that Ken and DJ needed more challenging work. They needed work that moved beyond there already mastered skills in research work. I found a perfect history program for them for FREE. Reading Like a Historian is geared toward 6-8th grade. This program can be used as a stand alone or as a supplement. You can use any history book you want, it covers US History and World History. There is another progam for highschool, Historical Thinking Matters which I think is awesome too, and I am excited to know what direction we are going as far as how we are approaching history. It is what I was looking for in a history program all of my life as a homescholing mama of middle schoolers! :) 

If you get a chance I would browse through it and see how it may work for your family or classroom. I believe that it enhances the Montessori child's education as well. If we look beyond the materials and stay focused on the Montessori Philosophy we can see how purposeful it is to be able to Read like a Historian. Also I see plenty of opportunities to incorporate those true Montessori Materials in a very natural approach. 

                                                                         

We are going back to our first book in the History of US series by Joy Hakim as we have decided to really tackle US History. This has given us a chance to do the introduction lessons that are included in the program. 

                                                                         

These are the concepts that we have covered so far. History in our home is always met with great anticipation, it is requested to be done often. We laugh and really get our debate on. This is another great way that you can encourage your child to speak up, and challenge in an appropiate way. Yes! Children challenge us adults, because that is how they learn.

"The adolescent must never be treated as a child, for that is a stage of life that he has surpassed. It is better to treat an adolescent as if he had greater value than he actually shows than as if he had less and let him feel that his merits and self-respect are disregarded." - Dr. Marie Montessori from Childhood to Adolescence