Introduction to Classical Studies

[Ingrid]

I will start homeschooling my daughter who will be going into third grade. I do not want to purchase "Introduction to Classical Studies Set" since it says it is a three year plan. I do want to cover all the material, but only wish to purchase for the current year. In the description of ItoCS Study Guide it says: "The road to a classical education goes through Athens, Jerusalem and Rome."

My question: Should I start with D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths along with the guides since it says "goes through Athens" first? Am I taking this too literal? What is the difference between the previous and Famous Men of Greece? Is FMofG something for me to read to her and then discuss, unlike D'Aulaires' where it also has a study guide?

Going into the second year... Does the ItoCS Study Guide have questions (or some sort of Study Guide) that would apply to the Golden Children's Bible? We already have several Bibles and part of our daily studies will include religion. I am not to sure I want to purchase another Bible.

So on to the third year, or second if I omit the previous paragraph/Jerusalem year. I will be doing Famous Men of Rome, along with guides.

When would you study Famous Men of the Middle Ages? How about Horatius at the Bridge? When should these books be read/studied? Is this a book for them to read on their own or should I read it to her and then discuss? What grade?

This is pretty new stuff to me and will be my first experience homeschooling, so if some of my questions sound novice that is why. :D

FYI: I have chosen to do the Seton Home Study School. But I am interested in adding Classical Studies. I also plan on adding Prima Latina. I figured between the two it will add 45min. to 60min. to my lesson plan daily.

She is my oldest of five, but I want to start with just one child first. Then bring one at a time in when they should be going into third grade. Which will be one every year for the next five years since they are one right behind the other in grades. I want to stay on the shallow end of the pool and get the hang of it before I go deeper. ;)

Thanks for any input, Ingrid

[crblomquist]

Ingrid,
I think all of your questions about when to teach what would be answered if you got hold of a hard copy of "The Classical Teacher," the magazine/catalog of Memoria Press. In there is a chart showing the timing and progression of their materials. I think that the chart indicates that you should teach Christian Studies 1-3 over the course of three years. Then, during those same three years you should teach, in the following order, D'Aulaire's Greek Myths, FMOR, and FMOMM, and then FMOG. I think that FMOG is out of chronological order because of the type of material it is. Somewhere in the catalog I think it explains this. Then, of course, you should teach Latin alongside all these things. I think the ideal is to begin LC1 at the same time as FMOR because they go together. But you don't need to. Anyway, order a copy of the catalog. I have decided to use Intro to Classical Studies myself with a two or three-year cycle, but I think they are phasing that program out. It sounds like, for you, going the new route mapped out in their catalog makes more sense. Horatius, though, comes after 5th grade.