My kids love to read, and many times I was able to change a “most hated” subject into something they would tolerate – like art! We managed to survive art class by reading about art.
My strategy didn’t always work, however. I had two stabs at state history, and neither attempt was successful. We tried reading literature about our state, Washington. Perhaps I just never found quality literature about my state. For some reason, books about state history just didn’t “take” with my kids. I tried, I really did! But they didn’t love it. In fact, if you ask them today, they’ll probably tell you they hated it!
Perhaps state history doesn’t matter. Really. I have two reasons for saying that. First of all, Washington State History is NOT a required subject in Washington. Many people believe it is required, but it isn’t! It’s not in our list of “11 required subjects.” Although it’s required from public school children, it’s not required of homeschoolers.
It may not matter for another more important reason, though. I have discovered something in my old age; children don’t love everything! No, really, it’s true! Sometimes kids just don’t like certain subjects! Ultimately, maybe it doesn’t matter if they love every curriculum you chose. Maybe just exposing them to a subject is all that matters. Particularly with state history, where it isn’t a life-threatening if you don’t know it. Maybe just getting an overview exposure to the subject is all they need.
Your kids don’t have to love everything. You are the teacher, and you can decide what they need exposure to – they don’t necessarily have to love it.
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Christianbook.com Curriculum Page
Lisa says:
That is so true. Kids will not love every subject. I’ve noticed that especially with my 11-year-old son, though my 8-year-old son still seems to like everything about school.
My older son took a state history class at a homeschool coop and wasn’t crazy about it. I think he would have liked to study another state, one that seemed more interesting to him.
January 17th, 2009 at 5:05 pm
J W says:
Welllllll howwwwwwwwwwwwdy, pardners! This here homeschool ma was raised right here in the soggy ol’ Northwest, and took her state history like a good little ol’ public school student. Wellll, I tell you them thar teachers would have us a-thinkin’ that some neighbors shootin’ each other over a pig was some sort o’ war or somethin’. Then ah moved to Texas, and let me tell y’all somethin’ – neighbors shootin’ each other over some dad blame pig – that ain’t no war, that’s just a friendly little brawl among friends. Texas state history shore is a mite more interestin’ then that, I tell ya. But ah’ll let y’all in on a little secret. There are Warshington State History books out thar, that, iffen’ y’all can stand a little local color, do make for some rib-ticklingly fun readin’. Now some things in these books might make yer maiden aunt Ida’s toes curl backward, so y’all better read ‘em first.
Totem Tales of Old Seattle
Sons of the Profits
You Know You’re in Washington When…: 101 Quintessential Places, People, Events, Customs, Lingo, and Eats of the Evergreen State
Weird Washington: Your Travel Guide to Washington’s Local Legends and Best Kept Secrets
January 17th, 2009 at 6:02 pm
Siri Betcher says:
Thanks JW. I found all your recommended texts available at the King County Library and have put them on my hold list. Siri
January 17th, 2009 at 11:52 pm
J W says:
Taaaaaaaaaaaaarnation! When ah tried ta git ‘em, them dad blame King County Library websites done said they didn’t have even half of them thar books. Waaaalll, now looks like you done gone and grabbed ‘em, leavin’ me ta wait an extry three weeks afore ah can have ‘em, iffen ah can git that there dad blamed website ta tell me they have ‘em! Waaaaaalll, if ya can’t renew ‘em, y’all’ll know why – it’s cuz I done placed a Texas hold on ‘em
January 18th, 2009 at 5:17 pm
Marvelyn says:
Many states require state history, but we moved out of TX during the time my daughter was the “typical” age to take this subject, so we covered CA history. But then we moved back to TX. She now lives in TX but knows CA history. When someone asked her incredulously, “You didn’t take TX History?!”, she laughed and explained, “I lived in CA. Did you take CA history?”
But that got me to considering how much people move either as a family, to attend college out of state, or to accept work in a state other than where they grew up. So is a particular state history really relevant into adulthood? Maybe it’s just as beneficial to choose any state that you find interesting and learn about it. Some are just more fascinating than others. Or study the state of an admired figure in history. Actually, if you ever studied the 13 colonies, you now know the state history of 13 states ;o)
June 18th, 2010 at 5:05 am