All American History

Testimonials

I wanted you to know how much we value your work. It is such a treat to hear my daughter say that she really enjoys her history book. What parent doesn't want to hear their child say, " I love school."? Good history books are not easy to find. We'll be saying a prayer for you. . .

Thanks again.
Angela

All American History is without a doubt the best American History curriculum available for middle-school students. With its clear, understandable lessons, All American History provides a memorable trip through our nation’s heritage and a solid foundation for understanding America’s part in world history. Taking a well-rounded look at the cultural, political, religious, and economic events gives students a full and complete view of history. Students learn to see history as more then just wars, dates, and presidents, but as an exciting study of people’s lives and actions in the past. Not to mention all the fun they’ll have with the hands-on activities and mapping exercises! All American History was one of the highlights of my homeschool career and I wholeheartedly recommend it to you.

Tyler - a student

I really like AAH so far. I use it along with the suggested reading. (There are lists of suggested biographies and books in the Teacher's Guide.) The more I have thought about it, the more I like the fact that the readers aren't scheduled. That way the library works for me. I can get the books at the beginning of the unit and have my dd read them through. I can't use the library when the books are scheduled for certain days. It is too much of a pain.

The Student Activity Book is a very important part of the program. For each chapter there is a notebooking page that the student fills in about the chapter. Then there is a map about the topic. Then there is a multiple choice assignment to review the material. There are pictures and flags to be cut and pasted on the notebooking pages and that can be used for games if desired. For each chapter there are 4 "For Further Study" suggestions. In the Teacher's Guide there are additional activity and some writing assignment suggestions as well as much of the information needed to complete the For Further Study questions. There are supplemental notebooking forms in the Student Activity book that can be done as well. For example, one of the chapters talks about the Mexican War. There is a supplemental page that can be copied so you can research as many of the battles of the war as you want instead of just doing an overview of it. Same for the War of 1812 battles. Also, you can do extra research on the colonies and the individual presidents.

I had originally planned on doing at least 2 of the For Further Study projects each week but found that the main lesson was plenty. If I had a high schooler, they would need those projects.

Cynthia from AAH yahoo group

AAH with High School Students

We are using your book for high school American History this year. My son, loves it and we spend the week discussing each person in depth. He does all four "For Further Study" questions, and reads most of the additional books. I also use several other resources to enrich his studies, All Through the Ages, list many resources; along with Beautiful Feet's guides, which allows us to add some extra reading and movies. I think that high school students would love this book since it really gets into the history with microscope vision, but most catalogues list it as "Middle School". I would ask that a section on writing be included with each chapter, wherein not only the 4 further study questions, but writing topics and even a end of section "Term Paper" subject selection offered. So far, we have done "papers" comparing Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson's inventions. We are looking forward to the next book, so we can complete our American History high school credit. I plan on awarding Honors to this course, since he ends up devoting so much to this course.

Thanks so much,
Lillian

Hi Maggie,

I am using All American History with a group of eight middle school students at a homeschool learning center.

I love the textbook and the activity book and think you have presented very interesting information. I don't normally teach with a textbook, but I like what you have done.

I assign the students a chapter a week and the map and activity pages that go with them. Some of my students are learning a lot and do quite well, but some of the students come in with their work completed, and when I ask them questions about the chapter or their work, they look at me blankly. I have even taken to giving them a test with the review questions that they did from homework, and some of them don't make very good grades, even though they did the work in the activity book. I have been telling the students that reading the material and doing the homework assignments are just the beginning--then they have to study. I am even teaching them to outline the chapters to analyze and record the important information. Last week I gave them the review questions as a test and let them use their outlines. Some did not do well at all, but it's all relative to the work they put in to the chapter.

What I would have found helpful in the teacher's guide is a test over each chapter that I could print and give to the students. Also discussion questions that relate to the material covered in the text.

I love history, and I think your Volume 1 is great.

Pam