What about history?

Finding a good history textbook is almost as tough as a locating a decent basal reader.  I think English  instruction should coincide with history.  For example, if the English textbook focuses on American history, shouldn't the history book also be American history?  My friend, Michelle, shared copies of a terrific Catholic series from The Catholic Textbook Project.  This site has samples from the text and workbook.  My advise to families new to home-schooling is to first focus on the basics: math, English, history, and science.  There is nothing wrong with using a workbook that accompanies the text.  Think of this as a safety net.  The exercises in the workbook often spark ideas or help identify areas the child may need to polish.  If the kids are getting core instruction, you're free to pursue projects and passions.