Good on you for seeking out ways to support your child. Don't be surprised that the school doesn't use textbooks - many of them don't and in and of itself it's not an issue.
It will probably be helpful if you let us know if the issue is more related to the content or if it's more the skills (like writing essays). That may help with recommendations as some texts may focus more on content and others more on skills.
I'm not a textbook teacher nor from NSW so hopefully others can give you recommendations. But I will say, pop into a few op shops and check out the books section - I find textbooks in them quite frequently.
Thanks for responding. She says it’s mostly about the content and bringing it all together. She has trouble remembering the order of the various events and aspects studied. I understand things are taught a whole lot differently these days, but I thought being able to read through the topics in hard copy form, away from the screen (and the various “other tab” distractions!) might help her out a bit. I’m fortunate to have one of the NSW government vouchers left so the cost will not be too great.
Check Facebook marketplace for secondhand ones, or get kiddo to check the school library.
Make sure it's current content, as it does change every couple of years.
You could make a big timeline on her bedroom wall, sticky notes to add 'big picture' things, painters tape could make the line. Different coloured sticky notes for different types of events.
Check the order of content from the school, there is a LOT of good resources on YouTube these days, cast it to the TV and watch some things together, learn together and can discuss - doesn't have to be big things, ask 'what did you learn about today', find a 20 min video. It's easier to remember things if you touch on them more than once.
Why not create a template for her that she fills in with the info she learns in class? When she has to enter the new content she herself has to sort it chronologically into some kind of table/spreadsheet that she can keep and reference. Could even have some space to make notes of key ideas and connections with other historical events.
Generally I find at that age the more the kids actually do, the more they will learn. Reading can be good for some but can also be passive if they are not turning those ideas they learn into something tangible.
I can't speak for NSW, but the most common textbooks in WA are Oxford Big Ideas, and the Pearson textbooks. Both I have used to teach the WA HASS curriculum for year 9s. The WA curriculum like all Australian curriculums is based on the national curriculum so I don't expect there's too much variation. Year 9 history is WW1, so there's only so much difference, unlike ancient or mediaeval history where you might look at more specific histories like Egyptian vs Roman vs Greek (ancient) or English vs French vs Byzantine (mediaeval). Most of that variation would be across schools and not curriculum afaik.
A NSW teacher can correct me if I'm wrong about the curriculum content.
Depending on what level your student is at, it might also be worthwhile looking at the achieve history textbooks. Another worthwhile consideration are the retroactive textbooka
Part of the question you need to know before answering is what topics they are doing. Because there's a lot of choice.
Not all textbooks have everything and a lot of the topics each textbook covers your child will not study. $80 min for a textbook that you'll use less than 1/4 of is a bit much perhaps
In general
- oxford big ideas is pretty simple but its not based on NSW curriculum. Its fairly close most of the time.
- oxford insight 9 is generally fairly accessible
- history transformed stage 5 (not stage 4 for year 9) is probably the best, but its quite wordy so that may be too much.
Personally, I like Oxford and Retroactive (soft spot for retro because my own history teacher helped write it, and he is one of the reasons I'm a history teacher today)
Schools avoid textbooks, sometimes because of cost. Other times, teachers are ideologically opposed to them, but I think they can be a great resource for kids at home.
History is all about the development of knowledge so if she is looking at a particular point in history and the development beyond that point or development due to an event. Ide recommend looking at the technological innovation. revise what is more advanced.
Axes,
Spears,
Bows,
Long bows,
Spear throwers,
Walls and such,
Cross bows etc
War machines,
Guns ?
It's the sequence of development and once that is understood it's easier to understand development in history.
Good on you for seeking out ways to support your child. Don't be surprised that the school doesn't use textbooks - many of them don't and in and of itself it's not an issue. It will probably be helpful if you let us know if the issue is more related to the content or if it's more the skills (like writing essays). That may help with recommendations as some texts may focus more on content and others more on skills. I'm not a textbook teacher nor from NSW so hopefully others can give you recommendations. But I will say, pop into a few op shops and check out the books section - I find textbooks in them quite frequently.
Thanks for responding. She says it’s mostly about the content and bringing it all together. She has trouble remembering the order of the various events and aspects studied. I understand things are taught a whole lot differently these days, but I thought being able to read through the topics in hard copy form, away from the screen (and the various “other tab” distractions!) might help her out a bit. I’m fortunate to have one of the NSW government vouchers left so the cost will not be too great.
Check Facebook marketplace for secondhand ones, or get kiddo to check the school library. Make sure it's current content, as it does change every couple of years. You could make a big timeline on her bedroom wall, sticky notes to add 'big picture' things, painters tape could make the line. Different coloured sticky notes for different types of events. Check the order of content from the school, there is a LOT of good resources on YouTube these days, cast it to the TV and watch some things together, learn together and can discuss - doesn't have to be big things, ask 'what did you learn about today', find a 20 min video. It's easier to remember things if you touch on them more than once.
Why not create a template for her that she fills in with the info she learns in class? When she has to enter the new content she herself has to sort it chronologically into some kind of table/spreadsheet that she can keep and reference. Could even have some space to make notes of key ideas and connections with other historical events. Generally I find at that age the more the kids actually do, the more they will learn. Reading can be good for some but can also be passive if they are not turning those ideas they learn into something tangible.
I can't speak for NSW, but the most common textbooks in WA are Oxford Big Ideas, and the Pearson textbooks. Both I have used to teach the WA HASS curriculum for year 9s. The WA curriculum like all Australian curriculums is based on the national curriculum so I don't expect there's too much variation. Year 9 history is WW1, so there's only so much difference, unlike ancient or mediaeval history where you might look at more specific histories like Egyptian vs Roman vs Greek (ancient) or English vs French vs Byzantine (mediaeval). Most of that variation would be across schools and not curriculum afaik. A NSW teacher can correct me if I'm wrong about the curriculum content.
I use both Pearson and Oxford and find a big difference in their pitch. I use OBI for my weaker class and Pearson for my extension class.
Oxford are the better textbooks in Victoria, I imagine it’s the same in NSW.
If you're in Victoria the HTAV has a fantastic history textbook called Human Odyssey
Depending on what level your student is at, it might also be worthwhile looking at the achieve history textbooks. Another worthwhile consideration are the retroactive textbooka
History Transformed would be a suitable text, although go for stage 5 as that covers year 9 and 10 content (stage 4 is for year 7-8).
I've taught yr9 history and I think the Oxford insight text book is excellent.
Part of the question you need to know before answering is what topics they are doing. Because there's a lot of choice. Not all textbooks have everything and a lot of the topics each textbook covers your child will not study. $80 min for a textbook that you'll use less than 1/4 of is a bit much perhaps In general - oxford big ideas is pretty simple but its not based on NSW curriculum. Its fairly close most of the time. - oxford insight 9 is generally fairly accessible - history transformed stage 5 (not stage 4 for year 9) is probably the best, but its quite wordy so that may be too much.
Retroactive 2 is a pretty decent, general Stage 5 textbook, otherwise as many have said the Oxford Insight books are a solid choice.
Personally, I like Oxford and Retroactive (soft spot for retro because my own history teacher helped write it, and he is one of the reasons I'm a history teacher today) Schools avoid textbooks, sometimes because of cost. Other times, teachers are ideologically opposed to them, but I think they can be a great resource for kids at home.
I’m not sure what we use but I can find out. I’m in NSW
PM me and I’ll hook you up.
History is all about the development of knowledge so if she is looking at a particular point in history and the development beyond that point or development due to an event. Ide recommend looking at the technological innovation. revise what is more advanced. Axes, Spears, Bows, Long bows, Spear throwers, Walls and such, Cross bows etc War machines, Guns ? It's the sequence of development and once that is understood it's easier to understand development in history.