WHAT IS “STEP 4”?
STEP 4 is three-five years of secular, religion-friendly curriculum, designed for use by students ages 11-adult, who read well.

Step 4 contains studies in History, Science, Study & Life Skills, Creative Writing, Reading, Spelling, and electives such as Music Theory, Music History, Acting, Animation, Literature Guides, Current Events, and Civics. We do not provide Math.  The focus of Step 4 studies is to develop critical thinking skills, vocabulary, literacy, self-sufficiency and self-expression, while thoroughly educating the student at a much higher than high School level, in each subject.

Additionally. Step 4 History, our most extensive study, covers many important areas of study for emerging adults, all in context with history.  These include politics, religion, economics, geography, art and science.  STEPS is designed to provide a complete education, well into college-level work.

DOES MY STUDENT NEED TO DO STEP 1, 2 OR 3 TO GET A STEPS EDUCATION?
No.  Each Step covers the entirety of each subject offered, but as the student goes up through the Steps, the materials become more detailed, and challenging.  Students start at the Step right for their age and literacy.  They do not need to go back to an earlier level unless they find themselves truly struggling, and for a significant amount of time.

IS STEP 4 FOR HOMESCHOOLING?  OR THE CLASSROOM?
Step 4 is independent study for homeschoolers, but it has been used with success in the classroom.

ARE STEPS 4 COURSES BOOKS?  HOW DO I GET THEM?
STEPS courses come as PDFs, online downloads.  When you purchase courses on our site, they are immediately sent to the email address you give us.

HOW DOES STEP 4 HISTORY WORK?
Like all STEPS studies, Step 4 courses are broken into daily lesson plans.  Each lesson plan is made up of small things to be done, in sequence.  The student does each step in the lesson plan, in order.  Sometimes, the course shows students art work, video, or photography – all found in sequence, in the lesson plan.  And in every lesson plan, the student uses what has been taught and does things, there are always activities. 

Over a period of three-five years, the duration of Step 4 studies, students develop improved reading and literacy skills.  Each student moves at their own pace in developing literacy, as in all their studies.  By the end of Step 4, a student should have developed excellent critical thinking skills, a huge vocabulary, a profound ability to communicate, and an exceptional grasp for this age of history, science and related subjects.  Additionally, the student will be facile at self-motivated, unassisted study – a skill that will serve the student well as they step into life.

Step 4 History is taught on the “time line”, in the order history occurred, as was suggested by America’s greatest historian, Will Durant.  It is global history, rather than history focused on one nation, again, as Mr. Durant did.  There are nine Step 4 History Courses, intended to be completed in two-four years of study.  These are followed by two final “History” courses which add up everything the student has learned, and applies his huge base of knowledge to a comprehensive understanding of human cultures and civilizations, and of the current world.  These final two courses wrap up an in-depth study of history and all the related subjects, and result in a highly educated graduate.

Step 4 History studies start with “Pre-History”, which covers religious and scientific concepts (without bias) of how the universe, the world, and mankind came to be.  This course is followed by a massive course on early civilizations, including Egypt, Mesopotamia, Sumer, the Hebrews, India and China, and leading up to the third course, Greece.  The Greek course is massive, and delves into the founders of science, philosophy, and politics, as we practice them today.  A huge course on Rome follows, 1,000 years of history focused on a single awesome civilization.  Then, another 1,000 years in covered in the Dark Ages.  History gets busy with our course covering “The Three R’s”, the Renaissance, Reformation, and Restoration.  A MASSIVE American civics and history course, which we call “an owner’s manual” for American citizens, follows.  Then the last few courses demonstrate the growth of Europe, focusing on France, Russia, The British Empire, and into the 20th century and the U.S.  This is complete history, a real study of mankind, its politics, economics, religions, philosophies, geography, language, science and the arts.  The student receives a clear sense of the cause-end-effect flow of history.

And most importantly, the history student is constantly required to evaluate for himself every event in history, to determine its value to the student.  This demands of the student that he develops real Critical Thinking Skills, as well as making history studies relevant and timely. 

Additionally, we offer the following g history-based electives:

CURRENT EVENTS:
Step 3-4 offers 10 Current Events courses, which use a unique approach we call “guided research”.   In each course, a modern global issue (such as current wars, global poverty and hunger, energy or environmental concerns…) is fully defined.  Then, guided through the research, the student discovers what is happening with that issue today.  This keeps each Current Events course current.  Finally, the student decides on an appropriate course of action to remedy the problem, based on his own understanding.  These courses include studies in Current Wars, Racism, Terrorism, Energy Issues, Environmental issues, Endangered Species, Emerging 3rd World Countries, Human Rights Abuses, Religious Intolerance, and Global Poverty & Hunger.

CIVICS:
Step 3-4 All-Purpose Civics uses guided research again, allowing the student to do a full Civics study for any selected country, state or province, or city.  We also offer step 3-4 courses focused on the American Constitution, and another on the American Bill Of Rights.  And of course, there is the MASSIVE Step 4 History 7 course – American Civics, An Owner’s Manuel.

CREATIVE WRITING/HISTORY HOLIDAY ELECTIVES:
We selected many of your favorite holidays and built a course around each one!  New Year’s Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Independence Day, St. Patricks’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, even Your Birthday!  Each of these courses starts with a full explanation of the history of that holiday or observance.  The history section is fun, and often surprising.  Then, the student is guided step-by-step through the authoring of two short stories for the holiday, acquiring more Creative Writing skills and understandings!  For our Valentine’s Day course, we even added some guided assistance to write some poetry!

HOW WELL DOES STEP 4 “TEACH” THE SUBJECTS”?
Very.  That’s what Step 4 is all about, a detailed education in every offered subject.  Each subject starts with the most basic ideas in that subject – usually a definition of the subject itself.  Info builds on info, and becomes increasingly detailed.  But the unique approach taken in STEPS allows students to understand the most complex information the first time they’re exposed to it.  Step 4 is the longest, most important of STEPS levels.  It is the Step that prepares the student to triumph in life. 

CAN I PURCHASE INDIVIDUAL COURSES TO FILL NEEDS IN MY CHILD’S EDUCATION?
Yes.  Each STEPS course is a free-standing, independent study. 

CAN I PURCHASE A FULL SEMESTER OF STUDIES IN STEP 4 HISTORY ALL AT ONCE, OR A YEAR'S WORTH OF A CERTAIN SUBJECT?
Most of our Step 4 History courses take around a semester apiece to do.  But yes, you can purchase “bundles” on our site.  Bundles are the least expensive way to purchase STEPS courses.

HOW QUICKLY COULD I START USING STEPS 4?
Start now.  You can start STEPS at any time of the year, 24/7/365.   Everything you need is pretty much included in the courses you will download, for STEP 3.  (Some courses require films or outside books, which are carefully explained, with links provided detailing where to find them.)

HOW MUCH DO I, THE TEACHER OR PARENT, NEED TO KNOW ABOUT EACH SUBJECT IN ORDER TO USE STEPS?  HOW MUCH DO I NEED TO DO?
You (teacher/tutor/parent) do not need any expertise in subjects your student is studying, using STEPS.   Not as a teacher, or in the subjects being taught.  You do not need a degree, or experience as a teacher.  Each course does the “teaching”.   Just follow the lesson plans, and keep your eyes open for fun opportunities related to whatever the student is studying.   The course does the teaching.

HOW QUICKLY CAN I MOVE MY STUDENT UP STEPS?
A student can move up at any time he has the literacy skills and maturity for the next level.  The student does not need to “complete” a lower level of curriculum to move up.  The student just needs to be able to successfully do the next higher level of curriculum as far as difficulty and literacy.  With STEPS, a student is never “behind” or “ahead” – each student moves at the pace they’re comfortable with, every step in every lesson plan, every course, every level. 

SUCCESS STORIES ABOUT STEP 4 HISTORY STUDIES!
I never thought History was fun or easy. This course takes it apart, piece by piece in a way that the student can then put it all together in his or her mind to get the big picture. I'm studying (and learning) History right along with my kids now! It's fun!  M. T., Homeschool Mom, Professional Educator
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This was a terrific course, giving the student a sense of the immense amount of "history" before the dawn of man. This course should be done along with the Step 4 science basics course. The lessons and exercises reinforce each other and prepare the student for more in-depth study. I like the author's approach to presenting history, in order, and love the exercises and supplemental materials. Recommended!  K. B., Homeschool Parent
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We're currently working our way through this program and loving it.   The children (aged 12 and 16) work independently on most of their subjects, but we chose to do this together to tie in with this year's Great Books studies. As we started with The Epic of Gilgamesh, the Mesopotamian start to this unit worked perfectly.   This program has been designed for independent study, but we've found it to be ideal for collaborative learning, encouraging interesting discussions. All the hard work has been done, but there is plenty of scope for shaping it to your family's needs. If necessary the children can work on their own too, so I love the freedom this gives us.  Highly recommended.  E. R., Professional Educator
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This course is BY FAR the BEST course I have ever done.  It's so amazing how much you learn on this course, and everything you learn is so interesting and awesome, you really want to learn it.  I'm really moving quickly on this, and loving it!"  D.C., age 14
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I have been doing STEPS curriculum and it's the best curriculum I've ever done.  I'm actually learning things and having fun, too.  Instead of just memorizing, doing the test, then forgetting and moving on, I really learn and remember the information.  Also, I enjoy the way that the courses are written.  I like how words are defined, use what you just learned (or are about to learn more about) in exercises, then watching documentaries, or doing other exercises having to do with the subject.  Overall, I can safely say this is awesome stuff!"  W.H., age 12