Higher Up and Further In

High School Narration Journal- Here's What We're Doing

2008-07-21T10:06:00.001+03:00

Thanks to all of you who took time from your busy day to offer suggestions for our high school journals. We liked several of the suggestions. In the end, we chose Bonnie's idea about grouping subjects. She wrote:

Group the like classes together and get a couple of journals. I love hand written work except for essays or thesis papers!

I don't know why we never thought of doing this before. Sometimes we just need to hear new input from others.

Strong Joy, my oldest, likes to write out her narrations. Plus, we only have one old laptop for all the kids and myself to share. Often, we have to turn it off so it won't overheat. This is why she doesn't type her narrations. She only types Writing Strands projects and blog posts. She also has beautiful handwriting and enjoys writing in a calligraphic form. She likes journals and doesn't want to keep up with loose leaf paper. For documentation purposes, I would like all writings from one book to be grouped together.

Therefore, this is what we have decided. We bought some thin hardbound journals for 50 cents a piece and label each according to the major subject area (History, Literature, etc...) Inside each, narrations from all the books under that subject can be written here. We divided each journal up into sections according to the name of each book being read and narrated. This is simple and exactly what we were looking for.

Thank you, Bonnie!

one step at a time...

Abundant Blessings

2008-07-17T19:04:00.003+03:00

You can drag your mouse over the slideshow to read the captions

High School Narration Journal- Can you help us?

2008-07-15T20:35:00.004+03:00

My tenth grader kept a narration journal last year. We were not completely satisfied with how we organized her work and were wondering if anyone could help us with new ideas.

We didn't want to use loose leaf paper, so we took a nice journal and divided it these sections

History and Biography
Geography
Citizenship
Govt and Current Events
Literature
Bible and Apologetics
Logic
Languages

She wrote all her narrations in this one journal under the appropriate section. However, this made it impossible to write the narrations for a particular book in order, one right after the other, so we had to rummage through a section to find it.

I am wondering if anyone has a better idea?

Practical Ways to Cultivate Spirituality in a Child: Part 1

2008-07-12T19:11:00.011+03:00

In a previous post, I spoke briefly about cultivating the spiritual life in a child. I agree with Miss Mason that this is a delicate issue that must be handled with kid gloves. Children (and adults) respond to loving guidance in this area, not forced religion.

A wise parent will not rule with a rod of iron; neither will she leave a child to himself to do as he pleases. Instead, she lays down the rules, consistently guiding and correcting when needed. That same parent will also want to draw a child closer to his Creator. She will probably begin by trying to be a good example in front of her children. But she will fail and her children will see this and note it mentally. Being the wise mother that she is, she will have expected this and understand that she must also have a plan of action other than her own imperfect model that will help her child see the invisible with eyes of faith in a world where the material alone tries to woo the heart. At the same time, she will never cease to work on her own spiritual life, always aiming to be that positive example to her dear children.

I want to share some of the practical ways we are cultivating heavenly-minded children in our home. These ideas are only a very small part of our plan, but I believe they have been very helpful for our children's spirituality and it may give you some fresh ideas.

THE WEE ONES
When one of our children reaches the age of six, we give a small, handsome, thin, blank book and write on it MY PRAYER JOURNAL. We communicate from the beginning that this book is special. We don't scribble in it and we try to keep it clean and neat because we're writing to God in this book and He deserves our best. For the first few weeks, I wake that child up and bring him to the kitchen table or my bedroom so that we are alone. I write in my prayer journal and read my Bible while he sits beside me. I tell him that I am writing to God, would he like to do the same.

My child replies, "I can't write."

I say, "That's okay. You can draw a picture for Him and I will help you label it."

We brainstorm together thinking about what picture the Lord may like to receive from him and he begins. Other times, he draws a prayer to God- something he is thankful for or someone he wants to pray for, etc... I don't allow much talking. This is a quiet time. After a week or two of this, I start having him do this on his own in his bedroom as soon as he is dressed but before school begins. (I stress that this is NOT schoolwork. It's more important that that.) That is why we do it first thing in the morning. This should only last five to ten minutes. He brings it to me at breakfast and I check it. I help him spell words if he wishes but I am not picky about misspelled words. This should be an enjoyable experience. Over time, there will be days when he doesn't feel like doing it, but I don't let him live by his feelings and still require it regularly. However, it is always short and sweet. Don't be surprised if he draws the same picture over and over for several days. This is normal. Gradually, as his confidence grows (because his momma doesn't correct every misspelled word ) he begins to add more words and less pictures.

I also teach my children at six years of age to begin to take notes in church from the sermons they hear. (Before this age, they also sit in church with me but have Bible story coloring books or blank pages, a pencil and a few crayons) This keeps them busy and attentive. I always have my youngest child sit closest to me. He has his PRAYER JOURNAL open and draws something he hears from the sermon gradually adding misspelled phrases. I sometimes help him by drawing stick figures in his journal illustrating what the pastor is saying. This is very, very simple. I got this idea years ago from Edith Schaeffer in her book The Hidden Art of Homemaking- a book I highly recommend, by the way.

Here are a few examples from my children's Prayer Journals when they were 6 years of age.

Now, during school hours, after breakfast, I read aloud from a classic illustrated Bible story book to my six and seven year old children. We take two years to read through the entire Bible. I let them color a picture of the story while I read. Then they narrate aloud. I DO NOT like most Bible story books and must forewarn you that I am very picky about this. I think that cartoon figures of Bible characters trivialize the sacred, robbing a child of a sense of awe that I want them to feel when they are reading the greatest book every written. There have never been and never will be Veggie Tales in our home. That said, I recommend an illustrated Bible Story book that is chronological and has realistic paintings. My favorite is out of print but easily found in used book stores. The text uses rich vocabulary. No twaddle here. It is called The Children's Bible.

Another highly recommended one by others is The Child's Story Bible by Catherine Vos.

In my next post, we will move onto the next age group and I will share specific books and activities we have done to cultivate a personal devotional life.

one step at a time...

In which we learn what a SPARKLER is...

2008-07-05T19:53:00.003+03:00

Yep. This is the first time my children have ever seen or handled a sparkler. My fifteen year old was enthralled.

Last week they learned what celery is.

New discoveries just keep happening...

Hereward the Wake

2008-06-30T12:38:00.004+03:00

My 13 year old daughter just finished reading Charles Kingsley's Hereward the Wake, 'Last of the English' and wanted to share her thoughts about the book on her blog. It is recommended in Ambleside's HEO year 7 booklist. If you were thinking about using this book and wondering what it was about you can read her review here. You can find more reviews about various HEO books in my sidebar. I find it interesting that my daughters like to post these reviews on their blogs. It indicates to me that they are enjoying their books and feel a need to respond due to the enthusiasm the literature generates in their hearts. I like that. I really like that.

The Gammage Cup
The Innocence of Father Brown
Kidnapped!
Beowulf
Brendan Voyage
Westward Ho!

one step at a time...

Homeschooling Methods- What's Your Flavor?

2008-06-27T00:36:00.005+03:00

Several homeschoolers have asked me how does one possibly choose a method or curriculum over all the myriads of choices available today. It can be so confusing and make a parent feel inadequate for the job. Just when you think you've found the perfect road, someones children seem brighter and happier. The grass begins to look greener on the other side of the neighbor's fence.

I don't have all the answers but I can give a few suggestions that have helped me in the past.

Why don't you set aside some uninterrupted time to think about your children's personalities and your family's interests. What is your family's 'flavor?' Here are just a few family flavors:

Some are very musically minded
Others are politically active
There are those who are close to the land
Some enjoy the sciences
Some are internationally minded, as we are.

Can you think of some more? Often, although not always, a parent's interests will naturally be passed on to the children. The list is endless... Keep this in mind while you ask yourself the next question:

What kind of people do you want them to be? God gives moms and dads visions for their children. This doesn't mean you should mold them into what you want, but rather you bring about the environment and influences in their lives to help them grow towards the person God desires them to be. Of course you cannot know in full, but he gives glimpses. The parent who DAILY asks for wisdom in training her children will have special discernment that she would not otherwise have. If more parents would take this piece of advice seriously, it would save them much heartache. This is the greatest help I can pass onto a parent. It has literally changed my life.

Then ask yourself if the curriculum, method or any other competing idea in your mind right now lines up with your family's passions. What are your hopes and dreams for your children? Certain methods and curricula will greatly influence this outcome. Choosing carefully is important. Think specifically and ask yourself hard questions. If you don't know the answers, research and find out. And I do mean 'RESEARCH.' Do your homework and educate yourself. In the early years, just when I thought I had found the perfect plan I learned new things that shed light upon other ideas I had only given a cursory look. This happened more than once. Find out what the underlying ideas are behind the curriculum you are interested in. So many mothers (I only mention mothers because fathers don't usually fall into this trap) just hop from one curriculum to the next each year. This may produce children with some facts in their heads, but you will achieve far more if you have some specific goals and a method for achieving those goals for your family. Do all this prayerfully until you come to a place of peace. And mothers, DO involve your husband if at all possible. He often has keen insights that you may miss because you are too busy with the details.

When you find it, don't look back. Continue the route believing that God will be faithful to guide you. Learn as you go, altering and adjusting here and there, but stay on the course, even when things aren't going as well as you hoped. Use your failures as an opportunity to glean from others who have traveled a similar path before you. The only reason to change course would be if you became convicted that your original decision was made in your own strength. I made that mistake. I spent hours and hours looking for the ideal 'method' and every once in awhile asked God to help me make the right choice. But my heart was not right. I truly was depending upon my own intelligence. I found myself overwhelmed with choices and didn't know what was right for our family. I had to repent of this attitude and give all my plans up before He directed me to the path he had for us. The peace has been a wonderful balm that keeps me refreshed. I wish this for each person reading this.

one step at a time...

Just stopped by to water the plants...

2008-06-13T00:03:00.010+03:00

Here's what we've been up to, Folks.

Weeding the Garden-

and picking big ole, gross tomato worms off the plants.

Killing Snakes-

Copperheads and Cottonmouths are abundant

Feeding Chicks-

and making a rat proof, coon proof, coyote proof, fox proof coop

Raising mousers-

and keeping the hawks away

Weeding flower beds-

I'm discovering all kinds of goodies under the weeds

Finishing the wood floors-

We finally have a sitting area!

Chasing our cows-

who keep breaking the fence

I've also been entertaining relatives, mowing, teaching Westley to read, filling nature journals, fishing, feeding a small army, washing mountains of laundry, etc... etc....

I haven't been this sore in a long time and the chiggers are merciless, but it's a satisfying kind of pain. Many of you know what I'm speaking about. I feel like we resemble the families in The Relatives Came.

People everywhere, each doing his own thing, cooking, hoeing, laughing, eating and just breathing together.

Tootle doo!

one step at a time...

Gone Fishin'

2008-05-10T03:34:00.005+03:00

We hope to return in a few weeks.

If the fishin's good, it may be longer. . .

I wish you all a wonderful Mother's Day!

this print available for purchase here

Our Angel in a Cowboy Hat

2008-05-01T20:07:00.011+03:00

Yes, posts are scarce these days. I haven't been this busy in a long time. We spent the month of April cleaning and moving into our new home out in the country. And I mean 'country!' Our little town has less than 200 people in it. We put in new carpet upstairs and my husband has been slowly putting in wood floors downstairs in the evenings after his day job. The first picture at the bottom of this post shows what our living room looks like right now. Nasty, nasty... We've been living in the kitchen and bedrooms and I have a feeling it will be this way a long time. It's going slow.

Meanwhile, I have been cleaning out the bugs and cobwebs from inside the house while the kids scrape the swallows and wasps nests off of the eaves and porches. A door or window must have been left open for a long time while it remained empty. I've never seen so many critters in a house. We are also trying to clean out and cut the tall grass around the house because we have a lot of cottonmouths and copperheads. But, oh how I love this place! It is picture perfect. I can't wait to share my nature finds with you over at Crammed with Heaven, our sadly neglected nature blog.

We didn't know anyone around us very well and was wondering how to find a tractor to plow our field so we could put in a big garden. It should have been in two weeks ago. I simply prayed for help. Lo and behold, yesterday morning bright and early, our next door neighbor drives up the lane with a his tractor. He had heard about our plight through the grapevine and offered to help. This gentleman is 89 years old and still farming! My husband, who was raised on a farm, hopped on the tractor and plowed the field in a few hours. I chatted with our angel in a cowboy hat while 13 yr old Raora ran to the house and whipped up something sweet. Sharing ice water and carrot cake under the shade of a big tree, the children and I listened to him recall tales about his adventures as a soldier during World War II and the history of our new little old town. A few hours later, our new friend went on home, but by nightfall, we had plowed and disced an acre and planted about 1/3 of it in beans, tomatoes, peppers, watermelon and cantaloupe. Tomorrow, we hope to finish putting in the okra, cucumbers, squash, herbs and corn.

So please forgive me for not responding to your kind comments and emails. It may be a week or two before I can get to them.

Here's some pics...

Living room. Office- wood floors and wallpaper falling down

School room in progress. DH and the kids taking a walk. I don't trust that bull.

Pippi scraping nests off the eaves. Our pretty breakfast room

Still to unpack...

one step at a time...

Simplicity

2008-04-25T11:32:00.002+03:00

I don't believe a woman has to be some sort of multitasking, micromanaging super woman to maintain a happy homeschool and a beautiful, orderly home and family. I am certainly NOT a multitasker. Just ask my kids. They tease me about not being able to carry on a conversation and cook at the same time. My husband however, is amazing in this area. He can Skype someone on the phone, write out business invoices, translate a medical document, text someone in Turkey via Messenger and have ten other windows open on his computer at once and manage just fine. His desk looks a mess but he knows where each item is located and can pull it up in a flash-- and he's never paid a bill late. I wish I could accomplish such feats, but God didn't wire me that way. So I have to keep things real simple and straightforward in order to be a good homemaker and teacher. Here are some decisions I've made that have helped me in this area.

I don't keep elaborate lists. I make simple lists until the habits have been established, but eventually we don't need them anymore because it becomes instinctive. Keeping an elaborate home or school system can eat away one's time. You want to get to a point where the family can function well without a list telling you what to do. If you are not currently organized, then by all means, use some lists, but as you remain faithful in following them, you will find that you don't depend so much upon them anymore because the routines have been established and they have become second nature. You want to be able to make a gourmet meal on the spur of the moment out of nothing but wilted veggies and a few odds and ends in the fridge. There's much freedom in this.

I refrain from buying and keeping many things-- even inexpensive 'sale' items because I don't want to fill up my home with that which must be maintained. The more I own, the more I become a slave to it. I love to make my home beautiful and do what I can with what I have but I keep it clutter free with lots of space. It also helps to keep the children's clothing limited to only what they need. This has saved me so much time and money. Children don't need many toys either, as long as you are feeding their imaginations. I try to do my shopping once a week. I find that if I stay away from stores and catalogs, I don't feel I need as many things. I'm much more content with what I have.

We eat sensibly. It's important to me that my family eat healthy meals. But there's a danger even in eating too healthy. I know some folks who have allowed themselves to become consumed with eating a certain way. This not only takes much time and money but it limits the family's relationships with others because they only eat a certain kind of food. That is not how God's kingdom works. We are to 'become all things to all men.'

I stay home as much as possible. Mothers today receive so much pressure from our society to run here and there in order to be a good mom-- play groups, coops, our dear children's sports events, music lessons and recitals and... the list goes on and on. It's not that these things are bad, there's just too much in our lives. Knowing what to cut out requires wisdom and resolve. Because I have chosen to stay home a lot, I have learned to manage a home well. I have time to experiment with food and become a confident cook. I can be creative and decorate with what I have on hand. I spend less money and I can enjoy a clean home, too. I have gradually learned the art of hospitality so that our home CAN be open often to visitors. I think it is very important that mothers keep in mind that the goal of staying home is to be able to reach out to others--beginning with our children, but not ending there.

There is so much freedom, peace and joy when you choose to simplify some areas of your life. If you have any suggestions to contribute please share them with us.

one step at a time...

Sacrificial Love

2008-04-13T20:42:00.001+03:00

I overheard a conversation between my little son, Westley and his big sister Pippi:

Pippi: "What are you going to do with that money you got for your tooth?"

Westley: "I'm going to spend it on candy!

he pauses and adds gravely,

"But I should spend it on chicken and broccoli -- you know, to make mom happy."

THAT'S MY BOY!

How we Continue our Studies in the Midst of Life Changes

2008-04-07T19:02:00.004+03:00

I've been asked the following question a lot lately:

How in the world are you able to keep up your studies in the midst of an international move and while living out of just one suitcase each?

I believe the reason our studies haven't fallen behind is because the children's good work habits and routines were already in place beforehand. Little by little over the years, I trained the children to take control of their daily schedules. If I can't be by their side continually, I can trust them now to follow personal schedules and get their work done. And it is usually neat and complete. This is not because I am some sort of super woman, but I believed that bit by bit, if I didn't quit, I would see results.

Last week, we had to go to the title office to sign the contract for our new home. The trip would take all day so I didn't want to leave the children alone. We took them along with us. The four of them, ages 15, 13, 9 and 5 waited for two hours in the lobby. No one heard a peep from them. They were too busy working on their schoolwork. My five year old had a little car and a fishing magazine. Normally, this little boy is very active, but he has been trained to play quietly when the need arises and he did just fine. I don't have little angels dropped from heaven, I am just reaping the benefits now from those many years of training my little ones to control themselves and to establish good study and work habits.

We have had bad days just like every other family. I have felt discouraged at times asking myself with exasperation, "Will they ever learn the most basic tasks!?" But they have learned them after all! So if you are discouraged in this area, take heart, your patient love and resolve will win out in the end. But please realize that you can't have one without the other. A child will have a hard time feeling loved by a mother who is always flying off the handle or barking commands and threats. On the other hand, a child feels insecure and grumpy when he doesn't have established boundaries for behavior and daily routines. He needs his mother to say NO when necessary and remain firm because he has not yet learned to make himself say NO in many areas of his life. He needs his mommy and daddy to be sheltering, immovable rocks that he can lean upon. This makes him feel secure and happy even though he may, at first, resist new rules. Most importantly, our own example of patient, firm love and good personal habits will influence our dear children far more than persuasive words. Here's some more helpful advice from Miss Mason:

Acquiring a habit takes some effort, but once the habit is in place, it is rewarding because a habit is pleasant in and of itself. It's easy to do something on auto-pilot, something that doesn't take a lot of thought or will power. This is what mothers often forget. They forget that habits, even the good ones, are a pleasure. When the child has formed a habit, the mother thinks that continuing to act out of habit is as tedious as it was at first when the child was having to make a conscious effort to form the habit. So she admires his effort and starts to think that he deserves some relaxation from doing the habit, a sort of reward. So she lets him break the habit every now and then to give him a rest, and then he can continue on keeping the habit. What she doesn't realize is that, after a break, he isn't continuing on, he has to start all over, only now it's harder because he has both habits and must make a decision each time about which one to follow. The little relaxation she thought would be a treat turns out to form a new bad habit that now has to be broken. In fact, the mother's misguided sympathy is the one thing that makes it so hard to train children in good habits. vol 1

A typical 'not so ordinary' day looks something like this:
I let the children know we are going somewhere (a few days ago we had to drive 2 hours to our new, very dirty house to clean and repair it. It was infested with wasps and has some rodents too. eek!) and then I declare a "readings only" day. My 15,13, and 9 year old know that this means they don't write narrations or any other assignments that require writing but just read the assigned books on their daily schedules for that particular day. This cuts a four hour school morning into about 1 and 1/2 hours. If they have time, they work on Math. If further time permits, they work on Apologia Science too. If not, that is okay. All other subjects are simply cancelled. ONLY the scheduled readings must get done. Some oral narrations are shared in the car or at the supper table. In this way, the children never get behind in their 36 wk schedules but they don't feel undo pressure either. We have used this emergency schedule for several years now and it has enabled us to stay caught up with our schedules in spite of traveling across the globe every two years and living in other folks' homes for months at a time.

The reason we can feel good about skipping some basics is because we have been diligent to stay at home most of the time during the important morning hours throughout the earlier years. My children have filled many notebooks with written narrations and now write well, so I can be confident that they can afford to skip some written narrations when time is limited. I also know that we will pick it all up again in due time because we have disciplined ourselves to do so. They have plenty of time to learn the three Rs. By the way, I have a neat little bookshelf system that I have used over the years. It enables me to easily find and pull each child's schoolbooks needed for the major trips we have to make. I plan to post about it soon.

Now, my kindergartner's simple school schedule doesn't always get accomplished during this move, but I just read aloud if and when I can fit it in and make sure he reads to me or another family member daily for at least ten minutes. (He's learning to read this term). He plays the occasional math computer game when we're really busy, but already his life is full of natural math learning opportunities through the games we play and the conversations we have, so I'm not concerned about completing the list because the routines have been established through time and consistency. We just fit the rest in whenever we can. After three kids, I no longer worry about the kindergarten years. I know my child is living in a stimulating home learning environment. It is enough.

If you make the choice to begin now to establish simple routines and good work habits with your children, the peace that follows is well worth your efforts. I can certainly testify to this with enthusiasm. Even a life change can be just a bump in the road rather than some huge obstacle for your family.

one step at a time...

In which Pippi learns what a coke machine is...

2008-03-27T18:24:00.004+02:00

I appreciate the many prayers and well wishes we've received from so many of you this past month. Thank you! We've been busy with school lessons and trying to get into our new home. We hope to close on the house tomorrow. It looks as if we will be very busy cleaning and moving in over the next few weeks so you may not hear from us for awhile. We are still living out of one suitcase each so I am more than ready to get settled. I still don't feel as if our move is permanent. It's a strange feeling being back but all the friendly American faces have made it easier.

I took my children to the local library yesterday. They have never been to one before, mind you. I thought they needed the cultural experience, don't you think so? They enjoyed all the free books, especially my youngest son. I see that we've come a long way from bulky card catalog drawers.

Pippi, my 9yr old, was fascinated with the coke machines outside of grocery stores. She watched with wonder as people put money into a box and out dropped a can of soda. "Mom, how did they do that?" She was thrilled when I let her try it herself!

I had to get a new driver's license since I didn't drive in Turkey (dangerous!) for 12 years. It was an all day affair taking the written test and then waiting in line to take a driving test with about 60 sixteen year olds. But it sure is nice being able to drive again.

And did I tell you that Half Price bookstore is a good deal richer due to my last visit? I love that place!

That's all for now.

Magnificent Creation

2008-03-25T16:57:00.003+02:00

Good Morning, World!

No Sunrise Without Sunset

2008-03-23T02:45:00.003+02:00

He Is Risen!

Mothers, Dance with your Children

2008-03-19T10:15:00.001+02:00

I DON'T dance in public. Not because I am against it. It is just not my style. (In other words, I'm not very good at it.) However, I DO dance at home. When my children are grown, I suspect the fondest memories of their mother will be the times that she danced with them. Last night we were due for a dance session. The moment was right. I am ashamed to say it had come before and I had let pressing matters take precedence; not this time.

We don't often have the opportunity to buy new music or books. So, on Christmas morn, our family was very happy when we unwrapped a package of four new music CDs sent to us by loving friends across the ocean. Last night, I put one in the player and cranked up the volume. My youngest child's mouth dropped open as he watched his mother cut loose and fly. Soon after, they all joined in the fun. We laughed and fell repeatedly, trying out new movements, while listening to various styles of music. Our focus eventually changed from fun and frolic to joyous praise. After awhile, I changed into a twirly skirt. Immediately, my children followed suit. Before long, skirts were swirling and banners waving. (I won't tell you what my 4ds came out of the bedroom wearing) As I raised my hands to heaven, the children did the same. We sang, our hearts bursting with gratitude. After an hour of wild abandon, we put in a different CD. One that was slower, with words that spoke to the deeper places of our hearts. While singing a love song, I noticed that my children were worshipping with tears in their eyes and upraised hands. I could almost see Heaven's angels dancing with us.

Do you desire for your children to love God? Do you want them to REALLY love Him with all their hearts? All that we do for our children, all that we teach them- the Bible stories, catechisms, memory verses, Sunday School classes, all that we protect them from- the evil outside our doors, the educational system, or the television screen; NONE of it will cause Jesus to be dear to our children's hearts if they do not see that He is dear to our hearts. It is NOT what we DO, it is WHO WE ARE that will attract them to our Source. We need not be perfect, only devoted.

Mothers, dance with your children.

"Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things;

... Burst into jubilant song with music!" Psalm 98

one step at a time...

*reposted from Jan 07

How We Study Plutarch

2008-03-17T21:10:00.009+02:00

In a previous post I explained WHY we study Plutarch's writings. In this post I will share HOW we study Plutarch in our homeschool.

Although my older children are mostly self learners at this point, we reserve Fridays for group studies. Charlotte Mason recommended beginning Plutarch as a read aloud character study around 9 or 10 years of age. Currently, my 9 year old is following along with my 15 and 13 year old daughters.

At first glance, the language of Plutarch is intimidating. The language can be difficult to understand and so you may be tempted to use an edited version for children. I have purposefully avoided resorting to those because I want my children to learn to feel comfortable with older language so that they are able to read the earlier classic works and therefore, not forced to rely on the modern middle man to give his version and slant on the issues. Even though Plutarch seems daunting, if you go about it in small bits at a time, you will find that even a nine year old can understand and enjoy it, just as Miss Mason promised. I want my children's minds to be stretched and Plutarch does that. I also desire that they enjoy the learning process, so I've learned that the way I present it is also important in capturing and holding their interest. Here's how we go about it:

I choose a life from the Ambleside website, download and print out Anne White's 12 week study guide for that particular life as well as the passage from Plutarch. Anne gives a link where I can find the passage (You don't have to buy a copy of Plutarch). I put this in a soft binder labeled Plutarch Character Studies. I write the name of the man we are studying on a divider tab and place the study pages behind it. If you are new to Plutarch, Pericles is a good life to begin with. There is no particular order you must follow. Some lives are more difficult than others, some more exemplary. Our task is to study the actions of the man, noting his personal strengths and weaknesses.

On Fridays, after our group studies are almost over, I send the younger children out to play and the older children remain with me. Each has a little lined journal labeled "Plutarch." This is where they jot down new vocabulary words that I give them and short narrations. We don't worry about understanding every detail or new word, but just try to understand what's going on in each paragraph. I continue to follow Anne's guide. I appreciate it that she doesn't share too much of her own thoughts or give any schoolish exercises but keeps it simple and easy to follow.

Afterwards, we usually pick a creative narration choice from a jar set aside just for Plutarch studies. Usually, no preparation is allowed, or at most, five minutes for these narrations. My children really enjoy this culminating activity. Here are some narration ideas we have done in the past:

Radio Show- National Public Radio, All Things Considered. We stage an interview with some of the characters we read about that day asking them to explain why they made particular decisions.

Interview- The girls act as if they are on the street interviewing live, plebeians or patricians,asking folks their opinions about the decisions being made by the man we are studying.

Debate- A judge resides over a formal debate. Each person must give a convincing case for why she thinks the man we are studying made a particular good or bad choice. My DH sometimes listens and critiques their arguments.

i.e We just did this with the life of Crassus. The debate topic: Was Crassus justified in having 50 soldiers killed for losing today's battle? My husband and I helped show the kids that logic is useful yet faulty because it can be used to justify two opposing viewpoints. We had also just read this in Charlotte Mason's character study book "Ourselves."

Quick Skit-Sometimes the children act out a conversation or scene with a few props.

Questions- Each child crafts five questions (not yes or no questions) about the readings and asks the others. They especially like quizzing Mom. I don't always know the answers either.

The total time it takes to complete a Plutarch lesson is approximately 35 to 40 minutes. We've been studying Plutarch for several years now and have learned so much while creating many happy memories together.

one step at a time...

Is this Your Family?

2008-03-12T00:16:00.003+02:00

Thanks for the laugh, Fee.

Overwhelmed

2008-03-10T16:22:00.008+02:00

After 18 years of city life, we just wanted to be a little closer to God's green earth.

We asked Him for a few acres and a pond. The house could be modest. We'd fix it up over time. Three bedrooms would suffice if we could convert a second living area to another room.

He answered.

A six bedroom, two story brick home on fourteen acres with a large pond and creek.
The price is unbelievably low.

But our God is full of surprises.

In Praise of Plutarch

2008-03-03T11:57:00.003+02:00

Character is, perhaps, the most important goal in our homeschool. I'm sure many of you are of the same persuasion. We hope that our children grow to be people of 'quality'-- noble, good, magnanimous, benevolent, self-controlled, honest... The list goes on. You and I realize that a highly educated person is useless to society if he or she has not developed at least some of these qualities. My husband and I are trying to teach our children to live not only for this world but for God's Kingdom, so the attainment of much more than 'some' character qualities is our desire. We go about reaching this goal as parents by striving to be examples of virtue to our children and we surround our children with people of character. Sometimes those people are more easily found in books. Since time is limited, we choose only the best.

Bookstores and homeschool magazines are filled with stories that place a child in a modern day predicament, showing how Johnny made the right decision and happy situation 'A' happened, or Sue made the wrong decision and sad situation 'B' happened. I suppose the occasional tale in this format is helpful for some children and sometimes I use them in our home, but over the years, as I have watched my children read all kinds of books, I've noticed that those which are set in set in the distant past have caused them to yearn to be noble in behavior unlike any other tale. Ms. Ambler, a contributor to Charlotte Mason's Parent's Review, was of the same opinion when she wrote:

"To insure the acceptance of the ideas we offer, we must take care that they are served attractively, and not only to be found, if ever found, after a long and painful search. For this reason it might be better not to begin by taking modern history with the young child. We are a little too close to it. Looking at a picture from a near point of view, we see so clearly all the details that we find it difficult to see the broad lines and the meaning of the whole. If we go further off, however, the details cease to distract our attention, and we see clearly the whole plan. So it is with history. The nearer the history comes to our own time, the fuller it becomes of political and constitutional details, and the more we are involved in questions of statecraft. If, however, we go back to the early history, we find it moves on broader, simpler lines, and the statesmanship, so far as it exists at all, only shows how a resourceful mind attempts to cope with circumstances." 1901

The writings of Plutarch have been a family favorite in our home for several years now as a source for citizenship and character training. Wilmot McCutchen states Plutarch's purpose better than I:

"His announced intention was not to write a chronicle of great historical events, but rather to examine the character of great men, as a lesson for the living. Throughout the Lives, Plutarch pauses to deliver penetrating observations on human nature as illustrated by his subjects, so it is difficult to classify the Lives as history, biography, or philosophy. These timeless studies of humanity are truly in a class by themselves."

Christian author, George Grant adds, "History, for Plutarch, is a theater of morals, in which great individuals rise and fall by their strengths and weaknesses."

Plutarch himself wrote:

"Using history as a mirror I try by whatever means I can to improve my own life and to model it by the standard of all that is best in those whose lives I write. As a result I feel as though I were conversing and indeed living with them; by means of history I receive each one of them in turn, welcome and entertain them as guests and consider their stature and their qualities and select from their actions the most authoritative and the best with a view to getting to know them. What greater pleasure could one enjoy than this or what more efficacious in improving one’s own character?"

When I asked my daughters why they liked Plutarch, this is how they responded:

He doesn't talk down to you.

He gets to the point without too much flowery language.

After I got used to his language, he was really easy to understand.

I learn new words all the time.

I understand ancient history better now.

I like sources that were written closer to the times they happened. Since Plutarch lived during the days of Rome, I feel I can trust his commentary more than some modern history books I have read and it's not even a history book.

Now that I have studied Plutarch, I like it that I can understand what the authors of my other books are saying when they quote him. That's cool.

It's not just a make-believe moral story. He points out real events that happened and the consequences of bad decisions.

I understand American history better now.

"…a classic worth reading is one that has influenced our own day to some extraordinary degree. If we are to understand why people think as they do, act as they do, or feel as they do; if we are to comprehend the foundations of our institutions, the tenacity of our traditions, or the precariousness of our policies then we need to have substantive background information. Plutarch's Lives has been the primary lens through which western intellectuals, educators, artists, musicians, dramatists, and historians have viewed the Greco-Roman world. If for no other reason than to grasp the significance of that influence, the Lives is vitally important." George Grant

There's nothing sacred about him, mind you. In fact, he was a pagan. We hold Plutarch's Lives of the Noble Greeks and Romans up to the Light of God's word to see if it passes the Truth test as we do with all our schoolbooks, realizing that truth is still truth, not matter where we discover it. Plutarch is packed with worthy content--unlike some books and movies in which truth can be found, but being so fraught with error, they are simply not worth one's time.

I could forgo Plutarch and use other sources for citizenship, but I keep in mind that Charlotte Mason recommended this book because the ideas are framed in rich, meaningful words, adding beauty to a child's life. Children recognize good writing and enjoy it. Plutarch gives us a better understanding of ancient times as well as our culture today since much of Europe and early America were greatly influenced by his writings. It also enables my children, by stretching their powers of comprehension, to keep in touch with great minds of the past found not only in Plutarch's Lives but other literature that contain important ideas. Most young people today are simply unable to read and appreciate works of antiquity because they are unaccustomed to the language. This prevents them from truly understanding the chain of events and ideas that slowly, over time shaped our world today. Consequently, we have a generation of people who must rely upon dumbed down, predigested and unrelated facts with politically correct ideas as their sole source of history, philosophy and even religious ideas. This handicaps the populace, making them pawns of the State rather than informed, responsible citizens who defend the rights of the weak, help the poor and maintain justice for all. But I digress...

In a later post, I hope to share how we study the Lives of Plutarch together in our home.

For further reading: Why Read Plutarch? by George Grant

one step at a time...

Always Do Your Best

2008-03-02T00:53:00.002+02:00

"...Children should be required to do what little they do, well, or at least as well as they can; they should not be commended for things which cost them no effort, and even in their play they should be expected to take pains. Do not praise a careless scribble or smudge of paint, or some senseless erection of blocks, whenever they are offered to your notice. The child will soon feel that your praise is of little value, that you give it because you take no interest in what he does and have no standard in regard to it. This will diminish his own interest and destroy his belief in himself much more than tardy recognition of merit would do."
Parent's Review, edited by Charlotte Mason

one step at a time...

Middle Name Meme

2008-02-24T23:44:00.013+02:00

Kim from In Beauty and in Grace has graciously passed this meme on to me and since this meme is short and sweet I am persuaded to join the fun.

List one fact about yourself for each letter in your middle name. Each fact must begin with a letter from your middle name. If you do not have a middle name, use your maiden name(or create a middle name). At the end of your post, tag one person for each letter of your middle name. Post the rules on your blog, and then give your answers.

Well, as many of you have already guessed, my middle name is FAY. It means fairy.

F-I am forty years old and faithfulness is my strong suit. I like that which is familiar and so I can be rather boring. Fortunately, I have a friend or two who add spice to my life.
A-Aspiring to be a better mother, wife and friend to those around me, often failing but always hopeful. Amiable, although rather shy. Adamant in standing for what I believe and cherish.
Y- Not one to yammer (to talk persistently or volubly and often loudly), I enjoy solitude, meaningful conversation, simplicity, a warm hearth, good food, relaxing music and challenging books. I am yearning to be with Christ more than anything else.

I'm tagging Rhonda, Mama Squirrel and anyone from Katie's brood.

...and for no extra charge, I am throwing in this personality test. I just want everyone to know that I am RARE (even if I am boring ; )

Your Personality is Very Rare (INTJ)

Your personality type is logical, uncompromising, independent, and nonconformist.

Only about 3% of all people have your personality, including 2% of all women and 4% of all men.
You are Introverted, Intuitive, Thinking, and Judging.

How Rare Is Your Personality?

Shakespeare Movies for the Family

2008-02-19T00:46:00.012+02:00

When a creative work clearly reveals the common struggles that all humans face, it is able to stand the test of time. Shakespeare goes even further, showing the natural consequences of our choices. This, I believe, is an important reason why the writings of Shakespeare remain timeless classics and thus, are worthy to pass on to future generations.

The plays, however, were not performed for children, but rather adults. Does this mean a child shouldn't be exposed to them? I think most of us would say, 'not without some omissions.' Isn't that what we do with the Bible? After all, it contains many disturbing themes such as adultery, sibling rivalry, witchcraft, graphic murder and the like but we edit it for our young children so that they are at least exposed to suitable parts because we want to familiarize them with the storyline, realizing that this exposure prepares them to understand the deeper issues when they are introduced to the Bible in its entirety at a later stage. In other words, in spite of the mature themes, it is worthy. I would never equate Shakespeare's plays with the content in the Bible, but nevertheless, I believe the same principles apply because Shakespeare is worthy. It it helpful to introduce it to our children with edited versions so that later they will be ready to further appreciate and think upon ideas that all humans have in common. There are other excellent reasons but that is not the focus of this post. You can read more about this in a previous post and also in Rev. Ralph Smith's excellent article . Here is an enthusiastic introduction to Shakespeare for parents and high schoolers.

That said, I believe that you should find edited versions of Shakespeare movies if you have younger children. A picture often plays more powerfully upon the mind of a child than the written word, so we tread on dangerous ground. Personally, we have avoided watching the movies as a family but let our older children, around 10 yrs of age, begin watching the comedies that have been tastefully done. My teenagers have begun to study the tragedies and histories. That is why I am gathering a list of suitable movies from those who have gone before us.

The following list includes suggestions from my own personal experiences and also from previous commenters, online forums, and a book I own and recommend called Brightest Heaven of Invention. I did not include recommendations from those who had not watched the particular movie they suggested. I also did not include suggestions with vague reference points, for we need specific titles and versions. The ratings were derived from all the sources and determined by the general consensus,not necessarily what is printed on the DVD box. I hope that every parent and teacher previews EVERY Shakespeare movie before they allow child viewings, regardless of G ratings given by others. (I do this with ALL movies in our household, including renderings of the Biblical tales) So, without further ado, here is the list….

WELL KNOWN COMEDIES

As You Like It
Laurence Olivier (1936) "a cute, sweet, funny version." G rating

BBC version starring Helen Mirren. G rating

A Midsummer Night's Dream
(1935) with Mickey Rooney and James Cagney "funny and whimsical. The king of the fairies is a little scary-- we weren't sure why he was dressed so like the devil. His henchman are dressed like bats. But they don't come into it much." G rating

Film produced by Joseph Papp. G rating

1999 film starring Kevin Klein & Michelle Pfieffer, PG 13 rating

1968 Royal Shakespeare Company version -nudity, Not recommended for children.

Shakespeare for Kidz (for those in the UK)

Much Ado About Nothing
(1993) with Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson. "We greatly enjoyed it. (gratuitous nudity, the other with strongly implied fornication which is merely hinted at in the play)." PG 13 rating

Twelfth Night
The Thames Shakespeare project - "a filming of the actual play, good." G rating

The Taming of the Shrew
Starring Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor "well done" "some bawdy parts may need to be fast forwarded for younger viewers" PG rating

A Winter's Tale
Royal Shakespeare Company w/Sir Antony Sher. "Excellent", but "rude, obscene scene during the sheep shearing party that we fast-forwarded." PG rating

Merchant of Venice
BBC version with Warren Mitchell & Gemma Jones. "It was very tasteful in Elizabethan costume." G rating

Al Pacino, Jeremy Irons. "Excellent version for adults....female frontal above the waist nudity and sexual situations (brief) I love this version and fast forward through the few seconds of nudity to enjoy the richness of this movie and story." R rating

HISTORIES AND TRAGEDIES

Richard III
Laurence Olivier (1955) "was very good, but had some rough scenes for sensitive souls." PG rating

http://www.berith.org/hsres/shak/shak06.html has further comments on various movie versions of Richard III. Excellent source.

Hamlet
Laurence Olivier (1948) "Excellent. Ophelia's death scene and funeral were very tragic, and, again, rough for sensitive souls." "a little dated" PG rating

By Franco Zefferelli starring Mel Gibson. "There is a Freudian interpretation of the play and *not* appropriate for children (although it went over all our heads a few times!); can fast forward." PG rating

Henry V
Kenneth Branagh's version. "Sweet courting scene at the end between him and Emma Thompson." "The battle scenes are quite realistic, and in slow motion. Plus, it is the young boys, not the men, that get slaughtered by the French." PG rating, possibly PG-13 rating for sensitive viewers.

Starring Lawrence Olivier (1945), "excellent" PG rating

Julius Caesar
By Joseph Mankiewicz (1953) "One of the very best." Not rated

Starring Charlton Heston. Good. "Nothing objectionable." G rating

Macbeth
Orson Welles (1948) "nothing objectionable" but the theme is geared for older audiences, PG rating

Romeo & Juliet
CBC production starring Meagan Follows (from Anne of Green Gables). PG 13 rating

It seems to be the general consensus that BBC versions are almost always suitable for family viewing but more enjoyable for older students who are used to Shakespearean language. The plays are unedited, using the old language. At about 10 years of age plus, my children enjoyed viewing these while following along with a book. Unfortunately, they are expensive to purchase, but renting the movies are a good option. We've also enjoyed some of the free online and edited versions hosted at Ohio University. Shakespeare: The Animated Tales are nice edited versions for young children.

You can find most of the above recommendations at My Lil' Bookstore.

I hope this information has been helpful for some of you. I know it has helped me to put it all together in one place. I will add to this list as I find new information.

one step at a time...

A Love Song

2008-02-15T03:40:00.007+02:00

Happy Valentine's Day!

Listen

and enjoy