“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” -Ephesians 2:8,9
Thursday, August 31, 2017
2017-2018 Curriculum Preview - Morning Time...
We started school this week. I'm still working out the bugs, but after a one year hiatus from Morning Time, I knew I had to bring it back. I really missed our time together, reading and discussing various books and topics.
Given the fact that Riley and Ruben are only one grade apart, I'd always done the bulk of their school together in K-6th grade. However, last year, Riley asked to be separated as she wanted to gain more independence in her studies. Although, I definitely saw growth with both she and Ruben, all year, I felt like something was missing. When planning this year, I wanted to find a way to give them space for continued individual growth and yet bring them back for some joint discussion. Eventually, I figured out if I included Morning Time once again with a few common books, yet maintained their individual schedules for most subjects, I could gain the compromise I was looking for.
It was a bit of a trick figuring out which books to include. However, spending the summer studying Ambleside Online's Year 7, I came to some conclusions. I decided to keep Riley and Ruben in the same time period in history with different books. They have individual math and language arts. Riley is doing AO Year 7 Science as written, whereas Ruben is using a mix of science resources. They also have separate bible reading plans. Over and above this handful of core subjects, I put most of the rest of the books in our Morning Time. The first term looks something like this:
Day One
How to Be Your Own Selfish Pig by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay
The Mystery of the Periodic Table by Wiker and Bendick, alternated with The Elements by Theodore Gray as scheduled in AO Year 6
Idylls of the King by Tennyson
Day Two
Ourselves by Charlotte Mason
How to Read a Book by Mortimer Adler
The Story of Painting by H. W. Janson
Idylls of the King by Tennyson
Day Three
The Brendan Voyage by Tim Severin
Whatever Happened to Penny Candy by Richard Maybury
Idylls of the King by Tennyson
We tried the above schedule this week. Some of the books were a hit and some not so much. I can already see a few adjustments that need to be made. I'm considering moving a couple of books back to Riley's individual schedule as I am not sure if Ruben is quite ready for them. In addition, my niece is schooling with us this year and most of the books were a real stretch for her. She's in 6th grade, but hasn't been raised on living books and classic lit. I may even omit a couple and use them at a later time. I would also like to add some sort of health book, possibly drawing lessons, and memorization/recitation, as well as Shakepeare. I'm still thinking this all through.
Overall, I'm glad I brought Morning Time back to our homeschool. Levi participated two out of the three days. The kids colored while I read aloud. He did fairly well. Have you kicked off your school year? Do you incorporate Morning Time? If so, I'd love to hear about it, particularly if you're using Morning Time with middle and high schoolers. Feel free to share in the comments below.
Friday, August 25, 2017
2017-2018 Curriculum Preview - IEW Themed Based Writing Lessons and Literature....
I'm trying a new approach this year for writing with my Year 7 child. I'll be using Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW) Medieval History-Based Writing Lessons with Ruben. I don't typically use writing curriculum. Our children simply narrate. Beginning orally and transitioning to written. However, Ruben has a bit of trouble getting started. We briefly tried Writing & Rhetoric by Classical Academic Press for a term last year unsuccessfully. I then pulled my dusty IEW Level B off the shelf and tried it.
IEW is something I collected years ago after completing a seminar with a local homeschool group, watching the Teaching Writing: Structure and Style together. Once I learned the method, I dabbled in it with our high school graduate, but didn't stick with it as she was a fine narrator and I didn't see the need. I have since heard many success stories of people using IEW with their dyslexic kiddos. Ruben and I had the pleasure of meeting and hearing Mr. Pudewa speak at the CiRCE Regional Conference back in January. Ruben enjoyed Mr. Pudewa immensely so I thought maybe I'd give IEW another try.
We completed several lessons of IEW Level B in the spring. Ruben bought into it and enjoyed writing as much as he could. Having dysgraphia, writing has been a consistent struggle alongside reading. However, while using IEW Level B, I saw growth. This was very encouraging. I want to continue. Since we are studying Middle Ages, Renaissance, and Reformation this year for history, I decided to try the IEW Themed Based Lessons for this time period.
The Theme Based Lessons come with a Teacher's Manual and Student Book. The Teacher's Manual includes the lesson pages from the Student Book, along with teaching notes, sample key word outlines, answers to questions and vocabulary quizzes, as well as ideas for motivating the student. There are 30 lessons. It is suggested that one lesson will take approx. one week at 4 days per week. However, a few may take 2 weeks. I'm not as concerned about timing of a lesson as much as whether Ruben is understanding the material and showing continued growth in his writing. In addition, the Student Book contains vocabulary cards to accompany the writing lessons. However, I'm undecided as to whether or now we'll use these, as Ruben's vocabulary is very strong. I attribute this to years of classic book and literature read alouds.
Something that I really like about the Medieval Theme Based Lessons is the suggested literature list. In the scope and sequence, Lori Verstegen, the author, has included a list of titles to accompany the writing study. The suggested books look wonderful and many of them are the same books used in BF's Medieval History Intermediate study, which means Riley and Ruben will be reading many of the same titles.
The suggested books are:
Beowulf by Michael Morpurgo
1001 Arabian Nights by Geraldine McCaughrean
The Legend of King Arthur by Roger Lancelyn Green
The King's Shadow by Elizabeth Alder
Otto of the Silver Hand by Howard Pyle
Robin Hood by J. Walker McSpadden
Marco Polo by Demi
The Kite Rider by Geraldine McCaughrean
Crispin: The Cross of Lead by AVI
These will be Ruben's literature books for the year. I will throw in a few other history titles and that will be covered as well. So there you have it, our writing, literature, and history base for Ruben's Year 7!
IEW is something I collected years ago after completing a seminar with a local homeschool group, watching the Teaching Writing: Structure and Style together. Once I learned the method, I dabbled in it with our high school graduate, but didn't stick with it as she was a fine narrator and I didn't see the need. I have since heard many success stories of people using IEW with their dyslexic kiddos. Ruben and I had the pleasure of meeting and hearing Mr. Pudewa speak at the CiRCE Regional Conference back in January. Ruben enjoyed Mr. Pudewa immensely so I thought maybe I'd give IEW another try.
We completed several lessons of IEW Level B in the spring. Ruben bought into it and enjoyed writing as much as he could. Having dysgraphia, writing has been a consistent struggle alongside reading. However, while using IEW Level B, I saw growth. This was very encouraging. I want to continue. Since we are studying Middle Ages, Renaissance, and Reformation this year for history, I decided to try the IEW Themed Based Lessons for this time period.
The Theme Based Lessons come with a Teacher's Manual and Student Book. The Teacher's Manual includes the lesson pages from the Student Book, along with teaching notes, sample key word outlines, answers to questions and vocabulary quizzes, as well as ideas for motivating the student. There are 30 lessons. It is suggested that one lesson will take approx. one week at 4 days per week. However, a few may take 2 weeks. I'm not as concerned about timing of a lesson as much as whether Ruben is understanding the material and showing continued growth in his writing. In addition, the Student Book contains vocabulary cards to accompany the writing lessons. However, I'm undecided as to whether or now we'll use these, as Ruben's vocabulary is very strong. I attribute this to years of classic book and literature read alouds.
Something that I really like about the Medieval Theme Based Lessons is the suggested literature list. In the scope and sequence, Lori Verstegen, the author, has included a list of titles to accompany the writing study. The suggested books look wonderful and many of them are the same books used in BF's Medieval History Intermediate study, which means Riley and Ruben will be reading many of the same titles.
The suggested books are:
Beowulf by Michael Morpurgo
1001 Arabian Nights by Geraldine McCaughrean
The Legend of King Arthur by Roger Lancelyn Green
The King's Shadow by Elizabeth Alder
Otto of the Silver Hand by Howard Pyle
Robin Hood by J. Walker McSpadden
Marco Polo by Demi
The Kite Rider by Geraldine McCaughrean
Crispin: The Cross of Lead by AVI
These will be Ruben's literature books for the year. I will throw in a few other history titles and that will be covered as well. So there you have it, our writing, literature, and history base for Ruben's Year 7!
Tuesday, August 22, 2017
2017-2018 Curriculum Preview - Beautiful Feet Medieval...
It's that time of year, where I start posting our back to school plans for the 2017-2018 academic year. Once again, RileyAnn will be using an Intermediate level of Beautiful Feet for her history. This year, she'll study from the BF Medieval History guide. One of my older daughters actually completed this same guide a few years back, but it was the original brown cover, comb bound guide. She really enjoyed it at the time. However, Beautiful Feet has since revised the guide, which is what Riley will use. The new guide includes the following books:
Beowulf by Michael Morpurgo
King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table by Roger Lancelyn Green
One Thousand and One Arabian Nights by Geraldine McCaughrean
Queen Eleanor, Independent Spirit of the Medieval World by Polly Schoyer Brooks
The Adventures of Robin Hood by Roger Lancelyn Green
Magna Charta by James Daugherty
Cathedral by David Macaulay
Castle by David Macaulay
The Kite Rider by Geraldine McCaughrean
Adam of the Road by Elizabeth Gray
Morning Star of the Reformation by Andy Thompson
Crispin and the Cross of Lead by AVI
Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer, adapted by Barbara Cohen
Joan of Arc, Warrior Saint by Jay Williams
Fine Print, A Story of Johann Gutenberg by Joann Birch
The Trumpeter of Krakow by Eric P. Kelly
The World of Columbus and Sons by Genevieve Foster
The European World, 400-1450 by Barbara A. Hanawalt
Doesn't that look like a delicious list!?! Ruben and I will be reading many of the same titles this year as part of his history and lit, of which I'm really looking forward to.
This BF guide holds 35 weekly lessons, which includes suggestions for the student to complete a portfolio of their work. This portfolio could include such things as reports, illustrations, poems, illuminated manuscripts, and other projects the student completes. There are also vocabulary lists, mapping and geography assignments, comprehension and discussion questions, which could be used for narration prompts, suggested websites to enhance the study, a time line, hands on activities, and additional suggested titles to read in order to further the study if the student desires. It is not recommended that you do everything in the BF guide and we won't! I'll be sitting down over the next couple of days to solidify Riley's plan and highlight the lessons I wish her to complete. I'll be posting her full list of curriculum for the 2017-2018 year here soon, so stay tuned!
Friday, August 18, 2017
Reflections on Home Education - Part IV....
Charlotte continued Part IV of Vol. 1, Home Education with further discussion of habit training. You may remember she began writing about habit training in Part III, of which I wrote much in Post 1 and Post 2. Early on in Part IV Charlotte advocates for habit training in order to make life easier for mother, saying...
You may also remember at the end of Part III, Charlotte wrote about "Infant Habits', or those that are easily taught at a young age to children learning to mimic mother in the home. Those infant habits being order, regularity, and neatness, which a child would obtain by example, through having a daily schedule or routine, including regular meal times, bath time, and bedtime. Also, in abiding by the rule of everything has a place or EHAP, which makes for a tidy home, picked up at the end of the day. In Part IV, Charlotte adds a few must have habits...
Habit of Attention
What is it?
Under this section, Charlotte also writes about the importance and effect of natural rewards and consequences. She talks about emulation and the negative effects of affection as motivation, which can lead to manipulation. Charlotte points out that the habit of attention goes hand in hand with maturity, stating...
Habits of Application
What is thinking?
Habit of Imagining
Charlotte writes briefly about the importance of alternating the lessons. In particular referring to a specific type of children's literature, stating that a little non-sense reading is all right, but too much is a pity when there's so much better out there, like tales and heroic adventures.
Habit of Remembering
Here, I will let Charlotte speak because there's so much goodness...
In regard to perfect execution, Charlotte writes about the people of her own country being guilty of letting their children perform slipshod work under the notion that they will eventually improve. However, she states this about the Germans and French...
According to Charlotte, the whole duty of a child is obedience, which is also the whole duty of man. God not only calls children to obey their parents, but he calls us to obey Him. She says, parents are the appointed agents to train up the child. The habit of obedience should be taught from birth. It must be a gradual building up and cannot be militant or bullied. If a child is always taught to obey, the child will always obey. In order to do this, mothers must be diligent and have follow through.
Habit of Truthfulness
There are three ways to be untruthful and all are vicious, says Charlotte.
1. Carelessness in ascertaining the truth
2. Carelessness in stating the truth
3. Deliberate intention to deceive.
However, children can be allowed the first two occasionally, but absolutely not the third. It is important for mothers to train their children in the accuracy of statement in order to avoid the first two if possible, as exaggeration and embellishments do tempt children. Again, mothers must be reverent in their duty.
Charlotte says children are not born with tempers, but rather tendencies and parents have the ability to train it out of them.
There is so much wisdom in Home Education! I wish I had read it before I had children or when they were younger, but one cannot wish for time that has past. I must simply move forward with this knowledge. How have you applied Charlotte's ideas to older children? How have you attempted to reverse bad habits, now that you have gained wisdom? I'd love to hear your ideas. Please feel free to share and open up discussion in the comments below.
...habit....falls in with our natural love of an easy life.
-AND-
The mother who takes pains to endow her children with good habits secures for herself smooth and easy days; while she who lets their habits take care of themselves has a weary life of endless friction with the children. All day she is crying out, 'Do this!' and they do it not; 'Do that!' and they do the other. (p. 136)Shortly thereafter, Charlotte acknowledges the difficult task of habit training and basically encourages us to put one foot in front of the other, one step at a time. She says mother must acquire the habit of habit training so that it becomes not a burden, but rather pleasurable. Also, if we are performing habits ourselves because they are delightful and we value the results, then our children will pick up these habits upon observation and share in our delight.
You may also remember at the end of Part III, Charlotte wrote about "Infant Habits', or those that are easily taught at a young age to children learning to mimic mother in the home. Those infant habits being order, regularity, and neatness, which a child would obtain by example, through having a daily schedule or routine, including regular meal times, bath time, and bedtime. Also, in abiding by the rule of everything has a place or EHAP, which makes for a tidy home, picked up at the end of the day. In Part IV, Charlotte adds a few must have habits...
We have already considered a group of half-physical habits - order, regularity, neatness - which the child imbibes, so to speak, in this way. But this is not all: habits of gentleness, courtesy, kindness, candour, respect for other people, or - habits quite other than these, are inspired by the child as the very atmosphere of his home, the air he lives in and must grow by. (p. 137)Next, Charlotte writes about mental habits, including the habit of attention, application, thinking, imagining, remembering, perfect execution, obedience, and truthfulness. She tells us that even children who have been trained in infant habits, can have difficulty transitioning to mental habits in the school room.
Even the child who has gained the habit of attention to things, finds words a weariness. (p. 141)Habit training also falls under Charlotte's principle of Education is a Discipline, in which she is referring to the importance of instilling good habits in our children.
Habit of Attention
What is it?
Attention is hardly even an operation of the mind, but is simply the act by which the whole mental force is applied to the subject in hand. (p. 145)Why is it important?
First, we put the habit of Attention, because the highest intellectual gifts depend for their value upon the measure in which their owner has cultivated the habit of attention. (p. 137)How do we obtain it?
In the first place, never let the child dawdle over copybook or sum, sit dreaming with his books before him. When a child grows stupid over a lesson, it is time to put it away. Let him do another lesson as unlike the last as possible, and then to go back with freshened wits to his unfinished task. (p. 141)I have written much about the methods used in Charlotte's schools in regard to the habit of attention, namely in a post titled, Do You Really Know Charlotte Mason?..., which you can find here, so for the sake of this post becoming extremely lengthy, I will not re-write those methods outlined in Part IV. One thing I missed in that post and picked up this time around was Charlotte's mention of the importance of a schedule for the student.
In the first place, there is a time-table, written out fairly, so that the child knows what he has to do and how long each lesson is to last. This idea of definite work to be finished in a given time is valuable to the child, not only as training him in habits of order, but in diligence; he learns that one time is not 'as good as another'; that there is no right time left for what is not done in its own time; and this knowledge alone does a great deal to secure the child's attention to this work. (p. 142)Oh, how true this is! For years, I held Ruben's schedule, doling out one subject at a time. He would constantly ask questions like, "How much longer?", and "What do we have left?", which quickly grew to be an annoyance. Last year, I used a spiral bound notebook, giving him daily assignments all at once. What a game changer! Not only did the annoying questions stop, but he also gained greater independence. I saw the beginning signs of ownership. In addition, it greatly improved the habit of orderliness. Giving the child a schedule or at the least, allowing him to see the time-table, is very important!
Under this section, Charlotte also writes about the importance and effect of natural rewards and consequences. She talks about emulation and the negative effects of affection as motivation, which can lead to manipulation. Charlotte points out that the habit of attention goes hand in hand with maturity, stating...
....attention is, to a great extent, the product of an educated mind. (p. 145)Lastly, in the section Habit of Attention, Charlotte shares some cautions and reasons for the development of inattention. These being over pressure and a lesson being too difficult for the child.
Habits of Application
Aim steadily at securing quickness of apprehension and execution...(p. 149)
.....steady, untiring application to work should be held up as honourable, while fitful, flagging attention and effort are scouted. (p. 150)Habit of Thinking
What is thinking?
....let us mean a real conscious effort of mind, and not the fancies that flit without effort through the brain. (p. 150)Here Charlotte gives an example from Archbishop Thompson in his work, Laws of Thought, which demonstrates the teaching of cause/effect and compare/contrast. Charlotte states this type of teaching should be an important part of every school lesson.
Habit of Imagining
Charlotte writes briefly about the importance of alternating the lessons. In particular referring to a specific type of children's literature, stating that a little non-sense reading is all right, but too much is a pity when there's so much better out there, like tales and heroic adventures.
"They must have 'funny books', but do not give the children too much nonsense-reading," (p. 152)
"But let them have tales of the imagination, scenes laid in other lands and other times, heroic adventures, hairbreadth escapes, delicious fairy tales in which they never roughly pulled up by the impossible - even where all is impossible, and they know it, and yet believe." (p. 152)Along with imagining, Charlotte closes this section with thinking, which she states comes by practice.
....thinking, like writing or skating, comes by practice. The child who never has thought, never does think, and probably never will think... (p. 153)
The child must think, get at the reason-why of things for himself, every day of his life, and more each day than the day before. (p. 154)Charlotte further advises that in order to aid in the child thinking, instead of waiting for the child to ask "why", the parents should ask "why". Then allow the child to ponder and think.
Habit of Remembering
Here, I will let Charlotte speak because there's so much goodness...
Much of what we have learned and experienced in childhood, and later, we cannot reproduce, and yet it has formed the groundwork of after-knowledge; later notions and opinions have grown out of what we once learned and knew. (p. 154)
...give an instants undivided attention to anything whatsoever, and that thing will be remembered. (p. 156)
But it is not enough to have a recollection flash across one incidentally; we want to have the power of recalling at will: and for this, something more is necessary than an occasional act of attention producing a solitary impression. (p. 157)
Let every lesson gain the child's entire attention, and let each new lesson be so interlaced with the last that the one must recall the other; that, again, recalls the one before it, and so on to the beginning. (p. 158)
To secure such a record, there must be time; time for that full gaze of the mind we call attention, and for the growth of the brain tissue to the new idea. (p. 158)
...to secure right-of-way to that record...imprinted on her brain, the path should have been kept open by frequent goings and comings. (p. 158)
To acquire any knowledge or power whatsoever, and then to leave it to grow rusty in a neglected corner of the brain, is practically useless. Where there is no chain of association to draw the bucket out of the well, it is all the same as if there were no water. (p. 158)
The link between any two things must be found in the nature of the things associated. (p. 159)Habit of Perfect Execution
In regard to perfect execution, Charlotte writes about the people of her own country being guilty of letting their children perform slipshod work under the notion that they will eventually improve. However, she states this about the Germans and French...
....know that if the children get the habit of turning out imperfect work, the men and women will undoubtedly keep that habit up. (p. 159)This is why she says...
No work should be given to a child that he cannot execute perfectly, and then perfection should be required of him as a matter of course.She closes this section by writing about the importance of finishing what you start.
The child should rarely be allowed to set his hand to a new undertaking until the last is finished. (p. 160)Habit of Obedience
According to Charlotte, the whole duty of a child is obedience, which is also the whole duty of man. God not only calls children to obey their parents, but he calls us to obey Him. She says, parents are the appointed agents to train up the child. The habit of obedience should be taught from birth. It must be a gradual building up and cannot be militant or bullied. If a child is always taught to obey, the child will always obey. In order to do this, mothers must be diligent and have follow through.
To secure this habit of obedience, the mother must exercise great self-restraint; she must never give a command which she does not intend to see csarried out of the full. And she must not lay upon her children burdens, grievious to be borne, of command heaped upon command. (p. 164)Charlotte further states, that children trained in obedience should be given liberty to learn how to direct their own actions. I don't know about you, but I sure wish I could have a do over.
Habit of Truthfulness
There are three ways to be untruthful and all are vicious, says Charlotte.
1. Carelessness in ascertaining the truth
2. Carelessness in stating the truth
3. Deliberate intention to deceive.
However, children can be allowed the first two occasionally, but absolutely not the third. It is important for mothers to train their children in the accuracy of statement in order to avoid the first two if possible, as exaggeration and embellishments do tempt children. Again, mothers must be reverent in their duty.
Charlotte says children are not born with tempers, but rather tendencies and parents have the ability to train it out of them.
The root of evil, is not that these people were born sullen, or peevish, or envious - that might have been mended; but that they were permitted to grow up in these dispositions. (p. 167)
It is the force of habit that tendency becomes a temper; and it rests with the mother to hinder the formation of ill tempers, to force that of good tempers. (p.167)Parents can change the child's thoughts before a bad temper has time to develop and become a rut by taking them outside or distracting them with a given task.
There is so much wisdom in Home Education! I wish I had read it before I had children or when they were younger, but one cannot wish for time that has past. I must simply move forward with this knowledge. How have you applied Charlotte's ideas to older children? How have you attempted to reverse bad habits, now that you have gained wisdom? I'd love to hear your ideas. Please feel free to share and open up discussion in the comments below.
Saturday, August 12, 2017
Reflections - Summer Edition 5...
At Home
Summer is flying by! Riley's softball is done. Ruben's trap shooting has ended. The garden is producing. Home education planning is in progress.
I'm also in the process of writing two talks for the Journey: An Education for Life retreat with Cindy Rollins. Early bird registration ends today so don't delay! You can find more information and register here.
There are still many wonderful books available on our sale lists if you're in need of a good read. The history and lit lists are fabulous! I just love rescuing old books and getting them in the hands of appreciation. Riley and I attended a local annual library sale this week. Check out a small portion of our cache here.
Speaking of Riley, she cut nearly 12 inches of hair yesterday and donated to Locks of Love. Her new do is stunning!
Around the Web
This week, I listened to Mystie Winckler's Why I Love Interval Planning webinar. I really like the idea of planning in smaller chunks. It makes the task of doing seem more manageable.
I'm delighting in Instagram. I'm visual and love photography so it's a win/win! If you're on IG, come join me at https://www.instagram.com/melissaondrywoodcreek/
I appreciated AO with the Less Academic Child, Revisited by Brandy at Afterthoughts this week. I have a child who learns differently so I'm always looking for ways and means to meet him where he's at.
On My Shelf
Nathan Coulter by Wendell Berry - It's a small book, but still overdue from the library. I haven't had a lot of reading time this summer. However, I'm nearing the end and hoping to finish this weekend. So far, it's worth the fine ;-)
Gilead by Marilynne Robinson - I heard this is going to be the next Close Reads book and I've been wanting to read it for some time. This gives me an excuse to move it to my bedside pile.
Mere Motherhood by Cindy Rollins - Our CM Study Group has decided to take a hiatus from Home Education by Charlotte Mason to read Cindy's book before the upcoming Journey: An Education for Life retreat. I'm really looking forward to it!
The Adventures of Lightfoot the Deer by Thornton Burgess - I'm reading this aloud to Levi. It's his first chapter book and first Burgess book. We only have one chapter left and he's loving it.
The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings - This has been on my want to read list for years, but I wanted to wait for the right time with the kids. I finally started reading it aloud earlier this summer, but sadly due to our busy life, we haven't gotten back to it. However, I'm going to be very intentional in the coming months about reading it. Since evenings have been scheduled, maybe it will become a morning time read.
What's on your shelf?
Wednesday, August 9, 2017
Early Bird Registration is Ending for the Journey Retreat with Cindy Rollins...
Check out these door prizes, compliments of CiRCE Institute for....
Journey: An Education for Life
There's only three days left until early bird registration ends for Journey: An Education for Life! Don't delay, get your tickets while they're hot! Join us for a day of home education encouragement and camaraderie as we welcome Cindy Rollins, author of Mere Motherhood and A Handbook to Morning Time and co-host of The Mason Jar podcast, to WI on Saturday, September 23, 2017.
Early bird pricing is $45, but after Sat, Aug 12th, the price goes up to $60. Registration will not be accepted at the door. A working schedule with descriptions and bios is as follows:
8:30 a.m. Registration Opens
9:00 a.m. Keynote – Melissa Greene
10:30 a.m. Reflections on a Charlotte Mason Inspired Education – Gretchen Houchin
12:00 p.m. Lunch (provided)
1:00 p.m. Teaching Through Literature and Living Books – Melissa Greene
2:30 p.m. Charlotte Mason in Real Life: Courage for the Long Haul – Cindy Rollins
4:00 p.m. Q & A Panel Discussion – Cindy Rollins, Gretchen Houchin, and Melissa Greene
Session Descriptions
Keynote: The keynote will include a brief introduction to and comparison of Charlotte Mason and Classic Education. There will be highlights of several key principles of Mason's philosophy and what that looks like in the day to day, as well as her methods used and how to incorporate them.
Reflections on a Charlotte Mason Inspired Education: Encouragement from a retired homeschool mom with practical examples of what worked and what didn't. The focus will be on high school and older students, but will blend with methods used in the younger years to build the foundation for the upper.
Teaching Through Literature and Living Books: Description and examples of living books and practical application on how to use them in your homeschool to cover a variety of subjects. Book lists and suggestions will be shared.
Charlotte Mason in Real Life: Courage for the Long Haul: Find joy in the realities of homeschooling when the romance fades. Thoughts on what truth, goodness, and beauty look like in real life. Strategies will be given for the long haul.
Q & A Panel Discussion: All three speakers will be together answering questions from attendees regarding home education in real life.
Speakers
Cindy Rollins is a mom of nine with over thirty years of homeschooling experience. For more than ten years, she blogged her way through her efforts to homeschool under the principles of Charlotte Mason and classical education. Today, Cindy is an occasional contributor athttps://www.circeinstitute.org/, the co-host of The Mason Jar podcast on the CiRCE Institute Podcast Network, & the 2016 recipient of the Russell Kirk Paideia Prize, awarded for a lifetime spent cultivating wisdom and virtue. Cindy is the author of Mere Motherhood and A Handbook to Morning Time. She lives in Chattanooga, TN with her husband Tim and however many children happen to be home.
Gretchen Houchin is a retired homeschool mom of two boys, ages 21 and 18. the oldest was homeschooled through graduation and the youngest through 8th grade. Her homeschool was inspired by the Charlotte Mason method. She enjoys sharing her experiences with others and encouraging them in their homeschool endeavors.
Melissa Greene is a mother of five, who's been homeschooling since 2007. She has two graduates, one through homeschool and the other through public school. She is currently home educating her three youngest children. Melissa enjoys reading, cooking, and being with her family. She spends her free time studying different philosophies of education, facilitating a Charlotte Mason Study Group, and blogging athttp://reflectionsfromdrywoodcreek.blogspot.com/. There you will find ideas for planning your homeschool, book lists for reading, and thoughts about education through daily living. You can also find her on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/melissaondrywoodcreek/
Space is limited so sign up here now....
Monday, August 7, 2017
Year 7 and 8 Planning....
I've been working on planning our 2017-2018 academic year. In planning, I always start with the big picture, moving next to the year, term, week, and finally day. This year, I will have kids in grades 8, 7, and kindergarten. This post will primarily address 7th and 8th grade and not kindergarten since that is still an informal year in our homeschool.
In 2017-2018, I know I want to cover Middle Ages, Renaissance, and Reformation for history, as well as a variety of science topics, including chemistry, physics, and astronomy. It is for these reasons, I'm looking closely at combining AO Year 7 & Year 8 for my two older kids.
In looking at my goals and the AO suggestions, I created an at-a-glance table of Ambleside Online's Year 7 & 8. This is not my original book list and is in no way meant to be copied or used as an exclusive AO book list or lesson plan. I'm simply sharing how I plan my school year based on a variety of resources. You must go directly to the AO website for full use and understanding of their wonderful FREE program. I'm greatly indebted to the ladies who make this all possible. To learn more, I am linking to their website regularly throughout this post.
The first table lists the subjects covered in each AO Year, along with books broken down by term. You will notice a few books are color coded when they are also used in curricula, such as Beautiful Feet, Sonlight, and Veritas Press, which are book lists I also consult regularly in planning. In addition, you may notice The Fallacy Detectives crossed out because Riley has already read that book. At that end of the first chart is suggested AO Free Reads for each year.
The second table, on page four, shows books used in AO Year 7/8 combined. It is the first year in a two year plan to cover Years 7, 8, and 9 for families looking to use AO at the upper levels and who yearn to complete six years in five. I've chosen this as a base for our family simply based on the history and science coverage.
Next, I created a chart showing the subjects I wish to cover along with some books and resources I'm contemplating.
From there, I've been working on narrowing books and plugging the final selections into a 12-week term chart. Finally, the readings will be broke down by day. You can see last year's term and daily charts here. They are purposefully not dated as I don't want to be a slave to the plan when life happens. You know, kid wakes up puking, family drama takes over, or a dear friend calls and says, "Hey, let's play!" I want to be able to pick up and go without the guilt associated with a date specific plan.
To some, my planning may sound like an overwhelming process. However, it happens to be something I enjoy. Also, I've found if I'm thorough in my planning, then I don't second guess as much throughout the year. That's not to say there's no flexibility. Last year, when the plan became drudgery and there was no Science of Relations, I ended up scrapping much of Ruben's plan part way through the year and winging the end, which turned out to be a great decision for both of us.
Over the past ten years, I haven't found any one plan that fits the needs of my family. In home educating, there is no one size fits all. What works for one family will most likely not work for another. Even in my own home, what works for one child does not necessarily work for another. It is for this reason every year I create an individualized education plan for each of my kids. Because I'm meeting the needs of each individual child, I tend to be very eclectic or individual in my approach. With that said, here are links to some resources I'm pulling from this year:
Ambleside Online Year 7
Ambleside Online Year 8
Ambleside Online Year 7/8 combined
Beautiful Feet Intermediate Medieval History
IEW Medieval Writing
Simply Charlotte Mason
Sonlight Level G
Sonlight Level H
Veritas Press Omnibus
Whether you're a chart maker or an on the fly kind of gal, the most important thing to remember is that each and every one of our Children are born persons. We are not dumping books and facts into them. A chart or plan simply gives you the ability to do what comes next on those low energy or hard days when life is kicking your butt. Ultimately, because we're not educating machines, some days may not be well oiled or run smoothly. Having a plan is helpful to me when life takes over.
In 2017-2018, I know I want to cover Middle Ages, Renaissance, and Reformation for history, as well as a variety of science topics, including chemistry, physics, and astronomy. It is for these reasons, I'm looking closely at combining AO Year 7 & Year 8 for my two older kids.
In looking at my goals and the AO suggestions, I created an at-a-glance table of Ambleside Online's Year 7 & 8. This is not my original book list and is in no way meant to be copied or used as an exclusive AO book list or lesson plan. I'm simply sharing how I plan my school year based on a variety of resources. You must go directly to the AO website for full use and understanding of their wonderful FREE program. I'm greatly indebted to the ladies who make this all possible. To learn more, I am linking to their website regularly throughout this post.
AO Year 7 & 8 Planning Table by greenebalts on Scribd
The first table lists the subjects covered in each AO Year, along with books broken down by term. You will notice a few books are color coded when they are also used in curricula, such as Beautiful Feet, Sonlight, and Veritas Press, which are book lists I also consult regularly in planning. In addition, you may notice The Fallacy Detectives crossed out because Riley has already read that book. At that end of the first chart is suggested AO Free Reads for each year.
The second table, on page four, shows books used in AO Year 7/8 combined. It is the first year in a two year plan to cover Years 7, 8, and 9 for families looking to use AO at the upper levels and who yearn to complete six years in five. I've chosen this as a base for our family simply based on the history and science coverage.
Next, I created a chart showing the subjects I wish to cover along with some books and resources I'm contemplating.
Riley & Ruben Year 7 & 8 Book List 2017-2018 by greenebalts on Scribd
From there, I've been working on narrowing books and plugging the final selections into a 12-week term chart. Finally, the readings will be broke down by day. You can see last year's term and daily charts here. They are purposefully not dated as I don't want to be a slave to the plan when life happens. You know, kid wakes up puking, family drama takes over, or a dear friend calls and says, "Hey, let's play!" I want to be able to pick up and go without the guilt associated with a date specific plan.
To some, my planning may sound like an overwhelming process. However, it happens to be something I enjoy. Also, I've found if I'm thorough in my planning, then I don't second guess as much throughout the year. That's not to say there's no flexibility. Last year, when the plan became drudgery and there was no Science of Relations, I ended up scrapping much of Ruben's plan part way through the year and winging the end, which turned out to be a great decision for both of us.
Over the past ten years, I haven't found any one plan that fits the needs of my family. In home educating, there is no one size fits all. What works for one family will most likely not work for another. Even in my own home, what works for one child does not necessarily work for another. It is for this reason every year I create an individualized education plan for each of my kids. Because I'm meeting the needs of each individual child, I tend to be very eclectic or individual in my approach. With that said, here are links to some resources I'm pulling from this year:
Ambleside Online Year 7
Ambleside Online Year 8
Ambleside Online Year 7/8 combined
Beautiful Feet Intermediate Medieval History
IEW Medieval Writing
Simply Charlotte Mason
Sonlight Level G
Sonlight Level H
Veritas Press Omnibus
Whether you're a chart maker or an on the fly kind of gal, the most important thing to remember is that each and every one of our Children are born persons. We are not dumping books and facts into them. A chart or plan simply gives you the ability to do what comes next on those low energy or hard days when life is kicking your butt. Ultimately, because we're not educating machines, some days may not be well oiled or run smoothly. Having a plan is helpful to me when life takes over.
Saturday, August 5, 2017
Book Sale Index by Subject....
I've been working through book sale list updates this week just in time for your back to school needs. Although, in my mind, every season is a reason for books! There have been new treasures added to most lists, including history, literature, Five in a Row titles, poetry, science, and more. There are many fabulous titles from Ambleside Online, Beautiful Feet, Sonlight, Truthquest History, and A Visual American History Timeline of Books, as well as many other great picture and chapter books.
Below is an index by subject for easy access. I would love to add photos of each book, but the sheer volume of books listed here paired with my time constraints have not allowed me to to do that. However, if you have questions about a particular title or condition, please do ask. Send book lists, comments, and inquiries via the contact form on the right side bar. I accept PayPal and ship media mail anywhere in the U.S.
Thanks for your consideration,
Below is an index by subject for easy access. I would love to add photos of each book, but the sheer volume of books listed here paired with my time constraints have not allowed me to to do that. However, if you have questions about a particular title or condition, please do ask. Send book lists, comments, and inquiries via the contact form on the right side bar. I accept PayPal and ship media mail anywhere in the U.S.
Thanks for your consideration,
Friday, August 4, 2017
History, Geography, Government, and Economics For Sale...
Below you will find our latest list of living history books for sale. The books are arranged chronologically and coded when related to a particular history program that I'm aware of. Some of the books are ex-library and some are from a private collection. Many are duplicate copies from our own personal library. Several are out of print and getting harder to find. Let me know if you need recommendations or have any questions.
We are a smoke and pet free home. The prices do not reflect shipping. I accept PayPal and ship media mail within the U.S. Please use the contact form on the right side bar to send inquires and desired list. There is also a list of misc. history resources toward the bottom as well as books used for geography, government, economics, and social studies.
Thanks so much for your consideration,
Melissa
History – Arranged Chronologically
SL – Sonlight
TQ – TruthQuest
AO – Ambleside Online
SCM – Simply Charlotte Mason
BF – Beautiful Feet
WP – Winter Promise
VP – Veritas Press
MFW – My Father’s World
CoF – Cornerstones of Freedom
VT – A Visual American History Timeline of Books
HOD - Heart of Dakota
We are a smoke and pet free home. The prices do not reflect shipping. I accept PayPal and ship media mail within the U.S. Please use the contact form on the right side bar to send inquires and desired list. There is also a list of misc. history resources toward the bottom as well as books used for geography, government, economics, and social studies.
Thanks so much for your consideration,
Melissa
History – Arranged Chronologically
SL – Sonlight
TQ – TruthQuest
AO – Ambleside Online
SCM – Simply Charlotte Mason
BF – Beautiful Feet
WP – Winter Promise
VP – Veritas Press
MFW – My Father’s World
CoF – Cornerstones of Freedom
VT – A Visual American History Timeline of Books
HOD - Heart of Dakota
Ancient
Civilizations/Cultures (blue tote #1)
Adam
and His Kin by Ruth Beechick TQ $6
Ancient
Civilizations Unit Study $10 set includes:
- Discovering Ancient
Mysteries by Michael Gibson (hardcover)
- Greenleaf Guide to
Ancient Egypt
- The Greenleaf Guide
to Famous Men of Rome
- Scholastic 25
Mini-Plays World History by Erin Fry (grades 4-8)
- Classical Kids, An
Activity Guide to Life in Ancient Greece and Rome by Laurie Carlson
- Selections from
National Geographic Death on the Nile
- National Geographic
January 3003 (Inside Egypt’s Secret Vaults)
- Kids Discover Mummies
- Kids Discover Ancient
Egypt
- Life in Ancient Egypt
Study Prints
- Life in Ancient
Greece Study Prints
- Life in Ancient Rome
Study Prints
- Other Misc. Articles
and Arts Newsletter
Usborne The Time Traveller Book of Pharaohs
& Pyramids by Tony Allan (hardcover, ex-library) SL 1/B VP TQ $4
Egypt
(Insiders) by Joyce Tyldesley $3
The Great Pyramid by Elizabeth Mann TQ $4
The
Greenleaf Guide to Ancient Egypt by Cyndy Shearer $5
See
Inside An Ancient Egyptian Town by R. J. Unstead (hardcover, ex-library) $5
each (x3)
Mummies
A Very Peculiar History by Nathaniel Harris $3
The
Egypt Game by Zilpha Keatley Snyder (hardcover ex-library) $5
Make
it Work! Ancient Egypt by Haslam & Parsons MFW $4
Look
Inside A Greek Theater by Peter Chrisp (hardcover) $4
The Iliad retold by Nick McCarty, illustrated by Victor Ambrus $4
Favorite
Greek Myths retold by Mary Pope Osborne $4
The
Trojan Horse, How the Greeks Won the War by Emily Little MFW SL $3
The
Secrets of Vesuvius by Sara C. Bisel TQ $3
each (x2)
The
Master by John Pollock $4
The
Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare (hardcover, ex-library) TQ SL BF WP HOD $4
Usborne
Internet-Linked Romans by Marks and Tingay $4
See
Inside An Ancient Chinese Town by R. J. Unstead (hardcover ex-library) $5
The
Cat Who Went to Heaven by Elizabeth Coatsworth SL 5/F $2
The
Cat Who Went to Heaven by Elizabeth Coatsworth (hardcover, ex-library) SL 5/F $3
Work
and Play in the Philippines – New World Neighbors Series (1944 hardcover) $3
The
Corn Grows Ripe by Dorothy Rhoads SL 3/C
$3
Middle
Ages/Renaissance/Reformation
The
Vikings by Robert Nicholson & Claire Watts $3
History
Explorers Viking Raiders by Fiona Macdonald $3
The
Vikings by Hazel Martell (hardcover, ex-library) $5
The
Vikings by Robin Place (hardcover, ex-library) $5
Eric
the Red and Leif the Lucky by Barbara Schiller SL 1/B TQ $4 each (x2)
See
Inside a Castle by R. J. Unstead (hardcover, ex-library) $5
Catherine Called Birdy by Karen Cushman SL Core 6/G $2 each (x2)
The
Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman SL 2/C TQ
BF $3 each (x5)
Dove
and Sword, A Novel of Joan of Arc by Nancy Garden $3
The
Shakespeare Stealer by Gary Blackwood WP
SL $3
The
Door in the Wall by Marguerite de Angeli TQ
SL VP $4
Martin
Luther, A Man Who Changed the World by Paul L. Maier (hardcover) TQ VP $5
Milliken History of Civilization The Middle Ages Grades 7-12 $3
Wings of an Eagle, The Story of Michelangelo by Anne Merriman Peck TQ $4
Wings of an Eagle, The Story of Michelangelo by Anne Merriman Peck TQ $4
Adam of the Road by Elizabeth Janet Gray BF TQ SL $4 each (x2)
Bard of Avon, The Story of William Shakespeare by Diane
Stanley HOD TQ $4
Exploration/Native
Americans
The
Landmark History of the American People, from Plymouth to the Moon by Daniel J.
Boorstin SL $12
Pathki Nana, Kootenai Girl Solves a Mystery by Kenneth Thomasma $2
Om-kas-toe, Blackfeet Twin Captures an Elkdog by Kenneth Thomasma SL $2
North
American Indians by Marie and Douglas Gorsline SL $3 each (x2)
Follow the Dream, The Story of Christopher Columbus by Peter Sis
(hardcover ex-library) $4
Christopher Columbus by Ann McGovern $3
Columbus by Ingri & Edgar Parin d’Aulaire (small paperback
black & white reprint) TQ BF $2
I Sailed with Columbus by Miriam Schlein $2
Magellan, Voyager with a Dream by William Jay Jacobs (hardcover,
ex-library) $3
Ferdinand Magellan by Ruth Harley $3
Life in Tudor England by Penry Williams (hardcover ex-library) $4
Sower Johannes
Kepler by John Hudson Tiner TQ $4
Sower Robert
Boyle by John Hudson Tiner TQ HOD $4
The
Dark Frigate by Charles Boardman Hawes SL
$4
Colonization/American
Revolution
(gray tote #2)
The
Old World and America by Rev. Philip J. Furlong, PhD w/answer key $10 set
America
in the Time of Pocahontas, The Story of Our Nation from Coast to Coast, from
1590 to 1754 by Sally Senzell Isaacs (hardcover) $3
Our
Country’s History by Frances Cavanah (1945 hardcover) TQ $6
Rewriting
of America’s History by Catherine Millard VT
$4
Life
in America Series – unit study - $10 set
Life Establishing a Nation 1790-1849
Life in a New World 1000-1763
Blue
Feather’s Vision, The Dawn of Colonial America by James E. Knight TQ $3 each (x2)
The Paradox of Jamestown 1585 – 1700 by Collier & Collier
(hardcover, ex-library) VT $4
The Double Life of Pocahontas by Jean Fritz TQ VT $3 each
(x2)
Pocahontas and the Strangers by Clyde Robert Bulla SL 3/D TQ VT $4 each
(x2)
Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick (hardcover) $5 each (x2)
If you Sailed on the Mayflower by Ann McGovern TQ VT WP $3 each
(x2)
The Pilgrims by R. Conrad Stein (hardcover, ex-library) TQ CoF
$4
Down Ryton Water by E. R. Gaggin SL 7/H $4
The Pilgrims of Plimoth by Marcia Sewall BF TQ VT $4 each
(x2)
N. C. Wyeth’s Pilgrims text by Robert San
Souci TQ VT $3
Sarah
Morton’s Day by Kate Waters VP TQ VT
$4 each (x6)
Samuel
Eaton’s Day by Kate Waters VP TQ VT $4 each (x7)
Eating
the Plates, A Pilgrim Book of Food and Manners by Lucille Recht Penner VT TQ $5
The First Thanksgiving by Jean Craighead George TQ VT $2
Pilgrim Voices edited by Connie and Peter Roop (hardcover w/Mylar
dust jacket ex-library) TQ VT $5
The Thanksgiving Story by Alice Dalgliesh TQ VT SL $4
Thanksgiving Feast and Festival by Mildred Corell Luckhardt
(hardcover ex-library) $5
Thanksgiving Unit Study by Amanda Bennett $3
Turkeys,
Pilgrims, and Indian Corn, The Story of the Thanksgiving Symbols by Edna Barth
(hardcover, ex-library) $4
Margaret Pumphrey’s Pilgrim Stories by Elvajean Hall TQ VT $3 each (x2)
The Courtship of Miles Standish: Elizabeth by Henry W. Longfellow TQ VT $4
Eastern
Trails, From Footprints to Turnpikes by Kathy Pelta (hardcover, ex-library) $2
Dear America Standing in the Light, The Captive
Diary of Catharine Carey Logan, 1763 (hardcover) $2
The
Unredeemed Captive by John Demos VT $4
Calico
Bush by Rachel Field SL TQ $4
The
Rhode Island Colony by Dennis B. Fradin (hardcover, ex-library) $3
Colonial
Living by Edwin Tunis (hardcover ex-library) TQ $10
If You Lived in Colonial Times by Ann McGovern TQ WP
$3 each (x2)
Boys and Girls of Colonial Days by Carolyn Sherwin Bailey
$3 BF
Emma’s Journal, The Story of a Colonial Girl by Marissa Moss
(hardcover, ex-library) TQ WP $3
African-Americans in the Thirteen Colonies by Deborah Kent
(hardcover, ex-library) CoF TQ $4
The
Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper TQ Author $4
The Deerslayer by James Fenimore Cooper TQ Author $4
The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare SL $3 each (x2)
Our Great Heritage….from the Beginning – The Revolutionary Years
1763-1783 (hardcover) $4
Stowaway by Karen Hesse SL
TQ $3 each (x2)
American
Heritage Junior Library The Many Worlds of Benjamin Franklin
(hardcover) $5
Benjamin Franklin, A Man with Many Jobs by Carol Greene (hardcover
Rookie Biography) TQ $3
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin TQ $4
The Boston Massacre, March 5, 1770 by Alice Dickinson (hardcover
ex-library) $5 (blue tote #3)
The Boston Tea Party by R. Conrad Stein (hardcover, ex-library)
CoF TQ $4
And Then What Happened, Paul Revere? by Jean Fritz (hardcover) TQ SL $3
Childhood
of Famous Americans Paul Revere by Augusta Stevenson (ex-library) TQ $3
Where was Patrick Henry on the 29th of May? by Jean
Fritz (hardcover, ex-library) TQ $3
Johnny
Tremain by Esther Forbes SL 3/4/D/E TQ BF VP AO VT $4
My Brother Sam is Dead by Collier & Collier TQ $3 each (x2)
Guns
for General Washington by Seymour Reit TQ
VT $3 each (x3)
General Washington’s Christmas Farewell by
Stanley Weintraub $2
A
Picture Book of George Washington by David A. Adler TQ $3
The Adventures of George Washington by Margaret Davidson TQ $3
The Battle of Lexington and Concord by Neil Johnson (hardcover
ex-library) TQ VT $4
Phoebe
the Spy by Judith Berry Griffin SL
3/4/D/E TQ $3 each (x4)
The Reb and the Redcoats by Constance Savery (Bethlehem Books
reprint) TQ $5
John
Adams by David McCullough TQ AO9 $5
Childhood of Famous
Americans
Molly Pitcher by Augusta Stevenson (ex-library) TQ $3
Childhood of Famous
Americans
Tom Jefferson by Helen Albee Monsell (ex-library) TQ $3
Journey
to Monticello, Traveling in Colonial Times by James E. Knight $3 each (x5)
Give me Liberty! – The Story of the Declaration of Independence by
Russell Freedman TQ VT $5
Shh!
We’re Writing the Constitution by Jean Fritz TQ $3
If You Were There When They Signed the Constitution by Elizabeth
Levy SL 3/D TQ VT $3
The Story of the Declaration of Independence by Norman Richards
(hardcover, ex-library) CoF TQ $4
Will You Sign Here John Hancock? by Jean Fritz (hardcover,
ex-library) TQ $3
The Signers: The 56 Stories Behind the Declaration of Independence
by Dennis B. Fradin (hardcover, ex-library ) TQ $5
Betsy Ross by Alexandra Wallner TQ $3
Fever
1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson WP $2
An American Plague by Jim Murphy (hardcover) $5
1800’s/Westward
Expansion
The Broken Blade by William Durbin SL 7/H $3 each
(x2)
The Prairie by James Fenimore Cooper TQ $4
A Picture Book of Sacagawea by David A. Adler TQ $3
Sacajawea,
Guide to Lewis and Clark by Della Rowland BF
$4 each (x2)
The Story of the Lewis and Clark Expedition by R. Conrad
Stein (hardcover ex-library) CoF TQ
$4
Landmark The
Lewis & Clark Expedition by Richard L. Neuberger TQ BF SL $5
Undaunted Courage by Stephen E. Ambrose AO9 $5
Abigail’s
Drum by John A. Minahan TQ VT $3 each (x3)
Sower - Artist
with a Message, Samuel F. B. Morse by John Hudson Tiner TQ VT $4
Johnny Appleseed – A Tall Tale Retold and Illustrated by Steven
Kellogg TQ $3
Johnny Appleseed – A Poem by Reeve Lindbergh (2 hardcover,
ex-library) TQ $4 each (x4)
Johnny Appleseed by Carol Beach York (hardcover) $2
Sequoyah,
Cherokee Hero by Joanne Oppenheim TQ
$4
The
Defenders by Ann McGovern $2 each (x3)
The
Cherokee by Emilie U. Lepthien – A New True Book TQ $3
If
You Lived With the Cherokee by Peter and Connie Roop TQ WP $3
Soft
Rain, The story of the Cherokee Trail of Tears by Cornelia Cornelissen VP TQ $3
A Narrative of the Life of David Crockett by Himself $4
American Heritage
Junior Library The
Erie Canal (hardcover) TQ $5
Susanna
of the Alamo, A True Story by John Jakes (ex-library) VT $4
American Heritage
Junior Library
Texas and the War with Mexico (hardcover) TQ
$5
American Girl Secrets in the Hills
– A Josefina Mystery (ex-library) $2
The
Wild West by Mike Stotter $3
The
Oregon Trail by R. Conrad Stein CoF TQ
VT $4
Wagons West: Off to Oregon by Catherine E.
Chambers VT $2
each (x2)
The
Oregon Trail by Francis Parkman (hardcover) TQ $3
Wagon Train by Sydelle Kramer TQ $2
Wagon
Wheels by Barbara Brenner SL 2/C TQ
$3 each (x2)
Trails to the West, Beyond the Mississippi by
Kathy Pelta (hardcover ex-library) $3
Meet the Wards on the Oregon Trail by John J. Loeper TQ VT $3 each
(x3)
Rachel’s
Journal, The Story of a Pioneer Girl by Marissa Moss TQ VT $3
A
Gathering of Days by Joan W. Blos TQ
SL $3
Ox-Cart Man by Donald Hall TQ
VT $4
The
Story of the Women Who Shaped the West by Mary Virginia Fox CoF TQ $3
The Josefina Story Quilt by Eleanor Coerr TQ VT $3 each
(x3) (pink tote #4)
Island
of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell (2 hardcover ex-library) SL 5/F BF TQ $3 each (x5)
Zia
by Scott O’Dell BF TQ $3
Song
of the Swallows by Leo Politi BF TQ
$4 each (x2)
Ludwig
Van Beethoven, Young Composer by Louis Sabin $3 each (x2)
Commodore
Perry in the Land of Shogun by Rhoda Blumberg (hardcover ex-library) SL Core 5/F TQ $5
American
Heritage Junior Library Commodore Perry in Japan (hardcover) $5
Sadako
and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr SL 5/F $3
Revenge
of the Whale by Nathaniel Philbrick $3
Snowshoe Thompson by Nancy Smiler Levinson TQ VT $3 each (x3)
Hitty,
Her First Hundred Years by Rachel Field (hardcover ex-library) TQ $4 each (x2)
Hitty,
Her First Hundred Years by Rachel Field TQ
$3
All Sail Set by Armstrong Sperry SL 4/E TQ $4
The Great American Gold Rush by Rhoda Blumberg TQ $4
American
Heritage Junior Library The California Gold Rush (hardcover) $5
American
Heritage Junior Library Great Days of the Circus (hardcover) $5
American
Heritage Junior Library Cowboys and Cattle Country (hardcover) $5
American
Heritage Junior Library Steamboats on the Mississippi (hardcover) $5
Pony Express by Steven Kroll (hardcover ex-library) TQ VT $4 each
(x3)
Louis Braille, The Boy Who Invented Books for the Blind by
Margaret Davidson SL 5/F TQ $3
Underground
RailRoad/Slavery/Civil War 1865
A
Separate Battle: Women and the Civil War by Ina Chang $2 each (x2)
Amos
Fortune, Free Man by Elizabeth Yates SL
BF TQ HOD $4 each (x3)
A
Picture Book of Harriet Tubman by David Adler TQ $3 each (x2)
Runaway
Slave, The Story of Harriet Tubman by Ann McGovern TQ VT $4 each (x6)
Freedom
Train, The Story of Harriet Tubman by Dorothy Sterling SL TQ $3
Uncle
Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe VP
BF TQ AO $5
Brady
by Jean Fritz HOD $4
A
Picture Book of Sojourner Truth by David Adler TQ $3
Daily
Life on a Southern Plantation by Paul Erickson VT TQ $4
Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt SL 4/E
TQ BF VT
$4 each (x5)
A
Picture Book of Abraham Lincoln by David A. Adler TQ $3
True Stories about Abraham Lincoln by Ruth
Belov Gross $2
The Death of Lincoln by Leroy Hayman TQ BF $3
Abe Lincoln Gets His Chance by Frances Cavanah TQ $3 each (x2)
Abe Lincoln Remembers by Ann Turner TQ $3
Childhood
of Famous Americans Abraham Lincoln by Augusta Stevenson (ex-library) TQ $3
The
Story of the Lincoln Memorial by Natalie Miller (hardcover) CoF $4
The
Story of Harriet Beecher Stowe by Maureen Ash CoF $3
Frederick Douglass: Portrait of a Freedom
Fighter by Sheila Keenan $2
Charley Skedaddle by Patricia Beatty TQ $3
The
Long Road to Gettysburg by Jim Murphy $5
Bull
Run by Paul Fleischman TQ $3 each
(x3)
Paper
Soldiers of the Civil War by Alan Archambault $3
American Heritage
Junior Library
The Battle of Gettysburg (hardcover) $5
Robert
E. Lee, Brave Leader by Rae Bains $3
The
Day For Sumter was Fire On by Jim Haskins TQ
$4
The
Boys’ War by Jim Murphy VT TQ $5
Behind
the Blue and Gray by Della Ray TQ $4
1865 to 20th
Century
Life
in Victorian England by W. J. Reader (hardcover) $4
Plain
Girl by Virginia Sorensen SL $3
Molly’s
Pilgrim by Barbara Cohen TQ $3
Turn
Homeward Hannalee by Patricia Beatty TQ
$3
Be
Ever Hopeful Hannalee by Patricia Beatty TQ
$3
A
Little House Christmas, Holiday Stories from the Little House Books by Laura
Ingalls Wilder (hardcover w/Mylar, ex-library) $4 (blue
tote #5)
Little
House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder (hardcover) TQ AO VT $3
On
the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder TQ AO VT $3 each (x4)
By
the Shores of Silver Lake by Laura Ingalls Wilder TQ AO $3 each (x2)
The
Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder TQ
AO $3
On
the Other Side of the Hill by Roger Lea MacBride $3
Bachelor
Girl by Roger Lea MacBride (ex-library) $3
Little
Town at the Crossroads by Maria D. Wilkes $3
Farmer
Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder TQ AO VT
$3 each (x3)
The
First Four Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder TQ
AO VT $3
In
Grandma’s Attic by Arleta Richardson VT
TQ HOD $3
Still
More Stories from Grandma’s Attic by Arleta Richardson VT $3
Sixteen
and Away from Home by Arleta Richardson $3
Betsy’s
Up-and-Down Year by Anne Pellowski $10
Willow
Wind Farm: Betsy’s Story by Anne Pellowski (hardcover ex-library) $10
Prairie
School by AVI HOD $3
Prairie
Visions by Pam Conrad TQ $3
A
Pioneer Farm Girl, The Diary of Sarah Gillespie, 1877-1878 (hardcover
ex-library) $3 each (x2)
A
One-Room School by Bobbie Kalman (Historic
Communities – (hardcover ex-library) $2
Writer
of the Plains, A Story about Willa Cather by Tom Streissguth (hardcover
ex-library) $3
Sarah,
Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan TQ
SL $3
If you Lived with the Sioux Indians by Ann McGovern TQ $3 each (x2)
Cowboys by Marie and Douglas Gorsline TQ $3
Buffalo Bill by Ingri & Edgar Parin
d’Aulaire (small black & white reprint) TQ BF $2
Signature Books The Story
of Geronimo by Jim Kjelgaard (hardcover) TQ
$5
Custer and Crazy Horse by Jim Razzi $3 each
(x2)
John Henry: An American Legend by Ezra Jack Keats TQ $2
Pecos Bill by James Cloyd Bowman (hardcover ex-library) $4
American
Tall Tales by Adrien Stoutenburg SL P4/5
AO $3 each (x2)
My Antonia by Willa Cather SL
Core 400 AO 10 $2
Knots on a Counting Rope by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault TQ $2 each (x3)
Childhood
of Famous Americans John Muir by Montrew Dunham (ex-library) TQ $3
Cowboys of the Wild West by Russell Freedman TQ VT $5 each (x2)
Children
of the Wild West by Russell Freedman TQ
VT $5 each (x5)
An Indian Winter by Russell Freedman TQ $5 each (x4)
Presidential
Elections by Miles Harvey CoF TQ $3
The
Story of Susan B. Anthony by Susan Clinton CoF
$4
A History of US, An Age of Extremes
by Joy Hakim (hardcover ex-library) SL
$5
The Path
Between the Seas – The Creation of the Panama Canal 1870-1914 by David
McCullough $5
The
Great Fire by Jim Murphy TQ VT $5 each (x2)
The
Chicago Fire, 1871 by Corinne J. Naden (hardcover) $5 each (x3)
Early Loggers and the Sawmill by Peter Adams
(The Early Settler Life Series) $4
The
Terrible Wave by Marden Dahlstedt SL $4
Addie’s Dakota Winter by Laurie Lawlor TQ VT $3
Dakota Dugout by Ann Turner VT TQ $3
Blizzard by Jim Murphy (hardcover) TQ VT $5
The
Johnstown Flood by David McCullough $5
American Girl Kirsten’s
Cook Book $4
American Girl Kirsten’s
Craft Book (hardcover ex-library) $4
Kate Shelley Bound for Legend by Robert D San Souci TQ $2 each (x2)
Childhood of Famous
Americans
Teddy Roosevelt, Young Rough Rider by Edd Winfield Parks (ex-library) TQ $3 (pink tote #6)
The
First Teddy Bear by Helen Kay VT $5
Bully
for You, Teddy Roosevelt! by Jean Fritz HOD,
BF, TQ $4
Truman
by David McCullough $5
If
You Lived at the Time of the Great San Francisco Earthquake by Ellen Levine SL 4/E TQ $3 each (x3)
The Mayo Brothers by Helen Clapesattle
(hardcover) TQ $5
We’ll Race You, Henry, A Story About
Henry Ford by Barbara Mitchell TQ VT $3
Of Things Natural, Wild, and Free, A
Story about Aldo Leopold by Marybeth Lorbiecki (hardcover) $2
Sky Pioneer: A Photobiography of Amelia Earhart
by Corinne Szabo $4
The
Spirit of the St. Louis by R. Conrad Stein CoF
TQ $4 each (x2)
The
Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk by Donald J. Sobol TQ $3 each (x2)
First
Flight, The Story of Tom Tate and the Wright Brothers by George Shea TQ VT $3
Up
in the Air: Bessie Coleman by Philip S. Hart TQ $4
Profiles in Science for Young People Marie Curie and the Discovery of
Radium by Ann E. Steinke TQ $3
Sower Billy Sunday, Home
Run to Heaven by Robert Allen $4
Journey
to America by Sonia Levitin TQ VP $4
The
Statue of Liberty by Lucille Recht Penner $2
The
Long Way to a New Land by Joan Sandin TQ
VT $3 each (x6)
Ellis
Island by R. Conrad Stein CoF TQ $4
Milliken History of Civilization The Industrial
Revolution Grades 7-12 $3
All-Of-A-Kind
Family by Sydney Taylor SL 4/E $3
each (x2)
The
Great Depression by R. Conrad Stein CoF
TQ $4
Dust
for Dinner by Ann Turner TQ VT $3
each (x2)
Out
of the Dust by Karen Hesse SL Core 100
TQ $3 each (x2)
Roll
of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor SL 4/E BF TQ VT $3 each (x8)
Let
the Circle Be Unbroken by Mildred D. Taylor $3
Blue
Willow by Doris Gates SL Core 100 AO BF
TQ $4 each (x2)
Orphan Train Rider, One Boy’s True Story by Andrea Warren TQ $4
In Grandma’s day by Paul Humphrey VT $2 each (x3)
American
Girl Meet Kit TQ $2
The Education of Little Tree by Forrest Carter $2
Holocaust/ WWII
One
Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Alexander Solzhenitsyn SL VP $3
Anne
Frank, the Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank TQ BF VP $4 each (x2)
Anne Frank Beyond the Diary: A Photographic Remembrance by Ruud
van der Rol and Rian Verhoeven (hardcover) $4
Number
the Stars by Lois Lowry TQ SL BF $4
Schindlers’
List by Thomas Keneally $4
Snow
Treasure by Marie McSwigan (ex-library) SL
AO TQ $3 each (x2)
American Girl Molly’s Craft Book
(hardcover, ex-library) $4
Twenty
and Ten by Claire Huchet Bishop SL BF TQ
$4 each (x2)
The
Trapp Family Singers by Maria Augusta Trapp BF TQ $4
Modern Times
Call it Courage by Armstrong Sperry SL 5/F BF $2
Where
the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls TQ VP
AO 6 $3
Year
of Impossible Goodbyes by Sook Myul Choi SL
5/F BF $3
The
Big Wave by Pearl S. Buck SL 5/F $2
Charlotte’s
Web by E. B. White SL 1/B VP $3 each
(x2)
The
Trumpet of the Swan by E. B. White $3
The
Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson SL
Core 300 $2
Swift
Rivers by Cornelia Meigs SL 3/D TQ $3
Jacob
Have I Loved by Katherine Paterson SL Core 400 $2 each (x2)
In
the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson by Bette Bao Lord SL 3/4 D/E BF $3 each (x2)
A
Pictorial Life Story of Misty by Marguerite Henry (hardcover, ex-library) $20
Album
of Horses by Marguerite Henry SL TQ BF $5
Our
First Pony by Marguerite Henry $1
Misty
of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry SL 2/C TQ
BF VP
$3 each (x5)
Misty
of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry (hardcover) SL 2/C TQ BF VP $5
Sea
Star, Orphan of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry (hardcover ex-library) $3
Sea
Star, Orphan of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry $5
King
of the Wind by Marguerite Henry BF AO 3
TQ SL 5/F $3 (x2) (blue tote #7)
King
of the Wind by Marguerite Henry BF AO 3
TQ SL 5/F $5
Justin
Morgan had a Horse by Marguerite Henry BF
TQ SL $3
Brighty
of the Grand Canyon by Marguerite Henry BF
TQ SL $3
Brighty
of the Grand Canyon by Marguerite Henry BF
TQ SL $5
Anne
of Green Gables by L M Montgomery AO
TQ VP $4
Anne
of Windy Poplars by L M Montgomery AO
TQ $2
Anne’s
House of Dreams by L M Montgomery AO
TQ $2
Anne of Ingleside by L. M. Montgomery TQ AO $2 each
(x3)
Anne of the Island by L. M. Montgomery (hardcover, ex-library) TQ AO $3
Sounder
by William H. Armstrong SL Core 100 TQ $3 each (x3)
Rascal
by Sterling North TQ SL $3 each (x3)
Invincible
Louisa by Cornelia Miegs (hardcover ex-library) TQ $3
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott AO VP VT $4 each (x2)
Rose in Bloom by Louisa May Alcott AO $3
Eight Cousins by Louisa May Alcott AO $3
An Old Fashioned Girl by Louisa May Alcott AO $3
A Picture Book of Helen Keller by David A. Adler
TQ $3
Helen Keller – The Story of My Life by Helen
Keller - Illustrated Classics comic format $4
Helen Keller – The Story of My Life by Helen
Keller VT TQ $4
Helen Keller’s Teacher by Mickie Davidson TQ VT $3
Shadow of a Bull by Maia Wojciechowska SL 6/G $3 each (x2)
Stealing Home: The Story of Jackie Robinson by Barry Denenberg BF $3 each (x2)
20th
Century – The Fifties – Teacher Created Materials $2
Profiles in Courage by John F. Kennedy
(hardcover ex-library) $3
The Story of the Vietnam Memorial by David K.
Wright (hardcover ex-library)) CoF $4
If you Lived at the Time or Martin Luther King by Ellen Levine TQ VT $3
Young Rosa Parks, Civil Rights Heroine by Anne Benjamin (Troll
First Start Biography) TQ $3
Childhood
of Famous Americans Thurgood Marshall by Montrew Dunham (ex-library) $3
The
Day We Walked on the Moon, A Photo History of Space Exploration by George
Sullivan VT $4 each (x3)
The
Story of the White House by Kate Waters $4
Getting to Know the U.S.
Presidents - Gerald
R. Ford by Mike Venezia TQ $3
In
Defense of Liberty, The Story of America’s Bill of Rights by Russell Freedman (hardcover
w/Mylar; ex-library) $5
The
Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis SL $3
each (x3)
The
Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini BF $4
Misc. History
Resources
The American Patriot’s Almanac by William J. Bennett and John T.E.
Cribb (hardcover) $5
A Child’s Story of America by McHugh and Morris VP $4 (x2)
The Handy History Answer Book by Rebecca Nelson $4
Digging and Discovery – Wisconsin Archaeology – The New
Badger History Series $3 each (x3)
The Buck Stops Here, The Presidents of the United States
by Alice Provensen $4
American Adventure (25 books set) $30
-
Trouble on the Ohio River #15
-
Cincinnati Epidemic #17
-
Riot in the Night #18
-
Fight for Freedom #19
-
Enemy or Friend #20
-
War’s End #24
-
The Great Mill Explosion #26
-
Lights for Minneapolis #27
-
The Streetcar Riots #28
-
A Better Bicycle #30
-
The New Citizen #31
-
The San Francisco Earthquake #32
-
Marching with Sousa #33
-
Clash with the Newsboys # 34
-
Prelude to War #35
-
The Great War #36
-
The Flu Epidemic #37
-
Women Win the Vote #38
-
Battling the Klan #39
-
The Bootlegger Menace $40
-
Black Tuesday #41
-
The Great Depression #42
-
Changing Times #44
-
Rumblings of War #45
-
Coming Home #48
Geography,
Government, Economics, & Social Studies
DK Children Just Like Me (hardcover) $3
Homeschool
Ponies Volume 1: Patriotic Patches by Brenda Krames new w/iron on patches $10
Anno’s
U.S.A. by Mitsumasa Anno (hardcover, ex-library) $5
Anno’s
Journey by Mitsumasa Anno (hardcover, ex-library) $5
Geography
from A to Z, A Picture Glossary by Jack Knowlton (hardcover) MFW $4
Maps
& Globes by Jack Knowlton MFW $4
People by Peter Spier SL
$4
Steck-Vaughn Portraits of America series (new) $10 set of 13
includes:
- Wisconsin
- Pacific Islands
- Alabama
- Delaware
- Idaho
- Indiana
- New York
- North Dakota
- Utah
- Massachusetts
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- California
Basic American Government by Clarence Carson (hardcover) SL Core 300 $15
Kon-tiki by Thor Heyerdahl AO
$4