The Charlotte Mason Girl

Thursday's Resource Review - Of Plymouth Plantation

Today, I want to share one our family's favorite November traditions - Bradford's History of the Plymouth Settlement, titled Of Plymouth Plantation.  This book is a fairly detailed account of the pilgrims who were used of the Lord to help begin the nation I live in today - one that I love.  The story begins about 12 years before the pilgrims actually arrived in the New World, and Bradford takes great effort to detail all the events and conditions that led the pilgrims to finally make that great trip.  The story continues through the long, arduous voyage and goes even further, following the settlement through 30 years after they arrived in the New World.

 

He shares their persecution in England, the freedom and temptations they had in Holland, and why they saw the trip to the New World as less dangerous than staying put.  Probably my favorite quote from the whole book comes in the description of the discussion that led to the decision to leave: "Last and not least, they cherished a great hope and inward zeal of laying good foundations, or at least of making some way towards it, for the propagation and advance of the gospel of the kingdom of Christ in the remote parts of the world, even though they should be but stepping stones to others in the performance of so great a work." - page 21.  

 

It is humbling to realize that this group of hearty souls was willing to face incredible hardship, danger, more persecution, and a great unknown place just to be stepping stones for the advancement of the gospel - and I have so greatly benefited from that.  

 

We spend November evenings listening to Daddy read to us from this fantastic eyewitness report of a very important part of the birth of America.  It's a wonderful way to make the transition into the longer, quieter, slower paced evenings of winter.  When our children were young, Daddy went through and highlighted the sections that were appropriate and brief enough to keep their attention, yet share the heart of the story.  As the years have gone by, more and more sections have been highlighted.  We sometimes keep it shorter for the little ones, but we read most of the story up through the first Thanksgiving every year.  The section on Squanto is my favorite part!  Bradford's words about Squanto after his death are a testimony to how Squanto was used by God.  

 

After Thanksgiving, we will begin preparations for Christmas, and break out a big jigsaw puzzle.  First, though, we will give thanks for all the Lord has done for us - including how he used a small band of 102 souls as stepping stones in the spreading of the gospel to a New World.  You can get your own copy at our bookstore - Ancient Paths Christian Bookstore.

 

Thursday's Resource Review - Moonfinder

Welcome to our new feature - Thursday's Resource Review.  Each Thursday I will tell you about a resource that our family has used.  I will let you know my opinion and my children's opinion on it.  My desire is to let you know about some great resources that we have found helpful, to let you know about the things that haven't worked so well for us, and to tell you all about it so you can decide if it's something you might like to try out for yourself.  

 

Today I want to share about a fantastic story book that we found this summer - Moonfinder by Jay Ryan.  This is a beautifully illustrated book that follows a little boy's discovery of the night sky.  I think the book is worth the illustrations alone.  The colors are rich and the pictures are VERY well done.  

As David is looking at the night sky, his father points out the moon to him and tells him why it looks the way it looks, and why it is where it is in the sky.  Over the course of a few weeks, David learns why the moon looks different each night, and why it's in a different place each evening, or even in the morning sky!  I can't imagine a better introduction to astronomy for your family.  One time someone said that astronomy is so easy to study, because your resources appear each night!

 

My children (and I!) learned how the moon moves around the earth, why it changes it's shape, why sometimes we see it in the day and sometimes at night.  Now, every time we leave the house, we are all looking to see if we can be 'Moonfinders', too!  (Unless it's cloudy, of course!)

This is a wonderful living book - a great introduction into classical astronomy (in part - astronomy without telescope) for your family.  If you are thinking, "Wow!  I just have to get my hands on this book!" - well, you can click on Moonfinder to get it now!  You will not dread it when your children ask you to read it over and over again, as I believe you will enjoy it as much as your children do!

 

Sometimes when I share a link to a product, it's an affiliate link.  This means I get a little money if you decide to buy after clicking through my link.  That is not the case today - none of these links are affiliate links.  I just love this book so much - I want to see every CM home have a copy!

 

I would love to hear from you after you have this book!  Leave a comment and let me know what you think of the book.

 

Yesterday's Classics - You Are Not Going to Believe This!

I have started to write this review several times, now.  Have you ever been so excited about something, and wanted to say just the right thing, but get tongue-tied trying to get your thoughts out?  That's JUST how I feel this week!  I have been perusing 225 books - in Kindle or EPUB format - that are going to be a fantastic addition to our home's digital library.  I can read the EPUB format right on my computer.  These titles are being offered by Yesterday's Classics and Ancient Paths Christian Bookstore, and you won't believe the price - I'll tell you in a minute!

                                



The collection of books is astounding!  There are British history books, American history books, World history books from the earliest civilizations through the American Civil War and beyond, books of poetry, nature stories, Tales From Shakespeare and Beautiful Stories From Shakespeare, myths and fables, and stories of great faith.  You could literally keep your children busy throughout their school years with these books.  If any of your children complete the entire list of books, they will have a great education!  

 

                   

 

There are stories about explorers and their adventures, scientists and their discoveries, inventors and their inventions.  Too many to go on.  You can see the complete list of books (in Kindle or EPUB format) with a brief description for EACH title here.  

Here is just one example of the information you can find at Yesterday's Classics:

"The Story of the Greeks
by Helene A. Guerber
Elementary history of Greece, made up principally of stories about persons, giving at the same time a clear idea of the most important events in the ancient world and calculated to enforce the lessons of perseverance, courage, patriotism, and virtue that are taught by the noble lives described. Beginning with the legends of Jason, Theseus, and events surrounding the Trojan War, the narrative moves on to present the contrasting city-states of Sparta and Athens, the war against Persia, their conflicts with each other, the feats of Alexander the Great, and annexation by Rome. Ages 10-14. 365 Pages
	Paperback  $13.95"

You can see that there is enough information here to tell you if this book will fit with your current studies, or be enjoyed as a great free-reading selection.  You notice that the book is available in paperback for just $13.95.  That's pretty good for a good book, however, you can get this ENTIRE COLLECTION of 225 classic titles in Kindle or EPUB format for the unbelievable price of $99.95!  If you were to buy each of these books seperately in paperback, you would spend about $2,500.  If you were to buy each Kindle or EPUB edition seperately, you would spend about $650.  I think that $99.95, or $.44 each, is a deal that is just too good to pass up!  Many of you use Ambleside Online, Living Books Curriculum, or Heart of Dakota as a guide to your book selection.  Many, many of these titles are on these recommended book lists.  I cannot wait to get my own children started on them!

 

No matter what your interest is - there are several books in this collection for you.  Studying Ancient Greece?  There are 30 titles that you can choose from.  Ancient Rome?  18 titles.  Want to start exploring some science with your grade-schooler?  7 titles.  Do you see why I am SO EXCITED?!!  I hope you will hop on over to check out these titles and this great deal!  Come back and let me know what you think!

GA Henty and Charlotte Mason

The stories of Henty may awaken in your children a love for reading (my son can't put them down!), a love for history (again, my son loves to share his new historical knowledge with the family around the dinner table after a good read), and a passion for fullfilling the God-honoring roll as defender and protector of his family.  Charlotte Mason (my hero as I strive to teach my own children) said that good literature must contain truth, beauty, and nobility - to awaken the mind of the reader, and give the mind meat to feed on. 

 

If you are a fan of Charlotte Mason's educational methods, you will want to read some of her own writings.  Charlotte Mason was a wonderful woman who lived in the late 19th century and early 20th century.  She was orphaned at the age of 16, and gave her life to educating children.  She was far ahead of her time, as most educators saw children as merely buckets to pour lots of information into.  Miss Mason, on the other hand saw children as needing great ideas presented in interesting ways to have their minds quickened into learning all they could about the world, and how they would fit into it.  She knew they were capable, intelligent, and thoughtful beings.  She believed every child deserved a great education, and that the child's parents could give it, if they had the right information.  So, she set out to teach not only professional educators, but parents how to teach their children well.  As a result of her life's work, millions of children have been educated with excellence.  As the homeschooling movement has enjoyed a resurgence, Miss Mason's thoughts have again become popular with parents who want to give their children an excellent education. 

 

I have a few of these resources for sale on ebay, now, and I wanted to let you know about them.  These items are listed at ridiculously low prices, but that makes it affordable for nearly everyone.  To see these items, clink on the following links:

Charlotte Mason Books

GA Henty Beric the Briton

GA Henty Winning His Spurs

 

I will be working on adding new titles in the next few weeks.  I hope these are helpful to you as you strive to give your children an excellent education!

Dry Books and Little Gems

We recently found some books in our stash that belonged to my husband's grandmother.  One of the wonderful things about homeschooling with living books (some may see it more as a curse) is that you are always willing to bring a book home, especially if it is OLD!  Even old textbooks hold some charm to our eyes.  Because of this, everytime there is a stash of books to be given away, family members are always willing to let us have them!  We have found many treasures this way, even some that we think ought to be shared with the world again.  (I'll let you know more about that later!)

 

Well, we were going through yet another box of great books obtained from Larry's grandmother.  She had been a teacher, and so there are some real gems in this collection.  We came accross a little history book titled "Historical Course for Schools", and the following inscription was written in the front cover by a Miss Lavinia Musicki:

"If there should be another flood,

My friends, Oh, hither fly!

Though all the world should be submerged,

This book would still be dry."

As I was writing up this post, I found a little clipping from a newspaper - obviously old, but don't have any other reference information for it - and it had this little poem on it credited to Francis Ridley Havergal:

MISUNDERSTOOD

"People do not understand me:

Their ideas are not like mine;

All advances seem to leave me

Still outside their guarded shrine."

 

So you turn from simple joyance,

Losing many a mutual good,

Weary with the chill annoyance

So to be misunderstood.

 

'Twill not be a fruitless labor:

Overcome this ill with good;

Try to understand your neighbor,

And you will be understood.

So you see, You can find a gem, even in the rough of a dry book!  So, keep hunting for those great books, and you may enjoy the journey of the search as much as the final treasure you unearth!

New and improved website - Ancient Paths Christian Bookstore

We are so excited here, today!  My husband and his web designer have been working hard on a total makeover of his website, and it is done! 

 

This has taken longer than expected, but it is so worth the wait!  Of course, I think it’s beautiful – and I’m not THAT biased!  You can find all kinds of wonderful resources for your family.  We have Charlotte Mason resources – including my favorite – A Charlotte Mason Companion.  You will also find great audio dramas your children will LOVE – and you will want to listen in, too!  There are resources about Church history, books for family read aloud, American History resources, and much, much more!  Check it out for yourself, and let Larry know I sent you over!