Literature the Handmaiden of History: Reading List 2014

This is how we roll . . . 

Literature and History are two of the foundation stones upon which we are building our house of knowledge.  I have approached both of these subjects with the utmost respect since the beginning of our homeschooling days.

Not that I do not approach all subjects with such seriousness, but these two get special noteworthiness in the pantheon of educating in our home.

Literature is given a noteworthy nod in our home for its ability to explain and expand our knowledge of history, and the narrative telling of the human race.  I have once heard it told that "Literature is the handmaiden of History".  We teach Literature in the traditional Charlotte Mason, no textbooks allowed style, narration-styled discussion.  The majority of the novels that the kids are using this upcoming year are selections from Ambleside Online, with a few additions here and there to suit individual tastes and needed historical content.  

Grade 6: Medieval History
This is what I would consider a bit of an adventurous booklist!  The Bug is a reader though, and I believe this list will challenge and stretch her abilities.

• The History of English Literature for Girls and Boys by H.E. Marshall
• The Once and Future King by T.H. White
• The Age of Chivalry by Thomas Bulfinch
• Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott
• A Taste of Chaucer by Anne Malcolmson
• Watership Down by Richard Adams

FREE READING LIST: Men of Iron by: Howard Pyle, The Adventures of Robin Hood by: Howard Pyle, The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by: Howard Pyle, Galen and the Gateway of Medicine, Door in the Wall by:Marguerite de Angeli

Poetry: Tennyson, Keats

Grade 10:

• The History of English Literature for Boys and Girls by: H.E. Marshall
• The Canterbury Tales by: Geoffrey Chaucer
• Utopia by: Sir Thomas More
• The Merchant of Venice by: William Shakespeare - We are discussing this in a group, so we will also be using the No Fear Shakespeare version.
• Paradise Lost by: John Milton
• Pilgrim's Progress in Modern English by: John Bunyan
• Silas Marner by: George Elliot
• The Tale of Two Cities by: Charles Dickens
• Frankenstein by: Mary Shelley
• Pride and Prejudice by: Jane Austen
• Animal Farm by: George Orwell

Poetry: Maynard, Donne, Milton

Family Read-A-Loud List:

Purpose Driven Life by: Rick Warren $3.97

• A Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren
• The Story of the World, Volume 2 by: Susan Wise Bauer
• The Adventures of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table by: Howard Pyle

• Don Quixote by Miguel Cervantes

• God's Smuggler by Brother Andrew and John Sherrill

The Story of the Trapp Family Singers by: Maria Augusta Trapp $3.97

• The Story of the Trapp Family Singers by: Maria Augusta Trapp

• The Case For Christ by: Lee Strobel

• Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens

What is the book that you are most excited about reading with your family this year?

If you missed our Curriculum post, here is what Our Charlotte Mason Education will look like this year.

• Don't forget to get your copy today! The Big Book of Homeschooling Ideas.  55 Homeschool Moms sharing their expertise on 103 Homeschooling topics.  Great read for the back-to-homeschool month!  I am also a tiny bit excited about this publication because your's truly wrote two chapters.

Joyfully Learning with You,

The Joyful Socks Mom 

Be sure to keep up with Joyful Socks on Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram & Facebook

** This post may contain affiliate links.  Thank you for your support. You can read my full disclosure policy here.**

Our Charlotte Mason Education with Middle School & High School

We are in our 8th year of home educating.  We instruct utilizing a Charlotte Mason style with our 3 remaining children at home, they are 10, 15 and 15 years old.  We also attend a 3-day per week Christian Classical cooperative where the kids take a minimal amount of classes, and I help with instruction.  This can provide us with a big juggling act for time during the school, which I suppose makes us no different than any other home educating family, really.

Our new school year actually begins in September this year, although we will be back at homeschool cooperative before then.  We are trying a different calendar to compliment our year-round school schedule.  We will not be taking "traditional" school breaks, but instead we will be attempting a 3 months on, 1 month off-type schedule.  I'll let you know how it goes.

Our Homeschool Curriculum -  I have highlighted our basic curriculum below.  We have been utilizing Ambleside Online for over 3 years now for our base curriculum.  I will post later this week discussing reading selections for Literature and History this year, as we will not be strictly following the regular Ambleside schedule.  I have included links to the curriculum we use (some affiliate), other links are free downloads, PDF's and eBooks.

GRADE 6

The Bug is in Grade 6 & she is 10 years old.

                                                                     

Grammar: Daily - Book recommendations from Ambleside Online Year 7
Language Lessons for Secondary Student, Volume 1 and Editor In Chief A

     

Spelling: Daily - All About Spelling Level 2
Bi-Weekly -  Spelling Journals (I think I should post how we use these soon.)

Latin: Visual Latin 1

French: Bi-Weekly - Middlebury French I (review coming is September 2014)

  

Math: Daily - Teaching Textbooks 6, Life of Fred: Kidneys, Liver, Mine Shaft

Bible, Science, History: Book selections from Ambleside Online Year 7; 

***Mystery of History: Volume 2 at Homeschool Cooperative

Geography: North Star Geography 

GRADE 10

The Scout & the Squeaker are both entering Grade 10 and both 15 years old.

Grammar:  Language Lessons for the High School Student; Editor in Chief, High School; Writers Inc.

Latin:Visual Latin 2

Spanish: *** Spanish 1 at Homeschool Cooperative

Math: Saxon Algebra I 

Bible: Book selections from Ambleside Online Year 10

History & Literature:

     

Science: Apologia - *** Exploring Creation with Biology at Homeschool Cooperative

Geography: Ambleside Online Year 10, North Star Geography 

FAMILY STUDIES

Here is what we will be studying together as a family.  Some family studies take place in the evening, specifically so that dad can take part or lead discussion.  Other family studies are covered during the day with multi-level instruction.

• HISTORY: (evening) Yes, we need more history lessons, or maybe just dad and mom! ---> History of America, A Christian Study Course (DVD series)
• WRITING: (evening) Right Words, I am loving this family writing curriculum that we purchased at the Heritage Homestead last November.
• Plutarch's Lives: (evening) Ambleside Online Schedule
• Handicrafts: We rotate every term for each child - Term 1: The Bug - Sewing, The Squeaker - Paper Mache, The Scout - Woodworking

• Life-skills: Each of the children our focusing on their own small business ventures.  (Should blog about this later.  It has been fun to help them with this interest-led learning.)

• Nature Study: Ambleside Online Schedule, Outdoor Hour Challenge, and NaturExplores e-books
• Shakespeare Study: Ambleside Online Schedule
• Artist/Composer Study:*Notebooking using Harmony Fine Arts* I recently not so recently purchased the Harmony Fine Arts Medieval and Renaissance - Middle School which we will use in conjunction with the Mark Kisler's Draw Squad book.  We attempted to complete this last year, but only finished 12 weeks on the curriculum . . . Ack!  Let's try this again, shall we??

The curriculum is set and the planning is all complete, all that is left is prayer.  As I pray for God's continued blessing, guidance and favor on our home and education, I would like to pray for you, my readers and friends.  

How can we join you in prayer and pray for your family and homeschool?

Don't forget to get your copy today!

The Big Book of Homeschooling Ideas.  55 Homeschool Moms sharing their expertise on 103 Homeschooling topics.  Great read for the back-to-homeschool month!  I am also a tiny bit excited about this publication because your's truly wrote two chapters.

Joyfully Learning with You,

The Joyful Socks Mom 

Be sure to keep up with Joyful Socks on Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram & Facebook

** This post may contain affiliate links.  Thank you for your support. You can read my full disclosure policy here.**

5 Reasons To Use e-Books In Your Homeschool

PHOTO CREDIT via Compfight.com CC

As the homeschool year quickly encroaches on your waning summer, I have good news for the anxious homeschool mom.  You can do it!  It will be fine.  

I promise.

There are few things that weary the mind of a home educator more that of the looming thought of missing curriculum.  Really.  Okay, well, perhaps the idea of the financial commitment needed for said curriculum.  Or maybe lack of storage space.  Okay, perhaps it is ALL.OF.THE.ABOVE.

Here is where I give you suggestions to relieve your weary homeschool momma mind. E-books.  (and NO, you don't have to have an e-reader to partake in the potential feast that e-books promise.)  E-books have many benefits to offer a home educator, here are just a few:

1. Shelf space is a rare and precious commodity, don't waste it.  E-books enable you to make the best use of all available storage space in your home.  Kids may actually not want to store canned goods or homeschool books under their beds.  Just saying.  
2. Using e-Books means that you know where you placed that silly book you were going to use in history class.  HINT: Pssst . . . it's on your computer, or on your e-reader.  Done.
3. Your marriage should last past another year of Homeschool Book Sales & Conventions.  E-books may help limit your spousal conflict over homeschool budgeting, storage space and more.
4. Learning from the homeschoolers that have trodden the path before me has incalculable worth.  Many e-books are written by other home educators.  Educators who have been down the road you are still going down.  Homeschool moms who have been in the trenches and lived to see a new day.  Knowledge is power.  Go get it!
5. High quality, good value and excellent service never get old-fashioned.  Many classics can be found in e-book format, usually for FREE.  Now, you're speaking my language.  Also, in my own experience, many home educators publish their own books in e-book format, making their knowledge and writing readily accessible to the homeschooling community.  These homeschool moms pour valuable time, experience, years of wisdom and effort into these e-books, most of which are of great economical value.  Result?  Excellent book, good value, quality service.  Yes, please.

E-books, in short, give you the most bang for your proverbial buck.  Utilize them well, grasshopper.

Do you use e-books as part of your homeschool curriculum?

While we are talking e-books, here is one you need to hop over and grab.  The Big Book of Homeschooling Ideas.  55 Homeschool Moms sharing their expertise on 103 Homeschooling topics.  Great read for the back-to-homeschool month!  I am also a tiny bit excited about this publication because your's truly wrote two chapters.

Joyfully Learning with You,

The Joyful Socks Mom 

Be sure to keep up with Joyful Socks on Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram & Facebook

** This post may contain affiliate links.  Thank you for your support. You can read my full disclosure policy here.**