Teach Through June
I’m a fan of a well-designed homeschool curriculum but I’ve pulled back a bit to allow more room for books. I was not a confident homeschooler in the early years and relied heavily on curriculum for the step-by-step guidance that I needed. These days, I enjoy planning themes for the month, finding relevant books, activities, and other resources, and then using our morning time to dive in. I’m amazed at the vast content that we’ve been able to cover over the years and I love watching my children take what they’ve learned from one little picture book into their day and weave it into their play and conversations. The last of my 7 learners is a bit of a reluctant learner but he never turns down a read-aloud or a hands-on activity to accompany the book…another benefit of using books. June is a great time of year to transition to using more books even if it’s just to keep summer learning going. Curriculum studies are often winding down at this time of year and June is full of educational themes and topics. We’ve pulled together a few book stacks to help you cover the following topics. June is National Indigenous History Month Indian Tribes of North America – Coloring Book Hiawatha Northwest Coast Indians – Coloring Book How Summer Came to Canada Island of the Blue Dolphins Canadian Fairy Tales The Indian School World Ocean Day is June 8th Island Boy My First Book About the Oceans A Morning to Polish and Keep What Lives in a Shell One Morning in Maine Follow the Water from Brook to Ocean Oceans Sea Animals – Sticker & Coloring Book Time of Wonder June 5th is National Health and Fitness Day Hear Your Heart My First Book About the Brain How Many Teeth Lungs My First Human Body Coloring Book June 21st is World Music Day Musical Instruments Great Composers Meet the Orchestra Spiritual Lives of the Great Composers Music Activity Book The Story of the Orchestra The Gift of Music A few other resources to mention… June 1st is World Milk Day and we carry a sweet little resource for you to read to your children…Milk From Cow to Carton. You don’t need to look much farther than your grocery store to add a fun activity to accompany this read-aloud; a menu filled with fun dairy foods! If you are looking for a more complete study on where our food comes from we carry a bunch of picture books that are a great place to start: How Do Apples Grow, From Seed to Plant, Honeymakers, The Vegetables We Eat. It’s the story behind The Swiss Family Robinson that makes this novel a good choice for Fathers Day. The author, Johann David Wyss (1743-1818) was a pastor in Switzerland. He created this story to entertain and instruct his boys after they developed an interest in the Robinson Crusoe story. This is a classic family read-aloud and will prime your children for hours of summer creative play. If you are looking to add some formal learning to this novel we also carry the Swiss Family Robinson Comprehension Guide. Also, don’t forget that this novel has been made into a movie. See our Movie Night Book Stack for a complete list of novels that have been made into movies. June marks the beginning of the summer season. The Reasons for the Seasons does a great job explaining why seasons change. Add these titles to round out your child’s understanding of the relationship between the seasons and solar system: The Moon Book, The Sky is Full of Stars, The Big Dipper, Along Came Galileo. Visit us again next month for a new list of books that you can add to your summer homeschool. by Adrianne Curwen Adrianne is a wife to a public-school educator/administrator and a homeschooling Mama to seven children, ranging in age from 7 to 23. She believes that we have a unique opportunity as homeschoolers to design individualized education that suits giftings, interests, and passions. She and her husband have used a blend of registered homeschooling, enrolment with independent DL schools, and participation in public trade school programs to design individualized programs for their children. She is passionate about using as many read-alouds, picture books, novels, and conversations to educate her children but also gets excited by the amazing homeschool-designed curriculum that’s out there. Adrianne is thrilled by her new role as Communication Specialist for Classical Education Books and is grateful to have an opportunity to learn something new. She is grateful, every day, for her saviour, Jesus Christ, and has no greater joy than when she sees her most important missions field walk with Him.
Legends and Leagues – Geography in Color
Geography is anything but dry and boring. If that’s been your experience, then we have a treat for you! Legends and Leagues is a journey around the world, including history where relevant, and just to keep you on your toes, there are fantasy creatures involved. (How else are you going to travel across Europe in a couple of hours?) The first book and workbook are for young children, ages 5-7. This is just a fun story awakening a youngster’s mind to charting a path, and how one could do that. The next four courses are for ages 8-12. These can be done in any order since they don’t build on each other, they just cover the countries as follows. Each course includes a review of Continents and Oceans: North: British Isles, Europe, Scandinavia, Former U.S.S.R. South: Africa, Middle East East: Asia, Oceania, Australia, New Zealand West: North America, South America Each course includes a read-aloud book, which could be a stand-alone but the workbooks really enhance the stories and give a more practical look at the country being studied. It includes flags, questions about major landmarks, historical events that changed geography, recipes, crafts, and activities. There are a few questions that need answers, and those are divided into easier and harder categories so this book can be used for a range of ages simultaneously. Yes, it would make a perfect Morning Basket curriculum. A few missionary read-alouds would be the perfect pairing for this curriculum that will tell your children about other nations. The Taste of Asia devotional would be the perfect way to pray about the countries that you are studying in the Legends and Leagues East. While I was reviewing this, I couldn’t help thinking that this was the next step for the Around the World with Picture Books I and II packages. Those are the best introduction to the world around us for young children, ages 4-8. If you have completed those, this is certainly the next step in your geography curriculum. Quick facts: First book and workbook for grades 4-7 (or you could do the Around the World with Picture books packages). The next 4 levels can be done in any order There are two sets of questions directed to younger and older students This can be done with children of multiple ages simultaneously Includes recipes and activities Click here to shop now! by Hester VanBraeden Hester is a second-generation home-educating parent who is keenly aware that her own education is not complete, and comfortable that it probably never will be. She has many years of experience with children, books, and curriculum. She loves to travel to worlds and times beyond the present with her children through many books. Hester and her husband have four children and live in the lower mainland of BC.
The Myth Made Fact: Reading Greek and Roman Mythology through Christian Eyes (Book Review)
The Myth Made Fact: Reading Greek and Roman Mythology through Christian Eyes by Louis Markos PhD review by Sarah Mast When I first saw this book cover in my inbox from Classical Academic Press’ newsletter, I knew I wanted to read it, and I knew Classical Education Books would carry it as quickly as it could be published. I thought it was going to be similar to their adult education series; books that are as encouraging as they are informative. The Myth Made Fact was so different than my expectations; in the best way. The Myth Made Fact crosses genres to become not only a historical, literary, and Christian studies textbook, but also an anthology of ancient Greek and Roman myths, a charitable academic seminar on truth and virtue, and a guidebook on how to teach these subjects to students or yourself. It also includes art pieces from throughout the millennia to help dramatize some of the texts with art history. This book is a cross-disciplinarian dream. I love books, art, field trips, and the like to be as interwoven as possible with other subjects. It makes the experience so much richer when we can help our children (or ourselves) comprehend meaningful connections within our learning. The minute I opened up the first page to Markos’ Table of Contents, I knew I’d be given all the information I needed, including but not limited to: A Note on Virtue, Appendices (mythology in pop culture, pedagogical approaches, and classroom usage), a Character Glossary and more. Although lengthy introductions are included, I’m so glad I didn’t skimp on them and just fast-forward to the myths chapters. I would have missed so much ‘meat’! In The Myth Made Fact, he practically breaks down the myths into subsections which were helpful to me as someone who did not grow up reading myths. After each myth, Markos writes his “Reflections”. These put the myth in context for us today and marries it with theological truth and virtue. He has ample footnotes provided, and I am so glad they are thorough. What I lack in classical understanding, he guides me along like a patient Dante, providing the background that I need to understand the full weight and meaning. After the reflections come the next section of each myth chapter, the Applications. Markos has written between 1-10 questions (often with a subset of questions) that a highschool student could work through for History, Literature, and Christian studies learning, or if you’re like me, an adult who wants to rub my eyes to ‘see through the dark glass’ more clearly, from antiquity to present day. These questions will challenge someone who has been a Christian for a long time, and it will invite students to stretch and wrestle with their own faith-based questions. I have been homeschooling for many years, and my son and daughter have grown up with a love of myths thanks to a popular and prolific writer. When my son saw the cover of this book he said, “Hmm. That looks pretty interesting.” This is teenage-speak for excitement and I knew I immediately had buy-in, but I wanted to read it first so I could really engage well with him and go through the Applications questions together; something his debater nature loves to do. The Myth Made Fact has encouraged me in my Christian faith, guided me through my historical gaps, and has helped my son and I take part in ‘the great conversation’ together. I look forward to keeping this treasure on my shelves for many years, but “don’t take my word for it”, pick it up and deep-dive into a delightful study of truth, goodness, and beauty. 1 Although I may not have the classical understanding I wish to (yet), I do know that Rick Riordan has helped a generation of kids learn the Greek, Roman, Norse, (etc!) myths with humor and fast-paced plot. 2 LeVar Burton, presenter of “Reading Rainbow”; one of my reading mentors from childhood My name is Sarah Mast and I homeschool my two kids in Ft. Langley, BC. One of my favorite aspects of homeschooling is the community gained, and I volunteer with a local support group to help foster that and connect others. My family loves the outdoors and traveling, and our weekends include skiing, swimming, hiking, or biking depending on the season. I found Classical Education Books at a conference and noticed their well-curated selection of children’s books. I kept tabs on their collection of the classics and hard-to-find books and reached out. Now I get to help customers hone their collections, and work on the ever-growing inventory here at CEB!
Sally Clarkson Books
Our culture minimizes the importance of a mother’s role but Sally Clarkson helps to set things straight! She has been a mentor to many homeschooling mamas through the pages of her books and we encourage you to treat yourself to this trio or order one, leaving the rest on your Wishlist. The Mission of Motherhood Mom Heart Moments The Ministry of Motherhood Sally Clarkson also has a Podcast called At Home with Sally Clarkson & Friends. I wasn’t a Christian when I began my mothering journey. I was several years in when I became a Christian and the Lord has used many wonderful resources over the years to shape my view of motherhood for the better. There was a time when I had a very poor attitude towards motherhood. I struggled to see the value in the day-to-day details of mom life and I felt overwhelmed by a task list that seemed neverending, unmanageable, far too repetitive, and very menial. I’ve received wonderful mentorship in the pages of books written for moms but admittedly, I have had The Mission of Motherhood sitting on my shelf for quite some time, unread. I have really enjoyed listening to Sally’s podcasts and can testify from listening to her that she is a resource that you will benefit from! Whether you are struggling in your role or at a place where you just need some affirmation, these books will bless you! Rest assured that you are spending heaps of time on tasks that do have real value, both for the here and now and for eternity. You have a sweet missions field that lives right in your home and I encourage you to set your mind to that on a daily basis. My best days start with the Lord, in his word, and in prayer. Remember that there is nothing we can accomplish apart from his grace and there are things only the Lord can do in the lives of our children. Be encouraged as you spend another day doing mom things. by Adrianne Curwen Adrianne is a wife to a public-school educator/administrator and a homeschooling Mama to seven children, ranging in age from 7 to 23. She believes that we have a unique opportunity as homeschoolers to design individualized education that suits giftings, interests, and passions. She and her husband have used a blend of registered homeschooling, enrolment with independent DL schools, and participation in public trade school programs to design individualized programs for their children. She is passionate about using as many read-alouds, picture books, novels, and conversations to educate her children but also gets excited by the amazing homeschool-designed curriculum that’s out there. Adrianne is thrilled by her new role as Communication Specialist for Classical Education Books and is grateful to have an opportunity to learn something new. She is grateful, every day, for her saviour, Jesus Christ, and has no greater joy than when she sees her most important missions field walk with Him.
