How to Read a Book? How About a Hundred?! (Okay, Maybe Less...)
Tuesday, October 9, 2012 at 9:32PM I have been excited about the books that Michaela is going to read this year. I am hoping to study history with her from Ancients through the period just before the Reformation (and then I think I'll let Mike take over for that segment). (haha For anyone who doesn't know, he specialized in that period for his Ph.D. and wrote his dissertation on John Calvin.) While it is a LOT of information to cover, I think it's doable. This means that I am a) now an overachiever, b) certifiably insane, or c) making a plan with the hope that we'll get done as much as we can. Or maybe all three?
I found this book online at our library, and it looked promising. I have read the Introduction and a few pages into the first chapter, and I like it so far. I need to read ahead and assign Michaela passages, I think, because it's so huge. It would be overwhelming for her if I stuck it in front of her and said,"Read until you get to the founding of Rome." I would like to use this book to practice outlining. (Yes, Wendy, I am that mean to make her do outlines outside of Essentials! haha)
I have never been good about science with her, but hopefully that can change this school year. I am also excited about the historical fiction/literature selections that we are going to read. Really well-written Young Adult Literature (young adult literature? It seems like it ought to be capitalized. What do you think?) is my favorite.
Speaking of well-written young adult literature (Weird, here it doesn't seem like it should be capitalized!) I discovered Rosemary Sutcliff in my preparations for this year (I think I got her name/works from a list my sister-in-law has) and have been stockpiling her books for Michaela to dig into as we reach the appropriate time in history (closer to 1 AD). The fiction reading isn't a problem for her, but I do need to help her appreciate the stuff that isn't quite as...story-like! The people in history are so fascinating, though; I'm hoping the figures we encounter will do the job of winning her over! From Hatshepsut, the woman who was Pharaoh, to the men and women through whom God reveals the story of humanity and redemption, to the great Greek philosohers, there are enough characters to load her mind with details, twists, and turns, which relate so much about who we are and where we've been as people.
Most of these books are library books, but some we've purchased. Today, I found these books at our library on the "book sale" table...for $.75 a piece! I was happy. I have to remember to check that table out now and then!
I am also reading the books that Christian does his book reports on so that I can help him think through his presentations. He has one report a month.
So! I have my work cut out for me. I better get back to reading Mr. Adler's How to Read a Book...
Reader Comments (2)
Sigh. This is why I don't homeschool. I could never convince my kids to read stuff like this because in my own head I'd be yelling, "BORING!"
I am a cretin.
Mindee, I think you'd really like some of the stories! They're good! :)