Posts Tagged short stories
Classic Storybook Appeals to Mom and Child
Posted by Diane in Recommended Homeschool Books on April 6th, 2010
Rare children’s books like those wonderful elementary “primers” your grandmother used to read to you when you were a little girl are often difficult to find; however, homeschool mom, Barbara Frank, has recently published a beautiful new vintage book of short stories for reading aloud to young children called Kindergarten Stories and Morning Talks. Isn’t that cover illustration scrumptious?
With over 125 vintage illustrations to supplement this 1894 text and an emphasis on virtues such as truth and gratitude, Kindergarten Stories and Morning Talks is sure to please your young homeschooler as you snuggle and read about animals, nature, fairy tales, fables, and even how old-timey household objects were made and chores were performed like how to churn butter. Here’s an excerpt from the “Milk, Butter, and Cheese” chapter:
Alice was greatly interested, when after this the milk to grow thick and form curds. She watched Aunt Lizzie chop the curds and press them till all the thin liquid whey was squeezed out of them, and they were salted and pressed in a round, solid form like those in the dairy, each cheese being put into a large hoop of wood, until it became of the right shape.
“See! this is a cheese, Alice”; and then kind Aunt Lizzie let Alice press and salt a tiny cheese with her own hands. How pleased and proud was the little girl when it was placed on the supper table, and mamma, papa, and even Aunt Lizzie each ate a small piece of Alice’s own cheese.
Especially interesting to me are all the references to what we now call “homesteading” and the lost art of homemaking from scratch with whatever resources you have on hand at the time. My mother-in-law would love this classic storybook, and I’m sure that she would stop every now and then and tell stories from her own childhood. In fact, this would be a great gift to purchase for read aloud time at granny’s house.
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Are you looking for classic storybooks for your young homeschool children? Check out my favorite selections in Best Homeschool Books for Preschoolers. There you’ll find my picks for predictable plot lines that are sure to please both parent and child during read aloud time. And if you know of a rare, vintage children’s book to share with us, tell me about it in the comments section below.
Publish Writing as Incentive to Quality
Posted by Diane in How to Teach Homeschool Skill 3: SPEAKING, Various Essays for Homeschool Parents on March 31st, 2010
This morning as our high school homeschool day began, my 15 year old son Connor shared this poem that he wrote last night. Many of you know that he is writing his first novel, and this poem reflects the thoughts of one of the main characters on his deathbed. After you read it, you will understand why I silently praised God for His ongoing, transformative power at work in shaping our childrens’ minds and hearts.
The Lament
My lament is not for love or trifles
But for death of friends and family,
The theft of life
And crimes unmentionable.
That is why I lament.For crimes to exist there must be evil.
For evil to exist there must be man.
For man to answer evil,
He must have fallen.
That is why I lament.For the fallen nature of man.
The fallen man cannot differentiate
Between good and evil nor know what is right and wrong.
He will act in personal gain for himself.
He will lie and persuade and kill, all on a whim.
That is why I lament.For the fallen nature of man.
But One will see. One will know.
One shall act. One must act.The lies shall disperse,
False victories topple
And persuasions lie still.
The fallen man shall disappear in the air,
As shall the One.For to defeat evil,
One must be sacrificed for others.
This is why I sing,
For the glory of redemption.
Publication of your homeschool child’s composition, whether on the refrigerator, in a decorated binder, on a blog, is an important incentive for ensuring quality content and presentation. If you want an official place to publish his or her poems, short stories, or book reviews, you can pay a minimal membership fee to join KidPub, and publish unlimited homeschool compositions.
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As you know, an authentic classical Christian home education often involves imitation of classical writers. I have a book to recommend for your high school homeschooler that will accomplish two purposes: (1) exposure to classic Christian themes as well as (2) exposure to excerpts from classic Christian poetry like John Milton’s “Paradise Lost,” John Bunyan’s “Pilgrim’s Progress,” and William Blake’s “The Lamb.” This book, The One Year Book of Poetry, includes 365 devotional readings based on classic Christian verse. Each day’s poem is accompanied by a Scripture passage and an interpretation to illuminate the poet’s theme. In addition to reading daily during his or her quiet time, your high school teen could imitate some of these classic poems. Or try reading aloud a poem together daily then discussing the theme. You’ll be blessed by the content and artistic delivery.
