Christmas in the Trenches

During the Christmas season I try to read as many Christmas books to the kids as I can squeeze in. It’s not possible to read every night, due to other holiday going-ons, but the kids take turns picking out which story they want to hear when we are snuggled in at home.

Tonight Blake chose Christmas in the Trenches by John McCutcheon. This is a book I picked up at ,where else but,  a thrift store a couple of years ago and  it remains one of our favorites. The author first wrote a song, then a book was developed from that. The touching storyline is loosely based on a Christmas truce that occurred during WWI.

The book also contains a brief author’s note on how he came to compose the song and a historical note on the actual occurrence of the truce. The last pages of the book are the lyrics to the song, itself.

So, to wrap up our story time, we found a video of the author singing the song and watched that. If you have the time, it’s worth viewing, especially at this time of year.

I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas!

Planning Your Charlotte Mason Education Review

I've been using Planning Your Charlotte Mason Education , published by Simply Charlotte Mason, to plan our lessons for next year.

This set consists of a DVD with a companion notebook. You have a choice of either a printed, spiral-bound book or a downloadable e-book. I chose to download and print the e-book so I could make additions to my notebook if necessary. As a side note, if one purchases the spiral book,
Simply Charlotte Mason includes a pdf. file of the charts and forms that one can print off as needed.

The DVD is of a live seminar that Sonya Shafer taught on planning the Charlotte Mason way. She walks you through the 5 steps of planning:

1. Big Picture
2. Your Year
3. Your Term
4. Your Week
5. Your Day

At certain points, she has you pause the DVD to complete a step. It's as if Sonya is in your living room, helping you plan! I've discovered how beneficial it is to go through each step, rather than just leaping to the end result.

Bear in mind, this is not a lesson in exactly what to teach and when to teach it. It deals with taking what you want to teach and scheduling it in a way to fit your family. Sonya gives some excellent tips on scheduling, such as what subjects can be done together with all grade levels.

Various lists are included in the notebook to aid in the planning process: possible topics, artists, handicraft ideas, life skills, composers, Shakespeare plays and history rotations.

Sonya has you put your homeschooling goals on paper and rate which subjects are most important to you, for your homeschool. She includes a description of CM methods and a short how-to on implementing them.

A few pages of ideas of how to school with preschoolers in the mix is pretty handy for those with little ones.

The notebook is rounded out by tons of charts, worksheets, and examples, including schedules from Ms. Mason's schools.

I have been able to complete my plans for next year one step at a time, and am now prepared to input my daily schedule for each child into my computer, since they like to have the printed checklist to work off of.

I have tried other teacher planners, homeschool planners, forms, etc., and this is the most thorough planning guide I've come across. I will continue to use it through the remainder of my homeschooling years.

All-Day Charlotte Mason Seminar Review

I finally had a chance to sit down and watch (absorb) the

All-Day Charlotte Mason seminar on DVD which I had ordered from Simply Charlotte Mason. Let me preface my post by saying that I am in no way affiliated with their company and have not been asked to write a review on this or any other product they sell. The product was simply just something I ordered to help me understand more about the CM method of teaching.

The DVDs are a recording of a live CM seminar taught by Sonya Shafer. There are 3 DVDs and a companion workbook that enables one to follow along and take notes. I did not order the Laying Down the Rails DVD as I had already listened to the audio and am in the process of reading the book.

I've read just about everything out there I can get my hands on concerning Charlotte Mason, but this has to be, by far, the most comprehensive, all-in-one resource I've seen. Sonya does a wonderful job laying it all out for you, in easy to understand steps and language.

She starts out with an introduction to Charlotte Mason, who she was and what her thoughts on education were, followed by a summary of her methods and a list of useful books and websites for using Charlotte Mason.

Sonya explains the basic, main principles to follow in executing this type of education, and gives definitions and examples for things such as narration and living books.

She then walks you through each and every subject you could even think about teaching and the way in which you would teach it, Charlotte Mason style, utilizing living books, map drills, nature walks, copywork, narration, etc.

Included in the workbook are sample lists of poets, artists, composers, handicrafts, and narration ideas. She also includes the directions for a very simple scripture memory system. I am going to try this system in our upcoming year.

At the very end of the workbook are the note pages for the Laying Down the Rails seminar. You can order this DVD with the package or order it separately.

When I finished watching the seminar, I had a complete workbook full of notes and ideas that I can refer back to as I am currently tackling planning our next years lessons. I'm planning using the Planning Your Charlotte Mason Education DVD and workbook. That will be part 2 of my review!

I would definitely recommend this product both to someone wanting to start using Charlotte Mason methods and to someone who is already using them. Sonya has wonderful ideas and insights and is a joy to listen to. It's also very handy to have all my notes and ideas in one book!

I read yesterday on the SCM forums that a new DVD set had been released entitled The Books and Things Seminar. This one demonstrates how to educate using good living books and the things around us. I placed an order today, and am highly anticipating it's arrival~

Book Review of "Kaleidoscope"

Patsy Clairmont, Woman of Faith speaker and author, delivers some well-chosen proverbial advice in her latest book, Kaleidoscope

With her usual charming wit, Patsy summarizes 32 main topic proverbs, using personal stories to give life to her examples. Each chapter is followed by some "bits and pieces" questions to reflect upon and additional scriptures for reference.

This is an enjoyable, easy-to-read introduction to applying proverbs to your everyday life. I've had the opportunity to see Patsy live at several Woman of Faith conferences and her huge personality and love of God comes out fully in this book.

I would definitely recommend this book to others who are looking for an uplifting read.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Book Review of "Nelson's Complete Book of Bible Maps and Charts"

I received Nelson's Complete Book of Bible Maps and Charts, Third Edition, complimentary from Thomas Nelson in exchange for an honest review of it. This is my first official review for Thomas Nelson.

This is a compilation of several of the maps and study charts used in many of Nelson's previous reference books. The full color maps and charts are divided into Old Testament and New Testament, then further divided between the books of the Bible. This makes for easy reference.

The maps show locations that biblical events occurred, the configuration of lands during biblical times and routes traveled by the men of the Bible.

The variety of charts and outlines in this edition is phenomenal. Major biblical events are compared and contrasted and outlined in precise summaries.

I enjoyed reading through this book. It did not present itself strictly as a reference books full of boring details. It was like reading through a simple, concise story of the Bible, with the maps and charts there to help the story come alive.

This is a must have for homeschoolers. I plan on using it in our upcoming history cycle, beginning with the ancients.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Book Review of "Before Green Gables"

This is a book well deserving of a glowing review. Since I have never written a book review before, and am taking it upon myself now to write one, I shall do my utmost best on this one.

A few days ago I finished reading "Before Green Gables". This is a prequel, authored by Budge Wilson, to "Anne of Green Gables". This is not the same woman that penned the first books, L.M. (Lucy Maude) Montgomery. But that does not detract from the quality of the story at all. Ms. Budge writes in the same manner as Ms. Montgomery did, keeping up with the characters and setting extremely well, and giving you a wonderful introduction to Anne's personality.

I won't bother to introduce you to Anne (with an e), herself, as most people are familiar enough with her already, either through the original books or the movies. I will tell you that this is the first book I've ever read about Anne. I have watched some of the movies with my daughter, but never picked up the books. I know, gasp!!, since I'm such a book lover. Lulu, after cleaning out her closet and coming across the book, told me, "Mom, this is the best book. You have to read it!" So, I did.

The story starts out by introducing you to Walter and Bertha Shirley-Anne's parents. They have a loving marriage and a great respect for each other. They are both schoolteachers and well-liked in the community. Having schoolteachers for parents plays a great role in Anne's future years.

Not far into the book, chapter 7 to be exact, Anne is born. We are told she is skinny, long, and pinched-looking, with a headful of bright red curls. She is screeching, but has a very wise look about her. She has a voracious appetite and grows quickly. But her mother never does gain her strength back after the birth.

When Anne is three months old her mother and her father pass away within days of each other, from "the fever". Thus begins Anne's journey as a red-headed orphan girl whom no one wants.

She is taken in, raised by a neighbor and at the tender age of five has to start earning her keep. Over the course of the next few years, she takes care of the children, cooks, cleans, washes diapers for four little ones and contends with less than desirable living conditions.

Just as most little girls do, she longs for a doll, a cat of her own, a friend and the chance to attend school. She's able to make do with an imaginary friend, and does receive a cat. But her one true passion is to attend school. This is truly what makes her "happiest in all the world." She is allowed to attend school off and on, but only if she walks the mile there and back.

After tragedy strikes this family, she is sent off to live with another family. Once again, she proves a hard worker, watching after six children, cooking, cleaning, washing, even fetching 13 buckets of water each night before bed, so that she may attend school. This school is two miles each way, so she can only go during good weather.

Another family tragedy follows and this time there is no one to take her in. She is driven to an orphanage where she stays for four months. A lady comes one day to fetch two girls, "A pretty one about five and an able one about eleven." The orphan director chooses Anne as the able one.

The book leaves off as Anne is disembarking the train to wait for the adoptive couple. The ending of the story allowed me a very smooth transition into reading the first "Anne of Green Gables", which I immediately picked up. There was nothing noticeable about the fact that this was written by a different author.

Throughout this book, you get to enjoy Anne's vibrant imagination, her eloquent speech and her pert manners. Reference is always made to the fact that she is not an attractive child, but there is something in her eyes and her countenance that makes her enjoyable. And as a positive, she is also extremely bright, with an incredible thirst for knowledge!

I am thoroughly hooked on Anne and will probably finish the rest of the series rather quickly. She reminds me somewhat of my daughter, who also has a great imagination, loves to read and is a constant talker. The book is very engaging and hard to put down. I highly recommend it. You can purchase the book here if interested.

I hope you've enjoyed my review!