Along Classical Lines
Written by admin on July 16th, 2008As I’ve said before, I’m mostly eclectic in my approach to homeschooling. Oh, I’ve lamely ventured onto a totally classical path before, and I’ve toyed with unschooling, mostly due to circumstance, but mostly I’m eclectic, pulling from all kinds of sources and styles and knowing first-hand that life circumstances and our children’s learning styles impact how we are able to teach. I’m not sure any one thing fits every single student perfectly. In fact, I know it doesn’t.
However, I know it’s important to be well read, and I think it is important for graduating students to be familiar with as many of the classics as possible – with basically a healthy swim through the sea of the good and great literature of the world.
That said, with all the homeschool catalogs pouring in, there’s one that I’ve enjoyed immensely this year. It’s The Classical Teacher by Memoria Press. In it there is an article called Harry Potter and the Attack of the Critics. This is a very useful article. So useful, in fact, that I have read it twice and then given it to my rising senior to put in his school notebook. He’s interested in writing, and this article goes into clever detail about what defines good and great literature and why it’s important to be familiar with both. I think it’s worth the read.
There is also an article in the Spring 2008 edition of The Classical Teacher called, “What’s so great about the great books?” It reminds us of the virtues that truly great books should possess. My son wrote down some of the information contained within the article and placed it in his notebook as well. It will help him not only in his personal writing, but also in how he evaluates what he reads.
Hmmm. Wonder how many of the classics we can cover next school year? 
Memoria Press has what look to be some good books. I’m particularly interested in their Famous Men of… series.
In all honesty, I am putting together a list of what I think should be read or listened to before high school is completed. What “classics” do YOU think must be on that list? Please let me know!
Lynn
The Hundred Dresses
The Family Under the Bridge
Caddie Woodlawn. With the Wisconsin big woods theme, goes along great with a FIAR study of The Raft.
A Year Down Yonder
A Charlotte Mason Companion: Personal Reflections on the Gentle Art of Learning
Pocketful of Pinecones: Nature Study With the Gentle Art of Learning: A Story for Mother Culture. Sweet fictional story about a newly homeschooling mother who incorporates nature study.
Nature Crafts for Kids: 50 Fantastic Things to Make With Mother Nature's Help
The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady
The Endurance: Shackleton's Legendary Antarctic Expedition
Awakening Beauty the Dr. Hauschka Way
A Redbird Christmas: A Novel
The Usborne Internet-Linked Book of Knowledge
What Your Fifth Grader Needs to Know
for you to leave a comment, but you can also e-mail me at lynn AT thehealthyhomeschool.com
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PM
Well, I was a 20th century lit major (we’ll just say it was a while ago), so only this summer am I finally reading Jane Austen. Really loving both the stories themselves and the view into middle-class British life of the 1800s. My editor’s brain is also intrigued by the use of punctuation back then. If you read just one, Pride and Prejudice is the obvious choice.
Also, John Dos Passos’ USA trilogy (The 42nd Parallel; 1919; The Big Money). Sweeping epic of American life in the early 1900s, set against a backdrop of the current events and headlines of the time. Surprisingly experimental, and many of the economic and political themes are just as relevant today. Once I finish the complete Austen, I’ve got these three lined up for ambitious rereading.
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AM
Iris, thank you so much for your recommendations. They are on my list. What a great way to cover history as well, placing ideas and people on our time line as we go.
I’m so happy that you left your comment for me.
Lynn