This week I listened to an interesting Schole Sister\’s podcast on leading our children through encounters with viewpoints with which we don’t agree. This is definitely something I\’ve had to grow into over time. When my children were little my concern was mostly about shielding them from potentially harmful ideas and situations, but as the conversation on this podcast pointed out, there\’s a difference between innocence and naiveté, and it\’s important to prepare our children for these opposing viewpoints.
Moozle has been reading the Tom Swift Jr. books by Victor Appleton II. They\’re out of print but you can read about them here and they\’re available secondhand. They\’re also online at Gutenberg.
A young person\’s introduction to science fiction, rather than being great literature, this series is interesting for children who have a science bent as Tom dreams up some very interesting inventions. In fact, one of the books, \’Tom Swift and His Electric Rifle,\’ inspired the physicist and inventor, Jack Cover:
A few months ago she lapped up G.K. Chesterton\’s Father Brown books so I decided that this one, by the creator of Winnie the Pooh, would be a good follow up now that she\’s caught the \’crime bug.\’
stories, and feel that there are not enough of them. So, after
all that you have done for me, the least that I can do for you
is to write you one. Here it is: with more gratitude and
affection than I can well put down here.
A poetic narration on The Hobbit:
Aussie Folksongs – this is one we\’ve been listening to. The song is based on the 1897 poem, \’The Lights of Cobb & Co\’ by Henry Lawson. The poem and some information about Cobb & Co are on this blog and also here.
This is one of a series of CD\’s that introduces the music and lives of some of the great composers. We\’ve listened to the Classical Kids series (Beethoven Lives Upstairs etc) in the past, which are ok for younger children, but this series is better if older children are also listening in. The story is told in the third person, sticks to the facts, and contains a good selection of the artist\’s music.
Linking up with Weekly Wrap-up.
Just love the poetic narration, Carol. ❤
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The issue of exposing children, and adults for that matter, to ideas that one does not agree with is both fascinating and important. Obviously critical thinking is a very important part of the equation. I will be touching on this issue in an upcoming blog. That poetic narration of The Hobbit is really neat. I would love to read similar efforts relating to more classic stories.
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Good that your older son Benj is working yet still finds time to do homeschool work with the family.
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Thanks, Amy.
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Oooh…look forward to reading that!
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It's really good to have him around. I've been used to a housefull of kids for so many years that it feels strange now that I only have two to teach!
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Oh! I have such a weakness for mystery novels. 🙂 Thanks for the reading suggestions.
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Well, A.A. Milne says you must be a nice person!
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It was exciting to read your blog post. Educating children excites me and all the wonderful literature you're providing them with makes me wish I had kids to experience the books with. I haven't read Milne's mystery but I will. I so agree with your take on teaching children how to intelligently think through ideas and discern true from false and good from evil. I know God has used the many arguments and discussions I've engaged in with people with opposing views to sharpen my own thinking.Sometimes I have felt defeated when someone seems to win a point when I know their worldview is false. God has reassured me that he was strengthening me so I would think through why I believe the way I do and come out firmer in my faith.Great post!
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It's been a great pleasure for me to find literature that I never read when I was their ages. I'm also getting educated along with them 🙂
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Thank you for the book links. I shall avail myself to some of them. :o)
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You're welcome, Deborah.
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Hi, enjoyed the youtube video. Just wanted you to know that I referred to your blog in my post today. I hope you don't mind. Hopefully it will bring some visitors to your blog because it's worth visiting!
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Thanks, Sharon. Much appreciated – I certainly don't mind at all!
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