The Study of Historical Literature - Teaching the Trivium Ch. 9

This post contains an affiliate link to the book that we are going through.

Welcome to another week of the Teaching the Trivium book club!  I am so excited to read and discuss this book along with you.  I loved the discussion last week and would love to hear from more of you!  Today we talk about studying historical literature.

Chapter 9 - An Application of Principles for the Study of Historical Literature

In chapter 8 we talked about things we need to consider when reading classic literature.  This week we are looking specifically at history and seeing how the principles we talked about last week apply to historical literature.  The Bluedorns provide us with an awesome timeline at the end of this chapter that synchronizes world events, Biblical literature, and secular literature.  This timeline is specifically for the period of the Ancient Greeks, but it serves as a great example of what can be done for any time period.

An Introduction to the Study of History

Before they get to the timeline, the Buledorns talk a little about history in general.

History is the teller of stories.  It is a narration of events in the order in which they occurred.   (pg. 243)

Historical Fact vs Historical Record

Even when we have primary sources, we do not necessarily have the facts of what happened in history.  I had never really thought about this before, but it makes sense that whoever is recording the event is telling it from their perspective and from their preconceived notions. 

They gave the example of watching a magic show.  The realty (historical fact) of what happened at a magic show will be very different than how an audience member recounts it (historical record). 

This is something good to remember when reading historical literature.


Primary vs Secondary Sources

Primary sources are records from people who actually witnessed an event.  Secondary sources are people who study primary sources (or even other secondary sources) and then share their own record.  Even though historical fact can be different than even a primary source, it is still considered to be more accurate than a secondary source.

The more times a story has been handled, ordinarily the less reliable it becomes, because interpretations and biases are usually attached with each handling.   (pg. 224-245)

I thought it was interesting what they said about ancient literature.  The true primary source records we have only go back so far.  For the early ancient civilizations, we don't have any primary sources (aside from the Bible), so we have to take the earliest secondary sources as our best account.  We call these principle sources (for example, Homer and the Trojan War).

A Literary Timeline (753-698 BC)

The last half of the chapter is a really neat literary timeline for the period of the Ancient Greeks.  Really, it is a chart showing what was going on in each area (Judah, Israel, Egypt, Assyria/Babylon/Persia, Greece, and Rome) for each year, and then what literature (broken down in to Biblical and secular) corresponds. If you are reading along and like this timeline, or if you are just following our discussion here and think this sounds interesting, you'll want to know that the Bluedorns have an entire book dedicated to a literary timeline of ancient history.  I have it and it is a wonderful resource!

Ancient History from Primary Sources, A Literary Timeline

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How do you choose what literature to read along with your history studies?

Do you have any favorite resources that help you decide?

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Thanks for reading along this week!  Leave comments here on the blog post, or share about it on social media (#ClassicalMamasRead).  I'll be sharing too, so follow me on facebook, twitter, or google+ and we can chat about it there as well!  Don't forget, if you want to share your thoughts about Teaching the Trivium on your own blog, link it up below so we can all come and visit!

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Next week we will be talking about chapter ten of Teaching the Trivium.  If you haven't gotten your own copy yet, make sure you check your library or order one soon so you can be ready for next time!  Also, this is a 600+ page book, so I am only touching on certain points of each chapter.  There is so much great information that I am not covering, so if this discussion interests you, you are going to want to make sure to pick up your own copy so you can read more!

Classical Mamas Read Link-Up

Did you write about Teaching the Trivium on your blog?  Have you been reading and blogging about another book (for you, not a children's book)?  Do you have a book club going on at your blog (once again, not for a children's book)?  I'd love for you link up here so we can all be encouraged by each other and maybe find another great book to read!

I think I'm going to keep this link-up ongoing since there aren't going to be a huge number of posts and then anyone new will be able to be encouraged by the other book reading ideas and discussions.  If the number of posts gets too large, I will fix it.

Please note, all posts must be on topic (about a book you are reading) and appropriate (think family friendly).

Be Inspired by Dr. Ben Carson - {free} copywork

This post is sponsored by Great Homeschool Conventions.  You can hear Dr. Ben Carson speak at the Greenville, SC and Cincinnati, OH conventions this year.

I'm embarrassed to say that I had never heard of Dr. Ben Carson before I began browsing the Great Homeschool Convention website a few months ago.  I heard people talking about how excited they were to hear him speak, so I thought I should figure out who this guy is!  In case you are unaware like I was, let me share a little bit of what I learned.

Dr. Carson grew up in inner-city Detroit.  He was raised mostly by his mother and did not look to have a bright future.  He grew up in dire poverty and struggled with a horrible temper, but his mother challenged him and his brother to dream of more than their current circumstances.  She turned off their TV and made him read books.  Dr. Carson learned of the great opportunities that were available to him and dreamed of being a physician.  

Long story short, he became one of the leading neurosurgeons in America, and is the director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins.  He has an amazingly inspirational story that he shares in his book Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story, and challenges us to do as he did in his book Think Big: Unleashing Your Potential for Excellence.

If you are going to the Greenville, SC or Cincinnati, OH Great Homeschool Conventions, you will have the privilege of hearing Dr. Caron speak.  I have created some free copywork pages for you to prepare your children to listen to him.  If you are not going to the conference, these are still wonderful copywork pages for your children because Dr. Carson's words will be an inspiration to them!

Here are some of the Dr. Carson quotes that are included in the copywork pack:

"Success is determined not by whether or not you face obstacles, but by your reaction to them."  Dr. Ben Carson   Tweet this!

 "Successful people don't have fewer problems.  They have determined that nothing will stop them from going forward."   Dr. Carson  Tweet this!

 "Everyone in the world is worth being nice to, because God never creates inferior human beings.  Each person deserves respect and dignity."  Dr. Carson   Tweet this!

 "Happiness doesn't result from what we get, but what we give."  Dr. Carson  Tweet this!

 "The doors of the world are opened to people who can read."  Dr. Carson  Tweet this!

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Download Copywork

8 pages of Dr. Ben Carson quotes

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I hope you enjoy this copywork and I hope that you will join me at the Great Homeschool Conventions (I'll be in Cincinnati)!

Want to know more about Dr. Ben Carson?  Spotlight on Dr. Ben Carson.

Trivium Tuesdays - Classical Link-Up #97

Welcome to another week of Trivium Tuesdays!  For those of you who are new here today, this is a link-up aimed at encouraging and informing other homeschoolers who use the Classical model of teaching.  Here we can share with each other and learn from one another.

Don't forget to follow my Pinterest boards that are a part of the All Things Classical List!

Also, please remember to only link up posts that have to do with homeschooling using the classical model of education.  Thank you for understanding this link-up's theme.

Featured Post from Last Week

It's not just this post, but Sara, over at Classically Homeschooling, has a great series going on about how she uses Tapestries of Grace.  I always find it so helpful to read how other families are using a particular curriculum and if you are using TOG or considering it, I know it will be helpful to you too!

Most Clicked on From Last Week

Colleen, from The Sola Gratia Mom, got the most clicks with her post Reading, Writing and Arithmetic - Does Creative Learning Neglect These?  Thanks for sharing a great post, Colleen!

This Week's Link-Up

Here are the rules:

• Your post must have to do (in some way) with classical homeschooling (any age children).
• Your post may be from your archives as long as you only post it one time on this link-up.
• Please link to your direct post, not your blog in general.
• Please place my Trivium Tuesdays button (found on my right sidebar) on your blog post so others can learn about this link-up!
• It may be helpful to state in your link description what stage of the trivium or what subject your post is about, if applicable, so others can easily find posts they are interested in looking at.
• Remember, everyone loves comments =) So don't be shy, and tell someone if you liked their post!

I reserve the right to remove any link-up that does not have to do with classical homeschooling.         

If you are a regular here at Trivium Tuesdays and have something to share that is a little off topic, but still would be an encouragement to the readers here, please still share it =)  I'm referring to people who are just trying to get their blog more exposure without following the rules above.

I will visit each of your blogs this week and feature my favorite link-up for all to see next week!  Also, if your blog has a button I will place it on my sidebar (under Friends to Visit) for the week until it is replaced by the next week's favorite =)

Norwex - Cleaning with Kids

The last few months, I have been smitten with a new product.  I was invited  to a Norwex party a couple months ago and saw this little cloth do amazing things.  I bought a few things, fell in love, wanted to buy more but at a discounted price so I became a distributor, and since then I have learned lots of things about it.  One of the best things is that...

Norwex cleans with just water, so kids can safely help you clean!

What exactly is Norwex?  It is a company that has discovered the power of cleaning with just water.

Their signature product is the Enviro Cloth which is made of microfiber that is 1/200th the size of a human hair.  These microfibers are amazing at picking up everything that is left on your counter/floors/sink/etc.  Standard towels and cloths just push dirt and germs around, Norwex microfiber picks it up!

Not only does it pick up the ick from your surfaces, the cloth's micro silver antibacterial agent self-purifies, getting rid of all the germs so that you can use the cloth again the next day.  No smell, no germs, just clean!

Save Money:  You won't find yourself buying cleaners at the grocery store each week.  You also won't have to buy roll after roll of paper towel, or continue replacing nasty sponges or cloth towels. The Norwex Enviro Cloth pays for itself very quickly.

Improve Health:  You and your kids won't be breathing, touching, or accidentally ingesting chemicals because all you use is water.  Also, more dust and dirt are removed, reducing allergies and making your home a healthier place to live.

How My Kids Use Norwex

If you are like me, you have had toddlers who follow you around wanting to do everything that you are doing.  

If you are like me, you have had young children who you want to teach personal responsibility, work ethic, and everyday life skills.   

Cleaning the house is a part of all of that, but if you use chemical cleaners, your children are very limited in how they can help (and learn!)

With the Norwex products, it's as easy as grabbing a cloth, adding water, and they are ready to go!

No crying over spilled milk (or juice)!

These cloths are amazing at absorbing liquid.  My normal kitchen towels just push spills around.  This microfiber soaks up spills immediately, making it easy for kids to clean up after they spill.


Grab that dust!

Dusting has got to be the easiest the chore to start your child on.  I typically just give them a kitchen rag and let them wander around house 'dusting' for a few minutes.  It teaches them diligence, but not much actually gets cleaned since the rags mostly push dust around.  With the Norwex microfiber, I have confidence (and visual proof) that dust is actually getting picked up!


Kids cleaning toilets?!

My daughter is a little homemaker in the making.  She loves to help me around the house and often asks to clean things (when we are not doing chores).  She has been known to even ask to clean the toilet!  Of course I've always told her that toilets were a "mommy job" since it would either require using chemicals or getting your hands in icky parts of the toilet.

The other day she asked again to clean the toilet (she noticed a spot starting in the bowl) and this time I could say "Sure!"  See, now I have the Norwex Sanira Toilet Brush System.  It is a completely hands-free, chemical-free way to clean toilets!

These are just some examples from my home.  Norwex even has a kid's line of products filled with pint-sized versions of all their most popular items.

If you are interested in making cleaning easier, cheaper, and more effective for you AND your kids, I seriously recommend checking out Norwex!

I have really only talked about their Enviro Cloth in this post, but you can check out their catalog to see all the goodies they offer.

You are welcome to order anything you'd like through my Norwex site, but if you'd like to learn more about the products and find out about special deals and discounts, sign up for my Norwex newsletter.  (I promise I won't spam you!  In fact it's quite the opposite.  I just want to make sure that I'm only sharing more info with the people who are actually interested =)

I am having my very first online Norwex party this week!  If you place an order from March 1st-8th you can get the discounted party shipping rate, plus a special launch party discount!  

(This party is over, but sign up for the newsletter to find learn about the current specials!)

Click below and enter your email address to learn more!  Also, if you want to take advantage of these party discounts, make sure you email me and don't just order online.

Save Time --- Save Money --- Save Your Health

Principles for the Study of Literature - Teaching the Trivium Ch. 8

This post contains an affiliate link to the book that we are going through.

Welcome to another week of the Teaching the Trivium book club!  I am so excited to read and discuss this book along with you.  I loved the discussion last week and would love to hear from more of you!  Today we talk about literature.

Chapter 8 - Principles for the Study of Literature

The big question of this chapter was what kind of literature is worthwhile of our time, and what principles should guide our decision making when it comes to picking the literature we have our children read.

Culture

The first almost 20 pages of the chapter are devoted to talking about culture.  

Culture consists of those products of work and thought, from a given community of men, which are transmitted across generations.  This includes customs, habits, traditions, language, literature, arts, skills, technologies, beliefs, philosophies, governments, laws, institutions, and anything else which characterizes the activities of men.   (pg 193)

The point is that when we read the literature from civilizations past, we are learning their culture.  Sometimes this is good for us, and sometimes we need to be careful.  Sometimes the culture will encourage us toward the goals we have for our family, and other times it will promote things that do not serve our purposes.  Many times in the chapter, the Bluedorns made the point that if (as Christians) we are going to read secular literature, we have to be able to redeem it for our purposes.  I don't know that I've ever really heard anyone say it that way before.

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Before your read this chapter, did you consider the culture of the literature your kids were reading?  

If so, how does that impact how your approach pieces of literature?

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Literature

The rest of the chapter deals with literature itself.  What are the classics?  How do you classify literature?  How do you choose what to read?

The Bluedorns define classic literature as "What is of good form and lasting value."  They acknowledge that there can be differences in what people think fits this criteria.

What I also really appreciated is how they encouraged us that there is only so much time in the day, so not to worry about tackling everything or missing something.

If someone shared their long list of classics which their children are reading, then do not begin to doubt or fret, but look back at your list of principles and stick to them...Require your child to read those classical works which agree with your family's principles, and forget the rest.    (pg. 221-222)

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How do you decide what classic literature to have your children read?  

Do you have a certain criteria that books must meet?  

How do you approach subject matter that is contrary to how you believe?

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So far I have had to deal with this very little since my kids are young.  The Bluedorns do give some advice as to how to redeem literature that is not in line with your family's beliefs.  One of their suggestions is to critique the writing and compare it to what you believe.  My husband and I definitely don't expose our children to inappropriate things, but we don't keep things away from them either.  If we encounter something that is different than what we believe then we take the opportunity to talk through how the particular situation lines up with the Bible.  I know this will get harder as my kids grow and are exposed to much more!

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Thanks for reading along this week!  Leave comments here on the blog post, or share about it on social media (#ClassicalMamasRead).  I'll be sharing too, so follow me on facebook, twitter, or google+ and we can chat about it there as well!  Don't forget, if you want to share your thoughts about Teaching the Trivium on your own blog, link it up below so we can all come and visit!

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Next week we will be talking about chapter nine of Teaching the Trivium.  If you haven't gotten your own copy yet, make sure you check your library or order one soon so you can be ready for next time!  Also, this is a 600+ page book, so I am only touching on certain points of each chapter.  There is so much great information that I am not covering, so if this discussion interests you, you are going to want to make sure to pick up your own copy so you can read more!

Classical Mamas Read Link-Up

Did you write about Teaching the Trivium on your blog?  Have you been reading and blogging about another book (for you, not a children's book)?  Do you have a book club going on at your blog (once again, not for a children's book)?  I'd love for you link up here so we can all be encouraged by each other and maybe find another great book to read!

I think I'm going to keep this link-up ongoing since there aren't going to be a huge number of posts and then anyone new will be able to be encouraged by the other book reading ideas and discussions.  If the number of posts gets too large, I will fix it.

Please note, all posts must be on topic (about a book you are reading) and appropriate (think family friendly).