Barking Starfish: September 2013

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Handwriting Practice Sheets - FREE!

Need handwriting sheets that are cute and work???

Jan Brett Manuscript

Jan Brett Cursive

Worksheet Works Handwriting Practice

Thursday, September 19, 2013

The Book Of Knowledge Encyclopedias!

So If you're looking at using The Robinson Curriculum or are currently using RC (or even if you don't) you may be wondering about how kids will learn things besides what's in the booklist (not that it isn't fabulous because it is). Here's where Dr. Robinson recommends The Book of Knowledge Encyclopedias and the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica in the Course of Study. The 1911 Encyclopedia is included in the CD's but I recommend buying them since there are so many but you do have the option so that's nice. The other encyclopedia, The Book Of Knowledge, you can use for younger children is not on the CD's. If you're like me you may want to see what in the world is included and a little history. So here you go. I Highly recommend The Book Of Knowledge and in fact have 2 copies of them. All other current event type stuff or high tech technology you can get at a library...for free. So why would I pick really, really old encyclopedias?? Because humanism hadn't pervaded every nook and cranny and these actually speak of God and the Bible, not as some reference material but as the Word of God.

The cool part to these encyclopedias is that they are arranged randomly rather than by alphabetically. So in one volume you may read about the great poets of the romantic period, water, engineering etc. I find myself picking them up and reading them they are so interesting...but I'm a geek like that.

Here's the history of them The Book of Knowledge History

They also came with a Study Guide and Character Guide: