Trivium Pursuit Blog
Hyper-Calvinism
Mr. Bluedorn, I am struggling with an issue concerning Calvinism and those who call themselves Calvinists. I affirm Reformed theology; I believe it most accurately represents Biblical doctrine (thus, historic, Biblical Christianity). The specific issue in part is...
Munchkin Update
Michael taking his first bite of food. Michael and Eric I am loved.
Grow a plant in a CD case
Hands-on science
Please Listen to This
You Don't Have Any Parenting Guarantees by Brad Bigney
You have become weary of Me
James Smith (1802—1862) The Believer's Companion in Seasons of Affliction and Trouble "You have become weary of Me!" Isaiah 43:22 What a solemn charge is here! And yet who can plead, 'Not guilty'? To be wearied of man — weak, vain, fickle, changing man — is no wonder;...
Toodles Around the World
In Afghanistan with Mr. Paul. In Sumatra, Indonesia. At the Prime Meridian, in the courtyard of the Royal Observatory. At Big Ben in London, England. Eating a pretzel in New York City. Oh, dear! Is Toodles in trouble?
Do I have to read books in chronological order?
Our children are ages 8 and 11. Thank you for the "What to do...before age 10" article. I am trying to adapt a more loose structure for our 8-year-old (but finding it difficult to break from the format of traditional schooling!). My question is in regard to your...
What’s wrong with the water?
Read here below some excerpts from an ancient piece of literature titled On Water. Something is definitely not right. Can you guess what that is? Frontinus (Sextus Julius Frontinus) C. A.D. 40-103 Frontinus was a Roman soldier and author. He served as governor of...
Something is wrong with this picture
Girl Chopping Onions (1646) by Gerrit Dou (1613-1675) Netherlands Baroque painter & draftsman Student of Rembrandt Beautiful picture, but something is definitely wrong.
Art by Johannah Bluedorn Stanford
Pages from the book A Is for Amicus by Johannah Bluedorn Stanford (not yet published)
None of us are naturally drawn to a gloomy person
Think about such things. by J.R. Miller "The cheerful heart has a continual feast." Proverbs 15:15 We pretty much see just what we are looking for. If our mind has become trained to look for troubles, difficulties, problems, and all gloomy and dreary things, then we...
Winter Books to Read Aloud
Schoolroom in the Parlor by Rebecca Caudill (early 1900s, Kentucky, published 1959) The Fairfield children can't go to school in the winter because of the heavy snow. Althy is asked to teach school in the parlor. Winter Journey by Elsa Falk (1800s, America, published...
If we run away, we teach them that courage has no part in liberty
From Homeschool Times "... Some parents actually went to jail. That was the case with the Pangelians who in 1985 spent 132 days in jail in Morgan County, Alabama, because they had decided to homeschool their children without the school district's approval and refused...
You have not passed this way before
The Lord will provide by J.R. Miller (1840-1912) "You have not passed this way before." Joshua 3:4 "Abraham named the place Jehovah-Jireh (which means the LORD will provide)." Genesis 22:14 As you begin meditating on this verse, write deep in your heart this word with...
Special Offer from Yesterday’s Classics and Homeschool Freebie of the Day
From Jim Erskine at Homeschool Freebie of the Day: Our friends at Yesterday's Classics have put together an amazing package of 225 classic living books for your kindle, nook, or other e-reader device at a stunning price for one week only. You can see it here. (BE SURE...
Delayed Formal Math
Dear Mr. & Mrs. Bluedorn, First of all, thank you for speaking at the CHEACT conference in Austin. My wife and I both benefited from all of your talks. We especially enjoyed the Seven Undeniable Truths of Homeschooling and The Practical Trivium. After your talk on...
Great Moments in Medicine #4
Antoine Lavoisier -- conducted experiments that showed that respiration was essentially a slow combustion of organic material using inhaled oxygen.
Art With Matching Poetry —The Happy Field
Ye sons of earth prepare the plough by William Cowper (1731-1800) Ye sons of earth prepare the plough, Break up your fallow ground! The Sower is gone forth to sow, And scatter blessings round. The seed that finds a stony soil Shoots forth a hasty blade; But ill repays...
Yes, we recommend….
...that you read aloud to your children.
Short Stories We Like
I want to share with you some of the short stories we have enjoyed over the years. Our three favorite authors of short stories are Mark Twain, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and O Henry, and we particularly enjoy listening to these stories as books-on-tape. Twain's stories...
More on Editing While Reading Aloud
Hello Laurie, In the book Hand That Rocks the Cradle, the book Rascal by Sterling North was a recommendation. When I saw Rascal on audio book at my local library I checked it out. We have listened to the whole thing and really enjoyed the story -- it's a great one for...
Let us not be anxious to leave the field of labor until our work is done
by James Smith, The Pleading Savior, 1861 I do not pray that you should take them out of the world but that you should keep them from the evil. John 17:15 We may be in the world -- and not be injured by it. The world is the field in which we are to labor for Christ....
Psalms Reader
Dear Harvey and Laurie, I just published my Psalms Reader with CreateSpace. The book contains 90 Psalms from the 1650 Scottish Psalter that I felt were appropriate for little children. I did not include the Imprecatory Psalms. All the polysyllables are divided into...
39th Anniversary
Photo taken December 14, 1973 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Handmade Retro and Edwardian Aprons, Baby Booties, and Name Doilies
Welcome to Ava and Helena's Facebook Online Holiday Party. Enjoy looking through the catalogs and let us know if we can help you with your gift-giving. All our items are hand-made to your specifications. Retro Aprons are made by Helena Auberg and can be seen and...
From Our Readers: Beginning Sewing Tips
One way to introduce small children to sewing is to use plastic canvas with yarn and a large plastic needle. The needle is not sharp and the holes in the canvas are large. When my daughter was 2 we bought her some plastic canvas and needles and just let her play with...
Editing While Reading Aloud
I am just getting started homeschooling, and have found your book and website to be a tremendous help. My oldest is five and learning to read using TATRAS, and my husband and I are so pleased with her progress. We definitely appreciate your recommendation of that...
You’re going to think this poem looks boring…
...but I guarantee you'll be blessed by it. The Misery of Job and the Mercy of God by John Piper There are 4 parts to this audio recording.
Contest Today — Win New Upper Level Science Textbook
UPDATE: Jody Dudek and Lori are our winners. Novare Science and Math is a new publisher of science textbooks and resources for Christian educators. Author, teacher and speaker John D. Mays is a 13-year science, math and humanities teacher, a lover of fine literature,...
Cicely Mary Barker
Most of Cicely Mary Barker's artwork is still under copyright and so may not be posted legally on the internet. I've included here some of her work that is in the public domain (created before 1923). Elves and Fairies postcard Children of the Allies Fairy Orchestra...