Trivium Pursuit Blog
Make no mention
Joshua 23:7 ...and lest you go among these nations, these who remain among you. You shall not make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause anyone to swear by them; you shall not serve them nor bow down to them... Numbers 33:52 ...then you shall drive out all the...
A Brilliant Propagandist
"The most brilliant propagandist technique will yield no success unless one fundamental principle is borne in mind constantly and with unflagging attention. It must confine itself to a few points and repeat them over and over. Here, as so often in this world,...
Selling books from my library
The Nelson Study Bible NKJV Black, Bonded Leather, Gilded Gold Page Edges Brand new, never used, still in box ISBN 0785207082 $55 with free U.S. media mail shipping Identifying and Harvesting Edible and Medicinal Plants in Wild (and Not So Wild) Places by Steve Brill...
Photo of the Day
Who knows what this is?
My organic nurse this week — she won’t let me eat any sugar
Me and Ava
How to dull and chloroform a child’s reasoning abilities
When Less Is More: The Case for Teaching Less Math in School In an experiment, children who were taught less learned more. by Peter Gray Ph.D. "In 1929, the superintendent of schools in Ithaca, New York, sent out a challenge to his colleagues in other cities. "What,"...
How would you answer this?
Do you read things aloud to your kids that you and they think are just "ok"? Or do you stop books in the middle if you aren't feeling it? I want reading aloud to be our primary source of learning, but then get stuck in making sure we are doing the "subjects" and...
How would you answer this?
How do you structure the time to help reinforce your current read-alouds? I am referring to things like notebooking, doing a skit, building a lego scene? And do your kids get to pick whatever they want to reinforce? Last school year we were doing notebooking with our...
Earlier is not better by Sue VanHattum
9. Earlier is not better. The schools are pushing academics earlier and earlier. That's not a good idea. If young people learn to read when they're ready for it, they enjoy reading. They read more and more; they get better and better at it; reading serves them well....
Photo of the Day
Three of my four daughters -- missing Desi. Left to right -- Johannah Stanford, Ava West, Helena Auberg
Don’t forget about free Amazon Kindle today — Ancient History from Primary Sources
Ancient History from Primary Sources: A Literary Timeline by Harvey and Laurie Bluedorn This illustrated reference book guides the student on a selective timeline tour through ancient history, outlining the major events and personalities and noting the primary...
Three categories of ancient literature and how to decide what to read
Three categories of ancient literature: 1. Authors who are useful (but should be pre-read) Generally speaking, the more useful works are found in the categories of history, geography, biography, oratory, rhetoric, logic, grammar, science, medicine, mathematics,...
Ancient History — Using Primary Sources
Sample pages from Ancient History from Primary Sources: A Literary Timeline This book will be free on Amazon Kindle October 2-3.
Using primary sources whenever practical is a hallmark of classical education
Review of our book Ancient History from Primary Sources: A Literary Timeline by Cathy Duffy "Long-time advocates of classical education, the Bluedorns have come up with a way to make classical education less costly in terms of both time and money. Using primary...
The Old Gumbie Cat by T. S. Eliot
The Old Gumbie Cat by T. S. Eliot (1939) I have a Gumbie Cat in mind, her name is Jennyanydots; Her coat is of the tabby kind, with tiger stripes and leopard spots. All day she sits upon the stair or on the steps or on the mat: She sits and sits and sits and sits—and...
James 4:1-10 The Cause and Cure of Conflict among Brethren
Dear Mr. Bluedorn, Would you mind giving me a literal translation of James 4:5. I am reading it from two different languages and they simply say different things. Gracias! Carolina XT (XT = eXegetical Translation, 2000 etc.) 1 What {is} the cause of {hostile}...
Ancient History from Primary Sources: A Literary Timeline — Free October 2-3
Ancient History from Primary Sources: A Literary Timeline by Harvey and Laurie Bluedorn This illustrated reference book guides the student on a selective timeline tour through ancient history, outlining the major events and personalities and noting the primary...
My child is gifted
I’m just now preparing to begin homeschooling my oldest child, who turned five in January. I’m intending to follow a classical model. I’ve just recently found your website and I’ve read your articles on early formal education. My daughter is, in your terms, a...
Ten Things to Do from Birth to Age Five — An Addendum to Ten Things to Do Before Age Ten
Elsewhere we have written about the Ten Things to Do Before Age Ten -- ten areas of life we think are important to concentrate on with your children before they turn ten. The following is a subset of the above list of ten things -- ten things to do from birth to age...
Is a PE class necessary in your homeschool?
What curriculum is available now for physical education for a 7-year-old? We are doing a PE class but not loving it or really seeing the benefit. Advice? Thanks! I think the most important thing to teach a young child in the area of PE is to help them learn to love to...
John MacArthur — God Won’t Let You Go
Since I spend a lot of time on the couch lately, I often listen to sermons and radio broadcasts. This series by John MacArthur has been a great blessing to me this week, and I thought you might like it too. Grace to You Perseverance of the Saints, Part 3 Friday, March...
Concerned that I have missed doing the grammar stage properly with my two oldest sons
This is my 3rd year homeschooling my sons. They are in 2nd, 5th, and 6th grades. I have been slowly trying to incorporate some of the principles of classical education into our homeschool effort. For example, we have begun the study of Latin this year. I am...
All the various dealings of God with His children, do by a special providence turn to their good
Excerpt from A Divine Cordial by Thomas Watson "...The excellency of the privilege, “All things work together for good.” This is as Jacob’s staff in the hand of faith, with which we may walk cheerfully to the mount of God. What will satisfy or make us content, if this...
Choose four Trivium Pursuit books if you order the Ron Paul Homeschool Curriculum
On our Trivium Pursuit web site we talk about what classical education is and how we can implement it in our homeschool. The Ron Paul Curriculum is compatible with our book Teaching the Trivium: Christian Homeschooling in a Classical Style. In addition, the RPC is...
Peter Spier and People
You're probably familiar with children's writer/illustrator Peter Spier from his book Noah's Ark. In fact, if you're like me and look up Spier on Amazon, you'll find several books you feel compelled to buy! The Star-Spangled Banner We the People: The Constitution of...
Resource for your new school year — list of historical fiction by time period
Ancient History (4000 B.C. - 400 A.D.) Luke's Quest by Caroline Dale Snedeker The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare The Golden Goblet by Eloise Jarvis McGraw God King: A Story in the Days of King Hezekiah by Joanne Williamson and Daria M. Sockey The Cat of...
Teaching reading based on Orton-Gillingham
When I was teaching my children to read in the 70's and 80's I used The Writing Road to Reading by Romalda B. Spalding. It is based on the Orton-Gillingham approach to teaching reading and spelling (as were all good reading and spelling curricula). Today I recommend...
Volume 1 of our art curriculum is free on Amazon Kindle from August 19-22
What Do You See? A Child’s First Introduction to Art Volumes 1, 2, 3, and 4 These four ebooks can be purchased on Amazon Kindle for $2.99 each.... ....but, for four days, August 19-22, Volume 1 will be free on Amazon Kindle. What Do You See? A Child's First...
Thornton W. Burgess — nature study might make you a famous author
Thornton Waldo Burgess (1874 – 1965) was an American author of children's stories. Thornton's father died when Thornton was only one-year-old and he was raised by his mother in humble surroundings. As a youth, he had to work tending cows, shipping water lilies from...
Reading aloud — above the reading level of your child
Thank you so much for encouraging us to read above the level you think your child will understand. Recently we began to read Charlotte’s Web with our 5yo son because the play is coming to our area and we needed to know the story since we didn’t read it as children. To...