An Example of How to Use Each Series, as Explained by Marlene's Daughter, Shannon:
Lots of questions about which series to buy and the answer is always..."depends." That's because everyone is so unique. Because they are all available online, my first suggestion is to read a sample from each series and see what connects with you. If your interest is piqued, then you are more likely to use it. Second, these are all great as read-alouds. Instead of viewing yourself as "the teacher," consider yourself a "student" learning right along with your kids. If you are doing the read-alouds and doing some reading on your own, you'll get a better idea of how the layering Marlene talks about works. For example, between reading a couple Arabian Night stories over the years (right now with my 5yo), the Our Little Persian Cousin with my 8yo and 10yo, the story of Muhammad in the Stories of Arabia book with my 12yo and 14yo (we read it last year), some of the World's Story about Arabia on my own (but share the parts I really like with the kids) and what I've learned from the Delphian Course (studied Babylon/Assyria/Persia a couple years ago), then throw in what's happening in over there now and modern stories from a friend who was born in Persia and lived there until he was about 12...the connections just pop up all over the place and give such a bigger picture than if I had only read one of the books about Arabia.
The way I choose what to read is during our read-aloud time right after breakfast, I pull out the booklist and pick something from Forgotten Classics, My Book House, or Junior Classics on the rotation. I might read one story, maybe five. It just depends on our mood and interest. After I read, I highlight it and write the year next to it, so I remember next year what we already read. Sometimes we create notebook pages to go with it, sometimes we don't. Also, bedtime with all the lights off is a great time to read these from a phone or tablet. Kids have nothing to do but listen.
Here's kind of how we use the books and some comment on the background and their creation (as far as I know...Marlene can chime in to straighten me out), arranged by developmental order. She explains the Forgotten Classics Library here.
My Book of Delights: This was created for my daughter who was a brand new reader and looking for something she could read, but the books in the schedules were just a little bit still too difficult. Surprisingly, everyone seems to love it. Beautiful artwork, poetry, and stories, why wouldn't they? This is often the new recommendation for the first series to buy no matter the age. And if I were to buy only one physical set of series, this would be it because of the pictures.
Nature Bundle: These are nature stories for the younger crowd (some of these I've started with my kids as young as 2), but my older kids enjoy them, too.
Story Hour Series: This is a great place to start because it has a little of everything (goes through the developmental stages starting with nursery rhymes and familiar stories like Three Little Bears, moves onto imagination with fairy tales and myths, goes onto legends and heroes, and then biographies of real people. A poetry and nature volume are included, too. This was designed for 8yo and under, but even my older kids enjoy many of the stories.
Nature, Art, and Music (now just Nature Series): At lunchtime, I read the nature book (or something from the rotation list because we've finished most of these books already). Many times after reading about something, especially if we aren't familiar with it, we look up YouTube videos about it. Sometimes we nature journal about it, sometimes we don't. The Art and Music books are included in the history rotation, so that would be part of our morning read-aloud time. Around five years old is when my kids start enjoying these, and I even still learn things even though I'm way older than that.
Sunshine Series: These are great read-aloud books that demonstrate what educating the heart looks like. As I look at the titles, I remember at the end of reading each one, I just had to take a moment to soak in what we experienced. They just feel good! I didn't read these to my kids this year because we've read them all before, but I will probably go through them again in a couple years. If I don't, I hope my kids will revisit them to read on their own because they are definitely books that can be enjoyed again and again providing layers of understanding as my kids grow up.
Our Little Cousins Series: My 3rd-6th graders love these stories about kids their ages living in different parts of the world. It's fun to compare lives. Mostly they read it on their own, but sometimes I read it with them.
My America Story Book: I'm putting this out of order with the store because I'd get this before the Freedom series. If I could only get two series, it would be this one and My Book of Delights because of the colored pictures. Also, not only is there a printed book, but Marlene has recorded all the stories, added music selections, and provided PDFs of the pictures for the kids to use for notebooking. All my kids (except the toddler, so 6yo to 16yo) and I listen to a new story each day. Sometimes my 6yo gets bored and leaves to do something else, but sometimes she is captivated by the story. The stories are just little snippets of individuals and events that help start to whet the appetite for learning more about our history.
Freedom Series: These books made me fall in love with America more than I ever have and created such gratitude for all the terrific sacrifices people made so our country can be what it is. Most of them have two parts: one for younger kids (I'd say older elementary) and one for older kids (middle school maybe and up). Each month has a topic, but Month 11 is an overview of all American History and Month 12 has stories of various people (all sorted out in the rotation).
Great Lives Series: Stories about lots of different people organized into different categories (like musicians, mothers, inventors, etc.). These are sorted out through the rotation and are often the stories we read for our morning read-aloud time, so everyone listens, but I'd say maybe late elementary is a good time to start trying it out, although most will appeal better to older kids like in middle school. Just start with the elementary recommendations and go from there. Many times, I read these on my own, then will just randomly share what I've learned with my kids at various times (out for a walk, while hanging out, driving in the car, when it applies to the moment). I think these really are the core of LOH--it is through learning about people that in our lives we can gain home and have guidance (through the Spirit working with what is already within our mind and heart).
World History Series: Instead of an overview of all world history (that is available in Month 11), each month focuses on the history of each nation individually. I'd say this is more for high school. This was a new way for me to study history because every class I've ever taken covers the world chronologically jumping from country to country then back again. I like focusing on just one country at a time.
World Freedom: I've only read a couple of these, but I'd suggest high school. I wish I could say more, but it'll have to wait. I think my two oldest daughters and I will read it next year when Marlene does My World Story Book.
The World's Story Series: This is my new favorite series. It has samples of stories, songs, and art sorted by countries. So many fun things I've found in them. So far, I read this to myself, but then share favorite things with my kids later...so you can cater it to all ages. I haven't read all, so I'd definitely suggest prereading. It also can be used simultaneously with the World History Series. One gives you the historical background of what's going on, while the other shares the culture.
Delphian Course: This was created as a substitute for a four-year liberal arts degree for those women who weren't able to finish college because they began raising their kids. History, art, politics, daily life, literature, geography...overview of everything! I recommend reading it with a buddy to talk about it with, or you are welcome to join our online group. We read about 25 pages/week to talk about (originally that was 5 pages per day Monday through Friday so that we could finish in four years like it was intended...but after three years we are just finishing volume 4 because we take summers off and had a few other breaks). This is another I recommend a physical copy because I take notes and make comments in the wide margins.
Mother's Learning Library: To really catch the vision of WEH, these are the resources for you. They tell you why these things are important and how to incorporate them. This is for you! Or, I wish I had read it before I became a mom.
Bonus books:
Poetry for the Well-Educated Heart: something for everyone. This is one of the books we use for poetry tea time.
Restoring the Art of Storytelling in the Home: goes with Mother's Learning Library. Lots of good things to think about.
Story Bible: for everyone. Reading the scriptures in this way gave me such a different perspective.
American History Stories: would be good with Month 11 overview. I've used it with upper elementary kids and older.
Stories of Jesus: same as Story Bible, but it is fun because kids have beautiful pictures to cut and paste to help remind them of the stories when they look later.
My Bible Story Book: This isn't a printed book, but is found on BelMonde under Holy Land Great Lives. These audios are five-minute stories from the New Testament and she has pictures for notebooking. We started it on Ash Wednesday and will finish on Easter.
Phew...that is probably the longest post I've ever written...and since I know Marlene has a few more ideas up her sleeve, I know I'll be adding to it later.
Hope this helps some of you make decisions!
Lots of questions about which series to buy and the answer is always..."depends." That's because everyone is so unique. Because they are all available online, my first suggestion is to read a sample from each series and see what connects with you. If your interest is piqued, then you are more likely to use it. Second, these are all great as read-alouds. Instead of viewing yourself as "the teacher," consider yourself a "student" learning right along with your kids. If you are doing the read-alouds and doing some reading on your own, you'll get a better idea of how the layering Marlene talks about works. For example, between reading a couple Arabian Night stories over the years (right now with my 5yo), the Our Little Persian Cousin with my 8yo and 10yo, the story of Muhammad in the Stories of Arabia book with my 12yo and 14yo (we read it last year), some of the World's Story about Arabia on my own (but share the parts I really like with the kids) and what I've learned from the Delphian Course (studied Babylon/Assyria/Persia a couple years ago), then throw in what's happening in over there now and modern stories from a friend who was born in Persia and lived there until he was about 12...the connections just pop up all over the place and give such a bigger picture than if I had only read one of the books about Arabia.
The way I choose what to read is during our read-aloud time right after breakfast, I pull out the booklist and pick something from Forgotten Classics, My Book House, or Junior Classics on the rotation. I might read one story, maybe five. It just depends on our mood and interest. After I read, I highlight it and write the year next to it, so I remember next year what we already read. Sometimes we create notebook pages to go with it, sometimes we don't. Also, bedtime with all the lights off is a great time to read these from a phone or tablet. Kids have nothing to do but listen.
Here's kind of how we use the books and some comment on the background and their creation (as far as I know...Marlene can chime in to straighten me out), arranged by developmental order. She explains the Forgotten Classics Library here.
My Book of Delights: This was created for my daughter who was a brand new reader and looking for something she could read, but the books in the schedules were just a little bit still too difficult. Surprisingly, everyone seems to love it. Beautiful artwork, poetry, and stories, why wouldn't they? This is often the new recommendation for the first series to buy no matter the age. And if I were to buy only one physical set of series, this would be it because of the pictures.
Nature Bundle: These are nature stories for the younger crowd (some of these I've started with my kids as young as 2), but my older kids enjoy them, too.
Story Hour Series: This is a great place to start because it has a little of everything (goes through the developmental stages starting with nursery rhymes and familiar stories like Three Little Bears, moves onto imagination with fairy tales and myths, goes onto legends and heroes, and then biographies of real people. A poetry and nature volume are included, too. This was designed for 8yo and under, but even my older kids enjoy many of the stories.
Nature, Art, and Music (now just Nature Series): At lunchtime, I read the nature book (or something from the rotation list because we've finished most of these books already). Many times after reading about something, especially if we aren't familiar with it, we look up YouTube videos about it. Sometimes we nature journal about it, sometimes we don't. The Art and Music books are included in the history rotation, so that would be part of our morning read-aloud time. Around five years old is when my kids start enjoying these, and I even still learn things even though I'm way older than that.
Sunshine Series: These are great read-aloud books that demonstrate what educating the heart looks like. As I look at the titles, I remember at the end of reading each one, I just had to take a moment to soak in what we experienced. They just feel good! I didn't read these to my kids this year because we've read them all before, but I will probably go through them again in a couple years. If I don't, I hope my kids will revisit them to read on their own because they are definitely books that can be enjoyed again and again providing layers of understanding as my kids grow up.
Our Little Cousins Series: My 3rd-6th graders love these stories about kids their ages living in different parts of the world. It's fun to compare lives. Mostly they read it on their own, but sometimes I read it with them.
My America Story Book: I'm putting this out of order with the store because I'd get this before the Freedom series. If I could only get two series, it would be this one and My Book of Delights because of the colored pictures. Also, not only is there a printed book, but Marlene has recorded all the stories, added music selections, and provided PDFs of the pictures for the kids to use for notebooking. All my kids (except the toddler, so 6yo to 16yo) and I listen to a new story each day. Sometimes my 6yo gets bored and leaves to do something else, but sometimes she is captivated by the story. The stories are just little snippets of individuals and events that help start to whet the appetite for learning more about our history.
Freedom Series: These books made me fall in love with America more than I ever have and created such gratitude for all the terrific sacrifices people made so our country can be what it is. Most of them have two parts: one for younger kids (I'd say older elementary) and one for older kids (middle school maybe and up). Each month has a topic, but Month 11 is an overview of all American History and Month 12 has stories of various people (all sorted out in the rotation).
Great Lives Series: Stories about lots of different people organized into different categories (like musicians, mothers, inventors, etc.). These are sorted out through the rotation and are often the stories we read for our morning read-aloud time, so everyone listens, but I'd say maybe late elementary is a good time to start trying it out, although most will appeal better to older kids like in middle school. Just start with the elementary recommendations and go from there. Many times, I read these on my own, then will just randomly share what I've learned with my kids at various times (out for a walk, while hanging out, driving in the car, when it applies to the moment). I think these really are the core of LOH--it is through learning about people that in our lives we can gain home and have guidance (through the Spirit working with what is already within our mind and heart).
World History Series: Instead of an overview of all world history (that is available in Month 11), each month focuses on the history of each nation individually. I'd say this is more for high school. This was a new way for me to study history because every class I've ever taken covers the world chronologically jumping from country to country then back again. I like focusing on just one country at a time.
World Freedom: I've only read a couple of these, but I'd suggest high school. I wish I could say more, but it'll have to wait. I think my two oldest daughters and I will read it next year when Marlene does My World Story Book.
The World's Story Series: This is my new favorite series. It has samples of stories, songs, and art sorted by countries. So many fun things I've found in them. So far, I read this to myself, but then share favorite things with my kids later...so you can cater it to all ages. I haven't read all, so I'd definitely suggest prereading. It also can be used simultaneously with the World History Series. One gives you the historical background of what's going on, while the other shares the culture.
Delphian Course: This was created as a substitute for a four-year liberal arts degree for those women who weren't able to finish college because they began raising their kids. History, art, politics, daily life, literature, geography...overview of everything! I recommend reading it with a buddy to talk about it with, or you are welcome to join our online group. We read about 25 pages/week to talk about (originally that was 5 pages per day Monday through Friday so that we could finish in four years like it was intended...but after three years we are just finishing volume 4 because we take summers off and had a few other breaks). This is another I recommend a physical copy because I take notes and make comments in the wide margins.
Mother's Learning Library: To really catch the vision of WEH, these are the resources for you. They tell you why these things are important and how to incorporate them. This is for you! Or, I wish I had read it before I became a mom.
Bonus books:
Poetry for the Well-Educated Heart: something for everyone. This is one of the books we use for poetry tea time.
Restoring the Art of Storytelling in the Home: goes with Mother's Learning Library. Lots of good things to think about.
Story Bible: for everyone. Reading the scriptures in this way gave me such a different perspective.
American History Stories: would be good with Month 11 overview. I've used it with upper elementary kids and older.
Stories of Jesus: same as Story Bible, but it is fun because kids have beautiful pictures to cut and paste to help remind them of the stories when they look later.
My Bible Story Book: This isn't a printed book, but is found on BelMonde under Holy Land Great Lives. These audios are five-minute stories from the New Testament and she has pictures for notebooking. We started it on Ash Wednesday and will finish on Easter.
Phew...that is probably the longest post I've ever written...and since I know Marlene has a few more ideas up her sleeve, I know I'll be adding to it later.
Hope this helps some of you make decisions!