Great Books ForumAll K-6
Opal Wheeler Series
Publisher/Author
Exodus Books
Also sold by Veritas Press
Other Information
Level: k-6
Description
“The Wheeler & Deucher composers’ series from the mid-20th century are ideal for 3rd-6th grade children but are likely to be enjoyed by all family members, whatever their age. Each work includes an amazing amount of history, biographical material, and music. Separate study guides and MP3 CD-ROMs are available for each one. The CD-ROMs include audio files of each composer’s works and printable sheet music & coloring pages (based on the books’ illustrations).
For those of you who love the Great Composers Series, you will be happy to know that Zeezok has recently reprinted four more titles in the series: Paganini, Master of Strings; The Story of Peter Tschaikowsky; Peter Tschaikowsky and the Nutcracker Ballet; and Adventures of Richard Wagner. This brings the total number of Opal Wheeler reprints to 16. Zeezok is also working on a two-part curriculum that incorporates these biographies with activities and audio recordings. Look for these in the coming months (and years?)” – Exodus Books
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Pages of History Set
Publisher/Author
Veritas Press
Other Information
Level: k-6
Description
“Pages of History: Volume One, Secrets of the Ancients and Volume Two, Blazing New Trails are hardcover books that use a time-travel story approach to cover world history. The books function like chapter books because of the underlying story of time travelers James and Lance and the predicaments in which they find themselves. Our heroes are joined by talking birds and cats and other odd characters. These “unhistorical” characters plus the time travel device make for lively story telling rather than dry history. Both books are well written and should make great read-aloud stories for the family while they also teach a great deal of history.
The colorful covers on the hardcover editions and occasional black-and-white illustrations add visual interest, while the relatively large font and layout of the text itself makes it easy on the eyes. Children about fourth grade and up should be able to read the books themselves.” – Cathy Duffy Reviews
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Phonics Museum
Publisher/Author
Veritas Press
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Level: k-3
Description
“Why such a big phonics program? You can get a simple book for much less. But learning to read and enjoying the process is the most foundational principle to all of learning. Setting the stage for children to love reading and be good readers is arguably the most important place to invest time and money in their education. The Phonics Museum is an award-winning program that will have your child read a simple book in a few short weeks, building their interest and confidence. It will then take them on a journey through learning that will establish a love of reading. Join Percival, a boy knight, as he takes children through an art museum, learning letters and sounds along the way. Your child will want to keep learning as they set out on this adventure. Using classical, time-proven methods, your child will learn to love reading. Easy-to-follow scripted teachers manuals give you everything you need to teach with confidence. Also included are alphabet flashcards using fine art, games, music, worksheets, great stories, art projects, and much more—all to teach using a comprehensive multi-sensory approach. Phonics Museum goes beyond simply teaching letter sounds and reading skills. This powerful program will inspire your child with a life-long love for learning! The Combo Kit includes everything you need for one student for Kindergarten and First Grade. For additional students, add the Individual Student Kits for each grade. Call for special pricing on classroom kits for schools.” – Veritas Press
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Picta Dicta: Ancient World
Publisher/Author
Roman Roads
Or visit the Picta Dicta website
Other Information
Level: 3-8
Description
“Picta Dicta – Ancient World is especially well-suited for elementary or junior high students and focuses on vocabulary and concepts from the ancient world. They learn the English and Latin for over 500 concepts in ancient history to establish an unparalleled foundation for later study in Latin, English literature, foreign languages, history, and the sciences.
This course includes several tracks at different difficulty levels, so every child will find the course both achievable and challenging.” – Roman Roads
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Picta Dicta: Natural World
Publisher/Author
Roman Roads
Or visit the Picta Dicta website
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Level: 3-8
Description
“Picta Dicta – Natural World is especially well-suited for elementary-age students, and focuses on a specific and important set of vocabulary—the natural world. Students learn the English and Latin for over 400 nouns from the natural world to establish an unparalleled foundation for later study in Latin, English literature, foreign languages, history, and the sciences.” – Roman Roads
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Poetry Primer
Publisher/Author
Logos Press
Other Information
Level: All
Description
“Starting with a lesson designed to debunk the notion that poetry is only flowery snippets that appeal to girls, the student is challenged to take the time to investigate what poetry really is and to determine to enjoy it. To make this challenge more palatable, a poetic quote from Master Samwise of Lord of the Rings fame is given. Poetry is defined as a language of pictures and music. To illustrate the diversity of poetic language, riddles are scattered throughout the student pages. Remarkably thorough but not overwhelming for an introductory book, the seventeen lessons include such poetic devices as simile, rhyme, metaphor, personification, and inclusion, combined with a more lengthy look at meter particularly iamb and trochee. Lessons are varied, including both analysis and original composition. I would expect the lessons to take about 30 to 45 minutes to complete. It could be used either as a quarter’s study (two lessons per week) or over the course of a semester (one lesson per week). A final exam is provided.
The Teacher Edition contains exact copies of the student book with answers. Annoyingly, the page numbers between the two books do not correspond. The Student Book also includes an anthology of poetry designed to capture the interest of even the most reluctant poetry student. Although no instructions are given for the use of the selections from this anthology, it wouldn’t take much planning or creativity to incorporate its use as part of this study or as continuing exposure to poetry selections.” – Rainbow Resources
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Prima Latina
Publisher/Author
Memoria Press
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Level: k-6
Description
“Prima Latina was written to transition directly into Latina Christiana, allowing students to complete an entire Latin sequence without missing important concepts or vocabulary. The Prima Latina Complete Set is accompanied by an audio CD which includes pronunciation direction for each lesson and four beautiful hymns from Lingua Angelica. Because Latina Christiana Flashcards include every word in Prima Latina, they are an ideal study aid and a great investment for students who intend to continue on with Latina Christiana.” – Memoria Press
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Primary Phonics
Publisher/Author
Memoria Press
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Level: k-3
Description
“Primary Phonics Readers give focused phonetic reading with specific phonograms. Each set not only gives practice with a new sound but also reviews sounds previously covered. These black and white readers are the perfect supplement for a blossoming reader, and beg to be colored!” – Memoria Press
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Reasoning and Reading Series
Publisher/Author
Classical Academic Press
Other Information
Level: 5-8
Description
“The Reasoning & Reading workbooks develop basic language and thinking skills that build the foundation for reading comprehension. Exercises reinforce reading as a critical reasoning activity. Many exercises encourage students to come up with their own response in instances in which there is no single correct answer. In other cases, exercises lend themselves to students working collaboratively to see how many different answers satisfy a question.” – Classical Academic Press
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Rod & Staff Math
Publisher/Author
Memoria Press
Other Information
Level: k-6
Description
“Rod and Staff’s math program is black-and-white, straightforward, no-nonsense traditional mathematics with an emphasis on drill and memorization as well as practical application through word problems. Previously taught concepts are continuously reviewed.” – Cathy Duffy Reviews
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