I’d argue that it’s simple.

It should look like this:

This picture is, at once, an example and an exaggeration of the goal of homeschooling.

When I say that the kindergarten and nursery school years should look like this bookshelf, what I mean is that 1) it can be as simple as regularly reading from thoughtfully selected books, and that 2) these early childhood books can be the basis for much more learning.

Obviously, there is more to a homeschool year than just books, but a stocked homeschool shelf will be the beating heart and steady foundation of your day. It will also be a haven for a weary homeschool teacher on a harrowing day!

Do you need these exact books? No, but many of these would make great additions to your home library.

Teaching from the Shelf

One of my favorite parts—and in some seasons of motherhood, the most challenging parts—of homeschooling is the read-aloud.

While many of us have the idyllic dream of our children sitting patiently on the floor as we, the teacher, read to them from a cozy arm chair, each child giving the page their full attention, it rarely plays out this way.

However, you have a good chance of getting a glimpse of this at a morning read-aloud or right after a well-timed snack.

Another approach to get a read-aloud in for the day is by pairing it with a hands-on activity. I find art time or play time with simple puzzles to be a good time to get an extra book in that day.

Curate a Curriculum

A good tip for teachers is to prepare the shelf ahead of time and keep it close to where you plan to read aloud. This takes the guess work out of what to read.

In choosing what makes it onto the shelf, consider the goals of these early years.

We want children to be immersed in the language of literature. We want to develop their sense of the world, their understanding of sounds, their lyrical ear, their joy.

Yes, of course, we want them to read and write and count and divide, but remember their age. The nursery and kindergarten years are, first and foremost, about rooting children in the joy of learning. With that joy comes the pre-literacy skills, the fine and gross motor skills, the cultivation of curiosity.

When choosing your books, pick titles that will inspire, intrigue, and enlighten their souls. Some books to consider are…

1. A good collection of Mother Goose or Nursery Rhymes — These might seem simple, but these are the basis of the literary imagination. The rhymes tune the ear to the lyrical rhythms of language. The short lengths are ripe fodder for memorization.

2. Fairy Tales — These help shape the moral imagination and in a world that obscures evil, these stories make its starkness to goodness black and white. While many people recommend Grimm’s or Anderson’s collections, many others will do as well. (I’m particularly fond of Gyo Fujikawa’s collection!)

3. Fables — While fables can be delayed to the first year of formal lessons (year 1/first grade,) I’ve found several fables have been a hit with my younger children as well. As these stories incorporate nature, it’s a good opportunity to go outside after reading and look for things related to the fable.

4. Picture Books — You can choose individual picture books, a series, or both. The stories should have beautiful illustrations (and beautiful doesn’t always mean ornate; As you can see, Curious George makes the cut for our shelf!) These stories should also use language well. While Beatrix Potter’s sentences might be a little old fashioned, your child will love Peter Rabbit and begin appreciating the cadence of Potter’s sentences. For our family, the Alfie series of books is beloved and strikes the perfect balance between simplicity of story and complexity of language.

5. Poetry — You almost don’t need this if you have a quality collection of nursery rhymes, because there can be much overlap between children’s poetry collections and nursery rhymes. However, poetry is a vital aspect to our children’s learning! I’d recommend a quality collection of children’s poems to read from during your homeschool week. I’ve often paired our poetry with tea at snack time!

Beyond the Page

Let the homeschool shelf be a steady anchor for you throughout the day. Reach for a book two or three times throughout the day and you’ll find a rhythm will start to develop. However, don’t let your child’s learning end when you close the book.

Use these books as jumping-off points to explore more. How do you do this?

1. Nursery rhymes often have songs or movements to accompany them and most can be found online. Listen or dance along. Sing the songs and practice the movements. Recall these rhymes when you’re outside with your children and encourage them to recite them with you. This builds memory, tunes the musical ear, and supports a growing sense of language.

2. Look to nature for elements from a story you’ve read. I mentioned earlier doing this alongside fables. My children especially loved reading the fable “The Crow and the Pitcher” and then, going outside to drop rocks into a bucket so that they could watch the water rise. This creates integrated and organic to their education.

3. Play out a story you’ve read. If you read about Curious George at a fire station, play out what a fireman might wear, what one might do at work, what the fire engine sounds like. If reading about someone at the market, play out following a shopping list and buying or selling items. These acts build an understanding of narratives, of the social workings of the world, and foster a growth of communication.

4. Let them explore. This is how the magic of homeschooling in the early years truly grows. They may count the caterpillars and butterflies they see, and you can talk about how they are the same insects and how that—which seems impossible—could be. (In doing so, you may remember you have a book on butterflies and add it to the shelf!) They can use wooden block letters to learn phonetic sounds. They can pick up different items and you ask if it’s big or small, or if it’s heavy or light, if it will sink or float, and so on.

   Every moment is a chance for curiosity and learning.

Simple & Repeatable

One more thing that ought not to be neglected in these early years is rereading. Rereading helps develop language, solidify ideas, and spur the imagination. This should ease the mind of a teacher worried she might not have enough books.

You don’t need a full bookcase. You just need a simple shelf of well-chosen books and to read to your children as your day allows.

I hope this post gives some confidence to those just beginning their homeschool journey in the early years. Kindergarten and the nursery years can and should be full of wonder and joy! Be encouraged knowing that setting the tone for wonder in the homeschool can actually be simple and repeatable.

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If you enjoyed this, you may like some of my other articles:

CONTENTS

• Program Overview

• Community Chat Support

• Program Downloads

  • Complete Program

  • Guide Only

  • Resources Only

• Sacred Music Audio Resources by Term

Program Overview

This newest curriculum will be released in three segments (terms 1, 2, and 3). Term 1 is now available, and the remaining terms will be released in the coming weeks!

This newest program in the Fruit of Light formation series builds upon what children learned in Fruit of Light Foundations and also narrows the focus more. The program is a 36-week (3 term) plan covering:

• Prayers

• Scripture and Psalm Recitation

• Bible reading plan of Genesis and Matthew

• Tales of Virtue & Saints

• Sacred Music Study through a Cycle of Hymns per Term

• One Chant per Term

• Catechism through Rhymes

• Selected Readings on Church Symbolism

• Fruits of the Spirit

You will find the full curriculum packet below.

Community Chat Support

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Program Downloads

BOOKLIST PREVIEW

For those interested in reviewing the booklist first, you can download the file below.

Fruit Of Light Cornerstone Booklist Preview

527KB ∙ PDF file

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CURRICULUM GUIDE & RESOURCES

This pdf guide includes all of the daily and weekly lesson tasks for the term, the sacred music packet, memory cards, narration pages, booklist, and suggested weekly schedule.

Read more

This curriculum is aimed at first year (Form 1b) students. However, you can use this in any of the early elementary years!

Focused on the children's classics of Brambly Hedge, Winnie-the -Pooh, and Beatrix Potter's tales, In the Brambles will bring joy and inspire a sense of wonder in your homeschool. This is a Christian Classical and Charlotte Mason homeschool curriculum aimed at the early elementary level. Although labeled for first grade (Form 1B), it can be easily be used for students grades K-3 or used as a family-approach to homeschooling.

WHAT’S INSIDE

The Curriculum

In the Brambles is a 36-weekly plan featuring read-alouds from Brambly Hedge, Winnie-the-Pooh, and many of Beatrix Potter's tales. Subjects are integrative and include Literature, Poet Study, Tales & Fables, Tea Time Recitation, Dictation, Natural History, Nature Study prompts, Astronomy, and Folk Songs, as well as Music and Art studies.

CONTENTS

Weekly Plan

This curriculum plan consists of…

• 3 terms of 12 weeks

• each term includes 11 weeks of readings and 1 week of exams1

• simple exam prompts are included

• narration, copywork, and dictation pages

• Astronomy constellation pages

• Nature study ideas

Other books round out the curriculum to cover everything you need for the homeschool year, except for math2 and history3.

Songs & Recitation

Enjoy a new rotation of folk songs every three weeks. Enjoy tea time while reading poems together. Choose one each week for daily recitation. This strengthens each student's memory while enriching their soul.

Student Pages

Narration, copywork, and dictation pages are provided. Astronomy constellation pages are also included for term 2 and can be used with the lesson or separately.

Add-Ons

You can round-out this curriculum further by using the Fruit of Light formation programs (Foundations and Cornerstone), free reading program, and the Nostra Fides Picta Latin Primer.

INCLUDED FOR PAID SUBSCRIBERS

Access Now

This is available to those who are paid subscribers to Two Doves Press. Upgrade your subscription now to access this program and all other curricula for just $9 per month!

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3

Often, homeschool families use cycles of history. For this reason, I have left the history sections blank for families to be plan what works for them. That being said, I have a few history recommendations for those interested:

1. Study your local region as well as your country.

2. Make geography (map work, cardinal directions, etc.) go along with your study of history.

3. For American history, I typically use the America’s Story series by Mara Pratt.

4. For world history, I typically use On the Shores of a Great Sea by M.B. Synge.

Finally, I’m working on a history cycle that I hope to share in the coming year (perhaps sooner!) as well as a Picture Book History plan for Kindergarten or Form 1b.

---

IN THE BRAMBLES

Booklist

Some subjects do not require a text (folk songs, a nature study journal, etc.) Any subjects that do require a text are included in this booklist.

In The Brambles Booklist

1.29MB ∙ PDF file

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Curriculum

This pdf file below includes all the readings and exam prompts for the 36-week plan.

Read more

There is nothing wrong with this. In fact, you may have tried this resource before or have reason to praise this program.

However, I’d like to offer you a more living approach to teaching your child how to read.

CONTENTS:

• Getting Started: Phonics Lessons

• Reading Lessons: Reading Together

• Early Readers: Recommendations and Must-Reads

• Beyond: Give them good books!

• Quick Links to Resources

• Free Reading Plan PDF

Getting Started: Phonics Lessons

What if phonics instruction didn’t have to be a white paper with “S-A-M” written on it?

What if, instead, it could be filled with music and song? What if you opened a book and when your child saw the letter A, they began reciting words with A’s phonetic sounds?

What if phonics lessons were actually joyful?

Well, they can be! Here’s how you can breathe life into your phonics lessons.

The Doodling Dragons Book Series

The Doodling Dragons books—there are three total, made by the Logic of English—are amazing resources. And no, in case you’re wondering, these are NOT workbooks.

These are books you can read again and again (which I recommend you do!)

Each page features a phonogram on the left side and illustrations with rhymes on the right side. Those rhymes include the phonetic sounds in words within the phrase.

Look at this page for “B” below and you’ll see what I mean.

How to Use This Resource

(A quick note: I do not use the Logic of English program. You’re welcome to try it, but I haven’t. I do, however, love these books and songs, their phonogram chart, and the book for adult readers.)

You can use Doodling Dragons in one of two ways:

1. You can point to the letter and say its phonetic sounds aloud. (I highly recommend using Logic of English’s free phonogram audio/video chart to ensure you know each one. Links are at the end of this post.) Then, you can read the rhymes to your child.

2. You can utilize the free songs that accompany these books, which can be found online for free. The songs use the book’s rhymes and are fun. Your child can sing or simply listen along as they look at each page.

Honestly, I do both of the above!

What To Do

I choose about 4-6 phonograms to focus on at a time, and I read those pages to my child, clearly stating the phonetic sounds, reciting the sing-song rhymes, and pointing out the sound in each rhyme after we’ve read the page.

The next time we sit down with the book, I play the songs and point at the letters on the page when we hear its sounds.

If you spend about 2 days on each group of letters (reading the first day, singing the second day), you can finish the first book in about two weeks.

However, you are not done with the book (and you’ve only just started the series!) Be ready to read through the book a second and third time (or more, if your child needs/wants.)

The point is to build their phonetic understanding, and this is crucial for reading and, later on, writing.

You can cover the book at a faster pace once you’ve read through it together once.

If you have an independent learner, they may like to listen to the songs and turn the pages on their own at some point (although, I’d wait until after the second read-through to move to independent reading and listening!)

You can then move on to the next books in the series. At the same time, your child is ready to start reading words with you!

Reading Lessons: Reading Together

Once your child has a foundation of the basic phonograms, they can begin reading words.

We often start with C-V-C words (consonant-vowel-consonant) such as “cat” or “pan” or “bib”. These words don’t need to be in isolation. You can focus on words while still reading very short sentences.

Here are a few ways to introduce reading after laying a foundation of phonics.

Letter Play

Using foam or wooden letters to build words not only allows your child to participate actively in reading, it’s also fun.

You can use letter manipulatives in a few ways:

1. Choose a vowel-consonant pair and have your child choose beginning consonants. Try starting with “-AT” or “-IT”. Your child might add “B” or “S”, and then you both say the sounds of the word together.

2. Alternatively, you can give the first two letters and have your child end the word. Remember, there are multiple options that can end a C-V-C word, so encourage your child to build more than one word.

3. Once your child has the hang of word-building, have them choose the vowel between two consonant letters.

These are structured approaches to letter play, but there is another important aspect: free play.

What To Do

Let your child play freely with letters as much as possible. At this stage, do not try to correct their spelling. (Leave that for dictation lessons in the future!)

They are playing with sounds and word-building. There will be mistakes, but you might crush all the joy by trying to correct everything.

If they’re close to a word but not quite there, celebrate it. But then, remind them of the letter sounds and ask, “Which letter makes the [ck or ss or tt, etc.]-sound?”

Sometimes more than one letter shares the same sound. If they bring you a “K” instead of a “C”, say, “Yes, you’re right that K makes that sound! Do you remember that another letter makes that sound, too? Can you find it?”

Or if they bring you a letter that doesn’t make that right sound, be encouraging. Remind them of the sounds made by the letter they brought to you. Then ask again for the original letter sound, playfully help look for the letter, and—most of all—be patient. It may take them a few tries to find the right letter.

Remember that it’s letter play. It’s a chance for your child to explore with phonics.

First Reader Programs

There are some wonderful first reader programs out there, but it can be hard to find ones they are truly meant for brand new readers.

Here’s where I recommend starting:

1. Tug the Pup: This is my go-to for first readers. There are multiple sets in the series, but I’ve only used the first. The set has 11 books for brand-new readers, and I created my own sticker sheet so my child could track their reading progress. My only wish is that the series used typical book-font but so far, that has not been a problem.

2. Bob Books: While I have not used these Bob Books, these are a common first starting point.

3. The Elson Pre-Primer (The Original Dick and Jane): The first reader our parents or grandparents likely used, this book is freely available online. It’s short, easy to read through, and features colored illustrations. Another plus is that this is part of a series—not the Dick and Jane series, as those split off into their own collection. The Elson readers can help your child progress in reading for multiple years.

4. McGuffey Readers: I have not personally used these, but you’ll find plenty of homeschoolers recommending these old books as a tried-and-true option.

What To Do

Sit with your child to slowly work through the first page together.

Try to let them work out each word, offering the phonetic sound or helping them blend the letters only as needed. This means probably waiting to speak for a few seconds longer than you first think.

Some children will need more help than others.

Be sure to remain an encouraging presence, even when your child faces frustration. If you are encouraging, they’ll return to reading more easily in the long run.

Once you’re reading books with more than one sentence on a page, take turns reading the sentences, slowly moving toward your child reading an entire page by themselves.

Once they can read a full page, you can alternate reading pages to each other until your child moves toward reading two pages at a time and, eventually, a whole book on their own.

Finally, don’t move through a book too quickly. One child might cheerfully want to read an entire book in one sitting while another can only read one page before needing a break. There is no “Finish Line” here. Take the time to go at your child’s pace.

A Bonus Tip: Reading at bedtime is typically always fun and rarely seen as a lesson to children!

Early Readers: Recommendations and Must-Reads

What should your child read once they’ve gone through those first readers?

Other First Reader Series

Do you remember those first readers I mentioned that seem to start ahead of where a brand-new reader needs to begin? Now is the time for those.

You typically find these as little book sets.

The Berenstain Bears and Curious George sets are great options.

The publisher Usborne also sells a leveled reader set that increases in difficulty.

Also if your child is interested in certain topics, there’s typically an early reader out there for them!

The Must-Read Easy Readers

You have two absolute must-reads to cover in your reading lessons:

1. Little Bear: There are 14 stories total, though you may have trouble finding collections that include them all. Nonetheless, Little Bear is where you must start following those first readers.

   What it’s about: The titular bear is playful and whimsical, his mother and father are loving but realistic (as far as parents go, not so much as bears,) and the adventures are always captivating to children. Most of all, the words of the story are accessible enough while also helping your child grow as a reader.

2. Frog & Toad: Totaling 20 stories, Frog & Toad will have your child giggling in delight, truly adding to the joy of reading.

   What it’s about: Two good friends, Frog and Toad, spend their days doing the most normal things and yet, their stories are so entertaining as one is quite the optimist and the other quite the pessimist.

If you’ve read these before to your children, don’t worry—you can now allow your child to read them to you. Though if they’ve fully memorized the series, maybe move on to other readers.

Also highly suggested:

1. Mouse Soup

2. Owl at Home

3. Mouse Tales

Beyond: Give them good books!

Once your little one is reading sufficiently for their age, be sure to give them good books.

There is a lot of twaddle out there. I could easily assemble an “AVOID” book list. But instead, let me suggest adding the following to your library:

1. A quality children’s Bible: While true scripture is for everyone, giving your child a high-quality children’s bible ensures they can encounter Truth at their own reading level.

2. My Father’s Dragon series: The only caution I will add here is that there is mention of the main character’s father being whipped as a boy, which surprised my oldest when he read it. Your child may or may not have the same reaction.

3. The Billy and Blaze series: These are all about a boy and his horse saving the day!

4. The original Curious George books.

5. Amelia Bedelia

6. Lyle Lyle Crocodile

7. Harold and the Purple Crayon

8. The Giving Tree

9. Mother Goose

10. Tales by Beatrix Potter, especially Peter Rabbit

Your child may also enjoy series like The Boxcar Children, The Borrowers, or Amazons and Swallows.

You’ll want to continue bringing good books into their library over the years.

I highly recommend giving them access to children’s classics to read as they grow. These include Alice in Wonderland, Pinocchio, Treasure Island, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Hobbit, the Little House series, and more.

Most of all, nurture your child’s love of reading!

Free Reading Plan PDF

Want an easy-to-follow plan to teach your child to read at home?

I’ve put together a 36-week phonics and reading plan for you based on this post that will cover reading for an entire school year!

Subscribe for free below and get access to this plan as well as other free resources.

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Quick Links to Resources

These are not affiliate links.
However, if you’d like to support Two Doves Press, consider upgrading your subscription!

The free phonogram audio/video chart is here.

The Doodling Dragons series:

• Doodling Dragons

• Whistling Whales

• Knitting Knights

• The free songs can be found here. You can also purchase the mp3 files here.

Uncovering the Logic of English (book for parents or anyone looking to understand phonics)

Readers:

• Tug the Pup

• Bob Books

• Elson Pre-Primer (free)

• Elson-Runel Primer (free)

• McGuffey Readers (free)

• Little Bear

• Frog & Toad

Although there are more resources listed within this post, these are the main links you will need to start teaching your child to read!

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Nostra Fides Picta, meaning "Our Faith Painted," is a Catholic Latin Primer of art and music. This gentle introduction to Latin focuses on 12 key vocabulary words to our Catholic faith and their varying Latin forms as they are heard in the Mass. Each word is accompanied by fine art, prayers, chant, and a musical piece. This curriculum is part grammar study, part art study, part music study, and all centered on faith.

LATIN PRIMER

See Inside

Each Latin vocabulary lesson is presented through a well-rounded study of its grammatical and poetic aspects. Each lesson can be broken into three parts, allowing this primer last anywhere from 12 to 36 weeks, if studied once per week.

Move through each lesson following a presentation of…
Viso (I see), Dico (I say), Spiro (I breathe).

CONTENTS

Art Study

Each Latin vocabulary word features fine artwork depicting the meaning of the word. Students observe and reflect on each work of art and illustrate their own.

Grammar Study

Learn the various forms of each Latin word as a gentle introduction to Latin grammar. Hear and say phrases as they would be heard in the Catholic Mass.

Prayers, Chant, & Music Study

Inspire students through the poetics of Latin prayers, sacred chant, and compositions to build a relationship of faith with beauty.

INCLUDED FOR PAID SUBSCRIBERS

Access Now

This is available to those who are paid subscribers to Two Doves Press. Upgrade your subscription now to access this program and all other curricula for just $9 per month!

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FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Does This Include Audio?

Yes! You will receive a link to a playlist of audio recordings for each section of this Latin primer. (I also will be creating a resource with all related video and audio on here soon!)

I'm Not Catholic. Can I Use This?

Yes, of course! While this curriculum draws from the Catholic Mass, it is still a wonderful introduction for any student looking to tune their ear toward the Latin language.

What Ages Or Grade Levels Is This For?

This Latin primer is perfect for the early grades levels (Kindergarten through 3rd grade). However, people of any age looking for a gentle introduction to Latin will find it helpful, and the fine arts studies will be edifying to all.

Does This Use Classical Or Ecclesiastical Latin?

This resource can be used with either traditional dialect, although Ecclesiastical Latin is recommended as it is what is used by the Roman Catholic Church and what is heard in most chant and musical pieces.

How Many Lessons Are There? How Many Weeks Does This Cover?

There are 12 Latin vocabulary words inside this curriculum, each consisting of 1) art study, 2) grammar study, 3) prayer recitation, 4) chant, and 5) music study.

Each word can be broken up into separate lessons, taught altogether in one long lesson, or split between multiple weeks. Depending on how you choose to schedule it, you could complete this in 12, 24, or 36 weeks.

I've included a Weekly Grid resource in the Latin primer for both a 12-week and a 36-week plan.

What If I Have More Questions While Using This?

Upon purchase, all customers gain access to the chat feature on my website where I'm happy to respond to any additional questions you have while using this curriculum.

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Fruit of Light Foundations is a free homeschool formation program for teaching Catholic faith education, narratives of the Bible, and character virtue development. It serves as the Formation portion the Fruit of Light curriculum.

...for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true - Ephesians 5:9

About Fruit Of Light Foundations

This homeschool formation program is designed for grades K-5 but can be adapted for all ages. This is perfect for families and can be used in family-style learning.

The Fruit of Light Curriculum is focused on a foundation of goodness, righteousness, & truth. You will explore the bible from creation to the Apostles with beautifully illustrated Bible stories. You will read inspiring tales, sing beautiful hymns, and invite your children to learn and grow in what is good, right, and true.

Fruit of Light Foundations covers the Formation aspect of the Fruit of Light Curriculum. You can use this program to fulfill the religious education and character development portion of your overall education plan. It can be used alone to support your individual curriculum choices or it can be paired with the full Fruit of Light Curriculum for a complete homeschool program.

Fruit of Light Foundations covers the following concepts:

• Bible reading

• Saints

• Prayers

• Catechism

• Virtue stories & Character virtues

• Traditional Hymns

• Marian Antiphons/Anthems

• & Much More!

This program is intended to be paired with a compatible academic homeschool curriculum.

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Join the hundreds of families using Fruit of Light Foundations in their homeschools.

Frequently Asked Questions

Let me know if you don't see your question!

How Many Weeks Are Planned Inside This Curriculum?

This program consists of 36 completely planned weeks.

Is This Open-And-Go? Are There Lesson Plans?

This program offers weekly lesson plans. Everything is planned out for you per week. While not necessarily an open-and-go curriculum, the only preparation required on the teacher's part is minimal: review the upcoming readings, gather the required books or hymnals, and preview or choose any audio that may be optionally used for the lesson.

How Do I Use This Along Side Another Curriculum?

Fruit of Light Foundations is a Formation program. You can treat Formation as its own subject and schedule alongside your academic curricula selections throughout the week.

I recommend starting your day with this program before moving on to other daily studies.

How Much Of The School Week Does This Curriculum Occupy?

This program is designed to be completed over five (5) days. However, you can choose to combine some of the once-weekly tasks to complete each week within three (3) or four (4) days.

For those desiring a four (4) day week, I recommend combining the weekly hymn and weekly saint reading, as these are the shortest weekly tasks to complete.

Are There Workbooks Or Worksheets?

No, there are no modern worksheets in this program. Instead, there is a narration page template you can use to encourage your children to retell the Bible stories in their own words. Narration helps build communication, writing, and grammar skills. There are also memorization cards which you may display, cut-out, or reference as needed.

Why Do I Need This? What Is The Advantage Of Using Fruit Of Light?

Our children are growing up in a time where education is void of God. Children need a solid foundation in knowing who God is, why He loves them, why there is beauty in the world, why there is suffering, and what God calls us to do for Him and for others. In the modern world of today, the formation of our children is more critical than ever.

Fruit of Light Foundations aims to form children in faith through education. We want our children to know that God exists outside of our churches, that He is alive in them and around them, that He guides their paths, and that He loves them.

Can This Formation Program Be Used As A Family Subject?

Yes! While designed for elementary levels, Fruit of Light Foundations is designed to work across all ages and to be used as a time of family fellowship and faith formation.

We Are Already Using A Curriculum Plan For Bible. How Can I Use This?

The Bible readings in Fruit of Light Foundations give an overview of the narrative of the Bible. However, it also offers a more comprehensive approach to Formation beyond stories. If you're already following another Bible plan of Old Testament and New Testament readings, you will still benefit from the Catholic catechism lessons, memory verses, traditional hymns, character virtues, stories of virtue, saints, and prayers!

Can I Use This Curriculum Even If I Am Not Catholic?

Yes, you can! However, you may want to substitute some portions of the program to better fit your Christian denomination.

How Does This Curriculum Align With Charlotte Mason?

Bible stories (knowledge of God and knowledge of man) are crucial in a Charlotte Mason education. Beyond this, a feast of ideas and living books help inspire our children and shape their love for God. Fruit of Light Foundations offers biblical narratives with inspiring illustrations, stories of saints and tales of virtue to strengthen the will, traditional hymns and Marian antiphons to inspire the ear and voice, as well as memory verses to remind children of God's love for them their whole lives, and more.

Can I Use This Curriculum For Children Outside The Suggested Age Range?

Yes, this program is appropriate for all ages. Adjust your expectations according to age. Allow little ones to play while listening to stories and hymns. Read straight from scripture for older students and encourage discussion. You may also look for a book of saints for older children as a substitute for the one in this program. For families with older and younger children, encourage older readers to read aloud to the younger children and to lead prayers.

Why Is All Of This Free? Will There Be A Paid Component?

I firmly believe the faith formation of our children should not be hidden behind a paywall. When searching for a program for my own children, I had trouble finding a comprehensive program for free. I planned out and used my own, and now I want to make that available to other families!

I do intend to release future formation programs that build off Foundations. These will be accessible at a minimal cost. The base program, however, would always remain free.

For The Early Years, How Many Books Do I Need? Can I Just Use One Book?

There are four (4) books recommended for Bible stories for the younger years. Yes, you can use just the Beautiful Story of the Bible if you would like. However, you will miss out on stories of the Magi, much of Jesus' ministry and miracles, and the parables. In an effort to ensure even our little ones have a breadth of knowledge of our Savior, I recommend using all four (4) books.

For weekly subjects, you could avoid using additional books by skipping the Tales of Virtues weekly read. For catechism and hymns, these texts can be found online within the public domain. You could also look up individual saint biographies online for the weekly saint tasks, though this would be more time consuming. I've chosen a saint book for this curriculum that is relatively affordable and features biographies appropriate for a younger audience.

Is There A Specific Time Of Year I Should Start This Program?

The biblical readings are ordered so that one could start the first week around September 1st and be reading about the birth of Jesus in December. If you know you will take breaks every few weeks, you could start your school year that many weeks sooner to have the Nativity weeks remain in December. (Ex. If you plan to take a week off in September and a week off in November, you could start this program two weeks before the September 1st.)

If you don't mind Christmas bible stories happening outside of when they are liturgically celebrated, then you can start and end your year however you like.

(As the date for Easter moves every year, the Easter bible stories may or may not line up with liturgical celebrations.)

Can This Be Used As My Child's Faith Formation For Our Local Parish?

This is intended to be used privately as a homeschool faith formation program and is not intended to replace the faith formation classes offered by your local church. If you think this program could be used to replace your child's class at your parish, speak to your priest directly as individual churches and dioceses often make decisions as to what can be used for Faith Formation and First Communion preparation.

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Contents:

- Classical Education is more than the Seven Liberal Arts
- Truth: The Guiding Principle
- The Trinity of Truth
- What about Truth, Beauty, and Goodness?
- All that is Good, Right, and True
- The Beauty of this Blog Post
- The 14 Principles

When searching for the defining principles of Christian classical education, I have often found articles and videos explaining the importance of a virtuous education or the meaning of handing down tradition through education. Nearly all sources mention the seven liberal arts, and many go on to reference Plato, Aristotle, or Quintilian. Yet, the principles--the specific aspects--that define what constitutes a Christian classical education seem entirely elusive.

It is not that these principles are not discussed. Quite the opposite, the discussion surrounding the principles is so great that many classicists may have forgotten to state the specific. To them, these principles may be obvious. Wanting a classicist to state the principles of a true classical education may be like expecting a farmer to call a cow a cow. But, there is a need to make that which is obvious to some defined for everyone else. That is what I will endeavor to do.

Classical Education is more than the Seven Liberal Arts

With so much emphasis on the seven liberal arts--Grammar, Logic, Rhetoric (the Trivium), and Arithmetic, Geometry, Music, Astronomy (the Quadrivium), you would think that a classical education consisted of just these seven categories. At one time long ago, it did. But look into any classical curriculum today and you will find subjects that fall outside of the realms of the Trivium and Quadrivium. Compare various classical curricula and you will see that each differ on the type of subjects offered to the extent that one may wonder how each can be called "classical". Yet, these subjects can have a place within the educational philosophy.

We can categorize these subjects outside the seven liberal arts as the Modern Arts which include modern sciences, humanities, manual arts, and fine arts. These principles of education are often legally required teaching in the 21st century (specifically science and humanities) and have also grown out of the philosophical, scientific, and artistic developments of recent centuries. Pairing the seven liberal arts with the four modern arts gives us eleven principles, so far, of a classical education.

Truth: The Guiding Principle

Every educational philosophy, even one which calls itself secular, is guided by something considered to be truth. For classical education, this truth would be philosophy as handed down by the greatest thinkers of human history (Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, and so on). For Christian classical education, this truth would be theology as divinely revealed by God through His son Jesus Christ and divinely inspired through the writings of the greatest theological thinkers (St. Thomas Aquinas as well as other doctors of the Church). For the public school of the 21st century, this truth may be the political philosophy of the education system or, worse, may be devoid of a guiding principle of truth and subject to the relative truth of the individual administrators and teachers of each subject within the school.

Truth, sometimes referred to as Wisdom, is the ultimate guiding light of a classical education, particularly a Christian classical education. Without truth, the educational path is subject to the winds of culture, politics, and propaganda. Truth is not just an idea toward which one directs the path of education. Truth must be imparted within the education itself. It may be surprising then to learn that there are classical education programs that do not include philosophy or theology within the curriculum. As C.S. Lewis observes in The Abolition of Man:

The old dealt with its pupils as grown birds deal with young birds when they teach them to fly; the new deals with them more as the poultry-keeper deals with young birds— making them thus or thus for purposes of which the birds know nothing. In a word, the old was a kind of propagation—men transmitting manhood to men; the new is merely propaganda.

The propagation of truth is at the heart of an education and further, the formation of a person. It is absolutely necessary for a classical education to be defined in philosophical or theological truth to be considered classical at all.

The Trinity of Truth

Truth in classical education has three principles. (Yes, we are adding three to those eleven from earlier.) The principles of truth are Morals, Ethics, and Philosophy. But, this definition of Truth differs in Christian classical education.

Truth in Christian classical education has grown out of these classical truths to establish a new trinity of Truth, a Christ-centered Truth. The principles of truth are Scripture, Virtues, and Theology. This replaces (or, arguably, fulfills) the traditional classical object of truth with a new trinity of truth pointing to the Truth of Christ.

Even so, the difference between philosophy and theology may not be immediately apparent. The difference becomes clear when we consider the object--the Truth-- of each. One is man's search for meaning in himself and in the world; the other is divine revelation of man's meaning in God. For Christians, Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6). God has revealed ultimate Truth through His Son. Therefore, a Christian classical education must not stop at philosophy but integrate theology and lead a student toward the revelation of Jesus, the wisdom of St. Paul, and the writings of great theologians so that the student's entire education and formation grow toward the Truth of God.

What about Truth, Beauty, and Goodness?

Often when reading within the classical sphere, the phrase "truth, beauty, and goodness" appears. We've just discussed philosophy and theology (and their related principles) within the topic of Truth. Are truth, beauty, and goodness therefore all part of a classical education? Is this just a motto? (I won't go too far into the weeds of philosophy here, so stick with me!)

This phrase originates with the transcendental properties of philosophy: Being, Something, Unity, Truth, and Goodness. Notice that Beauty is not listed here. In the book Elementary Course of Christian Philosophy, the beautiful is defined as "that which pleases when known," (The Brothers of Christian Schools, p.156). The Brothers of Christian Schools go on to explain:

All beauty is founded on truth, the natural object of the intellect; hence beauty is not arbitrary, but, like truth, immutable; for it has its eternal type in God. (p.157)

Beauty then is not a principle discipline of classical education but a judgment we make when perceiving something as being in accord with Truth. It is not Beauty that instructs Beauty but Truth that instructs. One who is not ordered toward Truth will ignore or overlook the beauty that points to God. One who is ordered toward God cannot miss the beautiful that points, always, toward Him.

Goodness, however, is on the list. The Brothers of Christian Schools present the following definition, "Goodness is the conformity of a thing to the will, especially to the divine will," (p.151) and go on to specify, "The good is also divided into useful, honorable, and pleasurable," (p.153). It seems then that the Good is what we do, produce, create, study or even embody as in accord with Truth. The product of goodness would go on to elicit a judgment of beauty. This goodness may then be associated with the arts (both liberal and modern) of an education.

All that is Good, Right, and True

While the phrase "truth, beauty, and goodness" holds a place of prestige for good reason and remains theologically sound, I would like to offer the words of St. Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, which he wrote in a letter to the Ephesians as the guiding principles of Christian classical education: Goodness, Righteousness, and Truth. Or, the Good, Right, and True.

Why Right? While "righteous" is often synonymous with "holy", we may see this term also as rightly order toward God, pointed to the object of Truth. To be in communion with God, to be rightly ordered toward Him, it is necessary to have language to comprehend and communicate:

As men are composed of body and soul, they require an exterior sign to communicate their thoughts to one another; the most perfect sign is that of language...We must allow that speech is the principal means by which the greater part of knowledge is communicated in a prompt and easy manner, especially that knowledge which relates to spiritual things and to moral truths. (The Brothers of Christian Schools, p.114-115)

For this reason, what is Right has its foundation in language, communication, and comprehension--all the elements of the Trivium. It is rightly understanding, rightly thinking, and rightly speaking. The Right is the bridge between the Truth of God imparted to us and the Good of man in action. The Right makes the propagation of Truth possible. It makes the beauty of the Good comprehendible.

Together, the Good, Right, and True order the disciplines of a Christian classical education into one.

The Beauty of this Blog Post

I've made some images, or infographics, that I hope you will find informative—and beautiful—in visualizing all of this information.

Through these images, you see the Good comprised of the four arts of the Quadrivium and the four Modern Arts, the Right comprised of the Trivium, and the True comprised of the Christian trinity of Truth.

This gives us 14 principle disciplines to a Christian classical education:

• Arithmetic

• Geometry

• Astronomy

• Music

• Science

• Humanities

• Manual Arts

• Fine Arts

• Grammar

• Logic

• Rhetoric

• Scripture

• Virtue

• Theology

For the fruit of light is found in all that is good, right, and true.

Ephesians 5:9

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