At our colloquium this week, we had a great time talking about "The Age of Innocence" and planning for the rest of the year. We still had enough books we're dying to read that didn't fit in our year's schedule. *Smile* We thought about having an online discussion forum to talk about the book with those who can't make it for whatever reason, but read the book.
We decided to go ahead and start a second Colloquium meeting, this one for Statesman. We plan to read things like the Federalist papers, etc.
For March we are reading "Follow the River" by James Alexander Thom
Book Summary:
"Mary Ingles was twenty-three, married, and pregnant, when Shawnee Indians invaded her peaceful Virginia settlement, killed the men and women, then took her captive. For months, she lived with them, unbroken, until she escaped, and followed a thousand mile trail to freedom--an extraordinary story of a pioneer woman who risked her life to return to her people."
The book reading list is now as follows:
March: Follow the River by James Alexander Thom
April: The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas (The first half of the book)
May: The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas (The second half of the book)
June: Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra
July: Comedy of Errors by Shakespeare
August: The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James
September: Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
October: The Short Stories of Edgar Allen Poe
November: Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens
December: The Other Wiseman (Suggested by Linda)
As far as the Statesman Colloquia we will meet the second Wednesday at the same time. I will send more information for that.
For March we'll be reading: 1776 by McCullough
At the next meeting we'll decide which to read next but our suggested book list is:
1) Future Shock by Toffler
2) The Roots of American Order
3) The Federalist Papers by Russell Kirk
4) Democracy in America by Tocqueville
5) The Constitution of the United States of America
6) The Declaration of Independence
7) Common Sense by Thomas Paine
8) John Adams Biography
9) The True End of Civil Government by John Locke
10) The Social Contract by Rousseau
11) The History of England by David Hume
Showing posts with label Colloquium. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Colloquium. Show all posts
Friday, February 27, 2009
Monday, November 24, 2008
Colloquia This Month
We had a great colloquia this month. We read Charles Dicken's "A Christmas Carol".
The book was very close to the movie, but had details and a better perspective of the emotional transition that Scrooge underwent during the visits.
My book had some old fashioned illustrations which made it nice when I tried to picture in my mind what Dickens was envisioning when he wrote this book. Some of the old fashioned decorating or terms were a bit hard to picture.
During the meeting we broke down each ghost and the symbols involved with each one. We got very indepth and it was quite enlightening.
After reading these classic books and having our little discussions at Colloquia, I then love to read the reviews on Good Reads. It helps me see the book, the writing, and the author in many other ways. Be warned, don't read the reviews until you have finished the book. I've come across spoilers that weren't termed spoilers and learned things before I wanted to about a protagonist or the storyline.
What are you reading for Colloquium?
The book was very close to the movie, but had details and a better perspective of the emotional transition that Scrooge underwent during the visits.
My book had some old fashioned illustrations which made it nice when I tried to picture in my mind what Dickens was envisioning when he wrote this book. Some of the old fashioned decorating or terms were a bit hard to picture.
During the meeting we broke down each ghost and the symbols involved with each one. We got very indepth and it was quite enlightening.
After reading these classic books and having our little discussions at Colloquia, I then love to read the reviews on Good Reads. It helps me see the book, the writing, and the author in many other ways. Be warned, don't read the reviews until you have finished the book. I've come across spoilers that weren't termed spoilers and learned things before I wanted to about a protagonist or the storyline.
What are you reading for Colloquium?
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
My Colloquim Perspective
I have had the privilege over the last year to participate in a women's colloquium with a small group of dynamic mothers. Women who are a strength and a vital force in my life. While we haven't been able to participate in the children's groups it has for a while due to our family's schedule, I fight very hard for my one night a month with them. Let me just be perfectly honest and say the books are not my favorite part our group. I love the potluck dinners we share together. Imagine a group of mothers bonding around a meal, sharing our excitements, sorrows, and concerns. The food is a vast array of our uniqueness that at times inspires a recipe exchange. And the funny times where we all brought dessert and then had to order Chinese. But mostly it is the encouragement and sisterhood that is gained from it. It is in part a small village and their influence at these meetings impacts my role as a woman, mother and wife. When too much time passes in between our gatherings, I miss these women. I would have to say that they are my De facto Indian tribe. Sometimes I want to just build a tepee for myself and my family so so we can go live with Rhonda, Robin, Britta, Syndi, Rachel, Marie and their families. Instead I live in a city where we have to drive at least twenty minutes to see any of those people. When I read the words about Kindred Spirits in The Anne of Green Gables books these women are that to me.
Well now I guess I should speak on the books that bring my "tribe" together. This month we are reading The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. And let me just say that I could totally use some "highly effective habits," who couldn't? This particular book, as is many of the books we chose, is on the list for the 5 Pillars Certification from George Wythe University, a TJed resource. This one in particular gave me a sense of where DeMille gets the "you, not them" philosophy. I am only 2 chapters into it, and now I wonder why I procrastinated in reading it. I will say that next month I am going to request that we read something for fun. I need a break from this genre. I may just suggest Robinson Crusoe since some of you are enjoying it so much! I haven't read that yet.
What is my family reading?
Heather
The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People
Jane Eyre
Andrew (Core..with occasional bursts of LOL)
Buffaloes Before Breakfast (Magic Tree House Series)
Newly into reading recipes and cooking. His new self-appointed job
Children's Illustrated version of Treasure Island
Cassandra (Core- not yet reading, so I read to her)
Island of the Blue Dolphins
Jeremy and Seth (core)
Thomas Trains books
And we are always in search of the Letter F this week and we search for it in every book we read.
Family Reading time books
Little House in the Big Woods
The Blue Fairy Book
Skillet Bread, Sourdough and Vinegar Pie
The Scriptures
A Child's History Of America
Blessings,
Heather
Well now I guess I should speak on the books that bring my "tribe" together. This month we are reading The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. And let me just say that I could totally use some "highly effective habits," who couldn't? This particular book, as is many of the books we chose, is on the list for the 5 Pillars Certification from George Wythe University, a TJed resource. This one in particular gave me a sense of where DeMille gets the "you, not them" philosophy. I am only 2 chapters into it, and now I wonder why I procrastinated in reading it. I will say that next month I am going to request that we read something for fun. I need a break from this genre. I may just suggest Robinson Crusoe since some of you are enjoying it so much! I haven't read that yet.
What is my family reading?
Heather
The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People
Jane Eyre
Andrew (Core..with occasional bursts of LOL)
Buffaloes Before Breakfast (Magic Tree House Series)
Newly into reading recipes and cooking. His new self-appointed job
Children's Illustrated version of Treasure Island
Cassandra (Core- not yet reading, so I read to her)
Island of the Blue Dolphins
Jeremy and Seth (core)
Thomas Trains books
And we are always in search of the Letter F this week and we search for it in every book we read.
Family Reading time books
Little House in the Big Woods
The Blue Fairy Book
Skillet Bread, Sourdough and Vinegar Pie
The Scriptures
A Child's History Of America
Blessings,
Heather
Colloquium
We are beginning our first colloquium this month and are reading Robinson Crusoe. Wow, is this an amazing book! I can hardly put it down. I should finish it tonight or tomorrow. I'm trying my hardest to keep my mouth quiet about it around my friends who are reading. It is hard since books become such a part of me and open my eyes to the world in a new way.
Classic books change the way I view life and inspires me to be a better person, or reminds me of things I shouldn't do or try. I would much rather see an example of how a choice changed another person's life for better or worse and apply it to my memory rather than go through the trial or struggles myself.
In a colloquium, we can share and be inspired by what others drew from the book. Whatever things stood out to others can be an addition source of inspiration and consideration when we review the book in our minds.
I recently read Anna Karenina. It was so powerful and literally changed my life. I wished I could have discussed it with someone else who had read the book. I hate the fact that as I discuss it I may spoil a part of the book when talking about how it affected me. With colloquium we can do just that! No more feeling alone in this amazing journey through a new book!
In applying this to homeschooling as well our children can learn in the same way. My older girls love to discuss their books with me. It has a better result when I have read the book too, and thankfully I have for most of them.
When I was homeschooled around the age of twelve, I had a best friend who inspired me to read Anne of Green Gables and the rest of the series. I fell in love with these books- and Anne- immediately. What made it more fun was the opportunity to discuss each book with my friend. I tried to tell my mom about them, but she hadn't read them and so we couldn't have the same deep discussion or share the same hope for Anne marrying Gilbert.
In writing this post it reminded me that the YOU not THEM is important in this as we are the mentors/ examples. It also reminded me that I need to get the ball rolling in having my girls become involved in a small colloquium too.
Classic books change the way I view life and inspires me to be a better person, or reminds me of things I shouldn't do or try. I would much rather see an example of how a choice changed another person's life for better or worse and apply it to my memory rather than go through the trial or struggles myself.
In a colloquium, we can share and be inspired by what others drew from the book. Whatever things stood out to others can be an addition source of inspiration and consideration when we review the book in our minds.
I recently read Anna Karenina. It was so powerful and literally changed my life. I wished I could have discussed it with someone else who had read the book. I hate the fact that as I discuss it I may spoil a part of the book when talking about how it affected me. With colloquium we can do just that! No more feeling alone in this amazing journey through a new book!
In applying this to homeschooling as well our children can learn in the same way. My older girls love to discuss their books with me. It has a better result when I have read the book too, and thankfully I have for most of them.
When I was homeschooled around the age of twelve, I had a best friend who inspired me to read Anne of Green Gables and the rest of the series. I fell in love with these books- and Anne- immediately. What made it more fun was the opportunity to discuss each book with my friend. I tried to tell my mom about them, but she hadn't read them and so we couldn't have the same deep discussion or share the same hope for Anne marrying Gilbert.
In writing this post it reminded me that the YOU not THEM is important in this as we are the mentors/ examples. It also reminded me that I need to get the ball rolling in having my girls become involved in a small colloquium too.
Environment #2 - Colloquium
I'm going to post on colloquium from a "You not them" standpoint.
My scholar's personality is such that she really doesn't like colloquium - she endures it. Although she has asked me to read the same scriptures with her in order to have colloquium with her over the readings because her seminary home study manual states she has to write what she's getting out of it. She says other than writing down the scriptures, she has no idea what to say. This from a girl who has already gone through two years of LEMI Commonwealth with teachers excited about her papers. So she sees a NEED for it, even if it's not her favorite thing.
I LOVE colloquium - I miss it when I don't get to go. I hope Tracy gets on here and talks about hosting one - I go to hers. Colloquium, in an environment that allows you to speak freely (Tracy does this well) is an excellent source. You get varying opinions to open your mind - to see how other people think, as well has having new perspectives that you would never get just reading it by yourself.
Just because a book resounds with you doesn't mean it will with another. For instance, we recently read Man of the Family. I didn't get to go to that colloquium, but I talked to Tracy and another member about it recently. They all thought it was a fabulous book - I hated it. It is not a classic for me and will never be on my shelf! If I had been at the group, I still would have voiced my thoughts because Tracy allows everyone to have their own experience. I can see where if it is not a safe environment voices would be stifled, and learning would not progress.
I think that's important to remember as we offer colloquium for our children.
I've also recently made an interesting observation. Cultural differences! I'm LDS, living in an LDS environment, but because my family are recent converts and we come from Texas, the way Russ and I express ourselves is completely different than the way most of the people in our group do. Russ told them recently that he hated the book 1984 so much he went outside and chopped it into pieces. Shocked me a little, since it was my book! The difference was I thought it was funny - Texans are passionate people! The people in our group thought he was nuts. It bothered me a little until I thought about the cultural difference. They have been brought up in a much more reserved atmosphere, where we were brought up to embrace passions and act upon them. I don't think either are wrong - they're just different. That is something to consider when you're in a group - not everyone has been brought up the same.
I look forward to reading what everyone else has to say. :)
What we're reading this week:
Dad - I have no idea.
Me - Mansfield Park - I've never read a Jane Austen book!
My scholar - this has been interesting. Last week she was reading a Clive Cussler book and she started telling me how she was disenchanted with his writing style. I told her maybe she needs to take a break, and her dad told her how she needed to realize that writers are people who use the power of the pen to get across their own ideas to the people. They talked about how Clive Cussler had written a book where he wrote the whole story in metric because he felt the US should go to metric since the rest of the world had. They had a colloquia right then and there over the books she had read - it was interesting to watch! She is waiting for my Amazon order to come in today to start on one of the books from LEMI that starts this Friday.
My practice scholar - she's pouring over drawing books. She has started her own blog to showcase her work as she practices.
My love of learning girl - We're slowly getting through that Charles Dickens book, and the name of the book she reads for her liberty girls is Pheobe the Spy by Jean Fritz.
My Core boys - I decided to do nursery rhymes with them. I did this with my love of learner a yr or two ago and we had such fun - I thought the boys might like to do spider cakes and fluffy marshmallow lambs, so we're doing that. I like the checkerboard book - a lady at colloquium does not. Another example of YOURS, not MINE. :)
As a family: We're still getting through You Want Women To Vote, Lizzie Stanton?
My scholar's personality is such that she really doesn't like colloquium - she endures it. Although she has asked me to read the same scriptures with her in order to have colloquium with her over the readings because her seminary home study manual states she has to write what she's getting out of it. She says other than writing down the scriptures, she has no idea what to say. This from a girl who has already gone through two years of LEMI Commonwealth with teachers excited about her papers. So she sees a NEED for it, even if it's not her favorite thing.
I LOVE colloquium - I miss it when I don't get to go. I hope Tracy gets on here and talks about hosting one - I go to hers. Colloquium, in an environment that allows you to speak freely (Tracy does this well) is an excellent source. You get varying opinions to open your mind - to see how other people think, as well has having new perspectives that you would never get just reading it by yourself.
Just because a book resounds with you doesn't mean it will with another. For instance, we recently read Man of the Family. I didn't get to go to that colloquium, but I talked to Tracy and another member about it recently. They all thought it was a fabulous book - I hated it. It is not a classic for me and will never be on my shelf! If I had been at the group, I still would have voiced my thoughts because Tracy allows everyone to have their own experience. I can see where if it is not a safe environment voices would be stifled, and learning would not progress.
I think that's important to remember as we offer colloquium for our children.
I've also recently made an interesting observation. Cultural differences! I'm LDS, living in an LDS environment, but because my family are recent converts and we come from Texas, the way Russ and I express ourselves is completely different than the way most of the people in our group do. Russ told them recently that he hated the book 1984 so much he went outside and chopped it into pieces. Shocked me a little, since it was my book! The difference was I thought it was funny - Texans are passionate people! The people in our group thought he was nuts. It bothered me a little until I thought about the cultural difference. They have been brought up in a much more reserved atmosphere, where we were brought up to embrace passions and act upon them. I don't think either are wrong - they're just different. That is something to consider when you're in a group - not everyone has been brought up the same.
I look forward to reading what everyone else has to say. :)
What we're reading this week:
Dad - I have no idea.
Me - Mansfield Park - I've never read a Jane Austen book!
My scholar - this has been interesting. Last week she was reading a Clive Cussler book and she started telling me how she was disenchanted with his writing style. I told her maybe she needs to take a break, and her dad told her how she needed to realize that writers are people who use the power of the pen to get across their own ideas to the people. They talked about how Clive Cussler had written a book where he wrote the whole story in metric because he felt the US should go to metric since the rest of the world had. They had a colloquia right then and there over the books she had read - it was interesting to watch! She is waiting for my Amazon order to come in today to start on one of the books from LEMI that starts this Friday.
My practice scholar - she's pouring over drawing books. She has started her own blog to showcase her work as she practices.
My love of learning girl - We're slowly getting through that Charles Dickens book, and the name of the book she reads for her liberty girls is Pheobe the Spy by Jean Fritz.
My Core boys - I decided to do nursery rhymes with them. I did this with my love of learner a yr or two ago and we had such fun - I thought the boys might like to do spider cakes and fluffy marshmallow lambs, so we're doing that. I like the checkerboard book - a lady at colloquium does not. Another example of YOURS, not MINE. :)
As a family: We're still getting through You Want Women To Vote, Lizzie Stanton?
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