Reviews

What are people saying about Living Books Curriculum?

Linda K. Foster, reviewer, The Link Homeschool Newspaper
Living Books Curriculum, founded by Jim and Sheila Carroll, is the only complete curriculum inspired by the work of Charlotte Mason and drawing on the work of other educators such as E.D. Hirsch and William Bennett. The curriculum focuses less on textbooks and more on the use of high-quality literature and real-life experiences with a heavy emphasis on oral skills, which Charlotte Mason believed were the primary sources for education. The philosophy of Living Books Curriculum combines Western educational concepts and faith-based learning methods.

The program currently provides books and materials for grade levels Foundation Year (kindergarten) through Grade Three, with future levels through Grade Eight being developed. Each grade level is a separate program in itself and is designed as a four term, 36-week academic year with the first eight weeks of each term used for instruction and the ninth week being used for completion of prior work and student assessment. Separate curriculum packages are available for each grade level and each package contains a comprehensive Teaching Guide, all books used in the particular grade level year and an assortment of other materials specific to the particular grade level year. For students who begin the Living Books Curriculum program in the Foundation Year, Continuing Student Curriculum Packages are available. These packages are complete programs but do not duplicate books included in prior packages. Living Books Curriculum not only focuses on the needs of the student, but also, takes into consideration the needs of the homeschool parent in organizing and carrying through an adequate and well-rounded homeschool course of study.

Each curriculum package includes a Teaching Guide that is well written and well organized and provides an abundance of useful materials essential for both beginning and continuing Homeschool parents. Part 1 of each Teaching Guide provides an overview of the educational philosophy of Living Books Curriculum including the 7 Keys of Learning and the 6 Tools of Learning. This section reviews the philosophy of the program and provides a sound basis for the principles and practices promoted by the Living Books Curriculum. Part 2 provides teaching notes, sample schedules, teaching resources and an overview of subject areas covered in the curriculum. The overviews describe what is to be covered in a particular area and, also, the importance of the particular area in the overall education of the child. Each Teaching Guide provides articles from a variety of authors and sources that provide background information relevant to the Living Books Curriculum philosophy and reinforce the principles of that philosophy. Rounding out each Teaching Guide is a suggested Week-by-Week Teaching Guide. Also included in each curriculum package are relevant and age-appropriate books and other study materials that foster a learn-by-doing approach to education.

Also available through Living Books Curriculum are stand-alone study guides for Astronomy, Michigan history and The Middle Ages. As with the curriculum packages, these additional resources are thoughtful and well-written and are designed for multi-age and multi-grade use.

Living Books Curriculum is a well-designed program that stresses the importance of child readiness and progression through the program at an appropriate rate for each individual child. Each Grade Level includes methods of testing and assessing the child’s progress and allows for enough flexibility in the schedule to accommodate various rates of progress. The program allows the curriculum to be adjusted to each individual situation and to the needs of the individual child. Students and parents (teachers) are encouraged to use the written materials provided, physical activities and life experiences to enhance learning and literacy.

Merri Larsen, reviewer, Homeschool Enrichment Magazine
Dr. Jim Carroll is a researcher and assessment specialist who has taught at the graduate level for over thirty years. His wife, Sheila, an elementary teacher, college professor, professional storyteller and write, has two master’s degrees. Inspired by the work of Charlotte Mason, a nineteenth-century British educator, the Living Books Curriculum is based on the Carroll’s unique interpretation of Charlotte Mason’s Methods. For example, the Carroll’s have developed "The Seven Keys of Learning":

Key 1- Children are persons.
Key 2- Children love to learn.
Key 2- Learning requires a supportive atmosphere.
Key 4- Orality is essential to literacy.
Key 5- Learning occurs when there is active involvement in the learning.
Key 6- Living ideas are the natural food of the mind.
Key 7- The formation of effective habits leads to a productive life.

The Living Books Curriculum is currently being expanded, and at the present time, includes the Foundation year as well as Grades One through Four. I had the opportunity to review one of their study guides, the LBC Guide to the Middle Ages. Designed for ages 9 and up, this 68-page guide uses many activities, books, and Internet resources to teach about the Middle Ages. It also includes an overview of the period and a year-at-a-glance suggested study schedule. The guide is organized into four terms:

Term one:
Early Middle Ages (Fall of Rome, Camelot, Norsemen, Holy Roman Empire)

Term Two:
High Middle Ages-Feudalism (Knights and Chivalry, Robin Hood, Castles and Kings, and The Crusades)

Term Three:
High Middle Ages-Monasticism (Monks and Monasteries, Illuminated Manuscripts, Art and Architecture, Medieval Learning)

Term Four:
Late Middle Ages (Early Explorations, Science and medicine, Gutenberg and the Printing Press, Dawn of the Renaissance)

A Book List completes the end of the guide. Each lesson includes the following: People, Places and Events, Overview Text, Literature for Study, Additional Readings, Activities, Sample Questions for Narration and Discussion (immensely valuable!) and Historical Notes.

A check at my library proved all the titles are readily available (which should be fairly representative of most libraries, as mine is quite small). One suggestion I have for getting the most out of this guide is having the student create a History Notebook. I recommend using a blank notebook, with blank space at the top half of each page for sketching something particularly meaningful to the student. A written narration could be penned on the lined bottom half of the page. Avoiding writing on the backs of the pages would help insure a neatly organized treasure to enjoy for a lifetime.

The Living Books Curriculum Core Subjects have an extremely Charlotte Mason "feel" with the emphasis on short, focused lessons and narration. Related websites are included, which, in this age, can be a tremendous asset. During my 20 years of homeschooling, I have read through Charlotte’s six-volume series and find this curriculum true to her original ideals. I believe Charlotte would have us glean the best and most beautiful of all resources at our disposal. My only disappointment with the Carroll’s Living Books Curriculum is that it wasn’t around for all my college-age children when they were younger! LBC provides honest value and fills a big vacuum in Charlotte Mason-based curricula. I’m looking forward to more wonderful resources from LBC!

Deborah Taylor-Hough, editor, CM-Monthly
Over the years, people have told me repeatedly, "I wish there was someplace where I could order a complete Charlotte Mason education in a box. Just send off a check and get all the books, resources, ideas, and a schedule in one big package." Well, I'm glad to tell you it's finally been done! Previously, the closest thing to "CM in a Box" was ordering a year's worth of curriculum (elsewhere) and then "tweaking" their Teacher's Manual to work with Charlotte Mason's philosophies and ideas.

With the new Living Books Curriculum, you won't need to adjust anything. The entire curriculum already takes into account many of Charlotte Mason's methods and ideas: short lessons, living books, narration, classic literature, nature study, handicrafts, fine arts, music, and much more.

Penny Gardner, author, Charlotte Mason Study Guide; Italics: Beautiful Handwriting for Children; and The NEW Nine-Note Recorder Method.
In closely looking over the teaching guides for the Foundation Year and Grade One of A Living Books Curriculum, I am impressed with the knowledge of the author, Sheila Carroll. She is well versed in the educational philosophy of Charlotte Mason. There is a wealth of information about using this educational approach with young children.

Mrs. Carroll’s insights into narration are worth reading even for the seasoned veteran of this cornerstone of Charlotte Mason’s approach. The information and focus on orality—listening and speaking—reaffirms the validity of Charlotte Mason’s educational ideas. The chapters on storytelling are particularly valuable as many parents who use CM are not aware of the value of storytelling, nor knowledgeable of how to become a good storyteller.

The subject overview for each year is helpful in seeing the big picture. The weekly planner sets out a course of study for those who prefer to have a curriculum course set out for them. Those new to Charlotte Mason and living books will find comfort in the guidance and structure that this product provides.

Shannon Pelletier Swanson, Field Trip Editor/Reviewer,The Old Schoolhouse Magazine
Living Books Curriculum has found a wonderful way to explain through their Seven Keys of Learning (a description of children and learning) and Six Tools of Learning (the six most important tools of education) the essence of education. Not only do you receive a binder conveniently setup into sections for easy reading, wherein you will find ALL of the informative tools necessary to begin (or even continue down a different road of homeschooling), you will also receive each of the books necessary for the entire year! In this one box, I assure you that a thrilling feeling of relief will overcome you followed by complete boost of confidence to be a successful homeschooling parent.

At this point they are offering the Foundation Year and Grade One, Living Books Grade Two is due for release in the Spring of 2005.There is so much more to this product than just your average curriculum. It has become an item that I read regularly, because the information is so incredibly pertinent, not just to education but for creating an appreciation for learning and how to raise observant, literate children.