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Angela
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| Posted: Aug 16 2008 at 3:19am | IP Logged
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Hi, I am new to this forum (Catholic homeschooling mom to 4--7th grade, 6th, 1st, toddler) and am trying to bring Charlotte Mason's philosophy of teaching into our home. I especially want to rekindle a love/joy of learning with my older girls and feed my 1st graders love of learning/reading/books.
Right now, I am having some trouble distinguishing between "twaddle" and good, living literature. For example, my 1st grade son is especially intrigued by the Magic Tree House and Magic School Bus series. So, we read one about Medieval Times and another about the Solar System and did mini-unit studies of sorts by finding other books on the same topics. Would such series be considered 'twaddle' if they impart some factual knowledge and spark an interest to look further into a topic, i.e. history, science? Obviously, the whole premise for both series, 'magic' tree house/school bus, are completely fictitious. So, would that put it in the 'twaddle' category?
Further, should I avoid books with talking animals and other non-reality based books?
I truly look forward to your thoughts/advice! With all of the wonderful literature out there, I don't want to waste time with 'twaddle.' So, any help in distinguishing between the 2 would be great!
Thanks so much!
Angela
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EmilyC
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| Posted: Aug 16 2008 at 5:37am | IP Logged
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I don't think you need to do away with them if they are sparking an interest. My children LOVE Magic School Bus, and I definitely consider them living books.
And I wouldn't consider books with 'non-reality' elements to be twaddle. Living books are just books that are well-written and engaging. Charlotte's Web is most definitely a living book, and it's a story with talking animals.
I consider things like Junie B Jones, and Goosebumps to be twaddle. The writing is terrible and grammatically incorrect. Also, any book written too much like a text book. Non fiction doesn't need to mean boring.
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Emily,
Wife to Rob since 8/98
Mom to 4:
Sarah (13) Robbie & Riley (10) Regina (nearly 3)
My secular lit-based curriculum:
Build Your Library curriculum
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folklaur
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| Posted: Aug 16 2008 at 11:26am | IP Logged
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Angela wrote:
Further, should I avoid books with talking animals and other non-reality based books? |
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No!  That would do away with Beatrix Potter, Winnie-the-Pooh, etc.
Jan Brett has trolls, etc and she is a fave.
Tomie de Paola has Stega Nona and magic kettles and we love her.
Elsa Beskow has fairies and sprites, etc.
And if your child loves Magic Tree House (mine do - lots if children do!) I would not do away with them. Just add in other choices too 
Have you looked over some of the booklists Elizabeth has in her book, Real Learning? I think she also has the booklists on her website...I think this is it:
Read Around the Year Booklist
hth! 
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Matilda
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My kids liked the Magic Treehouse books so I used them as an introduction to a wide variety of subjects. I also used the oldest character's tendency to write things down in a note book as a way to introduce my oldest son to the idea of "taking notes", ie... writing down things that interest him in his reading, things he thinks are important, things he wants to find out more about.
I don't consider them twaddle, actually, I'd call them "popcorn"; just a light snack that tides you over until you get to a nice meal!
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: Aug 16 2008 at 11:57am | IP Logged
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 Charlotte I call them "candy books".. a little bit is just fine but a steady diet will make you sick. 
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Jodie, wife to Dave
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All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
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4Real Forums : Living Literature
Topic: Twaddle vs. Living Books
