Secular Charlotte Mason

My son wants to do more nature study and trail hikes.  This will mean more car time than usual.  Do you have any educational ideas for the car?   Games? Favorite Books on CD? Catchy educational songs on CD like School House Rock?    ???

I am putting together a list and will post it on my blog and maybe do a theme on this site's blog too.  If you want your blog to be linked with your idea, please let me know. Other's will benefit from seeing your blog too!!  I will link the Secular CM website also.

Let's get some ideas going so we can "get going" this summer.

Cori,

Have you checked your library for the Jim Weiss CDs? Since your kids enjoy storytelling they may like these even more than books on tape. We listened to them over and over when my kids were H's age. Also, the audio version of D'Aulairies Greek Myths is quite good. My kids listened to it until they finally wore it out (and that is after they wore out our first copy of the book). I have also heard that the Brian Jacques Redwall series is particularly well done on audio (I also really like the PBS videos of it). 

Also, here is a link for that Spanish CD I was talking about at the meeting. It's perfect for carschooling. http://www.amazon.com/Teach-Me-Spanish-Paperback-Audio/dp/0934633932/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1272989242&sr=8-1

If your kids like music that can make road trips more fun. Weparticularly enjoyed Jerry Garcia's Not Just for Kids, Buckwheat Zydeco's kids CD, and Family Folk Festival and Kody Girl would probably recommend anything by Pete Seeger or Tom Chapin. 

When the kids were first learning how to read I kept one of those Leap Pad thingies with the books. The kids loved being able to "read" books that were really above their level plus they do have books for math, science and I forget what else. The actual learning how to read books didn't go over quite as well if I remember.

Gina

PS Our librarian told me that most of the audio books recorded for the blind are better done, and more descriptive in tone, than regular audio books. He said that is why the Redwall series is so well done--it was originally recorded by Brian Jacques for the blind.

secularcm at May 4, 2010 at 12:16 PM

Cori,

Have you checked your library for the Jim Weiss CDs? Since your kids enjoy storytelling they may like these even more than books on tape. We listened to them over and over when my kids were H's age. Also, the audio version of D'Aulairies Greek Myths is quite good. My kids listened to it until they finally wore it out (and that is after they wore out our first copy of the book). I have also heard that the Brian Jacques Redwall series is particularly well done on audio (I also really like the PBS videos of it). 

Also, here is a link for that Spanish CD I was talking about at the meeting. It's perfect for carschooling. http://www.amazon.com/Teach-Me-Spanish-Paperback-Audio/dp/0934633932/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1272989242&sr=8-1

If your kids like music that can make road trips more fun. Weparticularly enjoyed Jerry Garcia's Not Just for Kids, Buckwheat Zydeco's kids CD, and Family Folk Festival and Kody Girl would probably recommend anything by Pete Seeger or Tom Chapin. 

When the kids were first learning how to read I kept one of those Leap Pad thingies with the books. The kids loved being able to "read" books that were really above their level plus they do have books for math, science and I forget what else. The actual learning how to read books didn't go over quite as well if I remember.

Gina

PS Our librarian told me that most of the audio books recorded for the blind are better done, and more descriptive in tone, than regular audio books. He said that is why the Redwall series is so well done--it was originally recorded by Brian Jacques for the blind.

Gina, 

Thanks for the suggestions! I borrowed every Jim Weiss cd that our library had and my kiddos are really enjoying them! We also borrowed Charlotte's Web and Winnie the Pooh. We are going to be putting those to good use!

April

Just seeing this now.  Thank you for the suggestions! 

Cori, My kids are going through their audio books. If there are any for younger kids that still work I will give them to you. Give us a couple of weeks to get them to you (perhaps at the next meeting? or I can mail them to you).

Just seeing this Gina, I sure wish I'd get an email for follow up comments. lol  THANK YOU! I would love to have them.  I'll see you on Sunday and would you like some $$$ for them?

I'll second and third the Jim Weiss CDs-we have many of these and listen to them over and over.

We also just got the Lyrical Life science CDs that have very catchy music. We have Vol 1 and I think we'll get more. The songs are pretty fast so you have to really listen to some of them to get all the words but after listening a few times you have it down. The kids like them.

We also just got this and from the sample it sounds wonderful:

http://www.amazon.com/Little-History-World-Classic-Collection/dp/078617286X/ref=tmm_abk_title_0

I don't remember where I heard the sample, not on amazon-but his voice is great to listen to. I plan on using this for some summer trips.

Lyrical Life Science didn't go over nearly as well at our house as I expected it to. Perhaps the songs go to fast? Or maybe my kids are just too picky. Probably the latter option. They all LOVED the following CD for becoming familiar with geographical names. Esp. helpful for learning the continent and country names BEFORE having to read them on a map. Be warned...it is very hard to get these songs out of your head!

javascript:mox(); . In case that url doesn't work you can find it by googling Geography Songs on Amazon. Happy listening.