When all were in their places Father said grace and, excusing himself, left the family to retire to his study. He frequently spent thirteen hours a day studying. He managed this amazing amount of time by husbanding every hour of the day. He usually arose at four in the morning, indulging himself in the later rising time of five in the winter. In this way he was far along in his studies while the household slept. He preferred to eat alone, usually certain foods which he had by experimentation discovered kept his mind and body most sprightly. This morning he did not eat the rich menu which Venus set before the rest of the household, the home-cured bacon and the delicious hot breads. But at the end of the meal, he rejoined his family for morning devotions.
Edna Gerstner

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Cindy Prechtel's review of Common Sense Excellence

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#1 · July 26, 2004, 2:46 pm

Posted by: homenews <homenews@...>

Dear Hope Chest readers,
 
Cindy Prechtel just alerted me to the fact that she reviewed my book Common Sense Excellence in the June edition of her web-based newsletter, Homeschool Reviews for You. 
 
 
I have pasted in the text for your convenience:
 
Thanks for the kind words, Cindy!
 
Blessings,
Virginia Knowles
 
~~~~~
 
 
Common Sense Excellence: Faith-Filled Home Education for Preschool to 5th Grade
Author: Virginia Knowles
For more information or to order: http://thehopechest.net

Common Sense Excellence is an incredibly comprehensive guide to giving your children a well balanced and indeed, excellent, education.  If experience is the best teacher, then we can all benefit from the practical wisdom of a homeschool mom of 8, who has been busy educating her own children for over a decade.  Writing from a decidedly Christian perspective, Virginia Knowles has filled this spiral-bound book with over 225 pages of how-to's, encouragement and resource recommendations for those teaching preschool - 5th grade.

Covering a wide range of subjects including Bible, math, reading, history, science, art, health and life skills, Common Sense Excellence is a book one reads with a highlighter in hand.  Mrs. Knowles has divided her book into three sections.  In Part 1, Common Sense Excellence, we are introduced to the author and her family, as well as being encouraged to strive for the goals of Faith-Filled Education, rather than just the filling of the head with knowledge.  In this section, the author also covers the importance of respecting the stages of childhood learning, multi-level teaching, settling on your own homeschool methodology and more.  After laying a strong foundation in Part 1, the reader is then introduced to a guide for teaching each subject area in Part 2, Academic Subjects.  Here you will find encouragement to include learning in every aspect of your day, what is typically covered in the elementary years for each subject and practical ways to "teach" these subjects, often without textbooks.  If you've ever wondered how subjects can be integrated and learned in a more natural approach, you will appreciate the clear explanations and resources suggested in this section.  Speaking of resources, throughout Common Sense Excellence you will find specific titles recommended by the author.  Being a book lover herself, you will find lots of reading suggestions for every age level and occasionally a more "traditional" curriculum listed as well.  After covering some the "nuts and bolts" of teaching specific subjects, we move on to Part 3, Practical Matters.  For many, this section will be a favorite as Virginia covers important topics such as organization of all those school materials, scheduling, lesson planning, record keeping, and evaluating your child's progress.  Also included in Part 3 is a section titled, "Problem Solving" in which the voice of experience chimes in with scriptural encouragement and practical tips for specific challenges that one might face including academic struggles, resistant or lazy attitudes, lack of confidence, bickering children, on being overwhelmed, and more.

Consistent with the author's Biblical worldview, throughout Common Sense Excellence you will find lots of Scripture and at least one "Vintage Quote" per chapter.  These (and the author's own words of wisdom) serve as a reminder that, as Christians, we have an obligation to not only provide an excellent education, but a more important responsibility to instill in our children a love of God and family. 

The homeschool market is flooded with "how-to" books, and books by small publishers can often be overlooked.  I'm pleased to shine a spotlight on Common Sense Excellence.  I believe this book is destined to become a classic, must-read book for Christian homeschool families.

Making the grade: A+
Cost: $20.00
Value for your homeschool dollar: 10
Reviewed by Cindy Prechtel, Editor

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