When we read together, learning is fostered primarily through discussion and example.
Most frequently asked question at our table..."What do you think?"
Most frequent comment..."Let's look that up."
Our go to...every single day, several times a day...are the encyclopedias. They are the most direct route to concise information and a guide to gathering further information. Often, something we look up, we just read a paragraph about. Sometimes I skim an article to find the relevant information on a topic. Sometimes we read the article, it's complementary articles on related topics, the recommended reading. Encyclopedias give us an opportunity to take an interest as far as is desired or necessary.
And to share and discuss our varied interests. Best reads ever are the ones where there are half a dozen encyclopedias scattered on the table, and everyone is looking at what the others have discovered. There are some other resources we have found incredibly helpful when studying history as a Catholic family.
A Catechism of Church History by Father Robert Fox is an amazing book. It has chronological entries on the Church's history, and involvement in world history as well as commentary on common misconceptions and perceptions of the Catholic Church. The entries are all short, like an desk encyclopedia, a paragraph to a few paragraphs.
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The Pocket Catholic Dictionary by Father John Hardon is also a resource book we would never be without. It has dictionary entries of all things Catholic, so that words or ideas can be instantly accessed to aid discussion and also to help with the context of the story.
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Most frequently asked question at our table..."What do you think?"
Most frequent comment..."Let's look that up."
Our go to...every single day, several times a day...are the encyclopedias. They are the most direct route to concise information and a guide to gathering further information. Often, something we look up, we just read a paragraph about. Sometimes I skim an article to find the relevant information on a topic. Sometimes we read the article, it's complementary articles on related topics, the recommended reading. Encyclopedias give us an opportunity to take an interest as far as is desired or necessary.
And to share and discuss our varied interests. Best reads ever are the ones where there are half a dozen encyclopedias scattered on the table, and everyone is looking at what the others have discovered. There are some other resources we have found incredibly helpful when studying history as a Catholic family.
A Catechism of Church History by Father Robert Fox is an amazing book. It has chronological entries on the Church's history, and involvement in world history as well as commentary on common misconceptions and perceptions of the Catholic Church. The entries are all short, like an desk encyclopedia, a paragraph to a few paragraphs.
The Pocket Catholic Dictionary by Father John Hardon is also a resource book we would never be without. It has dictionary entries of all things Catholic, so that words or ideas can be instantly accessed to aid discussion and also to help with the context of the story.
One other recommendation that I'd like to make is a beautiful book of saint's quotes. They are organized by virtues and vices, so it can be an opportunity to bring the saints on board in an easy and natural way by looking up what THEY had to say about certain actions, sacrifice, temptations...
More resources next post.