Marsha Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 What are some good books to use with a 3rd or 4th grade boy? Any suggestions? Thank you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruth Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 Bob Schultz has 3 wonderful books for boys, they are a great read aloud with scripture and thought-filled questions at the end of every short chapter. My ds is on the last book in the series, we both love them! Boyhood and Beyond Created for Work Practical Happiness Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marsha Posted April 21, 2009 Author Share Posted April 21, 2009 Which would be best to start with? What is a good order to read them in? Also, is it better read out loud together, ot give it to him and let him read it? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladydusk Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 For the rest of the schooling years, Doorposts Plants Grown Up/Polished Cornerstones is a wonderful character training resource. I just bought Polished Cornerstones to start with my 4yo next January and will buy Plants Grown Up at next year's conference. Definitely Christian in content. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoggirl Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 Which would be best to start with? What is a good order to read them in? Also, is it better read out loud together, ot give it to him and let him read it? Thanks This is just my opinion, but I believe that character training for boys should come from their dads as much as possible. In my mind, character training is about teaching a boy to be a man, and, well, as a woman, I have not the qualifications for doing so! My dh and ds do these orally together. I hope my post isn't offensive to you. I admire the fact that you want to incorporate character training into your home school! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jibaker103 Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 This is just my opinion, but I believe that character training for boys should come from their dads as much as possible. In my mind, character training is about teaching a boy to be a man, and, well, as a woman, I have not the qualifications for doing so! I agree but if there is no father we single mother's have no choice! Jennifer Mother to Noah Age 13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparrows-Song Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 I've used several books from Pearables and liked them all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CherylG Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 I like the book "Proverbs for Parents", A Topical Guide for Child Raising from the Book of Proverbs. It is written by Barbara Decker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HSDCY Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 I second Boyhood and Beyond and Created for Work. We did these books together this year and really enjoyed them. I have not heard of Practical Happiness, I'll have to check that out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TundraAcademy Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 We're doing WWE 3 and I'm incorporating short stories from The Book of Virtues and The Moral Compass by William Bennett. I've been pleasantly surprised to do character training and writing at the same time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TechWife Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 The Boy Scouts of America - Cub Scouts for elementary and Boy Scouts for Middle and High. Best stuff I've ever seen. These programs are very intentional about teaching values through hands on activities. Scout Oath (or Promise) On my honor I will do my best To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; To help other people at all times; To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight. Scout Law A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent. http://www.scouting.org/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blessedx5 Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 I agree about the scouts BUT only if you have a pack/troop that holds the boys accountable to those oaths. We have been in scouting for several years now, DH has been leading a den and we have seen so much "looked over"...it's VERY frustrating. We are at the point of pulling both boys from scouts because the negatives are beginning to outweigh the positives. I don't want this to discourage anyone but just chose a pack with strong, loyal bunch of leaders. Debbie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momof4boys Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 I am so encouraged by this group, you all ask the questions that it has not even occured to me to ask yet, but here are the answers before me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JaneGrey Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 I'll also throw a vote in for Boyhood and Beyond. I prefer this to Plants Grown Up for several reasons: 1) Plants provides a list of suggestions for studying each character trait. I prefer the chapter/story and discussion method provided in Boyhood. I just think it works better (at least until about junior high). 2) Price! 3) Realistically (related to #1), it will just be more likely to get done with Boyhood because it's not an intense Bible study on a trait. You can sit and read an anecdote and discuss the few questions at the end of the chapter. It's a lot smaller to tote around out on a "let's talk manhood" date. (It's nice to make this a special treat.) For a workbook style (or for kids older than mine), I prefer Maldaner's Christian Manhood. I haven't done an in-depth comparison of CM and Plants (I just bought CM), but I made the decision looking at both samples online and comparing the Table of Contents for each (and price). I think CM is more useful to me than Plants because I think it's easier for me to come up with something like Plants than something like CM, I think CM's method is more effective, and CM is much cheaper. (Plants also refers you to other sources that you'd have to buy, including their own For Instruction in Righteousness and Maldaner's Christian Character.) For a Bible study on certain traits/habits, you could use Doorposts' For Instruction in Righteousness. I much prefer this to Proverbs for Parenting. That book was a dud for me. I wouldn't reject Plants if someone gave me a copy free (heh-heh; any offers?) and I'd consider purchasing it much later at a deep sale price. THANKS to Ruth for letting me know that there's a third book by Schultz! I'll have to check it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amtmcm Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 I'm looking at their books for my girls and she has several for boys too. I think they can be completed independently or together. http://www.queenhomeschool.com/bookpage/bookframe.html An Honorable Boy - A Bible Study for Elementary Aged Boys Increasing In Wisdom Equipping Our Sons to be Heads of Their Homes Young Men Of Valor Preparing for Spiritual Leadership: A Bible-Based Study for Young Men Copywork for Boys Or how about Beautiful Feet Teaching Character through Literature? We love BF guides. http://www.bfbooks.com/s.nl/it.A/id.288/.f?sc=1&category=671 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swellmomma Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 I agree but if there is no father we single mother's have no choice! Jennifer Mother to Noah Age 13 exactly. I just bought created for work, and boyhood & beyond and look forward to using them with my ds. I am also thinking of getting pearables lessons in responsibilty next year (they are like the home ec series we use) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noah&emmasmommy Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 these are all such great suggestions. I especially love DoorPosts materials. And what a great idea to incorporate Book of Virtues with writing. I am going to also try to implement a little more character training with my son. Also, have any of you heard of Lamplighter Publishing? Mark Hamby is the one who founded this co. and he publishes old stories full of virtuous morals. I took a look at his books at the Midwest Homeschool Convention and I really liked the look of them. His website is www.lamplighterpublishing.com I just checked his website and it says it's under construction, so they must be re-vamping it, but I'm pretty sure that's the correct address, because I've had it bookmarked and linked to it right from there, and have seen the website before. But anyway, they are some really neat books, so that's something to look into. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swellmomma Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 these are all such great suggestions. I especially love DoorPosts materials. And what a great idea to incorporate Book of Virtues with writing. I am going to also try to implement a little more character training with my son. Also, have any of you heard of Lamplighter Publishing? Mark Hamby is the one who founded this co. and he publishes old stories full of virtuous morals. I took a look at his books at the Midwest Homeschool Convention and I really liked the look of them. His website is www.lamplighterpublishing.com I just checked his website and it says it's under construction, so they must be re-vamping it, but I'm pretty sure that's the correct address, because I've had it bookmarked and linked to it right from there, and have seen the website before. But anyway, they are some really neat books, so that's something to look into. Are you talking about the boys of grit series? I have been wondering if they were any good since no one really talks about them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JaneGrey Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 I was disappointed in these. I thought they were not well written (lots of colloquialisms). The concept is great, though. There's another series about Christian heroes (short chapters on lots of them in each book) that I also didn't like. Keep in mind that hubby calls me "malcontent." I'm working on it. :001_smile: Hope the details help you out some, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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