Deep Thoughts Round 2

We've been reading aesop's fables seeing as how it's recommended reading for Year 1 over at AmbleSide. I've noticed that many of them have morals that are exactly like what's written in the book of Proverbs. I have even found the corresponding verses for DS as they've arisen.

So I was thinking on moon day the 23rd about who was older, aesop or Solomon?

http://www.wordsight.org/btl/000_btl-fp.htm

says Solomon was born 1033 BC and died after 1000 BC

says aesop was born 620 BC and lived 56 years

so I've no doubt aesop was not nearly as "wise" as Solomon

I have enjoyed the aesop selections AmbleSide listed to be read, so glad we did Year 1

We will come back to AmbleSide after we do Beyond by H.O.D. .. I'll probably make a combo year 2/3 to catch us up ... hopefully by then DS and I can take turns reading aloud so it's not just me doing all the reading out loud.

Checking our Sources

A while back I saw on Simcha Jacobovici's show Last Man Standing that Josephus may have been a liar. Their reason was that in one part of his book he seems to deny the fact that Y'Shua was the Messiah but in another part says HE is....the research proved that the statement about HIM being was added in later. ((Note I am not saying I don't believe here, just trying to convey what I saw in this show)) (((Because I totally BELIEVE w/o a doubt that Y'Shua is Messiah!!!)))

***ETA 03/22/08: Not to mention he came up with the 10 men to slay everyone else and then draw straws to slay each other and last one standing was suppose to slay himself, but Josephus didn't, he surrendered to the Romans and then buttered up the guy in charge to write a history, ya know keep himself useful to avoid execution. yeah some slick dude there. Since in the Torah the most important thing is saving life, then Josephus was only concerned about his own.***



Well that was the second time I had been made aware of this Josephus. The first time was at the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit that came through here last spring.



I came across Tanglewood's curricula schedules and saw Our Young Folks' Josephus listed. And I started to work this into our schedule as a replacement for things like CHOW because of the authors evolutionistic point of view.



I was really thrilled when I saw Main Lesson has this Kids version of Josephus because I too really wanted to read it. SO last night I sat down and decided to skim as a way to make sure I wanted to use this book.



Low and behold the very first chapter has errors.







The first chapter says Nahor died and Haran lived but that's not right. See Genesis 11:26-32 .... Haran died not Nahor and Sarah is not Haran's daughter...she does happen to be Abraham's half sister see Genesis 20:12 - Abraham is speaking to the king at gerar

oh my .... glad I am reading thru this to even see if I want to use this...it sounds so interesting but now I am starting to agree that Josephus is not a trustworthy source.



I also have this book that we may use later.

I think I will stick with the ancient history schedule at Tanglewood for the next two terms of our Year 1 but where we can just read the Bible and not Josephus we will do so.

Adapting Year 1 at AO for Us

Jacci at The Educational Life has brought up a good reminder that we as home educators can adapt a "curricula" to fit us instead of us having to knock ourselves out trying to check everything off.


For Term 1 of Year 1 we cut out Just So Stories and Trial and Triumph.

I am doing the pre-year 3 combo for history...so this year we don't have to start An Island Story or D'Aulaire books...

So 4 days a week we do the daily stuff:
Bible, poetry, penmanship, phonics, math, recitation, and foreign language

Then choose 2 daily of the weekly activities:
nature journal, hymn, folksong, handicraft, composer, picture study,century book, or mapwork

That leaves 1 or 2 readings a day of History, Nature, or Literature Tales


It didn't seem like too much but for Term 2 and beyond, since I will not have a college class once a week myself, we plan to have one day a week concentrating on the weekly activites and leave the other 4 for the daily stuff and readings.