In the early 1980s — during the “olden days” in the modern history of homeschooling, even before the Christian textbook companies would sell to home educators — a small movement was afoot by parents using Living Books to teach their children.
The term Living Books, which was introduced to America through Susan Schaeffer Macaulay’s book, For the Children’s Sake, brought a new understanding of educational philosophy and books in particular.
For the Children’s Sake highlighted the philosophy of Charlotte Mason, an educator who lived in Victorian England at the turn of the last century. Miss Mason treated children as real people who were created in the image of God. She believed that children needed to experience and observe creation, live full lives, and feed their minds and hearts on lofty ideas and Living Books, not twaddle.
Living Books are usually written by one author, whose love of his or her subject shines through, begging the book to be read again and again by people of all ages. In fact, C.S. Lewis defines Living Books as those that “capture the issues of life in such a way that they challenge the intellect, they inspire the emotions, and they arouse something noble in the heart of the reader.” He also noted, “No book is really worth reading at the age of ten which is not equally (and often far more) worth reading at the age of fifty and beyond.”
Reference and resource books are the second category of books. Even these can be Living Books. Just read a few definitions in Noah Webster’s American Dictionary of the English Language, published in 1828. It is truly a Living Book!
Twaddle, however, is usually written by a committee of people. Though each person might love the subject being covered, that love doesn’t shine through, but instead is dumbed down and uninteresting. Twaddle pretends to teach something meaningful, but does not deliver truth, purpose, or vitality to the reader’s heart. Therefore, most children and adults have no desire to re-read textbooks.
As I reflect on the history of modern home education, another landmark event took place in the mid-1980s. Shortly after Macaulay’s For the Children’s Sake was published, American educator, Dr. Ruth Beechick, whose philosophy is similar to Charlotte Mason’s in many respects, played a major role in the shaping of our philosophy.
Dr. Beechick’s many books, especially The Three Rs and You Can Teach Your Child Successfully, lay a firm understanding for both why and how to teach reading, writing, and arithmetic in a very simple and straightforward manner, without the use of textbooks. Dr. Beechick’s methods freed families to teach the basics and use Living Books for everything else.
At about the same time there was an awakening among Christian home educating couples to allow God to plan their families, and often they were blessed with more than the typical 1.5 children. So, homeschooling mothers stayed home with their children — allowing the family to discover, learn, and think together in the God-designed environment of the home.
This was the time that the friendship between the Bendt and Farewell families was born. Because some of the Bendt children were a bit older than ours, Bruce and Valerie became our friends, but also our mentors and teachers. We spent many hours, yes, even days together, discussing educational philosophy, ideas, methods, books, religion, politics, the Constitution, health, and even midwifery.
In those early days we were often frustrated because we were unable to find excellent teaching materials designed for home-style learning rather than school-style learning. Another complication was teaching children of multiple ages. This frustration motivated many homeschool parents to give workshops, and design and publish excellent curriculum.
As Valerie Bendt presented workshops on the methods she used with her family, countless moms and dads were enamored with its simplicity. A feeling of “I can do this!” pervaded the rooms where she spoke. This led Valerie to write How to Create Your Own Unit Study, revolutionizing and simplifying existing methods of teaching, making the unit study concept simple and attainable for both small and large families. Her simple pattern allows families to study a subject together, teaching to the strength of each child and encouraging their individual interests and passions.
Valerie’s methods dispel the myth of grade levels and curriculum, allowing instead the freedom of parents to obey the Holy Spirit in the education of their children. Her methods are a refreshing oasis in the desert of “You must study this for that grade level.” When the whole family enjoys a subject together, unity and joy are more likely to reign instead of disjointedness and confusion.
Focusing on one major subject at a time is a natural way to learn. A unit study can last for a few minutes or for a lifetime and is for all ages — toddler through adult. For example, think about how many books you read when you were fifteen years old on the subject of pregnancy and labor. Probably very few, if any. But I’ll bet you studied several books when you were pregnant with your first child. If you did this, you did a unit study: you learned in a natural way!
In 2004, mothers and fathers are asking the same questions they did in the early 1980s. They are searching for something special for their families. Perhaps they are unable to verbalize their questions, just as we couldn’t back then, but when they hear the simple philosophy and methods explained, they know they’ve found the right answers.
The answers are simple, but thought provoking. Education within God’s context of the home is part of the answer. The rest of the answer is experiencing God’s Word, experiencing the life He gave us at this time in His story, and experiencing Living Books in the quest for faith, wisdom, and knowledge, building precept upon precept.
Allow Valerie and others who have walked before you to come alongside you and show you His glorious path!

Tina Farewell
March 3, 2004
Lifetime Books and Gifts
Lake Wales, Florida
www.LifetimeBooksandGifts.com

In 1990 I published the first edition of How to Create Your Own Unit Study. It began as a pamphlet to explain how my family conducts unit studies. I found I was spending lots of time on the phone and in person detailing our methods to interested homeschooling parents. I decided to write a pamphlet, as I told my husband, for I was sure it would save me lots of time in counseling with families. Well, this pamphlet grew into a book, and three other books focusing on unit studies soon followed. This decision to write our methods did not eliminate the time problem, as I found I was now being asked to speak to homeschool groups. However, the books did allow me to communicate our ideas with more individuals than in the past.
Over the last 14 years I have conducted workshops and have loved getting to know homeschooling families across the country. The internet has opened up yet another means of communicating with fellow homeschoolers all over the world. It is hard to believe there was ever a time when we had to strain to find another homeschooling family with which to fellowship. Walk into a curriculum fair display hall, and you will find it almost impossible to believe that it was once a struggle to find curriculum materials.
Now it is 2004, and I have more information to share about unit studies and how they have been a blessing to our family. Rather than rewrite my four unit study titles, I have decided to edit them somewhat and compile them in one easy-to-use volume.
In the next chapter, Biblical Parenting or Schooling at Home?, I detail our more recent educational pursuits, and then I move back in time to my first book, How to Create Your Own Unit Study. After this I proceed to The Unit Study Idea Book, followed by For the Love of Reading, and ending with Success with Unit Studies. I have deleted some references made to materials that are no longer available and added information about newer materials I feel are worthwhile; however, I have tried to keep the essence of these four books intact to preserve our family’s educational experiences as they happened. You will also find some repetition from one “book” to the next. Hopefully you will not find this tedious, but you will look at it as a review of material that I feel is most significant.
It is my desire that you will find comfort, advice, and encouragement in these pages. It has been an honor, a privilege, and a blessing to be able to homeschool our six children. I would like to close this introduction with a poem I wrote that describes how I feel about my job as a homeschooling mother. I hope you share these feelings.



I am a Professional

I am a professional
And I hold a high degree,
My clients are but children
And they’re very dear to me,
I work extended hours
And the pay is not too fair,
But the benefits are great –
No other job can compare,
So as I look around me
And see women at their jobs,
I gladly claim the title –
Full-time professional mom!

The Old Schoolhouse MagazineReviews: http://www.thehomeschoolmagazine.com/

Unit Studies Made Easy: A Guide to Simplified Learning at Home

Unit studies, we've all done them. Have we done them well? Valerie Bendt gives us the complete help we need to use this simple, effective teaching method. Our desire to instill a love of learning in our children is fostered through this method.

A few years ago, Mrs. Bendt had four books out. They were: How to Create Your Own Unit Study, The Unit Study Idea Book, For the Love of Reading and Success with Unit Studies. This latest volume, Unit Studies Made Easy, combines these other four volumes and adds a thought provoking section on Biblical Parenting.

Let's walk through one of the units to illustrate how she suggests organizing a unit study. The unit starts with Scripture, Proverbs 6: 6-8 ("Go to the ant, O sluggard). She suggests some books (including the Character Sketches books from the Institute in Basic Life Principles), including possible coloring books and pages on the topic. Next, she suggests keeping a record of the terminology used in the unit. Several activities are proposed, including keeping an ant farm and making games. One was an ant colony game that required the children to make up questions and answers based on their reading in library books. Language arts consisted on copying dictated sentences and passages. They also read some poems about ants and gave the children an opportunity to write their own poems about ants.

There you have it! A unit study is not that hard, is it? There are several things I really like about this book. Mrs. Bendt reminds us to look at some overlooked sources for our unit, such as trade organizations to write to for information, picture files and films from the library and reference only books from the library. When I scan the reference (non-circulating) section at my library, my mind is bombarded with ideas and sources!

I also like her reference to the work of Charlotte Mason and Ruth Beechick. In the units, a great emphasis is placed on dictation and narration, as well as original writing by the child. In the section on For the Love of Reading, Mrs. Bendt shares her tips for a natural, literature-based approach to teaching reading. Since the publication of that original book, she has also created her own reading program called Reading Made Easy: A Guide to Teach Your Child to Read.

Mrs. Bendt is an experienced home teacher with six children. Her writing is informative, encouraging and interesting. This book should be on every home schooler's bookshelf, no matter what style of teaching is used. Who knows, even the most devoted work book addict could be persuaded to try unit studies after reading this book! --Product Review by: Christine Field, The Old Schoolhouse Magazine

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Unit Studies Made Easy

Are you afraid of unit studies? Well, that doesn’t have to be the case. Valerie Bendt empowers you to undertake this task with style and grace.

My enthusiasm for Mrs. Bendt’s work was again realized as I read Unit Studies Made Easy. This book is a revision and compilation of four titles by Valerie: How to Create Your Own Unit Study, The Unit Study Idea Book, For the Love of Reading, and Success with Unit Studies. Plus this book includes a section entitled Biblical Parenting or Schooling at Home.

When asked to review this book, I was so excited as I already had many of the original books in my collection and desired to sing their praises. These are actually some of my favorite books to recommend to clients when I complete a portfolio review or if I am helping a parent with curriculum design. Now you can have them all in one book!

Much of this review was completed during the Christmas break from school. I really was not looking forward to January as I was relishing in our freedom especially sleeping in. However, after reading a few pages of this book, I could feel God recharging my batteries with enthusiasm and my love of teaching renewed. Moreover, I work a lot during the middle of the night and I had to fight the urge to wake my children so we could read. However, I fought the urge as it was 4:00am and we do have church in the morning.

Mrs. Bendt says it best herself “This guide presents the nuts and bolts of teaching through unit studies. Rekindle a love of learning in your family. Encourage creativity, expression, and individuality. Put away tedious textbooks and get on with real learning and real life!”

Two of the first books I purchased when I began homeschooling were How to Create Your Own Unit Study and The Unit Study Idea Book. I knew I had a bent toward thematic teaching since this was my approach whenever possible as a public school teacher before I had children. The natural flow of information, rather than segmented learning, always seemed more satisfying for my students too. These books will have you writing your own unit studies and loving every minute of it. Valerie makes it simple and seemingly effortless.

For the Love of Reading was a book that helped me through some very difficult times in my own homeschooling. Due to a serious medical condition, I found myself very limited as to what I could do in a day. While reading this book, I wept at the blessing these difficult days could produce in my children and myself. At one point, I even wrote an email to Valerie, who further encouraged me to gather the children into the bed with me, read, and learn to love these special moments spent together. These times are forever pasted in my mind and on the hearts of my children.

I would even encourage this book as the one to loan/give to family members who give you a disparaging look when you explain that the game you are playing IS school. It is easy to think that homeschool should look like traditional school at home, but it can be much more than a change of venue and instructor.

Valerie’s friendly writing style and love for learning is contagious. The design of the book is perfect in that you are given a space/column on the side which gives you nuggets to help your recall, specific ideas to implement, and space to write your own ideas gleaned by your reading.

Once you’ve read this book the first time through you will find yourself returning to have your questions answered or simply to revisit the core reasons why we homeschool our children. -Product Review by: Stephanie D. Scarborough, The Old Schoolhouse Magazine

Resource: Unit Studies Made Easy: A Guide to Simplified Learning at Home
Author: Valerie Bendt
Grade Level: 1st – 12th grade
Review by: Paula Anderson of Home School Enrichment Magazine www.HomeSchoolEnrichment.com

This excellent resource for those who are just beginning to explore the method of teaching unit studies is a tool that will enable even the most timid to venture forth in confidence.

Unit Studies Made Easy is four books in one: How to Create Your Own Unit Study; The Unit Study Idea Book; For the Love of Reading; and Success with Unit Studies.

Unit studies helped our family rediscover the joy of learning and led us to a deeper understanding of our topics of study. We also developed skills that allowed us to view topics from several angles, realizing how beautifully intertwined most subjects are. This simplifies the homeschool mother’s job, and allows greater focus of time, attention, and energy on the joyful exploration of topics. As everyone in the family is studying the same topic, this method of teaching encourages the strengthening of family unity.

How To Create Your Own Unit Study will introduce you to the learning style by discussing goals and evaluating curriculum before bringing you into the ideas and choices that begin to form a unit study for your family. These ideas are thoroughly covered in a variety of subjects.

The Unit Study Idea Book begins with instruction on how to use the library to your advantage, and then delves into children’s authors in order to enrich your studies. Specific ideas and suggestions to help spark your imagination will be helpful to the novice unit study planner. Several different styles of unit studies are discussed in this section.

For the Love of Reading discusses the use of literature, narration, composition, reading journals and analysis that will enhance your unit studies.

Success with Unit Studies gives practical advice on how to achieve your goals with this style of learning.

If you desire to use unit studies to teach your family, this is a resource you’ll want to have on your bookshelf.

Dear Valerie,
Unit Studies Made Easy has really clarified a lot for me. I have been homeschooling for 7 years now, and I had already read some of your recommended resources, but found it hard to take the ideas presented in these resources and put them into practice in my homeschool. This is where Unit Studies Made Easy came in. Your ideas are so simple and easy to implement. The examples you give in your book bring these methods alive. This book is really many books in one. I believe Unit Studies Made Easy has enhanced school for my older kids and will completely change the way my youngest will be schooled! This book will be my favorite reference book for years to come. Thanks so much for recording your family’s experiences to enhance the lives of so many others!

Sincerely,

Robin Battaglia