People have strong opinions about interjecting morals onto stories. Are Aesop’s Fables improved by tacking a pithy moral on the end? Should we read stories to our kids that aim to improve them? On first glance Laying Down the Rails for Children might seem to fall into such a category–stories intended to help kids form good habits. But what I’ve found, is that really the stories are changing me, the homeschool mama.
Smooth and Easy Days
That’s what Charlotte Mason says come when we have good habits. She says they’re like railroad tracks that our life can run on. When good habits are formed, we can spend our time on higher, more creative work.
This two volume set covers over 60 habits–from generosity and courage to concentration and reverence. Individual sections open with a place for you to reflect on your goals for the study. Then 10-15 poems, stories, reflection questions, and service projects follow. The books include classic selections from scripture and literature. There are enough choices offered that you can choose the best ones for your family.
Laying Down the Rails in Action
We read one passage aloud each day over the course of a few weeks during Morning Time. The books are offered as pdfs and printed books, and I highly recommend the printed books. These are the sorts of stories you’ll want to return to again and again over time.
As we worked through the books this year, I chose what we were going to study next based on what virtue or habit needed shoring up in me. Nothing shows up our weakness like homeschooling! I could use these few minutes to be encouraged and strengthened for the day ahead. Because I needed my heart tuned to sing praise, I came to the stories humbly and ready to learn alongside my children.
The stories would also work as a supplement to your history or literature reading. In 5 Questions to Ask Your Kids About Any Book, Sarah Mackenzie poses this question: Who is the most _____ in this story? You can fill in the blank with courageous or funny or loving….or whatever virtue or vice might fit a particular story. Then you could head to Laying Down the Rails for Children and find other stories reflecting on that trait. Making connections like this only enriches our children’s learning.
Laying Down the Rails for Children has been an excellent addition to our homeschooling library. It’s a resource that we will continue to use as our children grow.
Kortney Garrison lives with her family in the Pacific Northwest. Her days are filled with stories and poems, nature walks, drawing, and pots of tea. She writes about homeschooling through the church year at One Deep Drawer.
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