McGuffey Arrives!

So, as I've been making plans for our schooling next year, I decided to throw in an extra.  Last year I had Laura reading McGuffey.  I never bought the next reader though.  Over the summer I read the book Homeschool Sanity.  In it, Sherry Hayes, the author, talks about how utterly ingenious the McGuffey readers are.

Written at a time when most families had a Bible, but few if any other books, the McGuffey readers were used in schools.  From the 1830's until 1920; 120,000,000 McGuffey readers were sold! 
Many homeschoolers have made use of the McGuffey readers.   I think they are charming and adorable.  Laura enjoyed the second reader when we used it.  When she saw the new reader had come in, she snatched it from my hand yelling, "Yay!"

I also bought the Pictorial Eclectic Primer for my 5 year old.  Looking through it, I am stuck by how simple and yet effective this little book is!  I'm excited to hi through it with her!

I sometimes think we make education too difficult.  We complicate everything.  We add subject after subject.  While I love having things laid out for me, especially by those that have more homeschooling experience, I am leary of "experts" that have magic solutions or quick working methods. The McGuffey  readers are meant to go through slowly, sucking every bit of education they hold.  The books aren't meant to rush through quickly, but to savor slowly over a couple of years. The lessons aren't meant to bog down the student.  They are short lessons that, over time, add a lot of educational punch. 

I'm excited to add these to my plans!