Enchanted Forest Chronicles

Description

Being a princess just isn't all it's cracked up to be. At least not according to 16-year-old Princess Cimorene! She would rather be fencing, juggling, cooking, or learning anything exciting, but all she is allowed to do as a princess is boring-learning dances, embroidery, and court etiquette. This all changes when an arranged marriage with a handsome-but-brainless prince forces her to run away and into the lair of a powerful dragon. After securing a deal with the dragon Kazul as a live-in housekeeper / assistant, Cimorene's prospects begin to look up; yet she still has to deal with dim-witted princes coming to 'rescue' her, talking birds, witches, wizards, and everything in-between. Though fraught with dangers, life in the enchanted forest is anything but dull!

This is one of the best young-adult fairytale series I've come across. Each tale is packed with wit, action, excitement, and fantastic characters. The writing is beyond superb; it is both intelligent and inspiring without being too complex for its audience, though fans of classic fairytales will get more out of some of the jokes. Beyond the writing, the message of the books is one of character and empowerment. Cimorene, the main character, is intelligent, strong, and witty, but she's not perfect. She's headstrong; she's cynical; she cannot deal with every struggle life throws at her alone, and she certainly cannot succeed without effort! All in all, an excellent series of middle-school novels for those looking for a fun, well-written, encouraging story. ~ Stephen

Teaching Method
Traditional
Teacher-centered curriculum commonly used in classrooms that may include a text, teacher manual, tests, etc.
Charlotte Mason
A methodology based on the work of a 19th century educator who maintained that children learn best from literature (Living Books), not textbooks.
Classical
A methodology based on the Latin Trivium (three stages of learning), including the grammar stage (memorization and facts), logic stage (critical thinking), and rhetoric stage (developing/defending ideas).
Unit Study
A thematic or topical approach centered around one topic that integrates multiple subject areas.
Montessori (Discovery)
A methodology based on the work of a 20th century educator that emphasizes student and sensory-driven discovery learning and real-life applications.
Religious Content
Christian/Religious
Faith-based or including instructional religious content.
Neutral
Avoids religious or theoretical topics or presents multiple viewpoints without preference.
Secular
Contains content contrary to common Christian beliefs (i.e. evolution).
Learning Modality
Auditory
Learns through listening, talking out loud or reading out loud.
Visual
Learns through seeing, prefers written instructions and visual materials.
Kinesthetic/Tactile (Hands-On)
Learns through moving, doing and touching.
Multi-Sensory
Curriculum that employ a variety of activities/components.
Presentation
Sequential
Curriculum progresses through well-defined learning objectives. Emphasizes mastery before moving to the next topic.
Spiral
Topics and concepts are repeated from level to level, adding more depth at each pass and connecting with review.
Conceptual/Topical
Focus is on the “why,” often with a unifying concept as well as specific skills; coverage may be broader.
Teacher Involvement
Low Teacher Involvement
Student-led materials; parent acts as a facilitator.
Medium Teacher Involvement
A mix of teacher-led time and independent student work.
High Teacher Involvement
Teacher-led lessons; may utilize discussions, hands-on activities and working together.
Additional Materials Required
No other materials needed
Everything you need is included.
Other Materials Required
There are additional required resources that are a separate purchase.
Other Materials Optional
There are additional resources mentioned or recommended but are not absolutely necessary.
Consumable
Consumable
Designed to be written in; not reusable.
Non-Consumable
Not designed to be written in; reusable.