Simply Put: A Study in Economics by Catherine Jaime (Review & Giveaway!!)

 

Caleb is in his last year of high school and one of the subjects he has been working on is economics. I researched throughout the summer and did a lot of reading and settled on what he would be required for his 1/2 for economics. Recently I had the opportunity to review the paperback edition of Simply Put: A Study In Economics by Catherine Jaime and the PDF of the Teacher Key.

Simply Put: A Study In Economics is a high school economics course written especially for homeschoolers. Catherine Jaime, who is a homeschooling mom and loves the topic of economics, couldn't find a economics textbook that didn't put her to sleep. This began a desire in her to write her own textbook which she writes from a conservative perspective and an Austrian economics school of thought.

Simply Put: A Study In Economics is arranged in thirty-six lessons and can be completed in one semester by averaging two lessons a week. The textbook is meant to satisfy a 1/2 credit of economics and can be turned into one credit with recommended resources which she provides in the book. Also included are review questions for each chapter along with a mid-term and final exam.

Simply Put covers many topics such as the role of prices, supply and demand, economic philosophies, division of labor, capitalism, socialism, money, etc. There are a lot of quotes or excerpts from famous economists and books spread through out the readings. Each chapter is very readable and easy to understand. Vocabulary words are in bold print through out the readings with a glossary included at the end of the book. The appendixes at the end of the book cover many different topics and a few activities.

The Teacher Key has the answers for the mid-term and final tests and also includes a National Budget Activity and a game that shows from trade in action.

When I looked for resources for Caleb to do this year I was looking for curriculum that was engaging, interesting, and easy to apply to what is happening today. (In other words a "living book". Yeah, I know, don't laugh!) Honestly, I was satisfied with what Caleb has done so far for economics, but after reading this book I decided this book covered some topics that couldn't be missed and that I knew weren't covered in the other resources he was using. Yes, this book has been added to his work load!

So what did I like so well about this book? Several things! While not what I would term a "living book" it did fit what I had been looking for (see above paragraph). It also covered some topics that I found fascinating myself. Here are a few:

• The Constitution and Economics - This chapter takes the reader through each section of the Constitution and applies economics principles to it.
• Greed, Self-Interest, and Profit - Bad things, right? You'll have to read it to find out!
• The Evils of Machinery? - Covers the arguments against them and then shows the truth behind what machinery has done for society.
• "Middle Men" - Meddlesome or Useful? - Discusses the critical role of distribution.
• Competition vs. Monopolies - Can competition actually be a good thing?
• Minimum Wages - This topic had never crossed my mind when it came to economics. I am now wiser!
• Unemployment and Unions - Goes hand in hand with the minimum wage chapter.

This book does a great job of introducing economics and can be used as a starting place for a student that is highly interested in economics or for the student that doesn't have a clue. Because the chapter are on the short side it can easily be used with an interested middle school student or for 1/2 credit for a high school student.

I found Simply Put: A Study In Economics Student Book to be a great addition to our economic study and it will go to the top of the list for when my next student covers economics.

Simply Put: A Study In Economics is available in:
Paperback - $17.55
Kindle - $6.99
PDF - $6.99
Simply Put: A Study in Economics Teacher Key Kindle format - .99
These and other economic resources are also available on the author's website here.


I am exited to be able to giveaway digital edition of Simply Put: A Study of Economics Student and Teacher's books.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Also, there is a special homeschool giveaway for Simply Put: A Study of Economics. Included is the complete collection of digital titles by Catherine Jaime plus a three month subscription to A+Tutorsoft in the grade level of your choice. Click here and enter this giveaway valued at $325+.

Read more review over at Bow of Bronze.

What's On Your Nightstand - November

I had an especially good reading month. Though I did read quite a bit there were quite a few books (marked *) I had been reading over the course of a couple of months and just happened to finish reading them this month. For December I picked five book, though with Christmas approaching and lots of activities coming up I don't know if I will have time for all of them. We'll see!

December's Nightstand:

From October's Nightstand:

• Mrs. Miniver by Jan Struther (review)
• Mrs. Roberto: Or the Widowy Worries of the Moosepath League by Van Reid - Another book in the Moosepath League Series. Review forthcoming.
• The Time Garden by Edward Eager - A re-read. I thought I hadn't read it only to find out later that I had. Though I enjoyed it I think Half Magic and Knight's Castle are Eager's best book from his Magic Series. 
• Homeschooling Your Kids (Without Losing Your Sanity) - How to Balance Your Home, Your Family, and Your Child's Education by Beth Jenkins - Recommended to me by a friend. A great book for a new homeschool parents
• Living Spaces: Bringing Style and Spirit to Your Home by Marlee LeDai - The title caught my eye, I can't say I was as taken with the book. I did write down a few quotes I liked and then donated the book to the library.

I also read:

• The Comedy of Errors (No Fear Shakespeare) by William Shakespeare - Reading Shakespeare with my kids.
• 50 Moments by Lisa Bearnson - Scrapbooking--how I love to read about it, yet never do it!  
• The Dumbest Generation: How the Digital Age Stupefies Young Americans and Jeopardizes Our Future(Or, Don't Trust Anyone Under 30)* by Mark Bauerlein - This was a tough book to read. At times my mind was whirling. The basic premise is that while the young adults of today have access to excellent education, the arts, books, and more they are only interested in things that are relevant to them. Filled with loads of statistics (which made my head whirl at times), I found this a very sobering read.
• Home Discipleship: Much More Than ABC's and 123's by Kimberly Williams - I won this book. An encouraging read, though if you are working on family discipleship in your home you are probably doing everything suggested in the book. 
• The King's Speech: How One Man Saved the British Monarchy by Mark Logue & Peter Conradi - I really wanted to see this film, but since they gave it a rating that we don't watch in our home that idea went out the door. This book was actually named after the film and written by Lionel Logue's grandson. I found it a fascinating read and had a hard time putting the book down!
• School Is Where the Home Is: 180 Devotions for Parents* - Anita Mellot - Since I checked this book out from my local library I read it faster than one devotional a day. I found these devotionals very encouraging and many times convicting. This is a book that will be going on my wish list I enjoyed it that much.  
• Simply Put: A Study In Economics Student Book by Catherine Jaime - Look for the review along with a giveaway coming up on Wednesday.
• Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within* by Natalie Goldberg - This is a book I should have given up reading. A popular writing curriculum recommends it, but I personally can't recommend it. This book went flying out of the house! 

I listened to:

• Evil Under the Sun by Agatha Christie - Poirot again.
• Frederica by Georgette Heyer - A fun Heyer book. Review forthcoming!
• I Will Repay by Baroness Orczy - Another book from the author of The Scarlet Pimpernel. I found this one more suspenseful and nail-biting than the first one. Excellent read!

What are you reading?

See what others have read over at 5 Minutes for Books.

Reading Journal: Mrs. Miniver by Jan Struther

Book Description:

Shortly before the Second World War, a column by 'Mrs. Miniver' appeared in THE TIMES, the first of many recounting the everyday events of a middle-class Chelsea family: Mrs. Miniver's thrill at the sight of October chrysanthemums; her sense of doom when the faithful but rackety car is replaced; the escapades of Vin, Toby and Judy, her unpredictable young children; visits to the Kent cottage and, as war becomes a reality, the strange experience of acquiring gas masks and the camaraderie of those unsettling early days. Mrs. Miniver enchanted the public with her sympathy and affectionate humour, capturing ordinary lives and values now darkened by war. First published in book form in 1939 and later an enormously successful film, MRS MINIVER became a bestseller on both sides of the Atlantic -- with Churchill exclaiming that it had done more for the Allied cause than a flotilla of battleships.

My thoughts:
When the title Mrs. Miniver is mentioned most people will think of the film with Greer Garson. Somehow this title ended up on my TBR list and languished there until I compiled my The Classics Club list.

Mrs. Miniver is told in a series of stories, or episodes. It is very different from the film, and of course a lot better than the film. Mrs. Miniver covers an array of topics such as marriage, the war, gardening, friends, going to the dentist, flying, and so much more. The main theme throughout is how the ordinary can become extraordinary. My favorite chapter was titled "At the Dentist's" which showed that not too much has changed in how people feel about going to the dentist.

I have to say I enjoyed Mrs. Miniver immensely. It is a beautifully written story and even though set before the World War II there was so much I could relate to. You can read a few teasers here. Highly recommended!

Giving Thanks in All Things

Thanksgiving is approaching soon. You know that time of year where we all make an extra effort to be a little more thankful than normal. As a Christian I "know" I should be thankful all year long which I try to be, but sometimes "Life Happens"--you know those moments that kind of blindside and smother you and being thankful isn't very high on your list at the moment.

It seems lately I've have been having quite a few of these moments. I wish I could say that I respond like Job when he said, "...the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." (Job 1:21b). Unfortunately, I usually find myself becoming emotional and end up acting like Job's wife--not who I want to emulate!

With all of this going on I was scheduled to attend a ladies conference at the coast. Getting there wasn't an easy task by the time I had the kids through their school work, laundry finished, packing finished, and hoping I didn't have a child coming down with a sickness. Now through all of this I Thessalonians 5:18 kept swirling around in my head which I was trying to ignore, because honestly I didn't know what to say. I didn't know if I could say I was truly thankful for the things that had happened.

During the meeting one of the speakers said, "Bitterness cannot take root in grateful heart." Yes, she had my attention and I determined with God's help that I was going to take I Thessalonians 5:18 to heart like I know I should.

Tonight we sat down as family and started to record the things we are thankful for. Yes, we started late and yes, it will be simple project, but that is okay! My focus right now is put my problems aside and focus on being thankful to God for ALL things.

What about you? Are you putting a special emphasize on being thankful?