Explaining the news to children is hard. That’s why John De Gree’s new series explaining world events shines so! It’s part of his family outreach at Classical Historian and it’s free.

Briefly, clearly, and without sensationalism, John breaks down subjects that are difficult to present, such as the riots in Ferguson, Missouri, cyber-hacking, or, this week, the tragedies in Paris (Je suis Charlie). His website also offers a “This day in History” calendar. Short, diverse, and ready to spark discussion, these items can be fascinating for children and adults alike.

After decades of teaching in “brick-and-mortar” institutions, John, a homeschool parent, started creating his own history curricula. All of his materials are shaped by what he (rightly, I believe) considers the noblest principles in scholarship, including thoughtful analysis, respect towards opposing viewpoints, recognition of an absolute truth, and academic honesty.

His history curricula bundles are designed for grades 6 through 12 and organized by periods (Ancient, Medieval, Modern, etc.). They stress Socratic dialogue and critical thinking. Fond of the well-crafted “games,” he has created a series of fine ones that originated from teaching his own children. I can’t wait until my grandbabies are old enough for them.

But most of all, I’m so glad to have gotten to know John and his wife Zdenka. They, with their seven children, are the kind of friends and colleagues who inspire us in our own daily work. So in your daily teaching, take advantage of the resources on his website, especially the weekly explanations of the difficult news our children need to understand.