What we're READING

I have always loved to read, though I don't have enough time for it lately, and a big desire of mine is to instill a love of reading in to my children. So far it's working!

What we are reading this week...

ME:
Bible No other book should ever take the place of Bible reading. The other two books I am reading refer to a lot of scripture so I am using my Bible with those two books. I am also reading a Proverbs each day.

Mrs. Ministry by Cathy Corle. I have had this book on my shelves for a while and am just now reading it. What an encouraging read! It's wonderful to be reminded of what our ministry is to our Lord, and to our family!

The Power of Motherhood by Nancy Campbell. This is another very encouraging book. I have read it before but it's always great as a refresher on what the Bible says about our job as a mother.

PAUL
By the Great Horn Spoon by Sid Fleischman. Paul is really enjoying this book. It is a great read for pre-teen boys. Its full of action and humor but teaches history too.

Simon Bolivar by Frank De Varona. This was not a favorite of Paul's but he did learn a lot about Simon Bolivar and about the liberation of many South American countries.

ZACH
The Beginner's Bible Zach is truly enjoying the new found adventures that independent reading can bring. He is currently working through this book one Bible story each day. It is amazing to see his reading skills increase each day. He not only reads words that I would not think he could figure out he reads them with ease and with inflection in his voice. I am amazed daily at how much his reading has improved. In January he could barely read the word "cat" now he is reading words like "squiggly creatures", "special", "beautiful", and "mountains". Honestly, 9 months ago I was almost ready to give up and say "this child will never learn to read". So glad I didn't give up! I will say, I don't think he would be reading if he were in a classroom. Not that what "I" did was anything great. But he needed daily and individual instruction, constant praise, and practice, practice, practice. Those things just don't happen on a regular basis in a regular classroom. Praise the Lord that He showed us homeschooling was for our family.

MOLLY
We're Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury. Well, Molly isn't actually reading yet, but she does love being read to. This was our very first book to "row" using "Before Five in A Row" (review to come in September). We loved this book and have the "pop-up" version which was SO much fun. The kids couldn't get enough of the book and the activities! Here's a great video of Michael Rosen reciting the book with tremendous expression



READ ALOUDS for the ENTIRE FAMILY
Moccasin Trail by Eloise Jarvis McGraw. This book is so well-written and draws the reader (and listeners) into the story. It's a bit lengthy and over the heads of Zach and Molly but Paul has enjoyed it and so have I. It is a great jump start to conversations about what life was like in the early 1800's.

Charlotte's Web by E.B. White. What a great story for the kids to start the year with. They don't want me to put it down and are begging for it daily.

So, that's what we are reading this week--and most of them will continue in to next week. It has been a terrific first week of school and the kids have appreciated the benefits of being in a daily routine. Everyone really is happier when they know what's coming next.

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