Mom Is Teaching

Around here summer time means fair season. There is a small traveling carnival that visits several towns in the areas. hitting ours in later summer/early fall. Between the over priced rides, tons of junk food, and pens of animals stinking in the heat it’s part magic and part nightmare. Sure the fair is a far cry from the amazing attractions county fairs used to be, but in a kid’s eyes this place is spectacular.

It never fails that every year the adults complain that it’s even worse than last year, and every year the kids mange to sweet talk far too much money out of us on rides and games.

Over the weekend I was digging around a history teaching site that a friend mentioned I should check out. There are a bunch of great little lessons on various parts of US history. One lesson that really struck out is this one of the book Charlotte’s Web and the traditional county fair. The original lesson plan is only for download so I saved it to my Good Docs section to share with anyone who can’t download it. The link should be open to anyone without needing to login, but if you get an error let me know.

Charlotte’s Web was one of my favorite stories as kid. How could you not love a book with talking animals and an amazing spider? Today I love how un-sugar coated the story is. Death is a part of the storyline, not in an explosive dramatic way, but in a normal sense. Yes, Charlotte kills the bugs, but she has to to live. yes she dies, but her children live and move on. Sure Wilber is trying to avoid death, but that in itself share a little piece of farm life (where does your bacon come from?).

I think I’m going to see about adding Charlotte’s Web to our summer reading list, hopefully just in time for the county fair to come here. Anyone else?

Charlotte’s Web, county fair, lesson plans

I love Barefoot Books! I would love to spend a few hundred dollars there on all the books they have. There are just so many cute ones! So when I got an email letting me know that they are having a special sale right now I got excited. OK, I squealed and did a little dance. I’m a dork and I can admit it.

Anyway, I wanted to pass on the savings to everyone else. Head over to my favorite Barefoot Books stall and look at what they have marked down. My three favorites right now are A Calendar Of Festivals: Celebrations from around the World, which is marked down from $12.99 to $9.99, The Faerie’s Gift, which is marked down from $16.99 to $9.99, and Gingerbread Man, which is marked down from $14.99 to $12.99. There are a lot more books marked down right now for the holidays. You can also chck out the gift area where everythign is catergorized to make it easier for you to find what kind of book you are looking for. Books for boys, girls, the whole family, and more.

And while you’re there sign up for the mailing list to get emails of new specials and products when they have them. It’s how I know when everything is going on sale right away.

By the way, they are still holding a book drive to donate books for Page Ahead. It is a great way to provide books for at-risk children. If you are interested you should check it out.

books, children’s books, Barefoot Books, sales, specials

I hope everyone enjoyed children’s book week! It was tons of fun writing about my favorite books and finding out what books others love. To me reading is so important, espcially in children. I could get lost in a book for hours, something I’ve done since I was a child. If you haven’t yet go back and read my book suggestions and what books people shared in the comments.

• Wild Child by Lynn Plourde
• The Children of Noisy Village by Astrid Lindgren
• Rikki Tikki Tavi by Rudyard Kipling
• The Lorax by Dr. Seuss
• Mercer Mayer’s Critter
• Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barret
• The Neverending Story

And now for what I know you’r really here for… the winner. One comment was choosen at random to earn a free book from PaperBackSwap. And remember, even if you don’t win it’s still free to join and receive used books delivered straight to your doorstep. I really think every homeschooler should join.

OK, the winner is… Activities Coordinator

books, children’s books week, contest, paperbackswap

Today is the last day to get your coments in! Tomorrow a winner will be announced!

Today I wanted to share my favorite book that was turned into a movie. Many great children’s stories become Hollywood inspiration sooner or later. This is one that, while the movie was not completely true to the book, still has my heart. So much so, in fact, that my youngst son’s name is Atreyu Sabastion. The book is The Neverending Story

As a book worm myself I loved the idea of being truly sucked into the story. Becoming so connected with a story that you are a part of it, that you can guide and control how the story will unfold. And that somewhere the characters you are reading about are really racing along through the plains. and the characters, they were amazing to me. A dog like dragon, a child like empress, a rock eater. They were all so amazing and fantastic that I felt connected to each of them. I remember laying in bed and crying when Atreyu’s horse Artax gives in to the Swamp of Sadness. As a child The Neverending Story carried me away and really helped open my imagination.

What books carried you away as a kid? Was there a story that you became emotionally wrapped up in? To the point of naming your children after characters? How about favorite books that later became movies? We all know that the movies are never as good as the books, but some are still amazing film adaptations worth watching.

The Neverending Story, books, movies

Another day, another great book that I want to share. Remember to leave lots of comments letting me know your favorite books!

Today’s book is Rikki Tikki Tavi. It is actually a short story by Rudyard Kipling that was part of The Jungle Books. When I was a little girl I was given a huge book of children’s stories. Rikki Tikki Tavi was one of my favorite stories tuck in the anthology. I devoured it.

Rikki Tikki Tavi was a mongoose who was found, half drowned, by a young boy. He was taken in by the family, cleaned and fed, and kept watch over the boy and his family from snakes. As well as running around the house being immensely curious about everything. In the story Rikki Tikki Tavi must face two large cobras who lived in the garden while the house was empty.

It is one of the more serious stories, with a heavy emphasis on death in the plotline. So there are some kids who will not be ready to read this. But it is still one of my childhood favorites.

What were some of your favorite childhood books? Is there one in particular that you still recall now as an adult?

books, Rikki Tikki Tavi, cihldren’s books week

Yesterday I shared the book Wild Child by Lynn Plourde. Today’s book is an older one that we adore, The Children of Noisy Village by Astrid Lindgren. You may recognise the author’s name, she is also the author of the classic The Adventures of Pippi Longstocking.

The Children of Noisy Village is a short and simple chapter book, where each chapter rads more like its own small story. The story line follows the daily lives of a group of children in the Noisy Village. It follows them through an entire year showing their lives, customs, and experiences.

There are six children living near each other on three small farms in Sweden. Lisa shares how her brother drew a beard and mustache on her doll, about baking ginger snaps at Christmas time, and about crayfishing at the lake. The stories are simple and there are not many illistrations, but it is a favorite book to pull out and read on the days we are stuck inside.

Do you have any favorite books that share stories from othr countries or cultures? Share them with us! Remember, one lucky commenter will win a free book!

books, The Children of Noisy Village, Astrid Lindgren

The first book I wanted to share this week is one that we have been reading a lot lately. Wild Child by Lynn Plourde. This beautiful story is about Mother Earth putting her child Autumn to bed. But like a typical child, Autumn wants a few things first. A song, a snack, a kiss.

The story is written beautifully. It is pure poetry, with the sounds of the world really coming through. The crackle of leaves, the crunch of apples, the chatter of squirrels. Reading it out loud is so fun to do. And the illustrations! I want to frame each of the pages and hang them on my walls. The colors are breathtaking. Oranges, browns, golds, reds fill the pages and capture the mood of the story perfectly. Greg Couch, the illustrator, uses the scenery to create the characters so that they both blend in and stand out. We often have to linger over the pages and soak in the artwork.

As we are noticing the leaves falling and the days getting a bit colder Wild Child is one of the books we had to pull off the shelf and keep out. It is especially useful at night when someone wants just one more this or that before going to bed. It calms him down every time like a charm.

What are your favorite Autumn inspired books? Do you have any favorites that you like to read this time of year? Share what books you are enjoying for your chance to win a free book of your choice! And because I’m a bookworm and always looking for more books to add to the shelves.

books, Wild Child, Lynn Plourde, Greg Couch, Autumn

Remember when I mentioned that November 12-18 is National Children’s Book Week? And remember how I mentioned that there would be a prize? Well here are the details!

Each day I’m going to write a post about a favorite children’s book that we love. It will be difficult narrowing them down to just one a day, but I’ll try. Hopefully it will be a new book you have not heard of, or one that you have not yet read with your kids. See, I want to inspire reading. Books are wonderful!

Comments are pretty great too! So I’m encouraging everyone to leave me lots of comments all week sharing your favorite children’s books. On the 19th I will post a huge list with everyone’s book suggestions. And I will announce the winner of a free book of their choosing. There is a catch, however, to the book. Rathern than buying and sending you the book, I will use one of my book credits at PaperBackSwap to have any one book sent to you.

If you are not familiar with PaperBackSwap let me wipe the look of shock off my face and explain. PBS is a free book trading community where you can send your old books to people who rally want them and get new books for yourself to enjoy. You simply join, list what books you have that you want to send off, and make a list of what books you want to read. You get credits for books that you send to others, and in turn use those credits to request books for yourself. You can also buy extra credits for a very small fee. The books are all yours once you get them, you do not have to send them back or regift them unless you want to.

To get your free book you do not have to be a member of PaperBackSwap, I will just insert your address in the “send to” area. Though if you want to join it is completely free, and addictive! Then when I choose the winner that person will just let me know their mailing address and what book they want. You will have to search through and se what books are posted and ready to be mailed, but I will let the winner take up to three weeks to make sure they get the book they really want.

Sound simple enough? Read my posts every day from the 12th to the 18th. Leae lots of comments on your favorite children’s books. On the 19th one lucky comment will win a free book from PBS.

books, children’s books, PaprBackSwap

Did you know that November 12-18th is National Children’s Book Week? I didn’t either, luckily I saw Michelle’s post over at Scribbit about it. The post also shares some great ideas for encouraging reading in children. It is definately worth reading, especially if you worry that your children aren’t interested in reading. Spending time curled up enjoying books is the perfect way to share reading with your kids. But adding a few fun adventures along the way helps too.

There is a common joke among homeschoolers about books. “You know you’re a homeschooling family when you have to walk around the book piles in your house.” I know that here it is true. Books are piled up everywhere. We love books and love reading, and because I share my own love of books with my children they learn that reading is fun.

To celebrate this important week I am going to share a favorite children’s book each day. One that we love and read often. Hopefully they will be ones you might not of heard of before and you will be inspired to pick them up. I want you to share your favorite children’s books too! Let me know what books you love dearly. To tempt you into sharing even more I am going to choose one person who comments during that week to win a book of their choice. I won’t give away more than that now, but I hope you will come back and leave lots of comments all week!

books, reading, children, National Children’s Book Week

I got some great methods that I hadn’t even thought of last week to explore a little with you all. If anyone has any other homeschooling, or teaching, methods that they would like to see written about here please drop me a note.

This week we are looking at literature based homeschooling. This style is similar to Charlotte Mason in that it uses literature as a basis for learning instead of textbooks. Often textbooks are written rather blandly and can turn off a child towards reading, so parents who choose to use a literature based method let their children learn through reading books that were made to be enjoyed. Historical fiction, science fun books, biographies, and many other books fill the curriculum. This style certainly helps promote a love of reading and many children find that they enjoy learning about the subject better from a lively book than a textbook.

Another part of literature based curriculum that many parents love is that there is more interation between the parents and children. Books are read together and discussed together. Ideas are shared and new information is thought about together. Plus, there is nothing better than curling up on the couch together to enjoy a gook book.

However, some parents do not like the fact that lines can be a bit blurred between fact and fiction in some books. Often the parents have to do an extensive amount of research in finding books that they feel will fit. If you choose to go through a prepackaged curriculum most that you will find are Christian in nature, which can be a problem for those who prefer a secular approach.

Curriculum:
Five in a Row
Heart of Wisdom
Sonlight
Moving Beyond the Page (Not exactly literature based, but uses quality literature extensively.)

Links:
Homeschool Library builder
Thomas Jefferson Education
Literature-Based Learning for Homeschoolers

homeschool, homeschooling, literature based, literature, curriculum, Method Madness Monday