Jun. 25, 2008 - What I have been reading . . .
It is actually our VBS week at church so I have been busy at night but my days are still full of reading! I love to read and learn something new. I have a book basket that I keep handy so I can snatch a few minutes of reading several times a day. Here are the ones I am trying to finish this week.
*Loves Come Softly by Janette Oke (Recommended by a friend and I have to agree it is good, heartwarming and calming)
*Raising a Sensory Smart Child by Lindsey Biel, M. A. ( not for pleasure reading :( , Austin has done well at VBS though and for that I am grateful)
*The Message a contemporary language version of the Bible by Eugene Peterson
* Taking Care of the Me in Mommy by Lisa Welchel (I am slmost done with this one, and it has been a good reminder to take care of me too)
May. 15, 2008 - My eclectic reading list
Here is my eclectic reading list that I am working my way through. I tend to read several books all at once to keep things interesting. 
Home Style Teaching by Raymond and Dorothy Moore ( a practical read for homeschool parents and everyone else too)
Home Education by Charlotte Mason (volume 1 of 6; I picked it up used for $4.25 today!)
The Gift of Dyslexia by Ronald Davis ( a resource I hope will help me help Austin)
The State Boys Rebellion by Michael D'Antonio
Created to be His Helpmeet by Debi Pearl ( a constant reread on my list)
Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp (a reread)
Homeschooling for Excellence by David and Micki Colfax ( great read)
The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman ( a book on tape that we listened to today: great read)
the book of Colossians in the Bible ( I hope to read the 4 chapter book 5 times this week before our Sunday School class this weekend: I am up to 3 times so far!)
May. 2, 2008 - Library #1 Book List
Leonardo da Vinci by Kathleen Krull
Captain Grey by Avi
The Cay by Theodore Taylor
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
A Dog Named Kitty by Bill Wallace
Gentle Ben by Walt Morey
The Chocolate Touch by Patrick Skene Catling
Big Red by Jim Kjelgaard
Shiloh Season by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Saving Shiloh by Phyllis Reyonlds Naylor
Stowaway by Karen Hesse
Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink
Weasel by Cynthia De Felice
The Monster Trap by Dean Morrissey
Lives of the Artists by Kathleen Krull
The Boy on Fairfield Street by Kathleen Krull
Jul. 3, 2007 - I just finished School-proof
I thought I would share what I thought of the book School-proof How to help your family beat the system and learn to love learning-the easy, natural way by Mary Pride.
I noticed it was written almost 20 years ago and yet I found so much of it to be helpful and insightful. I love a book that challenges me to think about why I do something. This would be a good book to share with someone who is on the fence about deciding to homeschool or not. Mary Pride starts at the beginning and defines who we are really teaching. Our children are not "robots" or "lab rats". They are blessings given to us by God.
Then she addresses some of the clutter that teachers deal with. I know I am guilty of keeping too much curriculum around just in case.
She quotes Charlotte Mason several times as well, agreeing with her philosophy of twaddle free curriculum. It made me think more about how I teach my kids. I get so caught up in completing the workbook page and I forgetthe real purpose. My goal is to really evaluate what my kids need to learn and then find the best way to teach them.
I love how she attacks the labeling that goes on in schools. She believes that each child should be allowed to progress at their own rate without any special labels. Then she addressed typical little boys. Yes, the rowdy kind that need space to run and jump and take things apart. I know I have two of these kinds of kids and I have to constantly remind myself to not "feminize" them. Which is basically trying to change them into quiet, docile creatures who aren't encouraged to conquer anything.
Overall I am pleased that I read the book and if I can find it at the used book store, I wouldn't hesitate to pick it up. I was pleasanly surpised to find that the information is still relevant today.
