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I am so excited about this new place I've found called Paper Back Swap. I know there's already a blog here that goes over all the free stuff you can find on the net relating to home schooling, but I'm not sure she told you about this place. I was referred by the lady that runs Home Is Best. She had the banner I have (above my blog title) on her page and I clicked it because I'm always on the lookout for books (I'm building the children's library. Who isn't??!!! So there's my shameless plug. I put the banner on my blog 'cause I know lots of home schooling Moms are looking to get rid of some unwanted material cluttering up their bookcases. I wanted a place where I could just give the stuff away. Oh yeah, along with the shameless plug, is a note to mention me as your referrer if you do decide to sign up (my nic is Giggles). I get a credit for everyone who signs up! You get a credit when you refer someone and so on and so forth. Upon signing up (adding 9 books to your bookshelf) you get 3 credits to start with. So check it out and have fun swapping! |
)...especially free ones. =) I read what it's about and I love the idea! Here it is in a nutshell: You post books that you're willing to/ wanting to give away. Other people who've posted their books can see your list (it's called your bookshelf). If someone wants a book they click the order book button. You get a message that they want your book and you decide what day (within a week) that you will mail it out to them. Then you print off two sheets of paper that you use to wrap the book up in (one sheet already has media mail postage on it and the person's address). Once you send it off you click another button and when they receive the book they click the received button. When they receive a book you get a credit that you can use to order another book! So the more you send out that's about how many books you can get back. You can also purchase credits if you find the book of your dreams when you don't have any and don't want anyone else to snatch it up. I love it because it's like Freecycle except the people live all over the world. Posted in Read Alouds
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This is a really late update by about a month. I finally bought Mrs. Santorum's book!!! So now it sits in our bookcase (make shift actually. I cut up a box we weren't using and made a bookcase out of it). It's amazing that the story that first caught my eye (Joseph's Coat for those of you who know her book) is turning out to be one of my daughter's favorite stories. I love that. We're sharing in the love of reading together. I can't rave enough about Karen's book. It fulfills my needs for quality reading material until I can actually buy the classics. I love her book!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Blessings, Violet Blogging here, there and everywhere (incuding here). You've been reading a Schooldaze post. |
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Don't forget the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church is November 13 (&20), 2005! IF YOU MISSED THE FIRST ONE, THERE'S ONE MORE DAY COMING UP!
I just posted a book report of this book, but I also wanted to share how I've been using it. This book is such a blessing to me. I love how it makes teaching my children through the Word so enjoyable. They already are learning scriptures, but this is another way to instill God's Word. I use this book (slong with Johannah's new book Bless The Lord) in our devotion time. At the end after we say all our pryaers and recite our verses and read the Bible we read this story. My girl and boy love to read along with me (they're learning to read so the title was real easy for them to sound out. I helped them with "I've"). After all this time looking around for a book that will incorporate both their African-American heritage and their identity in Christ I can say that this book measures up to both standards!!! They love to read it and I love to read it to them! I empahsize certain words in the book by having them repeat it after me. We may not do that everyday, but I make sure we do it at least once a week. So anyway, we loe this book and that's how we use it. I hope that helps someone. |
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I LOVE THIS BOOK! I play it at breakfast and lunch time when everyone is quiet at the dining room table. My children seem not to care very much for it because they continue to talk, sing, and shout over the narration but I make them stop because I've become so engrossed in the story! I love Elnora and her mother and Mrs. Sinton! I'm having a blast listening. We're already on tape 3. I'm not too happy about everything that goes on in the story, but the more I listen the more I find it's place in the overall story and can condone it. I hope when my children get older we can re-visit this wonderful story in book form and enjoy it together. |
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I took this book out of the library because almost everyone has it on their childhood classics booklist. I started reading it out loud to my 3yo and was turned off by the language. A.A.Milne talks as if he's sometimes talking to his nephew all throughout the book! That's highly annoying to me. It also makes the reading out loud sound senseless. My 3yo likes it and asks for me to read it just because it's Winnie-the-Pooh. So, I'm continuing, but I do wish he wrote better. I have never read any book like that. |
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I just started listening to this with the children at breakfast today and it's wonderful! When I saw this in the library I remembered it was a book someone had highly recommended so I grabbed it. I've heard the first chapter already and am very impressed with the child's character. My children again seem not to be the least bit interested as they talk to each other over the voice on the tape recorder. but Imma hang in there until we've finished it or it needs to go back to the library. If anything, my ears are peeled to the words being spoken. |
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This book was so cute. It's about a rabbit who sees a bird one day and wishes he could fly. Low and behold, a toy plane lands near him and he gets in. It's remote controlled so it takes off with him in it and the little girl who's flying it finds him. She returns him and he tells everyone about his trip.The only part I didn't like was that he just took over someone else's property before asking. I told my oldest after the story that he should have asked first becuase just using somebody's property without asking is not the right thing to do. At first the rabbit tries to get himself off the ground by wiggle and flapping just like the bird did. When we went outside to play today my 3 yr. old said she was trying to fly and waved her arms like the rabbit in the picture did. I caught on and told her to try all the other things the rabbit tried in the story we had just read to see if she can fly. When she couldn't we looked up and saw an airplane. She pointed and said something about using that so she could fly. I said, "Yes, you need an airplane to fly. You're not a bird". That moment with her learning and making the connection was so beautiful to me. It just got stuck in my heart. I melted right then and there! I started thanking God for everything! It was a wonderful quiet time in our neighborhood so I could just stand there and drink it all in. That's a lot of what I do nowadays. I just hide little things they do in my heart and feel it overflow with excitement, love, joy and happiness. I am truly a contented home schooling Momma. My life is beautiful. I wouldn't change it for the world!!!
Thank you, Jesus, for letting me home school!!!!! |
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I just came back from the library recently and I am so excited!!!! I had about three bulging bags of books (I brought a big backpack to put most of them in) that I found in the library. Most were from the children's department. I also took out some Veggie Tales videos (we don't have any Larry Boy videos and my oldest daughter loves them). After paying my fine ($8.00!!! They just upped the price of something...I didn't even bother to look. It's all the same. I still have to pay. I wonder how exactly they snuck up on me...I'm going to have to write in big letters on my calendar so I don't forget again), I took all the wonderful books home with me!!!! This time I'm really excited because I found some wonderful surprises. The children's section flooded so they are moving some picture books over to the teen section. As I browsed I found Alice in Wonderland (a wonderful looking picture book), Madeline books (we just finished listening to them on tape. I wonder if they'll recognize the stories when I read it to them), Runaway Bunny (even though this is a classic, we don't own it and I haven't found it until now) and so many other sonderful picks. I'm really excited about that Alice in Wonderland picture book. It's in chapter book form but with lovely illustrations every few pages so it stays exciting to look at as well as listen to. I'll be writing more on each of these stories in the Read Alouds section. So here's the list of the books I got for the children:
So that should keep us busy, don't you think? I'm planning on reading a little (like a chapter) from Alice and Wonderland and House at Pooh Corner everyday. I just realized I never looked in the Complet Pooh book to see what the table of contents was. I don't need the other two books. It has both House at Pooh Corner and Winnie-the-Pooh in it. Oh well. They should go back so someone else can read them. I should hav ebeen looking for the poetry books he wrote (When We Were Very Young and Now We Are Six). I'll write about each and every one of these books as I'm so very excited to discover them with my children. The only thing missing are the BOB books...*sigh* unfortunately they were all taken!!! My local libraries have a complete Level B set but are missing the first part of the Level A set. That's the one I need too. Maybe I can convince them to buy it on their limited budget. I know how they feel. We're on a strict limited budget ourselves. |
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I wanted to burst through the wall with a big ole' Kool-Aid grin on my face when this happened. I was reading my children three books in the down time we had after their baths. At first they were slow in coming when I called them together to read, but once I started I noticed they were paying attention. The phone rang in the middle of my third book called Hepcat by William Bramhall. When I got up to get the phone, my oldest daughter said, "Aaawww...No, Mommy!" Speaking of which, I have got to share this becuase it is just so cute. My children could be in any play they wanted as long as they saw the video of it first. Lately I've only be letting them watch one video a day. Their favorite to pick is Lion King. They've watchced it at least ten times in a month and I actually think they have the whole thing memorized. You should hear them act out almost every scene. They've gotten so good now that my son will act out one part while my daughter acts out the others. They will actually go back in forth in dialogue just like the characters in the movie do. It amazed me that my 2-1/2 yr. old son knows just when to come in and never seems to miss a que. They could be eating and my daughter will start in the middle of the movie somewhere and he'll pick up with the next lines just like they're watching it right there at the table. Makes me consider signing them up for parts in a play....hmmm...maybe I could learn how to make puppets and have them put on a Lion King puppet show!! Okay, first I have to learn how to sew.... |
I was shocked! She actually didn't want me to finish!!! YES! I have accomplished the unthinkable! My children love storytime!!!...or at least one does. Whew! I'm so glad that's over. I was really hoping they didn't end up hating me for limiting their T.V. watching so much....
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I've heard home schooling mothers say this is a great way for kids to get educated. I've always been dubious. How can a child learn when they're involved in activities that make them appear to be tuning out? I've heard some mothers let their children color while they listen. I don't think I'll be able to keep them in the same room for any length of time to play a significant amount of a story so I've opted to put the tape recorder in the middle of our dining room table. Usually we listen to the recommended music for our lesson that day from Little Hands to Heaven (LHTH). I've started popping in an audio book during breakfast time. I have other things going when they're taking a nap so I didn't wnat to put it on then. I also don't know when they're sleeping and therefore don't know how much they've listened to. I wouldn't know where to restart the cassette and I don't just want to keep playing the beginning for them as that would probably get pretty boring after a while (these tings are on loan for three weeks!). In my daughter's case, she would probably listen to the shole side and then be too awake to go to sleep, thus defeating the purpose of laying down in bed. In our house setting the recorder up on the dining room tbale is the best idea I could come up with. Sometimes my daughter asks to do crafts other than what we did during our "together time" (when I follow the LHTH curriculum). I'm thinking of putting it on for her then too. I started this on Monday, but haven't seen a marked difference as of yet. I'm going to keep on going though. They have proved to me again and again that when I think they're not in the least bit learning, they actually are. I'll put my faith and hope in the principle I see being played out before me everyday (thank you Lord for opening my eyes to see what You are doing in my children's minds) and just continue on. It sort of reminds me of the parable of the sower. You just gotta keep throwing out those seeds... |
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This is our current read aloud (I think I'll try to add that section to my sidebar soon. I wanted to do like I saw someone else do with the line through the book title when they've read it). I like it. I was looking for the author and was about to pick the book off of the shelf when I saw a huge book by hte same author. It turned out to be the complete works of Curious George. So now I have the chapter book feel that I wanted!!!! God is so faithful! He's so compassionate. He gave me what I desired for my children. They're His children so He's just showing me how much He loves them through me. As an extra added bonus some of the pages end in suspence!!! Now I remember saying exactly that in describing what I wanted in a read aloud (maybe not in writing but I know I've told my husband that). I take every advantage of asking what they think will happen next. It's amazing to see how much T.V. has adversely affected these children though. My 3 yr. old couldn't even tell me what she thought would happen next. I was totally amazed. It's like she has no imagination. So I prompted her with questions that she answered and offered some ideas myself. Then she got the idea and started playing along. She even had a smile on her face! I had unlocked her imagination! T.V. is terrible!! I haven't wanted to go to the extreme of totally taking away the tube, but I think I'm going to have to. My 2 yr. old is a boy but I think he acts strange because he's been plopped in front of the T.V. so often at such a young age that he doesn't even know how to quiet his mind and think. He's really smart in other things so I know it's not a problem with him (thank the Lord), but that tube is rotting his brain. I didn't expect to get on a topic about the evils of T.V. in here, but I just had to mention that instance. |
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God has been answering my (and the prayers of others for me. Thank you everyone!) prayers in leading me to the read alouds I've always had in my heart to read to my children. I was looking through an issue of Homeschooling Today and found a review of this book. When I read it I thought it might be close to what I was looking for. This book, Everyday Graces, is right on target!!!! It's so sweet. It is gentle and reaffirming. It quietly leads your children down the road of righteousness through good manners. Karen picks classic stories, and some that she or her family memebrs have written, to teach children about good manners. The book sis sectioned out according to the type of manner being taught. She also includes poems which is a real good thing. It shows children the variety of literary styles. I am so pleased with this book. I instantly put it on the top of my books to buy list. I'm thinking of reading one story all week at bedtime (when the children are the most subdued and open). It's not necessarily Christian, but it still hits the spot in teaching righteousness. Thank you Lord!!!! |
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Once again this is another lovely book that reveals African culture that I have to ban (at least for now). The story is about two daughters who are beautiful. One is proud the other is humble. There are many examples of how each act in everyday life. The humble daughter wins in the end, which is a wonderful story in character development....except that the king mentioned in the story is a shape-changer. I would just dismiss it as a means to liven the story, but I know better. I know that that's witchcraft so I'm more apt to stay far away from it. It's a shame too, becuase it talks about a long lost thriving civilization in Zimbabwe that was one of the major kingdoms in Africa before people started getting carted off to America and the Caribbean. I would love to be able to tell this story but from a Christian standpoint, leaving out the witchcraft. Oh yeah, it received a Caldecott Honoraward too. I just can't trust the worldly system to pick good books for me. Whoever reads this, just please pray with me about my search for God glorifying books that present the African-American heritage to preschoolers (gotta be specific when you pray you know!). If I don't find any I'm going to have to write them myself. |
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I've been wondering how long it will take till my children are asking me for more books than wanting to watch another video. So far it's been about a week since I decided to read to them more and it's coming along okay. I haven't taken away the T.V. completely because I still think what I show them is relevant, but I am making the most of those lulls in our days by reading to them. They come and sit on my lap, but at first they're not interested. Then as I read the book they seem to get interested. That's a good sign. This morning I read them a book that had two stories in it. I was only planning on reading them the first one since they seemed not interested. Then my daughter said, "Wait Mommy. Next page", so I read on. I was amazed. Shocked even. I had read her two books back to back. I keep hearing about these families that read their kids at least 2 hours a day and I'm like, wow, how did they do that? I guess they just started early and kept on going. Well, I'm trying to right the wrong of too much T.V. watching. Hopefully we'll end up with the same result: kids who love to read! |
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I'm very selective. There is a certain taste that I'm looking for. A lot of the books in the libraries are not it. Case in point, Sdacrew sent me a link in her comment on my post about read alouds. This is one review of a book on that list:
"Poems from the Inner City Youth League and the African American Academy for Accelerated Learning celebrate growing up, pride in ones self, black history, family, spirit and imagination, accompanied by energetic paintings."
See that? "Pride in one's self"...oh no. That's exactly what I'm trying NOT to teach my children. I understand a lot of black people think they need to have pride in who they are, but I'm sorry. I don't draw my identity from anyone else but Jesus! I am THANKFUL (not proud) of what He's doing in me to make me look like Him more. I'm very weary of statements like that and about celebrating the "spirit" stuff. Some black people getinto ancestor worship with pouring libations and stuff like that. That's extremely where I draw the line. I'll look over the list and see if I can find these books at the library. I'll have to censor them myself. I don't trust anybody else's list. Only problem with that is I end up spending more time looking for good books instead of reading good books to my kids. |
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On the cover this looks like a promising book. It shows a girl smiling...who just happens to be black. The beginning of the story is safe enough. It tells of a young girl's wonderful imagination that leads her to act out the parts of many different characters. Then it gets to the middle and introduces racism. Oh, the book deals with it how the world would deal with it (I don't care what others think. I can do whatever I want!) and ends with a happy ending. The only problem is it's not my type of ending. You're left feeling empowered of your own power to overcome even the toughest adversities. That's a philosophy I don't want to pass on to my children. So, while it looks like a good book on the cover, I had to pass. |
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I'm still looking for that one book to start us off. I settled on The Swiss Family Robinson but someone had it out at the library so I won't get it until Monday night (maybe). I went to the library recently and brought home two bags full of books (I really wish they had shopping carts at the library...I just might bring a wagon next time or something. My poor back... I just thought of something. Maybe it's the content I'm not pleased about. I want something that lifts up the name of the Lord and exemplifies godly principles. I would love to read them stories of that caliber, but you are really hard pressed to find them just lying around the local library. Usually when I go to the library I'm on a time schedule. The books that I have asked them to find for me either weren't there or couldn't be bought becuase of budget cuts. So until we get the money to spend on quality books, we'll be making the best of what we got. |
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Ever since I first heard this term I've been in love with the concept. I didn't grow up with this so it's taken me a while to actually implement it in our home, but I think I'm going to start in August. I fear I have lost my son to "the tube". When he was younger he watched a lot of T.V. because I didn't realize the consequences (I know, I know...bad Mommy I've been reading others' blogs on this topic and have made note of their lists. I've gone to the library but haven't found some books recommended. I would love to just buy all the books people say are good for a preschoolers' read-aloud time, but I can't. I have looked through the books I did get, but they don't grab me. In my heart I know God has put this burden in me to start doing this, but I still haven't found "the book" to settle down with and start reading to them. I kinda feel like I'm hunting for my wedding dress. There was this click in me when I tried it on and I just knew, "This is it!!!" I think the read-aloud God wants us to read will be like that experirence. I don't want to just pick anything. I want what He wants for us because it will be the best thing for us in this season of our lives. I am praying about it and feel a leading to just continue to persevere in my search until I hear that click in my spirit and say, "This is it!!" |
). Now that he's 2, I see the consequences everyday. I want to try to correct my mistakes and hope that adding a read-aloud to our schedule will help reset his brain (I'm also wanting to play more classical music as I've heard that helps in brain development). 