Posts Tagged ‘reading’

I know, I know!

{ July 14, 2008 @ 5:34 pm } · { Uncategorized }
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I’m a slacker.  Truth is there just isn’t much going on here at The School Down the Lane.  At least there’s not much that would be *schooly* and there is a lot going on that has nothing to do with school so I haven’t had much time or motivation to blog.  I apologize and promise to try and do better.  Really. 

So what have we all been doing? 

Getting accustomed to M’s summer school schedule.  Frankly the adjustment is not going well and I frequently loose track of time and almost miss her bus pick up!.  I blame it on sleep deprivation.  *yawn*  She has really enjoyed it so I guess my suffering is worth it LOL!

Also, K and I have been putting together the routine for the cheer team and since it’s a complete DIY project (music and all) it’s taken some time and effort.  Honestly though, we’ve been having a blast!  It’s come together quite nicely and I am looking forward to starting in September.

Add to that some job troubles for both me and W and things have been frantic around here. 

We have been doing some learning though, the kids all signed up for the summer reading programs at our local library and there has been a lot of reading going on (I know, you’re shocked!) as well as lots of dancing since they are all also taking summer dance classes.  I have been quite impressed with K who has not only taken quite naturally to Jazz dancing but has also completed two lines on her reading program BINGO.  B has also picked some books for himself; mostly books about mice, rats and chipmunks as well as the latest Magic Tree House, and has been very good about keeping up with his reading cards (that were sent home from his reading tutor). Even I am stretching myself a little as I signed up for the Adult reading program and have read enough to earn myself 6 of the 10 points necessary to earn myself a prize. Yay me!

The plan is to start school this week (well, actually it was to start last week but…) so hopefully I’ll have something more interesting to blog about soon! In the meantime here’s what we have all read for the reading program thus far:

K:
The Valley of Fear (Sherlock Holmes)
M is For Magic
Horrible Histories
Rules (on audio book)
Beowulf (graphic novel)
Three magazine articles
Hope for the Flowers (for a children’s book)

B:
Magic Tree House-Dark Day in the Deep Sea
Nature’s Children-chipmunk
Nature’s children-Mouse
Inside and outside mice and rats
Inside and outside birds
How animals move
Mouse

M:
Code Lyoko (graphic novel)
Winx Club Fire and Ice
The Amulet

Me:
Worth More Dead
A Bitter Brew
The Assassins Accomplice
Kept
Home Education Magazine

Reading, it’s what we do.

{ April 28, 2008 @ 9:21 pm } · { Uncategorized }
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We read a lot.  No, I mean a LOT.  Sometimes several hours out of each day and at least on hour before bed.  I read aloud to K still, two to three books at a time.  I read to B and M out of four books each night.  It can get tiring.  It can get boring (especially since M favor’s graphic novels).  It can be frustrating (especially when B is rolling all over the floor).   I do it anyway because I feel it’s important.  If ever I get discouraged, I read this poem:

The Reading Mother by Strickland Gillian

I had a mother who read to me
Sagas of Pirates who scoured the sea,
Cutlasses clenched in their yellow teeth,
*Blackbirds* stowed in the hold beneath.

I had a mother who read me lays
Of ancient and gallant and golden days;
Stories of Marmion and Ivanhoe
Which every boy has the right to know.

I had a mother who read me tales,
Of Celert the hound of the hills of Wales,
True to his trust till his tragic death,
Faithfulness blent with his final breath.

I had a mother who read me things
That wholesome life to a boy heart brings-
Stories that stir with an upward touch,
Oh, that each mother of boys were such.

You may have tangible wealth untold;
Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.
Richer then I you can never be-
I had a mother who read to me.

 

I makes me teary everytime I read it and I think it applies just fine to girls as well ;)

I have several reading lists that I like to use as reference when I am trying to find a book for K, something to read to B, or even something for myself.

Here are a few of my favorites!

Database of Award Winning children’s Literature

Books to Supplement History

Great books from The Well Trained Mind

Book Girl’s Historical Fiction for Children

Chronological List of Children’s History

Just to make this my official reading themed post, I think I’ll list what we are all currently reading! M is reading on her own, but likes me to read to her as well.  B cannot yet read so all his books I am reading to him.

Me:
The Third Jesus by Deepak Chopra
A Guinea Pig’s History of Biology by Jim Endersby
Frankenstien by Mary Shelley (aloud to K)
The Sisters Grimm by Michael Buckley(aloud to K)

K:
Ophelia by Lisa Klein
Drowned Wednesday by Garth Nix (almost done!)

M:
Fruit’s Basket Volume 3 by Natsuki Takaya (by me)
One of the Rainbow Faries stories-not sure which(to herself)

B:
Eyewittness Books-Russia
Monday with a Mad Genius by Mary Pope Osbourne (again)

aloud to B and M:

Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carrol (almost done)
Beowulf, a New Telling by Robert Nye (next on the list)

This is actually a pretty small load. We are missing a history book and a science book for B and M and K is currently between historical fiction since we had break last week. We’ll be making a trip to the library soon!