At Home…in Alaska

Archive for December, 2009

I failed to included November’s books in the last book list! We didn’t do any school reading to speak of in December (mostly just Advent and Christmas type things) so it slipped my mind to check back a little farther when finishing up the completed list for the year. I had been adding them as finished until we reached the busy holiday time.

Here are the missed books:

Bible

History

Music

We also read several young children’s classic books over the course of the last few months. I realized that I hadn’t been spending as much time reading to my younger set as I had to the olders when they themselves were the younger set. (Did you follow that? LOL) Anyhow, I won’t list them all - there were quite a few - but I did dig out the resource below that I had used many years ago with my olders before shelving and kind of passing over for so long to guide me again. I realize now how much I’ve missed reading to littles at their level on a regular basis and how much I’ve missed some of these books! I hope I don’t forget again.

‘Til next time, happy reading!

Bible

History - Middle Ages/Reformation

Joan Of Arc (World Landmark Books)

The Escape: The Adventures of Three Huguenot Children Fleeing Persecution (Based on Historical Facts)

Science

Read-Alouds

Other

Journey of the Heart

Well, that about wraps up the books we read together this year for educational purposes. Of course, there are lots more not mentioned that were more in the recreational category but homeschool families tend to also read educational books recreationally…if those weren’t actually in my hands sharing them with the children then they didn’t make it on the list.

Of all of the above books, I have to say I enjoyed A Journey of Souls the most. In fact, of all the books I read this year, this one was my absolute favorite - even among my “grown up” books! I cried in places. I delighted in places. All through it I had the hardest time wrapping my head around the fact this was history - fictionalized yes - but history never-the-less. Read this book!

I know I haven’t made many educational posts for the longest time and I don’t really have the time now but briefly I will say that we are pretty much done for the year. The older girls are continuing with their respective math curriculms. They finished at odd times and are pretty much independent of me in this area now. As long as they are making good progress, I let them plan/correct/pace themselves. They are self-motivated in this area and that makes my overall job that much easier. They are honest with themselves (and me), keep me informed on how many they miss on lessons, what areas they need help with, etc.

Anyhow, except for math, all other educational pursuits have ended and after Christmas I’ll be doing my planning for the new year. (We like to school year round and plan Jan. - Dec.)

We demonstrate our confidence in the authority of the Word of God by the way we use it in our homes and by our personal obedience to it. No amount of emotional, cozy feeling will stand the rigorous test of university exposure. Our faith has intellectual content; we must know what we believe. Emotional warmth flows out of the application and obedience of these great truths.

~ Gladys Hunt, pg. 97, Honey for a Child’s Heart