Wednesday, January 31, 2018

What are we reading in January - Homeschool Reading List

WHAT ARE WE READING IN JANUARY

Do you have a reading goal for 2018? How about your kids?  I have a personal goal to read 24 books this year. That's not including what I read with or to the kids.  I don't think it will be too hard to accomplish this goal being that I'm in a book club and we will read one book each month, so that will knock out twelve right there, plus I love to read.  I haven't set a goal for the kids or our homeschool because I don't want to put pressure on the kids or myself.  I want them to genuinely enjoy to read, so there is no pressure.  However, I thought it would be fun to share with my readers each month what we are reading in our homeschool and what I'm reading in my free time. Did I just say free time?  I don't get much of that, but I do like to set aside a few minutes a day to just enjoy the moment.
I read aloud to my children EVERY single day. Yes, I said every day.  I know it seems like a lot, but it really isn't hard to do once you start doing it.  You should try it.  Start with a bedtime story each night then add more time throughout the day as you see fit.  Trust me before you know it they will be begging you to read to them.  My 14 year still enjoys reading together at night, we don't call it bedtime stories though, she's far too cool for that.   It's such a blessing to come together snuggle up, or not, and read a good book. I leave the kids hanging most of the time so they start predicting what they expect will happen next, they fuss at the characters if they make a bad decision, and the kids are always pleading for me to keep going when I stop.  It's a great bonding time and an excellent way to spark up conversations!  So let's jump into what we are reading.





*Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links.  That just means if you click on them and purchase something I will make a small commison from it with no additional charge to you.


Read Aloud - As a family read aloud we are reading Gladys Aylward - The Adventure of a Lifetime by Janet and Geoff Benge.  We love the Christian Heroes: Then and Now stories that are published by YWAM.  They are very inspiring, true stories about men and women who answered God's call.



School Reading and Individual Reading - I assign the kids a book or two each month for them to read, answer comprehension questions, and narrate back to me.  They also read what we call "free reads" it's just a book of their choice that they read whenever they want.  We still discuss those books as well because they just like sharing what they are reading about.

My oldest daughter, who is in the 9th grade is reading The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis, it is book two in the Chronicle of Narnia series.  This is actually an easy read for her, but she's never read it before so I wanted her to read it.  She is not currently reading anything in her free time because we are working on finding appropriate books for a teen.  I'm actually getting a list put together of books that are teen-friendly according to our standards and will share those with you all later.

My oldest son, who is in 6th grade is reading White Fang.  He is my only kid who doesn't enjoy reading, but will do it if it's a book that he can really get into.  He likes to read what he wants to read and right now he is really enjoying the I survive series by Lauren Tarshis, which is really what sparked his interest to read in the first place.  So, for his free read he is reading I survived The Japanese Tsunami, 2011.  The I survive series share real events with fictional characters.

My youngest daughter, who is in 5th grade is reading The Courage of Sarah Noble by Alice Dalgliesh.  Again, this is a very easy read for her, but she hasn't read so I really wanted her to read it.  She's enjoying the story so she really didn't mind.  For her free reading she is reading Luciana by Erin Teagan this is from the well known American girl books.  She just recently had a birthday and she got the Girl of the Year, Luciana, so she just had to have her stories.

My youngest son, who is in 3rd grade is reading Black Beauty.  He is reading the classic start version.  He's not currently reading a free read book because we are reading a few picture books together.



Me - I am still working my way through Created to be His Help Meet by Debi Pearl.  If you are a wife this is a MUST read.  It's a self-help type of book that will definitely bless your marriage.   I am in a book club with some friends and our current read is I Dared to Call Him Father by Bilquis Sheikh.  This is the awesome, true story of Bilquis', a Muslim woman, encounter with God.

I hope you find some good reads from our booklist that you can share with your family.  I'm thinking of sharing these post at the beginning of the month instead of at the end.  What do you think?  Would you rather me share our reading list at the beginning of each month or at the end?  I would love to know what you and your kiddos are reading, so don't be shy leave a comment down below.

A few of the books mention above.




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8 comments:

  1. We do daily read alouds, as well. I issued a read aloud challenge at the beginning of January for each of us to read aloud to each other and my oldest has taken to it well. She is reading daily to her youngest sister and they are both treasuring the time. Reading aloud provides connections like nothing else can. Thanks for sharing what you all are tackling currently. - Lori

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  2. I love that you do daily reading :) I know a few moms that do and their kids seem to love it. I need to place this on my to do list.

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  3. These books sound great. I like this tradition!!

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  5. Now some of those books are free:

    Black Beauty, by Anna Sewell
    http://www.gutenberg.org/files/271/271-h/271-h.htm

    White Fang, by Jack London
    http://www.gutenberg.org/files/910/910-h/910-h.htm

    I read White Fang in elementary school, though not as a result of school assignment. I read Black Beauty a few year ago. I like both of them but Black Beauty is better for historical perspective. It is set in England of the British Empire during the Victorian Age.

    Books: Beam Piper (sorted by release date)
    http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/search/?query=Beam+Piper

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    1. Don't forget free audiobooks:

      Black Beauty (The Autobiography of a Horse) Anna SEWELL (1820 - 1878)
      https://librivox.org/black-beauty-by-anna-sewell/

      White Fang (Version 2) Jack LONDON (1876 - 1916)
      https://librivox.org/white-fang-by-jack-london-librivox-version-2/

      Deathworld Harry HARRISON (1925 - 2012)
      https://librivox.org/deathworld-by-harry-harrison/

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  6. These are some great book choices! I remember reading a couple when I was younger. My daughter is a book lover so I'll have to share these titles with her.

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  7. i read a book with my lad at breakfast right now it's called the hawk's scream

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