Sharing a love for reading ...

One of the most precious benefits our family has gained from homeschooling is a mutual love of good books. It's exciting to me when my kids are eager to share the newest book they are reading and are interested in having me read it as well.

I've met some new authors over the past few years as a result of my children. I had never heard of Eoin Colfer until my youngest began reading the Artemis Fowl series. It's unlikely I would have pursued a story about twelve year old millionaire and a kidnapped fairy of my own accord. But when my son began devouring the books, I couldn't resist! Brian Jacques became another family favorite when all three kids stumbled onto the Redwall series. Martin the Warrior and Cluny the one-eyed Rat became regular topics of conversation. Even dad was "sucked in" when Jacques came out with Castaways of the Flying Dutchmen.

These days Ted Dekker is the author of choice. I finished reading Kiss just recently and was on the edge of my seat until the last page. While I'm not a fan of all of his books, there are many that have become favorites and I'm sure I'll read them again.

I can't wait to see what new authors we discover this year!

~Judy

Teaching Elementary Science

Science is one of those subjects that is easily slid to the back burner. In the lower grades, when phonics and fundamental math are priorities, science rarely makes it to the top of the list. Here's one approach that might move science off the back burner!

When my children were in the K-4 or 5 years, I came up with a solution to my science woes that worked out pretty well in our homeschool. Each quarter of our school year (every 9 weeks), we would take a "week off" from all other subjects (except math!) and enjoy a science week. That science week would focus on a single topic ...

As I planned my school year each summer, I would choose four science topics to enjoy for the coming year. I would then make certain to collect anything I needed for each of these weeks as they drew closer. I usually spent some time on-line during the summer, checking for special Science books or supplies that might round out our topical studies. Then a couple weeks prior to each Science week, I would visit our local library to add to our stack of books for study. Here are some possible Science topics to choose from:

• Weather
• Astronomy
• Human Body
• Electricity
• Magnetism
• Plant Life
• Birds
• Insects
• Machines
• Ocean Life
  

Once each Science week arrived, we would pull out our stacks of books and science materials, each student would grab their Science "notebook" (3-ring binder with lined and unlined paper), and we would begin our adventure. This might involve some reading about the topic on their own, some reading that I would do aloud, and any activities or experiments that might relate to the topic at hand. I usually tried to include one or two Science videos related to the topic as well. I would make sure that we wrote down any new Science "words" in their notebooks, being certain they understood what they meant. We also sketched (or you could take photos of) the experiments we tried. These all made for a wonderful Science notebook.

My primary goal was to ignite an excitement in my children for learning about Science. Since I viewed these weeks as being "discovery" oriented, I wasn't terribly concerned about mastery of the material. At a time when our major focus was on learning to read well and establishing the fundamentals of math, this approach to Science was enjoyable for all of us.

So don't obsess about Science ... feel free to move it to the back burner, with the exception of four weeks when you enjoy exploring God's creation with your children!

Our Bookcase Winner!

Raising and homeschooling seven wonderful children, April's bookcase is a real winner. It loudly speaks of a love for literature! But like many homeschooler's bookshelves, April admits that this one is screaming BUILD MORE SHELVES!!

Congratulations April ... and keep on reading! Your books will soon be on their way.

Bookcases!

The first of the 27 reasons why families love Sonlight is because Sonlight helps you build a library your entire family will want to read again and again. You'll pass on a love for truly great books that inspire your kids—AND you— to be life-long learners.

One of the benefits of literature-based learning is the opportunity to build an awesome library that will last long after your students are done with their learning. In fact, many students go back again and again to previous years' books to re-read favorites. And I've even heard of husbands who sneak to the bookshelves late at night to grab a good read.

When I talk with new Sonlight users about other benefits of using this curriculum, I always make sure to mention the bookcases. For every Sonlighter knows that sooner or later you have to build more bookcases. I've often thought it would be fun to collect pictures of Sonlight bookcases ... for I'm certain that every bookcase reveals a little bit about the family that builds it.


There's kid-proof bookshelves. You find these in a home where the books matter more than that which holds them.

Then there are those bookshelves which either demonstrate the artistic side of the owners, or a desperate need to find someplace to put all those books when Box Day comes quicker than planned.

Finally, there are those bookshelves that just cry out ... "build more!"

So what do your bookshelves say about you? Email me with a photo of your favorite bookshelf (no later than 4/27/09) and I'll enter you in a drawing for ... what else ... a packet of free books! Introduce a friend to Sonlight by having them email me, and you'll be entered in the drawing *FIVE* times!

Be sure to let me know if I can share your photos here on my blog for others to enjoy. What better motivation to make plans for the coming school year than a bookcase full of books!