A book that inspires!

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis has been a favorite book for my family. We've read through it together and continue to listen to our audio books. It's a classic and it doesn't get old. The adventures and principle it holds are worth reading over and over. I definitely recommend to children and adults. It doesn't matter how young or old you are, it will make you imagine and appreciate the images that C.S. Lewis draws your thoughts to. It's a must keep through out generations. You can find the whole set online, at bookstores, and even at thrift stores. Happy book hunting!

A wonderful way to find good books

Our family is always on a hunt for good books. We would set a day to go book hunting! The thrifts stores are our first choice to go to. Used books are as good as new as long as they are readable. Sometimes we will have a list of books to look for, and sometimes we just go and see what the stores have. And when we have funds to get new books we visit the Barnes & Noble down the street. Yes, that one is still open.

Although this one particular book that I've found lately is no where in the places I have mentioned. This one is special because I personally met the author of this book. I thought it was a treat meeting the author of a book. Her name is Heather Tietz. She is a children's book author. She has a list of books published by Ambassador Publishing. She wrote a lullaby book that is great to read and sing to your little ones. I thought this was a cute book to have. Sing the book to your child in the tune of "Jesus Loves You" as you put them to sleep. I went looking for it over the internet and yes you can find it at Amazon.com, or directly from Barnes&Noble.com. Visit her website to know more about her.

Journey to Homeschooling: Day 6

Wrapping up Day 6. Other than studying history today, we also went through reading comprehension, handwriting practice, and practice some Math skills activity book. But having a toddler on the hand is not as easy as I make it sound. Maybe you're wondering how I do it with a toddler. Well, today, this is how it looked like from 10:00am to 1:00pm.  We skipped big chores onto reading a book called, "Augustus Caesars World" by Genevieve Foster, outside our patio; After two pages we went back inside and had E, 8 years old, write a summary of what we read from his own words; J, 6 years old, being not yet ready for the study we were doing, he had to skipped the time being while he gets situated; While all that was happening the youngest, 2 years old, was happily situated on the center rug and chose to play with the board game, "connect four". At around 15 to 20 minutes  later, my toddler gets bored and insists he wants to cut paper. He loves to cut, so I gave him the blunted safety scissor for children. I gave him an art book that we don't use anymore. And that kept him busy while I help J get started with his assignment. J was very excited to trace today. He loved picking a drawing from the book that he just read, and write down a sentence of his personal summary of the book. Because he has simple work load he gets things done quicker than big brother E. While J is busy with mommy, I had to keep E busy with memorization. Today he completed his memorization of Robert Frost poem "The Birds Do Thus". So the only way I can divide my time with everyone, I give them turns. They really fight for my attention a lot. Especially the little one. Today we didn't really get to do all what I planned, but that is the beauty of home education. It must become part of our life.

My personal review of the books we used today.
Genevieve Foster, "Augustus Caesar's World", it's getting more and more positive results from my children. This is a book supposedly written for upper level elementary through high school, but I'm not too concerned about the level of my children's comprehension. In fact, I like exposing them to all levels of book reading. Though my 6 year old may not be ready to have a complete comprehension of it, he is able to catch names of people and places. I must insist that this book is an easy read, though I know I can't expect my children to pick up the book to read on their own. But my 8 year old son did surprise me, I saw him bring the book to his room one night, and the next day ask me this question, "Mommy are the gods in the book true?", and I answered, "No they are not." Then he replied, "So why are we reading it?". If anything, this book is bringing opportunities for me to have meaningful conversation with my children.

I totally recommend the book. Here are some links that I have visited to find Genevieve Foster books.

 http://www.bfbooks.com
 http://www.lamppostpublishing.com

 Other people's review on Genevieve Foster.

http://www.abasiccurriculum.com
http://nwda-db.wsulibs.wsu.edu

Send me your feedback when you can!

Refreshing Homeschool Thoughts

So just after all the vacation that we've been to (which I still have to share) we are able to calculate the next school year for us, and decided that we will be officially following a whole year schooling pattern. For the past 4 months I've been stuck on books that have been enriching my understanding more and more of how to approach our homeschooling style. On top of "Leadership Education", now I have become even more excited to raise my children towards  a love of learning lifestyle. Thank you to my local library for carrying the books that I wasn't ready to buy from the store just yet. Thank you to the internet, the website that has been so helpful and informative regarding Classical Education, especially in the Christian perspective. And lastly, thank you to my fellow homeschooling moms who has been my backbone of this great journey to homeschooling! And so now I have so much to share with any one  who is interested in serious homeschooling.

So for this month's Homeschool Journal. I'd like to share with a little something that maybe you do or do not know yet. But did you know that government requires 180 days for school? Because I'm homeschooling I went ahead and did some calculation for my own personal information to keep. And I tallied 182 days total if I was to do a whole year round schedule. It might sound bad, but I actually find it much easier load to look at.  I actually can take 1 week break every month. And during the holidays take 2-3 weeks total. This way I have my year laid out. And I don't feel stressed out what I would do during a 3 month break during the summer. And try to cramp everything in the span of 10 months w/o breaks.

Anyway, I would like to announce that we are officially an "all year homeschoolers"!

Friday Feature: Uncle Tom's Cabin

This book made me angry, sad, question, seek, and so much more. Though this book is suppose to be read during junior high, or high school years, I chose to read now that I have a family and homeschooling. I think it's even the best time to read it. As I have completed this book it was very encouraging to bring the principles of Uncle Tom's character into my home. This was my review as I wrote it in my journal for every book I finish.
"It was definitely worth reading. Every time I pick it up, it's like a movie I would sit down to watch for hours. Every chapter was very meaningful to me. Though my time with it was off and on because of my scheduling, but there wasn't a moment that I regretted picking it up. It's unimaginable what these people have gone through in life. But I just can't help but be moved by Stowe's main purpose of writing this book to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ. That, though a person's lifetime could be in its worse situations, and it seems nothing good can come out it, having the right perspective brings things to light. With Uncle Tom's great example of how he lived his life as a slave, he should be marked as a hero. Whether his character is fictional or not he depicts the characters of a person that I really felt I should become. Someone who held on to his belief. His faith was real. He knew that the words he read in his bible was true and worth of holding on to. Because of that he lived a life worthy of the cause. There was no regrets, no question of why he was going through what he was going through. His endurance, and continued to find joy everlasting is an example to me. What a great and awesome insight of a struggling Christian whose true relationship with God shines so bright in such a darkened moment of life. How I want the same attitude!! And to desire what is lasting. Uncle Tom only wanted one thing is to be His Savior and true Master. Nothing can separate him from His love."

This is a great edition. Paper back. Most definitely affordable. I haven't seen it in Kindle version though.  I hope you find this one encouraging as it did with me.  I've never heard nor read anyone's review or essay on this book. Maybe some of you have. You're welcome to share! Leave me a comment.

It has been quite awhile since I blogged. But I have been around. Summer started and yet it seems like it's going 100 mph, that it's almost over. I see stores putting up back to school signs already. I look back asking myself, what have I been doing? It was just 2 weeks ago I came back from an awesome vacation. I just can't believe it's been that long ago. So as I get back into the routine of things I came across this book that I plan to share with a friend. I've had it for awhile, and it is one of my favorites. I've been sharing this with other friends as well from the past. Might as well share it with you too.


No matter how busy you become with whatever things you do, the heart of the matter is, what is it all for? I'm a busy mom. I get busy getting things in order, because I always want "order". But as we all know life isn't perfect and things just doesn't happen the way we plan it all the time. I have learned that it's tough to accept circumstances when things doesn't go my way.  But this book, "Attitudes of a Transformed Heart" has taught me that I have a heart problem. There isn't anything wrong to want "order" in life, but it's my response to "disorder", my complaints and questions in life's problem is where it lies. And it is all because of a "heart" problem.  This heart must be transformed. Transformed in a way that it will see and accept things that it never did before. Martha Peace writes this book in a very down to earth way. I believe it's a great read. It will move you to evaluate yourself. It's a book for all ages.

Another homeschooling resource..

The Christian Home School

One of the books I read and studied to get equipped for homeschooling my children is this book. A very helpful and encouraging tool for parents who have decided to bring education into their home. This book written by Greg Harris also was a father who homeschooled his children. He brings points that really confirms our decision to educate our children at home. After reading this book, I felt very excited and enthusiastic about homeschooling. I felt that I can endure through the challenging times. Anyway, come check it out for yourself. Whether you are a parent who isn't homeschooling yet but interested in looking into it, or you may be a parent who is already in the homeschooling community, this book is a keeper. After reading it you're going to want to go read it again to be reminded of the rich benefits your family can enjoy with homeschooling.

To order one for yourself, just click the title above "The Christian Home School".

A Help book that really helped...

Four years ago I started going to a Women's Discipling Women Conference at Master's College. It was a blessing every time I  went. Even for just one whole day of hearing godly women speak about godly messages,  I felt really refreshed away from the everyday dealings of motherhood, family, and other things. Not that I was running away from such dealings. But it was good to break away for a day. Anyway, my recommended book comes from that conference. It was also recommended to me. This book helped me re-organized my thoughts and desires. It's very practical and biblical for mothers who has a lot on their plate. One thing that really helped me see that my duties does not have to be accomplished in one whole day. Planning and organizing in a different way gave me peace that I can move a "to do list" on another day. But most of all, I really learned that my time is not only my time, but it's a God given gift to manage His blessings. So I hope you'll find this encouraging. I hope you get to read it too. Share something in my blog if you've read it before! I'd like to hear your thoughts.

Part of educating kids is that yourself is being educated too!

Leadership Education: The Phases of Learning

One accomplishment that has benefited my family from homeschooling is that my eldest, Ezekiel, learned to read at 4 years old. Reading was the priority goal, because how can the child learn other subjects if he doesn't know how to read first. So as the primary teacher I was driven to teach reading at 3 until he learned to read at 4. Now he goes off to our book wagon and find books to read on his own. I'm proud to share. That was three years ago.

But what I want to share is that the drive to teach can be on and off. It's not always easy to keep up the enthusiasm. Oh the challenge! But I have learned new things from the past year that has been helping me keep up. One is reading this book Leadership Education by Demille. Homeschooling my children will take more than enthusiasm, creativity, and my own past school knowledge. But I myself should experience learning in order for me to encourage and inspire my kids to love learning. This book I'm recommending, because it's helping me look at learning from a different perspective and for the benefit of my family.  I invite homeschooling moms and dads to read along with me.