Book Talk Tuesday - The Hobbit, A Wrinkle in Time and The Giver

This past summer (as all summers since we started homeschooling) I have been busy reading for school.  I really like to pre-read the books I am going to have my boys read as school assignments, so that means reading many books over the summer to find those ones that we will be using. 

 

Here are three such books.  I still don't have a definite on all the books we will be using, but the Hobbit is one that is for sure. 

 

From the flap:

"Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable, unambitious life, rarely travelling any further than his pantry or his cellar.  But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard, Gandalf, and a company of dwarves arrive on his doorstep one day to whisk him away on an adventure.  They have a plot to raid the treasure hoard guarded by Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon.  Bilbo is most reluctant to take part in this quest, but he surprises even himself by his resourcefulness and his skill as a burglar!"

I figured it was high time for me to read a book that was considered a "classic".  With the movie coming out, I wanted my boys to read it, then we would let them see it in December....maybe, provided it was rated appropriately to our family standards.

I struggled the whole way through this book.

I don't read books like this often, and when I do, I take a long time to read them as the language is not at all the type I am used to.  This excited me.  I want to stretch my brain and gather books like this and read them all.

I love the descriptive way Tolkien writes.  He describes things so vividly and totally different than normal so you have a whole new take on the thing he is describing.

I think, with the difficult language in the book, that this would be more appropriate for older readers.  (Grade 6 or so?) There are some rather large words, and if your child is used to reading today's literature, some difficult passages.  I think that both girls and boys would enjoy the adventure though.

From the back of the book:

"It was a dark and story night.  Out of this wild night, a strange visitor comes to the Murry house and beckons Meg, her brother Charles Wallace, and their friend Calvin O'Keefe on a most dangerous and extraordinary adventure-one that will threaten their lives and our universe."

Again, this book is written in a different style that I am not used to.  I loved it.

The thing I loved the most about the book is the blatant reference to Jesus, God, and Satan.  The "good" things are attributed to God and the "bad, black" things are Satan's. 

I even found reference to the war in heaven.  Satan wants to take away the agency of the world he occupies and will make a perfect world where everyone is totally free of making choices.  He says they are all happy. 

I thought that it was interesting for an author to so blatantly add her religious views in a book.  That happens rarely and it was exciting for me to find.

The writing style is a bit more difficult than regular books, but a little easier than the Hobbit above.  I would say this would be for an experienced reader and older.  (Grade 4 and up?)   I think that both boys and girls would enjoy this adventure.

From the back of the book:

"Jonas's world is perfect.  Everything is under control.  There is not war or fear or pain.  There are not choices.  Every person is assigned a role in the Community. 
When Jonas turns twelve, he is singles out to receive special training from The Giver.  The Giver alone holds the memories of the true pain and pleasure of life.  Now it's time for Jonas to receive the truth.  There is no turning back."

This was an interesting read. 

I found that many of the more popular distopian novels that are cropping out seemed to have taken many of their ideals for their new societies from this book, but that is where the similarity ends.  While things are different here, the violence in today's books is lacking in this one.  That made me happy.

I have been trying to find a book like this for a while that I can let my children read, that produces discussion such as this, and I think I may have found it. 

I was also thankful that I didn't have to read so much of the garbage that is in today's novels. 

I think that because of the issues in this short novel, you would want a more mature reader.  I am thinking around Grade 6 for age appropriateness.  I also think that although the main character is male, both boys and girls would enjoy this book.

I would love to hear about your opinions.  Have you read any of these books?  What did you think of them.  Apparently they are rather controversial and are on some lists of books not to read.  What did you think of them?

Cheers

Links and Lists - Back to School

We all know that no matter how you school, it is the time right now to start gearing up for another year of it.

 

Today I thought I would share my favorite resources that homeschoolers and public schoolers could enjoy for supplemental in different subjects.

Starfall is a great place for emerging readers to start. 

Zac Browser is amazing.  It is a web browser that was developed with autistic children in mind, but it gives all children a safe place to browse the internet.

The Ultimate List of Online Music Activties is a large list of music enrichment things to access.

Have you ever had your child ask you about something and they want to learn more?  "Mom, what is paper made of?"  and your simple answer of trees is just not good enough...This is a list of Unit studies that will make answering those questions a bit easier.

And if unit studies are not your thing, Teacher Tube has videos.

And if you don't want videos, a virtual field trip might be the answer.

OR you might want an app to enhance your stuff.  I personally LOVE my iPad for that.  There are so many interesting apps you can download, even for free!

Sometimes you need to help with handwriting.  This cool tool lets you type in word and choose the way you want it to work.  It then generates a sheet for your child to trace.

If you have a high schooler (and *gasp* that is me as my son is doing Grades 8 and 9 this year...Where did my baby go??!) there might be some extra reading you want them to do.  This list is an excellent resource.

Pinterest is taking the teacher world, and pretty much every world, by storm.  I have boards on pretty much everything.  (Please follow me...I would love to connect there as well, or if you need an invite, let me know and I will pass one on.)  Here is an idea I am going to adapt for lots of things.  I can do this for meal planning, farm planning, garden planning, school planning and so much more!  What a great idea.

I would love to know your favorite places/links to visit for school helps.  Pass them on in the comments or feel free to email me!  I hope that back to school is less stressful, and more exciting this year than any year previous!

Cheers

Book Talk Tuesday - The Humming Room

Roo hides.  When her parents are killed, Roo is hiding and she thinks that is what saved her.

Roo hears the earth.  During the quiet of her hiding she puts her ear to the earth and can hear the life inside.

Roo is friendless.  Being the kind of girl she is, she does not attract friends.

Roo finds out that she has a wealthy uncle who lives on an island in the middle of nowhere.  That is when her life changes for the better.

This book is inspired by The Secret Garden.  I could see shades of it inside but those who haven't, won't.

Being a really short book, it only took me a couple hours to read.  (and my oldest read it in almost the same amount of time)  It is a really easy read too.  It is very well written for the younger crowd, but still appeals to the older pre-teen/early young adults.

There is a cute little romantic side story, a thread of loving your difficult relations, a finding yourself through hard work and coming out of your shell, and a finding your joy and life.  So many different issues are addressed and worked into the story.

Although by the middle of the book, the story lines of the two books seem to be pretty much the same, this is a great book.  If you have read both, you will probably find this one to be rather predictable, but if you are starting off your children on a book with language a little easier to read and working your way up to The Secret Garden, this is a great place to start.  (although, I think it is great either way)

I think it would appeal to both boys and girls and probably Grade 4 to about Grade 8. (at the top end of the spectrum)  ...or even their mothers!

Cheers

Book Talk Tuesday - Shadow

When walking through the library the other day, we saw this book and it helped me remember doing an exercise once when I was a young girl in school.

The book is full of illustrations and you make up the story.  On one side of the book is an illustration of what this little girl is doing, and on the other is a wonderful shadow world. 

Eventually that shadow world ends up leaking into her real world and she even changes places to go play in the made up world.

I thought it would be fun to make our own shadow world things.

First we needed a blank piece of paper folded length wise.

Then we wrote our name on the fold (if you do it in cursive it is even more fun...but my baby only knows how to print so we did printing) and traced an outline around our letters.

Then cut out along that outline and open your shape up.

Inside you draw a creature of some sort.  Be creative.

After you are done, admire your creativity and go play with your shadow creatures.

I love how fun this was and how perfectly it went along with the shadow book.

Cheers

Book Talk Tuesday - King Bidgood's in the Bathtub

One of my very favorite books growing up was King Bidgood's in the Bathtub.

I probably drove my Mom nuts listening to it over and over and over and over...

I found out that I had done a really large disservice to my poor baby and hadn't read this treasure to him.  I had to rectify that immediately.  We discovered a mutual love all over again.

You can get just the book, but if you get the chance grab the CD.



The story goes that the king is in the bathtub and he will not get out.

A few people try some great ideas (the queen wants to lunch, the duke wants to fish, etc) but he just will not get out of the tub.

The poor page has to keep up with all the stuff the king keeps doing and finally gets fed up and pulls the plug.

Glub,
Glub,
Glub.

The songs are super catchy and fun.  The story is very cleverly illustrated and really enjoyable to read.  We love the book here.

Cheers

Summer Fun Reading Chart

Last year I saw a really cute little "bingo" type reading chart on a friend's blog.  She always has amazing ideas and I love her virtual space. (if you click on the bingo link she also has a great list of books) 

My boys did the reading chart and were all pleased with the new books they discovered.

This year as I was sort of loosely planning what we were going to do this summer, I asked my boys what they enjoyed most last year.  Of course they mentioned our Summer Fun Chart (which seems to look a little different each year!) and then they surprised me and said the summer reading chart.  Then they surprised me further and asked for another only with MORE books on it!  Knock me over with a feather!

This year I thought I would share with you what we are doing for our chart.  (and here is the chart just for you if you want it for your kids, just click on it for a bigger version)

There are 50 different words or phrases on this chart. 

The deal here is that they must cross off the ones they read.  For example, if they read a book like "The Red Pyramid" by Rick Riordan, there are a few things they could cross off.  Pyramids, A Boy Hero, A Girl Hero, Action/Adventure, just to name a few.  The trick is that they have to cross it off on their own.  They can not ask me what I think the book is about.

They must eventually cross off all 50. 

I am letting them do this from Mid-June until the end of September.  Then I will let them pick a large prize if all three boys complete their charts.  Last year they were trying to earn a trampoline but one of them didn't finish his.  I extended the deadline and made it so they could cross off multiples for each book.  Hopefully they can all complete their charts.

I hope your kids enjoy it.  I tried to make it friendly for both girls and boys and to make it all age friendly so your elementary and your high school children could all use it.  (of course rules could be changed for each age group as well)

Rules could change for your family too.  If you want to have the complete 20 or something, or choose to have all the blue colored words...the choices are endless.  You don't have to reward your kids either.  Make it work for you.

Please let me know if your children enjoy it.  I would love your feedback.

Cheers

Update...Black and White Version is here

Teaching English

One of the things I struggle with in Homeschooling is coming up with really good ideas.

I pin stuff like crazy, and use some of the ideas, but sometimes there isn't anything out there that I like or can use with the type of learners I have.

My baby is in Grade One.  He is just learning how to read and loves it.  He HATES printing though. 

Just in case you have one like that, (I really hope I am not the only one!) I thought I would show you something that we are doing that he enjoys.

First, I write him a silly little story using some of the words he has practiced.  (I use the Dolche Sight Words up to Grade Two right now)

Then he reads his silly story to me, and copy's it out below each line.

After much grunting and groaning, and singing of songs, he finally finishes and grabs a piece of paper.  We use blank paper for this.  We divide it into 4 sections on each side and write the little "action" segments in each one.  (eg.  "OK I am going to make some red eggs" goes in one section)

Then he draws me a picture of the little bit of action that is on the section.

This has been great for learning the progress of things happening, thinking of how things could be represented in picture, and encouraging him to write.  It makes for a fun little activity as a "reward" to his dreaded printing!

Cheers

More Mark Twain

Here are a couple more quotes from Mark Twian that I thought were clever: (the first post is here)

"The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and lightning bug."

"The time to begin writing an article is when you have finished it to your satisfaction.  By that time you begin to clearly and logically perceive what it is you really want to say."

"The rule is perfect: in all matters of opinion our adversaries are insane."

"The radical of one century is the conservative of the next.  The radical invents the views.  When he has worn them out, the conservative adopts them."

"The fear of death follows from the fear of life.  A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time."

"Life would be infinatly happier if we could only be born at the age of eighty and gradually approach eighteen."

"It usually take me more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech."

Maybe you can use these in your school...or just mull them over.  Either way, enjoy.

Cheers

Writing With Mark Twain

Last month while at the dollar store, I picked up some really cheap "page a day" calenders.  One of them was all quotes from Mark Twain.

I love how witty he was.

I enjoy reading each of them each day, but as I tear them off I am a little sad I can't remember some of the more clever ones, so I decided to add a bit of variety to our daily cursive practice (and for my baby, just printing) we would write out some of the more humerous or witty ones.

Here are a couple of the ones we have done so far.  We have enjoyed them, maybe you will as well.

"The first half of life consists of the capacity to enjoy without the chance; the last half consists of the chance without the capacity."

"Procrastination - Never put off until tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow."

"Be good and you will be lonesome."

"Go to Heaven for the climate, Hell for the company."

"It is curious that physical courage should be so common in the world and moral courage so rare."

"Giving up smoking is the easiest thing in the world.  I know because I have done it thousands of times."

"Don't tell fish stories where the people know you; but particularly, don't tell them where they know the fish."

Cheers

My Favorite Apps

I love our iPad. 

We are so lucky here in Alberta because we have funding to use for school.  Last year we used some of our funding to buy an iPad and we have been using it ever since.

Just in case you have one you love and want to find a new app or two, I thought I would make a list.  Or you are getting one for Christmas...or iTunes money...

English

Verses Poetry

We love this one.  You get a whole selection of words and you make poems with them.  You can change them up, make them easy, or add words.  Great for practice.  (and no one grades you on your creativity)

Word Abacus

We love how you have to make words on a cool abacus.  I must admit that this is one of dh favorites.  He plays it more than anyone else in our house. 

You get a whole abacus full of letters and you must make words by using the letters adjacent, linking all of them.  Excellent game.

Bananagrams

Classic game, only on the iPad.  My oldest plays this often.  He loves Scrabble and Pick Two, so this is right up his word game alley.

You get a pile of tiles to make crosswords type puzzles with, adding letters as you run out.  When your pile is empty you are a winner!

Textropolis and Fishtropolis

I must admit that when this popped up as a free app, I was rather snobbish and I didn't download it for a couple weeks.  It was a persistent little app and so I finally figured if it sucked I would trash it.

It doesn't suck.

These are our families favorite apps right now.  My youngest is even able to play a bit.  He can pick out a few words and move on to another.  You must make as many words as you can out of the base word.  There are some words that I have never heard, but luckily they define them after you get them!  Great vocab builder for kids.

Word Bingo

This is one I downloaded for my youngest.  There are pre-K words and up.  He is getting really good at reading his sight words so this is a hit.  There are a couple different games that as you complete them you get a "bingo bug".  Later you can go play with your bingo bugs.  They can be shot at words or just tickled to give you little giggles and fun sounds.

Chicktionary

I admit it.  We really are suckers for word games.

This is much like scrabble in that you have a few letters you have to make as many words as you can out of them.  There are a couple ways to play (speed or just find them all) and we enjoy both.  There are a bunch you get for free then if you want more the next packs are pretty reasonable prices.  (I think $1.99)

Math

Drill-San

I love this one for my boys.  You can set the level, the number of questions and what they are doing (multiplication, division, addition, subtraction) then they do them.  After you can see how they did.  It tells you how long it took, how many they got wrong or right, and what percentage that is.

Math Bingo

Another one we enjoy is math bingo.  Just like the word bingo above, this one has a few different games to play.  After you do them you earn bingo bugs to play additional games with.

I think my favorite part of this one is that it looks like a game, but it is really a drill!  :)  Even my youngest can play this one.

Rocket Math
We enjoy the drills that look like games.  :)

This one uses incentives like rocket money.  You have to answer questions to earn money then  you can make a rocket.  Some of them are pretty fun (like a phone booth, a school bus and others).  Then you can see how far your rocket will go by answering more questions. 

History/World Awareness

50 Places of a Lifetime (National Geographic)

This one has some AMAZING photography.  We use it often.  We enjoy using it for the information it contains (there are photos, videos, and written articles). 

Flags of the World and National Geographic GeoBee

Both of these apps are wonderful for the information they contain.  They both have quizzes that are like games so that you are learning and having fun at the same time. 

The flags one has lots of info on each country and flag.

The GeoBee works you up level by level and gets harder and harder as you go.  I enjoy the challenge if presents.  It is slanted to US though,  (so those of us that don't actually live there know ahead of time) with many questions about states and history.

Misc Apps For The Younger Set

How to Draw

This is a fun little drawing program.  It takes you step by step through the process of drawing simple things like a dog, cat and dinosaur.

My youngest likes it best because it is geared towards really young kids who are just starting out.  It is even narrated by young children.

Moody Monster

Apparently this is a program on TV?  Not having TV makes us ignorant to that, so if your littles like moody monster, this will be a hit. 

There are different games in here that you match, make up different things and answer questions.  It is a great pre-K or K game.

Super Why

Also a program I guess...who knew?!

This one has 4 fun games on it.  Rhyming, fixing a story, spelling and hunting letters.  Great game for the younger kids.  This is the app that helped my youngest finally understand rhyming.  For the longest time he would think that the words that STARTED the same rhymed.  Now he understands.

Misc Apps That we Love

BrainPop

Super fun (and educational) app.  There is a featured movie you can watch everyday.  It is always informational and fun.  After watching you can answer questions.  (or not)

There are a few movies each day you can see.  I think it is about a weeks worth. 

All my boys love to watch it.  The youngest still doesn't answer the questions but it is amazing what he retains from the information he hears.

Weird but True

Who doesn't love the books?! 

My boys love this app because of the information (which is funny) and the animations (which are really funny). 

My youngest especially loves the animation that says "That's Weird".

Triazzle

Ok, I added this one because it is my favorite one.  Have you ever put together the three sided puzzles?  This is it only as an app.

I love to figure them out, and it is nice to have the little animations to tell me when I have it right!

Where's my Water?

Love Swampy.

He is a little guy that all he wants is to get clean.  He doesn't want any poison in his bath though because he is unlike others, he likes clean water.

These are fun and rather addictive puzzles. 

You need to get all three ducks, avoid poison, bombs and other obstacles.  Our whole family enjoys this little app.  (and the animations are awesome!)

Spikey

This is another one we just play for fun.  Spikey sticks into everything.  He wants to free all the butterflies but he keeps getting stuck.  You have to shoot him to smash all the jars to free the trapped butterflies.

Little Things

I love the I Spy books.  Well, we all do in my family.

This is a game like the I Spy's.  You have a big photo that you have to find little photos in.  It gets harder are you figure them out. 

This is great fun for all my kids.  (and me when they are in bed!)

Fruit Ninja

Who doesn't like chopping up fruit and wishes to be a ninja?!  That's all I have to say.

World of Goo

I actually held off buying this app for a year. 

I am not a big fan of some of the other big grossing apps, and this has been on the top charts for a long time, but I finally caved and bought it.

It is a great little app.

You have to help the goo balls reach the collection tubes.  You have to be really careful though because if you build a shaky tower, it falls.  You build bridges and towers and various other methods of transportation for your little goo balls.

My youngest is in love with this game. 

Pixlr O Matic

Love this one.

You upload your photos (or if you are in the lucky few who got an iPad2, just take a photo with your built in camera) and apply different things to them.

You can make them black and white, sepia, old fashioned, change the colors, add different extras to them...and more.

Great fun similar to photoshop. 

My two oldest really get a kick out of changing their pictures with it.

Well, that's it for now.  I hope that you might find something that you can enjoy from our list.  We sure have fun with ours.  How about you?  What are your favorite apps?

Cheers