Cultivating Childhood

It's time for my annual list of books I've read over the past year.  I only read 33 books this year after reading 59 last year and 36 in 2012 .  It's been a pretty crazy year with all our moving and unsettledness which hasn't left a lot of time for relaxed reading time, but I'm pretty happy with what I did get to read. Phil's been keeping an ongoing list for the last 11 years or so that I'll never catch up to!  Here's what I've read in loosely separated categories. Novels 1. The Songs of Willow Frost by Jamie Ford 2. The Help by Kathryn Stockett 3. The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick 4. Emma's Secret by Steena Holmes 5. When Joy Came to Stay by Karen Kingsbury 6. The Red Tent by Anita Diamant 7. Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery Non-Fiction 8. Touch Magic by Jane Yolen 9. Free-Range Kids by Lenore Skenazy 10. Hints on Child-Training by Trumbull 11. One World Schoolhouse by Salman Khan 12. David and Goliath by Ma...

N's Independent Reading: Jotham's Journey The Dutch Twins by Lucy Fitch Perkins Imagination Station #10-13 Magic Tree House #25-28 Nate the Great History/Social Studies: Hero Tales by Dave and Neta Jackson The People of Thailand by Dolly Brittan Valentines Day: Stories and Poems Saint Valentine by Robert Sabuda The Many Lives of Benjamin Franklin by Aliki A Picture Book of Thomas Jefferson by David Alder Thomas Jefferson Builds a Library by Barbara Rosenstock Buttons for George Washington Those Rebels, John and Tom by Barbara Kerley The Declaration of Independence ill. by Sam Fink Fun Picture Books: Crazy Hair by Niel Gaiman The Origami Master by Nathaniel Lachenmeyer Peek! A Thai Hide-And-Seek by Minfong Ho Tree of Cranes by Allen Say Yoko's Paper Cranes by Rosemary Wells How to Train a Train Science: How Many Teeth? by Paul Showers The Magic School Bus Explores the Senses by Joanna Cole Under Your Skin by Mick Manning Magic School Bus Germs ...

I love having a record of the books that we are using for school.  I sometimes forget by the end of the month all that we've looked at and read especially since many of the books come from the library.  N continues to astound me how much he wants to read.  We spent this month focusing on the events leading up to the American Revolution in history, and we read about weather for science.  In February, we'll be looking at learning about how our bodies work in science and continue learning about early America in history. History : If you lived with the Souix Indians by Ann McGovern If you lived in Colonial America The American Story: 100 True Tales from American History by Jennifer Armstrong (In progress) What's the Big Idea, Ben Franklin by Jean Fritz (book and DVD) Colonial Times by Joy Masoff Liberty Kids (TV Series) - We are really loving this series.  It's perfect for kids, gives more of a perspective of the revolution from both sides, and it is broken...

Well, I'm continuing my new tradition of keeping track of the books that I've read throughout the year.  Last year, I read 36 books.  This year, I read 59!  My goal was to read a book a week, but I was surprised how many more I read.  I did read more novels this year, so that definitely helped. I really enjoyed a new-for-me author, Kate Seredy.  Her book The Chestry Oak  is just fantastic, and I enjoyed The Good Master and it's sequel The Singing Tree as well.  I also read any of the Jane Austen canon that I hadn't read before.  I think that next year, I'll have to reread some of the ones I've read before. I also read a lot of Sally Clarkson's books.  I just love her encouragement for moms.  In February, I get to go to her MomHeart Conference in California that I'm super excited about.  Tim Kimmel's books are also excellent.  I reread his Grace-Based Parenting book this year, and read his new book Grace-Filled Marriage. ...

Fun Picture Books: In November Autumn Harvest Usborne Stories from Around the World by Heather Amery The Wheedle and the Noodle The Greedy Triangle Wolves in the Walls Lots of  Thanksgiving books  and  Christmas  books Science - We've moved into a more unschooling approach for our science this year.  Whatever N or Z is interested in, we quickly head to the library and check out as much as we can about the particular subject.  These months, we've been interested in salmon, volcanoes/rocks, and mushrooms. Salmon Forest Salmon Creek The Magic School Bus Goes Upstream The Salmon by Sabrina Crewe Life Cycle of a Salmon by Angela Royston The Bizarre Life Cycle of a Salmon by Mark Harasymiw What's It Like to be a Fish? Our Earth Kit from the KCLS Library (11 books) The Mushroom Hunt Mushroom Life Cycle Fungi by Steve Parker Let's Go Rock-Collecting Magic School Bus: Inside the Earth Life on Fire (video) History: Sea Clocks James T...

Hey, look!  I'm ahead of the game for a bit.  It's not yet Thanksgiving, but I'm getting an Advent post up!  Of course, this is mostly because I needed to prepare for it in our schooling time, and Advent starts just three days after Thanksgiving.  Yikes! In the past, I've done a lot to prepare for Advent.  In both 2010 and 2011 , I made a daily activity project and Bible reading.  As fun as these were, I'm learning more about how our days go, and I know that we'll be setting ourselves up for failure if I try to do too much.  So this year, I'm planning on just coming up with some things that I'd like to see happen this December and let them fall where they may. Advent Readings and Books For our daily advent readings, we will be reading through Jotham's Journey: A Storybook for Advent .  In the past I've found a lot of other devotionals , and our church usually comes out with one as well.  We also have a few other longer picture books abo...

Thanksgiving is next week, and we've been reading a lot about the Pilgrims to prepare.  We are at the Thanksgiving chapters of our Light and Glory for Children book, but we've been enjoying other things to supplement our learning as well. Chapter Books John Billington: Friend of Squanto by Clyde Robert Bulla I just can't say enough good things about Clyde Robert Bulla.  He writes great historical fiction in easy chapter books that work really well for N to read on his own or for me to read to both boys.  John Billington is a fun look at a life of one Pilgrim boy.  Bulla had also written about the life of Squanto , and I bought the book a couple of months ago.  Unfortunately, I lost it!  Hopefully, I'll find it next week or at least in time for next Thanksgiving! Magic Tree House: Thanksgiving on Thursday by Mary Pope Osborne and it's nonfiction companion Pilgrims by Mary Pope Osborne and Natalie Pope Osborne We are taking a break from reading o...

Also Known As... "What We Are Checking Out at the Library" Picture Books for History: Sitting Bull Remembers by Ann Turner Totem Pole by Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith How Chipmunk Got Tiny Feet by Gerald Hausman Baby Rattlesnake by Te Ata Brother Eagle, Sister Sky by Chief Seattle When Clay Sings by Byrd Baylor (perfect companion to making our clay bowls, but does have some magic stuff in it) The Discovery of Longitude by Joan Galat Encounter by Jane Yolen Follow the Dream by Peter Sis A Picture Book About Christopher Columbus by David A. Alder Picture Books for Music Study: Peter and the Wolf by Peter Malone The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra by Anita Ganeri Meet the Orchestra by Ann Hayes Out and About at the Orchestra by Barbara J. Turner I, Vivaldi by Schefelman Vivaldi's Four Seasons by Anna Harwell Celenza Vivaldi's Ring of Mystery (book on CD) - Classical Kids Vivaldi and the Invisible Orchestra - Stephen Costanza Picture Books f...

Since college, my avid reader of a husband, has kept a list of all the books that he has read/is reading/wants to read.  Although I wish I started a list like that with him almost ten years ago, I figured it is never late than never.  I read 36 books in 2012, and I hope to read many more in 2013! 2012 A Thinking Love * by Sonya Shafer Smooth and Easy Days * by Sonya Shafer Same Kind of Different As Me by Ron Hall - a great memoir that exposes that issues and baggage that poverty bring to both those inside and outside of it A Charlotte Mason Education by Catherine Levison - A helpful primer for understanding the basics of the Charlotte Mason method.  However, many of her links and sources for curriculum are outdated as it was written over ten years ago. Manalive by G.K. Chesterton - This is my husband's favorite book.  It's taken me a long time to read this as I had a hard time getting through the first part.  It really is good though Fast Li...

Every once in a while, I get asked how our preschool is going at home.  I'm not usually sure how to answer that.  We've come a long way from me making up lesson plans each week or even trying to do a little "school" each day.  Part of this is just trying to enjoy the little years with my kids.  Part of it was that it was just too much for mom and kids.  Instead, I now look for the teachable moments in our day.  Things like explaining why it is polite to sit still while eating or not to talk with your mouth full.  Like why it is important to wash your hands after using the bathroom.  Or how to help clean the toilet or " mop " the floor.  Or how to zip a zipper.  Or why it is important to be nice to people and think of them more highly than yourself.  Or why we should pray for the redemption of "bad people". Academics?  Well, there are definitely things we are learning in that regard too, but I don't really plan for them so muc...

I've seen this book on some book lists for a while, and we finally got it from the library.  I'm in love with How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World by Marjorie Priceman.  It is a delightful book that takes you all over the world finding the freshest ingredients for making an apple pie.  It is quite witty, and all four of us are really enjoying it (adults and kids alike!). Of course, you can't read about making an apple pie without making one yourself.  And thankfully, the author kindly provides you with the recipe on the last page. Buddy was my eager helper. Daddy and Button prepped the apples while mommy and Buddy made the crust. We love our apple peeler/corer! The piling on of apples. And of course, there was licking of the cinnamon sugar off the spoon! It was so rich!  What a fun activity for these cold, winter days.

I'm excited that there is a new free e-book by Simply Charlotte Mason !  Sonya Shafer's newest book is called The Way of the Will .   Here is her blog post about it and a brief synopsis from her site: Is your child strong-willed or weak-willed? Charlotte Mason’s thoughts on the matter may surprise you, but they will most certainly help you. As Charlotte said, “Children should be taught to distinguish between ‘I want’ and ‘I will.’ ”  Join Sonya as she explores Charlotte’s helpful ideas and practical tips on the Way of the Will.  Personal —From one mommy’s heart (Sonya’s) to yours. This book is not for your children; it is written for you, to keep you growing and flourishing in your role as a mother.  Encouraging —Practical chapters will both challenge and equip you in your role as a mother.  Christian —As was common in her writings, Charlotte’s comments grew from a strong love for her Savior and respect for God’s Word. Inspiring —More than fifty Charlo...

My Nightstand Can you guess what I've been interested in lately?

Thanksgiving is over, the turkey has been eaten, the tree and lights are up, and the house is mostly decorated.  We had a wonderfully big Thanksgiving with my husband's family.  We are so thankful to live close to them and celebrate with them! Making a Gingerbread House with cousins for one of their birthday parties. More birthday party fun - pinata! Button with his great-grandma at 92! Thanksgiving meal Four of the Hagelberg boys And now, Advent is already upon us!  Today is the first Sunday of Advent, and we are doing our Advent wreath again this year.  Last year, we used our church's handout for our family's time, but this year, I was surprised by how many wonderful and free devotional resources you can find online that can help you with preparing for Christmas.  Here are a few that I found (all are free!): Seattle Union Gospel Mission's Christmas 2011 Devotional They also have a number of other ideas to help the needy on their Acti...

I've already alluded to it, but for the season of Lent, Phil and I have been reading Timothy Keller's newest book, The King's Cross.   I must say that it was powerful.  I came away with a greater sense of who Jesus really is and how significant His death on the cross really was. I wanted to share one passage that was particularly meaningful to me.  Timothy Keller begins one of his early chapters explaining the "dance" of the triune God.  The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit all gave and received perfect love from one another in a sort of dance between three distinct persons in one most holy God.  Keller then goes on to say: Why would a triune God create a world? If he were a unipersonal God, you might say, "Well, he created the world so he can have beings who give him worshipful love, and that would give him joy." But the triune God already had that - and he received love within himself in a far purer, more powerful form than we human beings can e...

I thought it might be fun to start a monthly post to share what books we are enjoying during our cuddle time with Little Buddy.  We usually find a good book or so at the library to read for that week and supplement with a book that contains a lot of shorter stories.  We love this time when it is just us (Button is napping), and it prepares Little Buddy for transitioning to quiet time. We've pretty much finished reading The Complete Tales of Beatrix Potter.   Forever a classic, Miss Potter had a gift telling stories that capture children's imaginations.  Little Buddy especially loved all the Peter Rabbit stories as he was most familiar with the characters.  I did find, though, that he struggled if there were too many words on a page and not enough pictures.  If I mentioned a character or even item that wasn't in the picture, he'd ask where it was on the page.  I think he wasn't quite ready for this level of read-aloud yet.  We'll try again in a y...