Books 1, 2, 3

I have planned out my first 3 books. Wish me luck!

The Great Divorce

Snowflower and the secret fan

Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother

52 books in 52 weeks challenge

Let the reading begin!!!

I can do this

I can do this

I can do this!!!!!!!!

Late school start times

I was just reading in my local paper parents complaining about the early school start times and how tired their children are.

In middle school the bus picks up kids on our block at 7:15 and school starts 7:45. The high school begins at 7:30.

It is now 9:20am and D is sound asleep.

I like the time our school starts.

Reading in bed!!!!!!!!!

For the first time in 11 years, D is reading in bed!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you Harry Potter!!!!!!!!!!!!

Harry Potter

We are reading Harry Potter as our read aloud book. I have read it previously and so has R but D never has.

For homework this weekend they both had to read one chapter. D is sitting in the next room and reading the book and cracking up hysterically.

It makes me feel so good!

So many books, so little time

I donated a huge carton of books to my library for their book sale. I then refilled the same huge carton with books from my bookshelf to trade on paperback swap. Since then the books have been coming and going like crazy.

I have so many books I want D to read. I wish he was like me as a child and read non-stop. Sadly no so I have to settle for 1 hour/day and one read aloud a day with me.

Here's whats waiting to be read-

1. The 39 clues (books 4,5, 6) DONE

2. The Invention of Hugo Cabret DONE

3. Sounder DONE

4. Mrs. frisby and the rats of Nimh DECIDED NOT TO READ

5. The Graveyard book READING VERY SOON

6. The name of this book is secret (series) NOT YET

7. A series of unfortunate events (series) D HATED

8. Mysterious Benedict Society (series) NOT YET

9. The puzzling world of Winston Breen NOT YET

10. Fablehaven NOT YET

11. Redwall NOT YET

12. The sisters grimm NOT YET

13. Joey Pigza READING NEXT

14. When Zachary Beaver came to town DONE

15. Lightning Thief SADLY, NOT YET

16. Peter & the star catchers DONE

17. Million dollar boy NOPE

18. Golden & Grey NOPE

19. Crash NOPE

20. Loser NOPE

21. Maniac Magee NOPE

22. Edge Chronicles

23. Dear Mr. Henshaw

24. Strider

25. The sign of the beaver

26. The whipping boy

27. Wringer

28. My side of the mountain

29. The orphan of ellis island

30. Bud, not Buddy

31. Roll of thunder, hear my cry LOVED!!!

32. The Watsons go to Birmingham LOVED!!!!

33. Carry on Mr. Bowditch

34. Ruby Holler DONE

35. My Rotten Life

Vacations

I need to remember to take vacations.

Not just a day off here and there, but an entire week.

Tomorrow is our last day of vacation. We are all so refreshed. Its so nice. Its going to be like a new start when we go back to school on Monday.

We are doing 5 weeks of school then taking a 2 week break for new puppy. Then we will do another 3 weeks of school (which will count towards next year but don't tell anyone).

I'm going to go refigure our calendar for next year and make sure we take a week off here and there.

Miracle!!!!

He likes to read!!!!!

OMG!!!! I am so excited.

In our house when you finish one book, you immediately start reading another. There is no discussion, its just the way it is.

D began homeschooling in 2nd grade and was a beginning reader. He could read but he was probably behind about 1/2 the kids the same age as him.

Since then reading has been priority #1.

His reading has caught up to where it should be but I would never say he loved to read. He loved the books he reads and talks about them endlessly. But unless I am making him read he will not pick up a book to read (unless it is an atlas, or about ancient egypt, etc).

D just finished reading The Pepins and their Problems and decided to read next book 3 of the 39 Clues. We had begun them but then the library took forever to get the next ones so I went and bought them. But then he was in the middle of other books so we put them aside.

He opens up book 3 and is so excited. We were about to begin math but he could not stop peeking at the book. He finally said he is going to go read and do math when he is done.

I love that child.

Items for sale

Why do people post items for sale that are the same price (or more) than buying them from Amazon.com or directly from the books publisher?

It just seems dishonest to me.

I can never tell if the people do it intentionally or they are really that clueless.

143 days down, 37 to go

I am using 180 days as the basis for our school year. I have no clue what the public school does in our state but I figure I must be in the ballpark.

This year has gone by in a whirl.

I begin every year in a panic that we will not get anything done, there is so much to do, I picked the wrong materials, etc.

In October my daughter decided she wanted to go back to school for high school. Thank goodness she told me then because I was already busy researching high school. She is off to a private school next year and keeping my fingers crossed it goes well. She is ready to fly the coop and be out on her own more. She also does not have a ton of friends at the moment and I am sure this will help her socially.

My son has no intention of ever going back to school. That includes college also. According to him I should homeschool him for college. Um, I don't think so.

I have already begun planning for next year. Its a little bit easier because I will only have 1. Feels kinda weird to say that.