Summer Reading

Summer Dreams?  Visions of Books floating in their heads?  

Yup. That's what my kids envision. Well, not exactly like that, but they are eager to be off for the summer.  What child isn't? Homeschooled or not?  For the past 6 years Homeschooling, I stick to a rigorous schedule of lessons.  We even volunteer at our local library and teach art and love everything homeschool has to offer.  The last two years we have worked through summer, just leisurely, instead of doing workbooks or the Summer Bridge Program like most do (I highly recommend these books), we just do Math and Langauge and hope to be caught up by August or September.   

Most Homeschoolers are not "caught up" and they usually (like us) continue to go through the summer.  For those of you Super Moms out there who are done, Congratulations!!!

So, even though my children will still be working through the summer, we have one activity that we Love, Love, Love to do.  That is Reading!!! 

 We love to read!  All year long my children participate in a local library club where they read a book once a month and then collaborate with others on the book.  I used to dread having to pay $20.00 or more for two books, but the library offers some really cool books to lend the children, although they don't get to keep them.  Good Heavens!! My book shelf is overflowing so I count it as a blessing.  

Today, we kick off our Summer Reading.  We have a log I created, a sticker poster I will be putting up soon and numerous books we had laying around the house that the kids have not yet read.  I'm a stickler for books, so every time I head to my local education store, I always pick up a book for the kids.  Here are some books I recommend every child should read

• The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis
• The Indian and the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks
• Ghost Dog Secrets by Peg Kehret
• Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Patterson (Motion Picture Available)
• The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan (Book Number 1 in the Series)
• Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo (Newberry Honor Book)
• The Tiger Rising by Kate DiCamillo (National Book Award Finalist)
• Charlotte's Web by E.B. White (Motion Picture Available)
• The Barrier Reef by Carole Marsh (Includes 5 SAT words, Series of Books)
• All Kinds of Animals by Abeka Books (Reading Comprehension lessons included)

Emily closing her eyes , trying to pick out a book. 

Shes' a Hoot!!!

This is what our Log for the Summer Looks like. 

Free Reading Programs in the Austin/Leander Area

Half Price Books kicks off their Summer Reading Program June 02, 2013

Stop by and pick up a log, read for at least 15 minutes a day and get Bookworm Bucks

Barnes and Noble

Kids Earn a Free Book when they read any 8 books

Leander Public Library

Summer Reading Club 2013

Dig Into Reading Summer Program

Kid's Book Club & Junior High Book Club

Participate in a discussion about a different book each month!

E-mail Janki at jmakecha@leander.lib.tx.us for more details or to sign-up!

Cedar Park Public Library

Summer Reading Club 2013
June 10th to August 2nd!
The Cedar Park Public Library, in conjunction with the Texas State Library, is proud to present the 2013 Summer Reading Clubs: “Dig Into Reading” for kids, “Beneath the Surface” for teens, and “Groundbreaking Reads” for adults.

Summer Bridge Activity Program

Summer Bridge Program at Kaleidoscope Toys

        110 North IH35

          Ste 375

            Round Rock TX  78681 

 Mon-Sat: 10:00am -  7:00pm Sunday: 12:00pm - 5:00pm

     

"Here’s the Deal"

1. Purchase the age appropriate Summer Bridge book at Kaleidoscope Toys for your child

2. After they finish their book cover to cover (excluding the bonus pages), they may pick any TOY up to a $50 value and get 50% off – WOW!

3. Completed cover to cover for a 50% discount. Miss one page and get a 25% discount.

4. The child must complete all the work in the book.

5. Cannot be combined with any other offers. Instock items only.

7. Your child must redeem the completed book by 8/24/13 

Be Sure to check out your Local Library and the area in which you live for great Summer Reading!!!

Until Next Time, 

Eat Organic!

Eat Gluten-Free!, 

Jennifer

My new found love for Lapbooks.

It's Saturday. Way too hot to take the kids out to play, but a perfect time to stay indoors.  Instead of having the kids sit in front of the TV all day, you can do something fun and educational.  My 16 year old is notorious for sitting in front of the TV all day watching football.  The little ones don't watch TV much because we spend the majority of our days doing school work.

For about $5.00, this covers the file folders, glue sticks and copies, you can make a lapbook.  The file folders I purchased were 50% off so I basically spend $3.49 on the 8 file folders.  I downloaded the free file online, sent it to my local fed-ex (they know me by name) and printed out one set.  I then made additional copies at a local print shop.  If you have a printer at home, you can print it out. Since I made more than 200 copies for my homeschool co-op, the copies came out to about 5 cents each. The Teacher one (mine) is in color, but you don't have to print it out in color. The kids copies were in black and white and although not as colorful, I had the kids color in the words and the flaps for the color tabs.  Below you will see what I used, the final lapbook and the file folders I purchased.
Before I ventured in this wonderful educational tool, I would look at lapbooks and think, "All that fancy work, that looks too hard, only skilled mother's could do this!  But, I found out that anyone can create a Lapbook.  What a great way for my kids to learn!

Here's the link for a free Lapbook

www.homeschoolshare.com/spanish.php

For our end of the year study on Rome, the kids created a Lapbook about Rome and it's History. 

Here's the link for Rome Lapbook

http://www.homeschoolshare.com/ancient_rome.php

Educational Warning: A Lapbook takes time. Don't be surprised if you spend 2 or more hours having fun creating these.  Weekends are the best for creating these. And Summer will be here soon!

Until Next Time, 

Eat Organic!

Eat Gluten-Free!

Jennifer

Send Me, I'll Go!!!

There's this one song on my play list that gets me going.  I'm sure everyone has that one song that just gets them pumped up to do something.

Music.  Music is MY LIFE.  

Music is more than my life, it is something that helps me enjoy my life.

I remember those Saturdays as a kid when our backyard was filled with Mexican music, barbecue and everyone just sitting around in the hot sun enjoying the day.  These are the days I miss. The fellowship.  The talking. The times where we would just be who God created us to be.  No judging. Well sometimes the occasional argument, but we Loved each other no matter what.  The kids would be getting into the kiddie pool thinking it was the greatest thing in the world.  Life was Simple.  We ate plenty on Saturday and Sunday and we were thankful for beans and rice Monday through Friday. 

We weren't Rich, neither Poor, we were Alright. 

 We enjoyed life. We enjoyed music. We enjoyed one another. 

 Times are a Changing and we need to make the most of them.  In fact in the Bible it states that our days are numbered. We toil on this earth and never truly get to see the fruits of our labor.  Do you just work and never rest?  Do you take a day off  to enjoy a good meal with a loved one?   What about time for others?  The other day I enjoyed a good cup of coffee with a friend that just needed some advice.  It wasn't for me, but I made time for her.  Do you make time to just make someone else happy?  It doesn't take much.  $2.00 is what I spent that day, but I created a friendship that is priceless.  

Make time for those who are dear to you.  Grandparents need extra love.  Husbands and wives need to go on dates every once in a while to ignite that spark again.  Don't just live your life doing!

Enjoy it!!  For God created it and it was GOOD.  Now, go enjoy your day!!!

Send Me, I'll Go! Send Me, I'll Go! Send Me, I'll Go! Let Me Go!!!

(Lecrae, Send Me. From the Album, After the Music Stops)


Until Next Time, 
Eat Organic!!
Eat Gluten Free!!
Jennifer