Teaching From Rest by Sarah Mackenzie

 Welcome to week 21 of Blogging Through the Alphabet 2021. I can't believe there are only six weeks left in this round.  Today my co-host Desiree is sharing T is for Tensegrity over at Our Homeschool Notebook.

As a veteran homeschooling mom I was feeling very burnt out a couple of years ago. A homeschool friend blessed me with a copy of the first edition of Teaching from Rest A Homeschooler's Guide to Unshakable Peace by Sarah Mackenzie. I came away feeling refreshed and renewed.  I added it to my Audible play list in which Sarah reads the book to her audience. Each time I spend listening to a portion I feel a sense of ease in my homeschooling journey.  Sarah has encouraged me in a deep abiding way. Her conversational tone is a balm to all home educating Mom's the world over. I have learnt so much from Sarah about living and teaching from a state of rest and what it truly means to do so. This book is empowering.

Teaching From Rest

A Homeschooler's Guide to Unshakable Peace

Second Edition

• Author: Sarah Mackenzie
• Pages: 112
• Language: English
• ISBN 1600512879
• Available in paperback and Kindle

Contents:

Introduction: I Shouldn't Have Written This Book 

Before You Read This Book 

Part One: Whose "Well Done" Are You Working For?

• The Cake Under The Couch 
• Why Your Daily Grind Is Holy Ground
• Bring Your Basket

Part Two: Curriculum Is Not Something You Buy

• How to Simplify the Curriculum
• How to Simplify the Schedule
• The Right Thing at the Right Time 

Part Three: Be Who You Are!

• The Truth about You
• The Truth about Them
• Walking on Water

Afterword

Resources

Teaching from Rest Companion Journal and Audio Collection

Recommended Resources

Bibliography

About the Author

What book has greatly impacted you on your homeschooling journey?

Chareen

Find the other ABC posts in this series here:

1. A is for Art Lessons at Home
2. B is for Books Where do You Purchase Yours? 
3. Charlotte Mason a Round Up of Posts 
4. Delight Directed Education
5. Encouragement for Weary Homeschooling Mothers
6. For the Children's Sake  
7. G is for Geography
8. Homeschool Bloggers  
9. Instagramers to follow who are homeschooling
10. Joy in Your Homeschool Journey
11. Know Yourself - Stop the Comparison Game  
12. Life Skills in Your Homeschool
13. Math Resource for Home Education
14. Netflix in Your Homeschool
15. Olympics 2021
16. P is for Podcasts  
17. Quintessentially Homeschool
    
18. Read-A-Loud in Your Homeschool
19. Science in Your Homeschool
20. Teaching From Rest by Sarah Mackenzie 

Featured from last week the letter P...

• S is for Sea and S is for States (board games) over at Our Homeschool Notebook 
  
• Quilter ~ (composers ABC) from At Home: Where Life Happens
• Letter S Homeschool Tips from Homeschooling Highway 
• Discovering the "S" rabbits of the world of the World over At Home Pets.
• Shelving Baby Rabbits and S is for Skating over at A Net in Time.

This Week over at Our Homeschool Notebook the topic is T is for Tensegrity 

 

Please link up your posts starting with the letter T for this weeks ABC Blogging

Read-A-Loud in your Homeschool

 Reading out loud is one of the biggest gifts I received as a homeschooler.  I have the most precious memories of cuddling on the couch with my young children working our way together through our latest story. I was thrilled to find a move called Read Aloud Revival by Sarah M.  She also host an amazing Read-Aloud podcast to encourage you.

"Every child ought to know the pleasure of words so well chosen that they awaken sensibility, great emotions, and understanding of truth "- Gladys Hunt

Over the years here on the blog I have shared numerous of our favourite read out loud books under

•  the Tuesday's Treasures tag I always feel nostalgic when I browse through these selections.
• 5 Days of Australian Literature
• 5 Days of Picture Books
• 3 Books on Aspergers Syndrome
• Our Top six Favourite Chapter Read A Loud
• Our 10 Favourite Caldecott Medal Books
  
• 13 Books to Read at Christmas

What's my all time Favourite Read A Loud ?

Oh my I have a few that have really impacted me.  I think top of the list would be Carry On Mr Bowditch. I so enjoyed this read aloud from Sonlight that I took out our encyclopedia to research him and all it had was a few lines with a reference to this book as the definitive work on the man.

Help where do I start finding great books to read out loud to my family?

• Sonlight Catalogue 
• Honey for a Child's Heart by Gladys Hunt
• A comprehensive list of Books We have Enjoyed
• Book List Resources I have used.
• Read-Aloud Revival Booklists

A side note on Learning to read: 

While reading out loud to our children is important as it imparts so many linguistic skills to our children.  One of the most often asked questions is how to teach children to read or why is my child still not able to read?! There are multiple factors that influence your children's ability to learn to read. I wrote a mini five part series on this a few years ago.

The series is not about the different methods used to teach reading but rather about some of the factors that influence a students ability to learn to read.  

• Factors influencing Learning to Read - part 1
• Factors influencing Learning to Read - part 2 
• Factors influencing Learning to Read - part 3
• Factors influencing Learning to Read - part 4
• Factors influencing Learning to Read - part 5

What are some of YOUR favourite Read-A-Louds ? 

Chareen

Find the other ABC posts in this series here:

1. A is for Art Lessons at Home
2. B is for Books Where do You Purchase Yours? 
3. Charlotte Mason a Round Up of Posts 
4. Delight Directed Education
5. Encouragement for Weary Homeschooling Mothers
6. For the Children's Sake  
7. G is for Geography
8. Homeschool Bloggers  
9. Instagramers to follow who are homeschooling
10. Joy in Your Homeschool Journey
11. Know Yourself - Stop the Comparison Game  
12. Life Skills in Your Homeschool
13. Math Resource for Home Education
14. Netflix in Your Homeschool
15. Olympics 2021
16. P is for Podcasts  
17. Quintessentially Homeschool
    
18. Read-A-Loud in Your Homeschool

Featured from last week the letter Q...

• Q is for quit and Q is for Qwirkle over at Our Homeschool Notebook 
  
• Quilter ~ (composers ABC) from At Home: Where Life Happens
• Letter Q Homeschool Tips from Homeschooling Highway 

This Week over at Our Homeschool Notebook the topic is R is for Race Cars 

 

Please link up your posts starting with the letter R for this weeks ABC Blogging

The Singing Tree by Kate Seredy

 Earlier this year I read The Good Master by Kate Seredy. Nathaniel is working his way through Sonlight Curriculum and I discovered they had included the sequal The Singing Tree.

The Singing Tree

• Format Paperback | 256 pages 
• Dimensions 129 x 197 x 17mm | 193g 
• Publisher Penguin Putnam Inc 
• Language English Edition 
• ISBN10 0140345434 
• ISBN13 9780140345438
  

From Book Depository -  "Life on the Hungarian plains is changing quickly for Jancsi and his cousin Kate. Father has given Jancsi permission to be in charge of his own herd, and Kate has begun to think about going to dances. Jancsi hardly even recognizes Kate when she appears at Peter and Mari's wedding wearing nearly as many petticoats as the older girls wear. And Jancsi himself, astride his prized horse, doesn't seem to Kate to be quite so boyish anymore. Then, when Hungary must send troops to fight in the Great War and Jancsi's father is called to battle, the two cousins must grow up all the sooner in order to take care of the farm and all the relatives, Russian soldiers, and German war orphans who take refuge there." 

My Thoughts - I loved reading about the growth of the characters and how Jancsi father still looked after the family through his letters even though he was conscripted to the war. 

 

I was deeply touched by how the family took in many many strangers from the Russian soldiers who helped keep the farm running to the german orphans who came to be fed as well as all the local families who came to the farm for a chance at physical and emotional healing. 

 

Kate Seredy takes you on a journey through how the war had an effect on every single facet of life from the animals in the wild, the residents on the farms to the store keepers and town residents even though there were no physical shots fired in their area. They lived with the ravages of war. The book is sprinkled with beautiful illustrations by the author.   

 

The Good Master was published in 1935 and it's sequel The Singing Tree was published in 1939.

What are some books you would recommend to read about this time period?

Blessings

Chareen ♥

Beverly Cleary her first book - Henry Huggins

I was deeply sadened to hear about the passing of beloved children's book author Beverley Cleary this past weekend.  I first encountered her writing when reading out loud to my children when we first started Sonlight* and were reading Henry Huggins together which is a part of their  Intro to World History Year 1.

Henry Huggins by Beverly Cleary

• Format Paperback | 155 pages 
• Dimensions 127 x 190 x 15.24mm | 113g 
• Publisher HarperCollins Publishers Inc
• Language English Edition Statement 50th ed. 
• ISBN10 0380709120 
• ISBN13 9780380709120
  

 From Book Depository - "Just as Henry Huggins is complaining that nothing exciting ever happens, a friendly dog sits down beside him and looks pleadingly at his ice-cream cone. From that moment on, the two are inseparable. But when Ribsy's original owner appears, trying to reclaim his dog, Henry's faced with the possibility of losing his new best friend. Has Klickitat Street seen the last of rambunctious Ribsy?"

My Thoughts - From the first page we were hooked.  We loved every moment of being introduced to Henry and Ribsy.  We laughed at his antics we learned from his love of life and together they introduced us to the joys of homeschooling.

 

Henry and Ribsy by Beverly Cleary

• Format Paperback | 208 pages 
• Dimensions 127 x 188 x 15mm | 136g 
• Publisher HarperCollins Publishers Inc 
• anguage English Edition 
• ISBN10 0380709171 
• ISBN13 9780380709175
  

 From Book Depository - "In this humorous and heartfelt novel from Newbery Medal-winning author Beverly Cleary, the bond between a boy and his dog proves strong, as Henry vows to stick up for Ribsy...even if he is a trouble-maker!

From the first moment Henry found Ribsy, the curious mutt was poking his nose into things he shouldn't be. Whether terrorizing the garbage man, chasing cats, or gobbling Ramona Quimby's ice-cream cone, Henry's four-legged pal has walked himself into one problem too many. So when Henry asks his dad if he can go along on the big fishing trip, Mr. Huggins agrees, but on one condition: Ribsy must stay out of mischief for two whole months. Henry is confident in his loyal dog...until Ribsy goes overboard with his appetite for chaos...literally!"

My Thoughts -  This book had us laughing together and bonding as a family.  I loved being snuggled together with my children reading out loud about Ribsy's antics.  I couldn't wait to be reaquainted with the characters for the second round with Nathaniel.   

Here are a few other titles we enjoyed together by Beverley Cleary

• Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective
• The Henry and Ribsy Box Set : Henry Huggins, Henry and Ribsy, Ribsy
• Ralph S.Mouse
• Beezus and Romona - 
• Henry Huggins -
  

About the Author

Beverly Cleary died at age 104 on Sunday 25 March 2021. She shared her Oregon childhood memories through her colourful characters like Ramona and Beezus Quimby and Henry Huggins.

She was born in 1916. She served as a children's librarian. Her first book Henry Huggins was published in 1950 and was the first in a series of fictional chapter books about Henry , his dog Ribsy, his neighborhood friend Beezus and her little sister Ramona.  She based the characters on people living ordinary lives and her own childhood experiences and the neighborhood growing up. 

She has been awarded multiple awards for her writing, there is a statue of Ramona Quimby in Grant Park and the Beverly Cleary School.

She was named a Living Legened in 2000 by the Library of Congress.

"I believe in that 'missionary spirit' among children's librarians. Kids deserve books of literary quality, and librarians are so important in encouraging them to read and selecting books that are appropriate." Beverly Cleary

American writer Beverly Cleary circa 1955.

Supplied: Wikimedia common

 You can read more about her here

• Remembering beloved children's author Beverly Cleary on CNN Entertainment. 
• Children's book author Beverly Cleary, best known for Romona and Henry Huggins characters, dies aged 104 on ABC Net.
• Beverly Cleary author interview on YouTube by HarperCollins Publishers
  

 I'm so grateful for her books on my shelf.  These are books I have recommended time and again to any student or paretn who has spent time in my library looking for books.

 

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

Currently in our homeschooling we are covering the second World War from many different perspectives thanks to Sonlight Curriculum World History Year 2. 

Number the Stars

• Format Paperback | 137 pages 
• Dimensions 127 x 193.04 x 12.7mm | 113.4g 
• Publisher Cengage Learning, Inc 
• Language English Edition 
• ISBN10 0547577095 
• ISBN13 9780547577098  

From Book Depository -  "Ten-year-old Danish girl's bravery is tested when her best friend is threatened by Nazis in 1943. As the German troops begin their campaign to "relocate" all the Jews of Denmark, Annemarie Johansen's family takes in Annemarie's best friend, Ellen Rosen, and conceals her as part of the family.Through the eyes of ten-year-old Annemarie, we watch as the Danish Resistance smuggles almost the entire Jewish population of Denmark, nearly seven thousand people, across the sea to Sweden. The heroism of an entire nation reminds us that there was pride and human decency in the world even during a time of terror and war."

Buy the book - Book Depository (paperback, hardback or CD) and Sonlight 

My Thoughts - I enjoyed reading this to Nathaniel.  I was deeply touched by life in war torn Europe and life in Copenhagen, Denmark.  Food shortages, Nazi soldiers on every corner, the love of the people for their king and the courage of the Danish people and how they saved nearly 90% of the Jews.

About the Author -  LOIS LOWRY is the author of the popular Anastasia Krupnik books and was the recipient of the Newbery Medal for Number the Stars and for The Giver.

What is your favourite book for this historical time period?

My Nest is Best {5 Days of Picture Books}

I've been contemplating the "Stay Home Stay Safe" mantra that is currently our social norm. One of the things I've come to realise is that I have had the privledge of staying home for the last three decades.  My home is my haven and I love to be here.  However this isolation is NOT our normal.  I am missing my home educating friends and their famlies. I am missing my family.  I am missing my community.  However I am greatful for the blessings that I do have.    Dwelling on what I don't have is not healthy.  We are created to think and meditate on the good things we do have and as such it's time to start listing the positives of the Stay Home Mandate we are living through.

Yesterday I shared five picture books to read out loud.  Today I'd like to share one of my favourites:  My Nest is Best by P.D. Eastman.

{Please note that the links below to Book Depository are affiliate links.  You will not pay more for the books however I will receive a commision should you choose to purchase a book from them} 

My Nest is Best 

• For ages 0-5
• Format Board book | 14 pages
• Dimensions 150.88 x 212.85 x 14.48mm | 244.94g
• Publication date 24 May 2005
• Publisher Random House USA Inc
• Imprint Random House Books for Young Readers
• Language English
• Illustrations note Colour Illustrations
• ISBN10 037583267X
• ISBN13 9780375832673 

About PD Eastman

• He is an author/illustrator of children's books
• Trained at the National Academy of Design
• Sold more than 30 million books
• Was in the army with Theodor Geisel who became known as Dr. Seuss

Other Titles by PD Eastman

• Are You My Mother?
• Go, Dog. Go!
• The Best Nest
• Sam and the Firefly
• Red, Stop! Green, Go! 
• Flap Your Wings 
• Big Dog . . . Little Dog 
• The Alphabet Book 
• Cat in the Hat Beginner Book Dictionary 

Do you have a favourite picture book Author?

Picture Books to Read out Loud {5 Days of Picture Books}

A few weeks back Sonlight asked:  Name a picture book that you never tire of reading aloud.  Since many of us are now in isolation and Quarantine-schooling I thought I'd share some of the suggestions with you.

{Please note that the links below to Book Depository are affiliate links.  You will not pay more for the books however I will receive a commision should you choose to purchase a book from them} 

"Stand Back," said the elephant, "I'm Going to Sneeze!"

Blueberries for Sal

Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel

Are You My Mother?

 

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Have you read any of these?  We have read and enjoyed a few of them over the years and I'm certainly looking forward to reading them to my grand children one day.

What are your favourite read aloud picture books? 

P Is for Pterodactyl

This book looks like a lot of fun and I could not resist sharing it with you.  I'm hoping our local library has it on their shelves. It takes the traditional alphabet book and turns it upside down with many fun variations on the theme. Some examples are:  T is for Tsunami, K is for Knight, M is for Mnemonic and C is for Czar.

P Is for Pterodactyl

• Format: Hardback 
• Pages: 40
• Dimensions: 216 x 279 x 10.16mm
• Weight: 453.59g 
• Publication date: 01 Dec 2018 
• Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc 
• Language: English 
• ISBN10: 1492674311 
• ISBN13: 9781492674313 
• Author:  Raj Haldar and Chris Carpenter
• Illustrated by: maria Beddia

Jotham's Journey: A Storybook for Advent {Books 4 Christmas}

It was almost 21 years ago when I first heard about Jotham's Journey.  There were mixed reviews of forums.  It was during the time before the internet had mega bookstores or blogs with reviews. Timothy and Jane were little and I had just attended a GEMS (Godly Encouragement for MotherS) where I'd learned about taking Christmas back and creating memories, purposefully building Christmas traditions and I had also just discovered the Jesse Tree which started with a quest to know more and I ended up learning about Advent - The season of Anticipation and Hope.

Upon a little more research I took the plunge and purchased Jotham's Journey and I can see without a shadow of a doubt that it was the best decision ever.  If you are looking for a new family tradition and a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat with adventure and encouragement I highly recommend you add Jotham's Journey to your family Christmas book collection.

Jotham's Journey: A Storybook for Advent

Book 1 of 4

• Format Paperback | 
• 167 pages Dimensions 214 x 234 x 8mm | 395g 
• Publication date 26 Aug 2008 
• Publisher Kregel Publications,U.S. 
• Language English 
• Illustrations note Illustrations, black and white 
• ISBN10 0825441749 
• ISBN13 9780825441745 
• Author - Arnold Ytreeide

Beowulf - 3 Recommendations For Your Homeschool

This year has been an enlightening one.  I have joined a group of mothers and read The Original Homeschooling Series by Charlotte Mason.  I was most intrigued with Miss Mason's words and recommendations on reading Beowulf in volume two.

Children should be in Touch with Beowulf––We have to thank Tennyson for our Arthur, and Shakespeare for our Henry the Fifth, but we imagine that parents will find their children's souls more in touch with Beowulf than with either of these, no doubt because the legends of a nation's youth are the pages of history which most easily reach a child; and Beowulf belongs to a younger stage of civilisation than even Arthur.(Volume 2 page 143)

This sent me on a quest to see what my local library had on Beowulf. Here are three that I would like to recommend.

Beowulf {Rob Lloyd Jones}

• Format Hardback | 
• 64 pages 
• Dimensions 136 x 198 x 12mm | 222.26g 
• Publication date 26 Sep 2009 
• Publisher Usborne Publishing Ltd Publication 
• Language English 
• Illustrations note full colour illustrations throughout 
• ISBN10 0746096860 
• ISBN13 9780746096864 
• Author - Rob Lloyd Jones
• Illustrated - Victor Tavares

This book is beautifully illustrated and well written for younger readers.

Beowulf {Michael Morpugo}

• Format Paperback | 160 pages 
• Dimensions 129 x 198 x 11mm | 159g 
• Publication date 03 Oct 2013 
• Publisher Walker Books Ltd Publication 
• Language English 
• ISBN10 1406348872 
• ISBN13 9781406348873 
• Author - Michael Morpugo
• Illustrated - Michael Foreman

This one is for older students and is a well written condensed translation which still brings across the beauty of the story and the depth of the character of Beowulf.

 Beowulf {Translated by Professor Burton Raffel}

• Format Paperback | 152 pages 
• Dimensions 105 x 172 x 15.24mm | 89g 
• Publication date 04 Feb 2016 
• Publisher Penguin Putnam Inc 
• Language English 
• ISBN10 0451530969 
• ISBN13 9780451530967 
• Translated by Professor Burton Raffel

This is the translation that Nathaniel and I will be reading together in the new year.  From my research and the recommendations of other Charlotte Mason home educators this edition captures the beauty of the English language and the heroic character of Beowulf drawing the reader into the story of the hero.

But it is not only the idea of a hero which we have in Beowulf, it is also the idea of a king, the just governor, the wise politician, the builder of peace, the defender of his own folk at the price of his life, "the good king, the folk king, the beloved king, the war ward of his land, the winner of treasure for the need of his people, the hero who thinks in death of those who sail the sea, the gentle and terrible warrior, who is buried amid the tears of his people. (vol 2 pg 144 & 145)

Have you read Beowulf? IF so which translations did you use and why?

How does Charlotte Mason Define Twaddle? {Take a Look Tuesday}

Welcome to Take a Look Tuesday.  I rather like the sound of that and think I may just change Tuesday's Treasures to Take a Look Tuesday.  Books are my passion and if you ever drop on in for a cup of tea I would gently have to inform you that the library of books you will encounter are a result of who I am rather than home educting.

The quaility of the books upon my shelves are solely the fault of my home educating journey and Charlotte Mason!  Years ago when reading a Charlotte Mason Companion I was introduced to a wonderful word - TWADDLE (drivel, nonsense, prattle, rubbish...)  I knew from my homeschool friends that twaddle was something to avoid in my book selections, but I wanted to know how to evaluate a book before I used in our home school?

This year I have begun reading Charlotte in her own words with a group of commited home educating Mums in an effort to pursue a better understanding of a Charlotte Mason education and have discovered that Charlotte Mason had some very particular thoughts concerning twaddle.

What does Charlotte say about Twaddle?

Volume 2 {Parents and Children} page 263 

• Children must be Nurtured on the Best 
• There must never be a period in their lives when they are allowed to read or listen to twaddle or reading-made-easy. 
• There is never a time when they are unequal to worthy thoughts, well put; inspiring tales, well told.

The Four Tests to be Applied to a book

Volume 1 {Home Education} page 177

1. should provide material for their mental growth,
2. should exercise the several powers of their minds, 
3. should furnish them with fruitful ideas
4. should afford them knowledge, really valuable for its own sake, accurate, and interesting, of the kind that the child may recall as a man with profit and pleasure.

Why should we avoid twaddle?

• Thought breeds thought; children familiar with great thoughts take as naturally to thinking for themselves as the well-nourished body takes to growing: and we must bear in mind that growth; physical, intellectual, moral, spiritual, is the sole end of education. – Charlotte Mason
• Volume 2 {Parents and Children} page 263 - For the children? They must grow up upon the best . . . There is never a time when they are unequal to worthy thoughts, well put; inspiring tales, well told.

Read More about Twaddle within the Charlotte Mason Community

• What is a Living Book by Brandy over at After Thoughts Blog.
• What Is Twaddle? by Sonya Shafer
• AmblesideOnline: Toward a Definition of a Living Book
• What is Twaddle? over at the Archipelago 
• How to deal with twaddle in your homeschool 
• Video Review Comparing NEW printed versions of Charlotte Mason Homeschooling Series by Brandy over at After Thoughts.

The Original Home Schooling Series by Charlotte Mason can be purchased from The Book Depostiory

• The Original Home Schooling Series 6-in-1 Omnibus Edition
• Book 1 - Home Education
• Book 2 - Parents and Children
• Book 3 - School Education
• Book 4 - Ourselves
• Book 5 - Formation of Character
• Book 6 - Towards a Philosophy of Education

The Original Home Schooling Series can also be purchased from

• Living Book Press
  • The Complete Home Education Series (6 Books) – Charlotte Mason
  • The Complete Home Education Series (6 Books) – Charlotte Mason (PDF).
• Amazon
• The Original Home Schooling Series: Study Edition by Simply Charlotte Mason

This post is part of the Homeschool Review Crew 5 Days of Homeschool Encouragement Blog Hop.

Grab a cuppa and be prepared to be motivated for the year ahead.  Here are a few of the participants of this years blog hop.  Be sure to take a look at some of the posts shared by our wonderful home educating mom's.

• Christine @ Christine Howard
• Christy @ The Simple Homemaker
• Dawn @ Schoolin' Swag
• Debra @ Footprints in the Butter
• Diana @ Homeschool Review
• Felicia @ Homeschool 4 Life
• Jacquelin @ A Stable Beginning
• Jeniffer @ Thou Shall Not Whine
• Jennifer @ A Glimpse of Our Life

Lighthouse Christmas {Tuesday's Treasures}

One of my favourite things when my children were very little was to collect a new book each Christmas for us to enjoy.  Well the days of little children and new books is quickly fading in our home and a new season is around the corner.  This however has not diminished my love of beautifully illustrated books for Christmas.

Lighthouse Christmas

• Author: Toni Buzzeo
• Format Hardback | 32 pages
• Dimensions 218.44 x 269.24 x 10.16mm | 317.51g
• Publication date 13 Oct 2011
• Publisher Dial Books
• Publication City/Country New York, NY, United States
• Language English
• Illustrations colour illustrations
• Illustrated by: Nancy Carpenter
• ISBN10 0803730535
• ISBN13 9780803730533

Will Santa find them now that they are living in this far away spot just off the coast of Maine?  How will they have Christmas when they still haven't received their groceries?  These are the questions facing Peter and Frances as they face a new future with their Dad in the lighthouse.  As a storm rages they are faced with a choice which ultimately teaches them that the most important part of Christmas is... you'll have to read it to find out.

This book is beautifully illustrated and thoughtfully written.  In the author's note we discovered that this story was inspired by the Flying Santa which has been in operation since 1929. We found out some really interesting things on their site.

Blessings
Chareen

The Man Who Invented Christmas {Tuesday's Treasures}

One of the very first stories I remember from my childhood other than the Nativity is A Christmas Carol. I found this must have book at our local library.  It's one of the most interesting books I have read in a long time.

The Man Who Invented Christmas : How Charles Dickens's a Christmas Carol Rescued His Career and Revived Our Holiday Spirits*

• Author: Les Standifordbr 
• Format Paperback | 241 pages
• Dimensions 137.16 x 190.5 x 22.86mm | 317.51g
• Publication date 25 Oct 2011
• Publisher BROADWAY BOOKS
• Publication City/Country New York, NY, United States
• Language English
• ISBN10 0307405796
• ISBN13 9780307405791

 This is one of those books that you don't forget in a hurry.  It's living history and human interest in one beautiful book. This books was hard to put down.  It's full of wonderful, insightful and well researched information. Having always known Christmas as it is today I was surprised to learn what Christmas was like back in the Victorian era and how much this influenced Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol. If you love Christmas and Charles Dickens then this is definitely a must read for you.

In this small but remarkable book, Les Standiford offers readers a gift for all seasons. Carefully researched and written in a stately, lucid prose, this book will be cherished by those who love Dickens, enjoy Christmas, or ponder the endless mysteries of human behavior.- --Roland Merullo, author of American Savior

I hope you will enjoy this treasure as much as I have.
Blessings
Chareen

*Affiliate Links to the Book Depository.

Silent Night & Other Christmas Carols

I love this time of the year and I love beautiful books just as much.  That is why I just had to share this beautiful treasure I found at the local library. Silent Night & Other Christmas Carols includes a CD with carols and beautiful pop up inserts on every page.  It's beautifully illustrated and is the sort of book you can spend hours looking over.

Silent Night and Other Christmas Carols

• Format Hardback | 18 pages
• Dimensions 240 x 298 x 19mm | 692g
• Publication date 01 Oct 2010
• Publisher The Five Mile Press Pty Ltd
• Publication City/Country Ferntree Gully, VIC, Australia
• Language English
• Illustrations note chiefly col. Illustrations
• Illustrated by Lee Krutop
• ISBN10 1741785847
• ISBN13 9781741785845

Christmas Carols contained:

• The First Noel
• O Come, All Ye Faithful
• Silent Night
• Deck the Halls
• Away in a Manger
• Good King Wenceslas
• O Christmas Tree
• Joy to the World!

I hope your family will be as blessed by this book as we have been

Love and Blessings
Chareen

The Mysterious Benedict Society Collection {Tuesday's Treasures}

One of the hardest things to do is find books for boys that are not filled with potty humour!  I was very pleased when I heard about The Mysterious Benedict Society on a Charlotte Mason Facebook Australia Group and decided to see if our local library had it.  Much to our delight they had all four books.  When they first arrived Nathaniel looked at the thick books and promptly assigned me the task of reading the books out loud to him.

Filled with page-turning action and mind-bending brain teasers, these wildly inventive journeys are sure to delight. - Book Depository

How do I KNOW these are good books?
At this stage Nathaniel was only attempting to read 200 page books (with large type) and these 400 page books containing much smaller print just overwhelmed him.  He finished one of his own books and I suggested he attempt book number two in the series and after much encouragement took the book to bed with him.  It was only a couple of days and each time we came to say lights out he would beg for five more minutes in order to finish one more page!  I was shocked at how enthusiastic my son was to read these books.  In the space of time it's taken me to read book one out loud to him he has completed book 2 and book 3 in the series (Nearly 900 pages in less than a month). We are now patiently waiting for book 4 to arrive from the library. 

The Mysterious Benedict Society Collection

• Format: Paper back
• Number of Pages:1872 
• Publisher:  Little, Brown & Company
• Publication Date: 
• ISBN 10: 0316368873
• ISBN 13: 9780316368872
• Author  Trenton Lee Stewart
• Illustrator: 

What is it all about?

"Are you a gifted child looking for special opportunities?"When this peculiar ad appears in the newspaper, dozens of children enroll to take a series of mysterious, mind-bending tests. (And you, dear reader, can test your wits right alongside them.) But in the end just four very special children will succeed. Their challenge: to go on a secret mission that only the most intelligent and resourceful children could complete. To accomplish it they will have to go undercover at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened, where the only rule is that there are no rules.As our heroes face physical and mental trials beyond their wildest imaginations, they have no choice but to turn to each other for support. But with their newfound friendship at stake, will they be able to pass the most important test of all?Welcome to the Mysterious Benedict Society.

We are still reading book one out loud and both of us are loving every page.  In book one we are introduced to the five central characters of:  Mr. Nicholas Benedict, George "Sticky" Washington, Kate Wetherall, Reynard "Reynie" Muldoon and Constance Contraire.  Each day is a journey to discover the secret on Nomansan Island.  The children are in a race against time to find the island's secret and save the world.  Each of the four posses a special talent and each day they are learning to trust each other and discover things about themselves they didn't' know.  The names are all very clever and full of hints to help you solve the puzzle of the Island.

(Watch a trailer of the movie on YouTube) and explore the Mysterious Benedict Society on the web.

There are four books in the series:

1. The Mysterious Benedict Society
2. The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey
3. The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma
4. The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict

Nathaniel has really enjoyed this series so much he is saving his pocket money to purchase the boxed set for himself!

What are some of your favourite books for boys?
Blessings
Chareen

Connect with me

 

**All the links to Book Depository on this page are my Affiliate Link. If you click on these links and make a purchase, I may receive a commission. This does not cost you any more, and it helps cover costs associated with purchasing books for our homeschool. I am very picky about the products I recommend and the companies I support. I would never recommend a product I would not use myself.**

Aspergers Syndrome - What Teachers Need to Know {Tuesday's Treasures}

We have a few families in our homeschool group and within extended family who have been diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome.  One of my missions has been to find books that assist in understanding Aspergers Syndrome.  There are so many books out there these days that it's difficult to find books that give encouraging information without technical information overload!

Asperger Syndrome What Teachers Need to Know

• Format Paperback | 128 pages
• Dimensions 138 x 212 x 12mm | 181.44g
• Publication date 15 Jun 2011
• Publisher JESSICA KINGSLEY PUBLISHERS
• Publication City/Country London, United Kingdom
• Language English
• Edition Revised
• Edition statement 2nd Revised edition
• ISBN10 1849052034
• ISBN13 9781849052030

I love this book for it's simplicity and the way it elevates the positives of children with Asperger Syndrome.  Matt has spent hours reading through many books, speaking to families of children living with Asperger Syndrome and taught children with Asperger Syndrome.  He was encouraged to write a condensed book about what he has learned.  His aim is to provide the reader with a summary of the information currently available about Asperger Syndrome.  His book gives quick tips and practical ideas as well as thought provoking questions with insights to consider before you answer them.  His aim is to give the reader a good initial grounding on the subject of Asperger Syndrom and he definately has.

Table of Contents
Introduction.
1. What is Asperger Syndrome?
2. What signs might a child display?
3. What are some general strategies for the classroom?
4. What are some individual strategies for the pupil?
5. How can I help the pupil with AS to learn?
6. What about homework?
7. How do I help the child's stress?
8. What should the Teacher Aide be focusing on?
9. Who else in the school needs to know?
10. What should happen before the child changes class or school?
11. How can the wider school help?
12. Am I qualified to teach this child?
I want to know more - where should I start?
Further Reading. References. Websites. Resources.
Some common conditions associated with Asperger Syndrome.
Index.

If you have a child that you know with Asperger Syndrome or if your own child has been diagnosed, this book is well worth reading. This book is a quick and empowering read.

Blessings
Chareen

Here are some other resources we have been encouraged with:

• Can I Tell You About Asperger Syndrome? A Guide for Friends and Family
• The Spark: A Mother's Story of Nurturing, Genius and Autism by Kristine Barnett