Tuesday 5 January 2021

2021 Reading Goals {52 Books in 52 Weeks}

This past weekend the Homeschool Review Crew asked the question What are your reading goals for 2021? This is something I had been pondering since I fractured my humerus last year and realised that it's been a long time since I read for the pleasure of doing so. I have been blessed with so many beautiful books and have decided this is the year I want to embark on reading the books I've been wanting to read or re-read.

 Back in 2012 I signed up to Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks and wondered if it was still being hosted online.  Much to my delight I descovered that it is still alive and well. I've signed up for the 2021 challenge and would like to invite you to join me.


 

To help me keep my lists handy and keep me accountable I have decided to build two lists below. I will be updating this list upon completing my challenge for each week and if I find a book I would like to add.

My Completed Reading list for 2021

  1. The Reading Life by C.S. Lewis
  2. Joseph Dreamer of Dreams by E. Traylor
  3. The Good Master by Kate Seredy
  4. The Girl from the Train by Irma Joubert 
  5. False Impression by Jeffrey Archer
  6. To Ride Pegasus by Anne McCaffrey
  7. Pegasus in Space by Anne McCaffrey
  8. The Rowan by Anne McCaffrey
  9. Damia by Anne McCaffrey
  10. Damia's Children by Anne McCaffrey
  11. Lyon's Pride & The Tower and the Hive  by Anne McCaffrey
  12. Seizure by Robin Cook 
  13. Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary

Books I would like to read this year

  1. The Reading Life : The Joy of Seeing New Worlds Through Others' Eyes by C.S. Lewis COMPLETED - Week 1
  2. Silver Boxes by Florence Littauer 
  3. What's so Amazing About Grace by Philip Yancey
  4. Moses The Deliverer by Ellen Gunderson Traylor
  5. Joshua - God's Warrior by Ellen Gunderson Traylor
  6. Disappointment with God - Philip Yancey
  7. Prayer of Jabez -
  8. Ten Fingers for God - the life and work of Dr Paul Brand
  9. False Impression by Jeffrey Archer COMPLETED - Week 5
  10. Teaching From Rest - 
  11. Sherlock Holmes
  12. An Agatha Christie Book - which do you recommend?
  13. Pegasus in Flight by Anne McCaffrey

52 Books in 52 Weeks

The guidelines/rules

  1. The challenge will run from January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021.
  2.  Book weeks begin on Sunday
  3. Week one begins on Friday, January 1st and runs through January 9th.
  4.  Participants may join at any time
  5.  All books are acceptable except children books **
  6.  All forms of books are acceptable including e-books, audio books, etc
  7.  Re-reads are acceptable as long as they are read after January 1, 2021
  8.  Books may overlap other challenges
  9.  Create an entry post linking to 52 books in 52 weeks
  10.  Sign up with Mr. Linky in the "I'm participating in 2021 post" .
  11. You don't have a blog or social media account to participate.  Post your weekly book in the comments section of each weekly post.   
  12. The link widget will be added to the bottom of the weekly post for you to link to reviews of your most current reads, and will close at the end of each book week

**in reference to children books. If it is a child whose reading it and involved in the challenge, then that's okay.  If an adult is doing read aloud with kids, the book should be geared for the 9 - 12 age group and above and over 100 pages. If adult reading for own enjoyment, then a good rule of thumb to go by "is there some complexity to the story or is it too simple?"  If it's too simple, then it doesn't count.

 


Mini Challenges within 52 Books in 52 Weeks

Should you want something a little extra to participate in here are a variety of weekly, monthly and perpetual challenges including: 

 

Out on the Internet

 

Wednesday 30 September 2020

Homeschool Covid Isolation

I'm starting to grieve the lost year with my teen son.  At the start of the year I was enjoying watching his independence grow, new friendships being made and high school opportunities begining to open up.  All snatched away in what began as a four week flatten the curve exercise which has now morphed into something that words fail to describe. Here I sit six months later under what is effectively house arrest in Melbourne along with a fifth of Australia's population when...

A fellow homeschool Mom in a local homeschool group penned the following words which resonated with my heart and I would like to share with you today. (Shared with her permission.)



My heart is as heavy as yours.
 
As we joyfully see all other children returning to day care and school - enjoying their friendships and social time, and lessons as normal - but we privately mourn for our own children.
 
Because for the first time in history, group home education programs are considered socialisation. While all other children enjoy seeing their friends and learning together, our children remain in total isolation, not able to resume any of our cherished group learning programs. 
 
Homeschooled children need connection with friends too. They need normalcy too. They need their education to return to normal too. Homeschooling mothers need a break too. 
 
People may say things like “We’re in this together”. But it doesn’t feel like that right now. We feel excluded from the togetherness.
 
My gut tells me that I won’t see my children participating in their homeschool education programs until 2021. We haven’t had anything running since March, and while the past eight weeks of canceled day care and remote learning have been so hard for families... it’s been six months for us. Please think of us.
 
“All the world is my school” (George Whitman), if only it could be right now
 We are in plain sight yet forgotten.  What most families do not grasp is that this is not normal for us either.  We enjoy all the aspects of homechooling and covid schooling restrictions impact us too.  

 
How are you all coping with 'covid normal' and home educating?  

Chareen
 

Saturday 19 September 2020

Grandparents Day

 Well I did know about Mother's Day and Father's Day but Grandparents Day is a new one to me! Did you know that Grandparents day is celebrated on Sunday 25 October 2020 in Australia? 


It is traditionally held on the last Sunday in October to celebrate the role of grandparents and older people in the our society.  It's to honour all the things they have done and the things they keep doing.

It is celebrated on the first Sunday in October in the United Kingdom, in September in the United States of America and in October in Italy. Currently twenty countries in the world celebrate the role of the elderly. 

Gray hair is a crown of splendor, it is attained in the way of righteousness - Proverbs 16:31

Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged; parents are the pride of their children Proverbs 17:6

Ideas to celebrate

  • Invite them over and cook a special meal.
  • Enjoy a special tea party with them.
  • Create a personalized photo gift for them.
  • Meet at a park and enjoy an afternoon tea with them.
  • Create a handmade card.
  • Share happy stories with your children of growing up with your parents.
  • Ask Grandparents to share happy memories of parening their children.
  • Spending unhurried time together is the best gift.

On the Web

What do you do to celebrate the older generation in your family?