Back to School and Other Fun Stuff

Most schools in our area started back again this past week.  Emily also started her Independent Studies choir this past week as well as her a few home school classes (we officially start this week). She made a make and bake craft. She pondered life skill choices in health class. She studied a little American history. And, she started reading a chapter book called The Secret Tree which from her description so far sounds really interesting. I let you all know what her final thoughts are when she's finished.

Emily has also been on a Star Wars kick with her bestie Rachel which means her sketch book is filling up with Star Wars characters. I'm probably a bit partial, but I think her drawing skills are pretty good for an eleven year old. For the new school year, we ordered a new sketch book and some real drawing pencils, and I can hardly wait to see what she fills it with. 

I finished up canning peaches, baked for farmers' market, and read a little myself. Since it was back to school time, I thought a fun back to school book was in order. The book I chose was I Will Never Get A Star On Mrs. Benson's Blackboard. This book is so sweet and encouraging for kids. Although Rose isn't the best student, or the neatest student, she really wants to get a star on the teacher's blackboard. However, she despairs that she will never accomplish the task. Rose puts her fears aside and enjoys a presentation by a special artist guest because she loves art too. And in the end, much to Rose's surprise, she does indeed get a star.

I also read a book with few words, fabulous pictures, and a fun story of Hare and his friend, Bear who loves to fish. It was called Bear and Hare Go Fishing by Emily Gravitt. Bear and Hare go fishing and Hare patiently waits as bear catches everything but a fish. Will Bear ever catch a fish or will Hare have to take a disappointed Bear home? 

And finally, I read Miss Mary Mack which would be perfect for homeschoolers and would meet both reading and music requirements! It is based on the old clapping song that I remember learning as a child, but interestingly, there was a second chorus about Mary's friend Betty Lou which I had never heard before. There is a cd included which makes this book even more worthwhile.

Well, that about wraps it up for this week. Join me next week for another exciting episode, same crazy time, same crazy channel. Also be sure to drop by and join the Literacy Musings Monday Blog Hop where you will find other great blogs, or my personal website, Fun With Aileen, where you will find more on reading, writing, and my very own early grade Fern Valley chapter book series and my Quack and Daisy picture book series. And finally, you can find me on twitter @AileenWStewart if you want an extremely brief glimpse into my days. 

Homeschooling, Classics, and Ohio Indians!

Summer is just about over and kids everywhere are heading back to school. This year, we are doing something a little different__ we are homeschooling through the Independent Studies program of Emily's former Christian school. It's scary and exciting all at the same time since we have yet to establish a routine, but I think we are going to have a blast.

I have been collecting books from library sales, thrift stores, and garage sales to use in our reading lessons. I was most excited this past week when I found a copy of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer for only fifty cents. It is my hope, that by the time Emily is an adult, many of the classics I read and loved as a child will have entertained  her as well, classics like Tom Sawyer,  Black Beauty and Heidi.

We also got a bit of a head start on our schooling by taking day trips this summer. Our first was to the Velvet Ice-cream factory in Utica, Ohio. And just this past week, we drove down to Dayton to attend the Flute and Arts Fair at the Sunwatch Indian Village and Archaeological Park. 

I can't believe what a great time Bobby, Emily, and I had. We learned quite a bit about the former Indians of that area called the Fort Ancient Indians. We learned about their diet, their way of living, their sun calendar, their lodges, and so much more. In the museum portion, we heard an audio clip about how their diet affected their height and how they had very poor dental health.

I thought this was an interesting fact since the Kindle book I downloaded for this review was called Ethan In The Kingdom of Toothbrushes. I downloaded my copy during a free promotion, but normally it is $2.99. The idea of a small boy who doesn't want to brush his teeth and dreams of a forest of toothbrushes is a unique and clever idea. And if you can overlook the errors in capitalization, verb tense, and formatting, it isn't a bad book, especially if you have a small non-brusher of your own.

As we get ready to start our new schooling journey, I eagerly anticipate many more great field trips. Next month we are going to attend a Renaissance Fair and I even found a children's book on the Renaissance to read which I will share when the time comes. Meantime, I wish all of you and your children a wonderful new school year and continued happy reading!

Well, that about wraps it up for this week. Join me next week for another exciting episode, same crazy time, same crazy channel. And feel free to drop by my personal website, Fun With Aileen, any day of the week for even more on reading, writing, my very own early grade chapter book, Fern Valley, and my soon to be released sequel, Return To Fern Valley, coming September second! I'm also on twitter @AileenWStewart if you want an extremely brief glimpse into my days.