Jesus Calling::The Story of Christmas {review & giveaway}

Happy Advent

Merry Christmas

I am always looking to add to our Christmas season collection of books and after last year's fiasco with over 20 of our books getting wet and then moldy it's even more important to me than ever to build up our collection again. 

Replacing our old favorites and adding new titles is how it'll be done.  Jesus Calling::The Story of Christmas by Sarah Young is a new book out this year and it is so sweet.

First off the dust jacket is sparklized.  And who doesn't love sparkles at Christmas?  Only Grinches and Scrooges that's who.

Then even better than a sparklized cover is the fact that there are three versions of the story on the pages of this book.

There's scripture on each page, which when in hurry tells the whole story in under 6 minutes.  Busy parents still needing to wrap presents on Christmas Eve would never dream of only reading the scripture to get through the book quickly, but I tell you that just in case.

There's also a nice wordy story portion on each page.  It takes the scripture and puts it into story form.  Longer, yes, but beautiful and sweet and meaningful and all the things.  This was my 5 year olds favorite storyline.  

Then there is the Jesus Calling section on each page.  This is written from Jesus' point of view in first person.  Each page has a reminder of what Christmas is all about and what we should be waiting for or doing to get ready for Jesus.

So this is like three books in one.  For super snowy afternoons reading all three sections is a meaningful way to cuddle up on the couch with the kiddos.

Choose to read only one "storyline" on busy days - if you ever have those.

OR

Crazier yet, let the kids look at all the pictures on their own and tell the story in their own words to their siblings.  That's one of my favorites because they add in all kinds of embellishments.

WIN YOUR OWN COPY

You can find the signup form by following this link to enter to win your copy of Jesus Calling::The Story of Christmas.

And it's OK if you simply want to buy it.  Here's my Amazon affiliate link (thank you so much).

It's currently 29% off!!

And since I'm always on the lookout for meaningful Christmas books, what's your favorite?  Share in the comments.  Thanks.

God Bless You & Good Night {Book Giveaway}

As most of you know I review all kinds of media from FrontGate Media.  I especially love children's books and this boardbook was extra sweet.

Bedtime books rank high on my list.  Most authors know that parents are more ready for their children's bedtime than the child is so most bedtime books are short.  Long enough to have some cuddle time, but short enough to get those kids into bed.







God Bless You & Good Night has rhyming phrases which keep the flow going smoothly and really, what child doesn't like to guess what the next rhyming word will be?  I know my kids love that when I read 3 lines of a 4 line rhyme and stop before the last word so they can fill it in.

How can you resist touching that cutsey hedgehog?

God Bless You & Good Night is also a touch and feel book which is so engaging for kids.  Both my five and six year old have thumbed through this book many times just to feel the furry red panda, leathery elephant ear and glittery sky.

If this is sounding like a book you'd love to gift one of the littles on your Christmas list enter to win a copy first, then if you don't win hop on over to Amazon and pick one up.

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Any book that can get these two this close is a winner for sure.

In case you don't win here is my Amazon link where you can purchase your own copy of God Bless You & Good Night Touch and Feel book.

   

Young Whit & the Traitor's Treasure Review & GIVEAWAY

I'm a huge sucker for chapter books.  Often, I don't know who enjoys the books more, me or the kids listening.

I've teamed up with FrontGate Media as a reviewer and I've reviewed some great books and DVDs.  This time they sent a chapter book....Alleluia!!

Young Whit & the Traitor's Treasure by Phil Lollar & Dave Arnold

Adventures in Odyssey is a popular Christian radio program and now John Avery Whittaker has made his way to the pages of this first in the series historical mystery.  Although the back book cover recommends this book for 10+, my 10, 6, and 5 year olds are all enjoying the story.  

More important though, is that I'm enjoying it because let's face it, come bedtime story time if the book is a dud I'm going to nod off and start making up sentences not even written on the pages.  You've done that, too, right?

FrontGate Media is giving away multiple copies so be sure to click over there and enter to win.

Enter to win here.

Of course, if you don't win or would like to score yourself a copy today, you can click over to Amazon.  If you'd prefer it's also available at Focus On the Family.

Kindergarten Curriculum Plans

Stray papers and well-used workbooks, hand drawn maps and piles of literature.  The school desks are in need of a serious going over.  Even though, I just received our first 2017-18 curriculum order from Teaching Textbooks.  That was all I needed to start thinking about posting our full homeschool curriculum plan for this coming school year.

Peter turned 5 in December and showed a number of reading readiness signs so we began with All About Reading Level 1 in January.  He's been watching his older siblings "do school" for years and is always asking to "do school".  That's how it is with homeschool, the kids' natural curiosity leads to learning and then all of a sudden we're "doing school".

Kindergarten is NOT a big deal in our homeschool.  There's no hoopla about the first day of school.  Buying glue sticks and markers doesn't mark any special day for us.  

Although the learning process is natural and Peter's been doing plenty of Kindergarten work already, he will officially be in Kindergarten this year.  Over the years I've found that assigning our children to a grade makes it much easier for them when people ask them about school.  

I never assigned grades to our oldest three children when they were in elementary school, but that made for many condescending glares by onlookers.  I remember one time in particular; we were at a grocery store mid-morning when the cashier asked, "Aren't you kids supposed to be in school?"  I quickly remarked, "We homeschool."  Looking at Emily, Nick, and Amber she said, "Oh, what grades are you kids in?"  They all gave her a blank stare, shifted back and forth and then looked at me.  I stuttered and stammered through an attempt to explain in 30 seconds or less why I felt grading was unnecessary and how a child's natural curiosity will always keep them moving forward on the learning curve.  Blah, blah, blah!  

I still agree with my old self and I'm rarely one to comply with the norm, but for my children's sake, I make a big deal about what grade they are in so we never have to experience that again.

That was a long intro for a simple run down of the plans I have for Peter this year.  First off, Joseph, Peter and Maria often do school together.  Or at least I attempt to have them all together.  Life gets crazy, kids get crazy and sometimes my perfectly scripted plans go awry.

Kindergarten Curriculum Plans {affiliate links included}

All About Reading Level 1 - Peter is currently on lesson 16.  The plan is to complete level 1 and continue with level 2.  We'll also use the Margaret Hillert sight word books.

Nancy Larson Homeschool Science - Level 1 - We'll keep working through this level, Peter and Joseph together, picking up where we left off last year.  I also supplement with the Dr. Seuss Learning Library books and appropriate free printables I find online.

Math IXL - Kindergarten and grade 1 skills

Reading Road Maps - read all  Kinder level books and discuss plot and type of conflict.

What Your Kindergartner Needs to Know - read through all chapters with Peter and supplement with suggested books and music CDs.

Historical DVDs and books will be added according to topics in What Your Kindergartner Needs to Know

Tell Me About the Catholic Faith - we used this two years ago, but then didn't touch it at all this last year.  I really like the free printables that Lacey from Catholic Icing has available.  We'll pick up where we left off with plans to complete the full book this year.

That will make for a full Kindergarten year.  Up next, I'll be detailing Joseph's 3rd grade plans.

Be sure to like Camp Homeschool on Facebook or Follow me at Instagram to stay in the loop with all things homeschool, Down syndrome, cranberries, and of course.....SUMMER!

What We're Reading Now

It's no surprise that as homeschoolers books often take center stage.  We use tons of books for school - textbooks, atlases, living books, classic literature, biographies - and so many more.

I love reading about what others are reading.  I get so many good ideas for future reading, so I thought I would share our most recent book picks.  Maybe you'll find something new for your summer reading.

Amber is always reading something.  This year I've been assigning historical fiction as part of her history/literature studies, but after fifteen or so historical fiction novels she was ready for something totally different.  These Word Cloud Classics are beautiful books with faux leather softcovers embossed with book quotes.  They are sized nicely for travel, too, easily fitting into a purse.  Of the three or four we own, Amber chose Peter Pan for her last assigned reading of the school year.

These books are so lovely and would make great gifts for young people who enjoy classic literature.

She also reads for fun.  She enjoyed this book and grabbed another of the author's books at our next library visit.  

Now Sam is not a strong reader.  He does not read for fun; he reads because I make him.  He reads because I read to him.  The Incredible Journey Books are meant for ages 7-11.  Sam's 12.  He finds these books very easy reading, but still enjoys the stories.  I chose this series to correlate with his Geography studies.  Each book takes the reader to a new destination:  Caymen Islands, Mexico, African Desert, and more.  Sam labeled a world map as he read these books - a great addition to his formal Geography studies.

He also reads and rereads his PULL magazines.  His current high speed sport of choice is BMX racing.

Joseph is making noticeable progress in his reading this year.  We've been especially good with daily reading lessons which is making a huge difference.  He's still working through All About Reading Level 1.  I've been bribing him with chocolate to read using the notecard method described in this post.  He's also become very adept at reading Margaret Hillert's Beginning to Read books.  He's having an easy time picking up the dolch sight words since he's so visual in his learning.  His absolute favorite is Not I, Not I.

I should really do a video of him reading the book.  He's just so sweet (when he wants to be).

There's so much noise around this place that a few months ago I started reading to the little kids on my bed.  They love being able to cuddle up in mom and dad's bed, especially if good books are involved.  Our latest chapter books were Sam the Man and the Chicken Plan and Sam the Man and the Rutabaga Plan.  Peter and Maria absolutely adored these books.  Multiple times a day they asked for me to read more.

   

If you have a budding backyard farmer they are sure to love these stories.  They made for great read alouds, too.

I enjoy a good memoir and Kelly Corrigan's The Middle Place did not disappoint.  It was a quick and enjoyable read.  Laugh out loud moments interspersed with head nodding interspersed with a few tears.  The general story:  a woman with breast cancer who adores her father, who also gets cancer, bares her soul.  Other than being a woman, wife, and mother our lives are not parallel, but the story is still very relatable.  

I added her other two books to my summer reading list.  

  

So that's what we're reading now or at least within the last few weeks.  

Have you read any books lately that are must reads?  I'd love to know because my "Read Next" list isn't nearly long enough.  Hah!

*This post contains affiliate links.

Learning About Sharks::A Unit Study

Sharks and Dinosaurs, Dinos and Sharks - that's pretty much the mantra around here with Peter and Joseph.  Peter knows the exact location of shark books at the library and I think we've checked out every single one of them.

My favorite part of homeschooling the youngest learners is their sweet desire for knowledge.  Everything is new and exciting.  One simple book leads to questions which leads to a quick Google search for coloring and activity pages.

The book that started it all

Hark!  A Shark:  All About Sharks

We have nearly the entire set of Cat in the Hat's Learning Library.

Thanks to that collection, last summer we focused on butterflies and frogs.

My kids love coloring while I read, so I'll print off a pile of theme pictures and while I read a stack of books, they'll color.

Books We Read About Sharks

             

Links to favorite shark coloring pages

Get Coloring Pages (huge variety of scary and smiley sharks)

Super Coloring (print or "color" online)

How to draw a hammerhead shark

After all the listening and coloring it was time for something a little more active.  I found this Flipping Fins Shark game.  It teaches left and right and worked for all ages.  Basically you toss a shark and earn points based on how it lands.  

Other fun stuff:


(this is for an Easter basket)




(favorite larger size sharks for tub play)

This Shark Unit Study was so short and simple, yet effectively informed my three youngest about the many different species of sharks, how they use their 6 senses, and kept the kids yearning for more shark info the next day.

*this post contains affiliate links

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My pinterest shark unit board