I seem to be building a mini library by my bed, in stacks and piles. With feverish babies, lately I’ve neglected my poor stacks and am just now getting back to my midnight reads. Here are some of them:
- Freefall of the American University (A recent, timely gift from my mom. Why am I worried about college/careers for my little (please stay little) ones now? But I am, and she knows.) Does this make me a radical? Probably. I’ve always considered myself a pro-Harvard kind of home school mom. For the whole 11 weeks I’ve actually been a home school mom. I’ve witnessed many times the benefits and perks of having a prestigious diploma – it does make the path much much easier. That is, if you are looking for the easy path.
- Craft, Inc. – just plain interesting. And good for a short 5 minute read every now and then.
- and Amazon delivered this: Writing Road to Reading: The Spalding Method. Like I need another phonics book. We are moving along quite nicely with Teach Your Child To Read in 100 Easy Lessons and our Explode the Code primers… but I’ve having a few reservations about using this long term. And the Writing Road came highly recommended. So… we’ve been learning the 70 odd phonograms together and I’m taking “night classes” (there is a special numbered “code” needed to teach this method) in reading theory in order to keep up with the program. It’s great. It’s thorough. It’s not easy for the teacher (or at least this teacher), but once adequately prepped for the lesson, it seems to be very easy for my learner to grasp the concepts. So far, so good.
- The Hidden Art of Homemaking, by Edith Schaeffer is just pure inspiration. I’ve read a few Schaeffer books, but this one was completely new to me when I stumbled upon it on Amazon. Written in 1971, the author includes chapters on painting, sketching and sculpting, music, food (she’s a big believer in beautiful dishes and creative table settings), drama, creative recreation, and, of course, a few chapters dedicated to the first artist. Most of all, it’s a book about beauty. Creating it. Living with it. Sharing it with others. What a refreshing way to look at homemaking!
- The book I’m reading (for the second time) right now (as in right after this blog post, hopefully) is Future Men, by Douglas Wilson. Wilson makes a very strong case for an individual, masculine, adventurous education for boys. No gender fluidity here, so be warned (or encouraged, if you’re like me!).
- My future little man:
What a dichotomy since we live in a consensus-oriented, effeminate and passive-male world.
“Individual, masculine and adventurous…” mmmmm music to my ears. You are a world-beater momma. How I wish I had a teacher like you.
Make a miracle DL, pump the lyrical.
Loving you,
Husband
We use the Spell to Write & Read, which is based on the Spalding method, to teach 4 of my 6 kids to read. EXCELLENT program and really teaches them to spell and read at the same time.
We’re also reading Future Men and it’s eye opening!
I love that Schaeffer book and I also liked Future Men. I used Teach your child to Read in 100 easy lessons w/2 of my kids and it worked great.
I just recently found your blog and I love it. Your pictures are beautiful!
My bedside table is stacked high with unread magazines. I really intend to read them, but soon I’m going to have a column to the ceiling. I had to move my books to a different place!
I LOVE your stool idea. I may have to borrow that for my house. I haven’t taken the plunge to paint my furniture yet, but I am really tempted. I need to figure out how to use jewel tones in my living room without it being too “bright” – but unique and fun!
Kim