Holiday Books

Give the gift of reading!

1. Elf on the Shelf:A Christmas Tradition (blue-eyed boy scout elf)...in case you've been living under a rock you must check out this amazing book! Parents be prepared...that elf is sneaky!

2. The Donkey's Dream...the sweetest book ever!

3. December...the new discover this season! It's the best ever!!

4. Welcome Baby Jesus: Advent and Christmas Reflections for Families (English and English Edition)...a simple and beautifully written way to celebrate Advent daily.

5. Polar Express 30th anniversary edition...one of my family favorites!

6. Room for a Little One: A Christmas Tale...a lovely beautifully illustrated book.

7. The Crippled Lamb...this is the most beautiful book ever! Tears will flow! 

8. The Legend of the Poinsettia...wonderful story of the Christmas flower.

9. The Gift of the Magi...a happy ending story!

10. The Christmas Star.. A family fav!

11. Saint Nicholas: The Real Story of the Christmas Legend...I love this one!

12. The Tale of Three Trees: A Traditional Folktale...a story you can enjoy now and at Easter.

From my house to yours! Happy reading! 

First grade here we go!

We finished up Kindergarten back in April....and we really don't take time off.

I have found that time off leads to more time off which leads to us getting off schedule...and then crazy train happens. 

My child needs some type of daily structure. She needs to have a daily schedule. Its what works for us.

Our daily schedule is basically this:

Breakfast outside 8:00

School time...reading...math...etc. again all outside

Play time/free play

Clean up/chores/stuff mom needs to do...

Lunch violin poems

Hike 2.2 miles

Extra curricular activities...violin, gym(for me), dance...

Dinner bath bed 7:30

So this summer we basically did tons of reading...so far since January she and I have read almost 300 books. Either her silently, me reading to her, us doing shared reading, or her reading to me. 

We also started  Life of Fred--Apples math which she loves!  

So officially the following is our First Grade curriculum...just know that we've done a ton of other things in between the ending of Kindy and the beginning of First grade.

The Orchard Book of the Unicorn and Other Magical Animals - because I find it super important for children to use their imaginations and hear beautiful fantasy stories! 

A Child's History of the World - I love how this book it written...history written in a way a child can understand

Plus-Plus  - these are amazing! Made in Denmark...super cool leggo like but better! 

The Nature Connection: An Outdoor Workbook for Kids - we spent oodles of time outside...I think it is one of the most important things for children....hiking...learning about nature...trees...birds...animals...the environment! It's the hippie in me....

Exploring Creation With Astronomy  And Junior Astronomy Notebooking - we are Catholic and I am so excited to learn along side of her with these amazing books! 

Life of Fred--Butterflies - math...but way different than just rote memory of math facts! The best! 

Handwriting Without Tears Cursive Handwriting - Grade 3 - she asked to learn cursive...so why not! 

New Catholic Picture Bible

Evan-Moor Beginning Geography Book

Colored Smencils 10 Pack - we also have Halloween Smencils Sets,  Smarker Sets, and Glitter Gel Smens. She loves all of these! Uses them daily! Draws...colors....writes notes...signs...every single day! 


eeBoo Sun and Moon - we love these sketch type books for our drawings and retellings...we also 
have eeBoo Birds and Berries...Great quality paper. 

We also go to our new amazing library weekly....I love how easy it is to get books from there. We at any given time have 20 books checked out...so instead of buying books this year to go along with our core curriculum ...I plan to utilize library books. 

I am more excited this year than last. She's 5.7 but children at this age can grasp so many more concepts. I can't wait to start! 

Children's summer reading...

These are two from our Mensa list that we had never read....and wow are they both amazing! 

Read more Here about the Mensa book list...we've been working on it for awhile now. 

I highly recommend both...for old and young alike! Beautifully illustrated!  Great morals!

The Quiltmaker's Gift teaches about the importance of giving... It is a lovely book!! 

And If I Never Forever Endeavor....ohhhh how I loved this one! It's about always trying...going for what scares you...doing the thing you want to do! Wow...don't we all need to hear this! Even at my age....making ourselves happy...doing the one thing that you want to do but you are terrified to do it....

Isnt it always better to try and fail then to never try at all!?! 

And this this gem ...Freckle Juice....I was able to share with my sweetie...takes me back to my own childhood! I remember reading it for the first time! I don't know who enjoyed it more?? 

We have 12 more in our Mensa book list! Wow what a fantastic list of books we have read this past year! 

Penguin Unit Study

We started a new Unit Study these past few weeks...as we school year round...it helps to keep her focused. We love doing unit studies in the summer...instead of sticking to a curriculum. It takes us on such great rabbit trails!

Check out our new unit study on PENGUINS!

We read Mr. Popper's Penguins...it is just the greatest book ever! Our friend the librarian told us he wrote his very first book report on it! We watched Mr. Popper's Penguins...not as good as the book but still super sweet. 

We also read Antarctic Antics: A Book of Penguin Poems...
Penguins!...
National Geographic Readers: Penguins!

Face to Face with Penguins

Pierre the Penguin: A True Story

She drew penguins...we like to use really nice drawing pads...Strathmore 9-Inch by 12-Inch Spiral Drawing Notebook, 50-Sheet 

And I prefer for her to use these colored pencils...they make beautiful pieces of art...

LYRA Waldorf Selection Unlacquered Triangular Giant Colored Pencils, Set of 12 Super Ferby Pencils, Assorted Colors (3711121)

She acted out and has played "trapping" penguins for weeks now! Cutting, glueing, and making her own penguins.  

She uses this Penguin Popper and this cutie Wooden Emperor Penguin  as part of her imaginary play!

Happy Summer to you all! 

Butterfly Unit

We love butterfly's! 

We have been reading a ton and she watched an incredible video of the flight of the Monarch butterfly. While yes we watch very little TV I do allow documentaries very occasionally. 

Here are links to all of the books we've read...thank you for supporting my blog and homeschool! 

My, Oh My--A Butterfly!: All About Butterflies

Uncle Monarch and the Day of the Dead

Monarch Butterfly

Garden Friends

Butterfly Story

Monarch Butterflies: Mysterious Travelers

The Incredible Journey of the Butterflies

We also made these today...

You all know I love simple! And this craft is just that! 

Take a coffee filter...have your child draw all over it with markers....sprinkle or spray water on it...let it dry...add a pipe cleaner..

Viola!!

Butterfly!