So many things to say about this book. Which is why I am giving it it's own review. It deserves it. To see other chapter books I have read aloud while homeschooling my children this year click HERE. When Stars are Scattered is the true story of young brothers Omar and Hassan and their life in a refugee camp in Kenya. There are many really hard topics that are touched on, such as an arranged marriage of a young girl that results in pregnancy, a father beating his child, death, war, hunger, etc. This book is brilliant because it takes difficult subject matter and makes it easily digestible for older children to early tweens because it is told in a graphic novel. Yes this book is heavy and sad. But my word do you root for these boys and just want the best for them. This book brought out so many meaningful conversations with my kids we would have never had anytime soon. Plus the illustrations are fantastic and really add to the dialogue and flow of the story. While this … [Read more...]
Read Aloud Reviews: In Grandma’s Attic, Homer Price, & The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
Our homeschool days are filled with Math, English, Science, History and Read Alouds. I am going to be reviewing all the books we read this year. I am linking the books to Amazon in case you decide to purchase them but we have bought the majority of our books from Abebooks.com. If you aren't familiar with this website it is like an Amazon for used books. It can take a little bit of time to get your books in the mail depending on what shop you purchase from but it is the first place I check, especially if the book is older and not recently published. For reference I am reading these books to my eight and six year old. It has become one of the highlights of my day. Also please forgive me if there are typos. I am watching musicals on BroadwayHD.com as I type this post up ;). Let's get into the reviews... In Grandma's Attic by Arleta Richardson I remember reading this book when I was little and loved it. My kids equally enjoyed it and In Grandma's Attic was a great book to kick … [Read more...]
The 1st Three Weeks of Homeschool
Three weeks ago we began our homeschool journey and I am happy to report that it is going very well. I love that I get quality time with the kids and get to be part of their school education. The first day I had grand plans of us sitting on the sofa reading together. I somehow forgot what happens when all four kids are together on the sofa. Picture this. Mom is awake with actual clothes on, no pajamas on the first day of school for me. I figured I should actual put a little effort into my appearance for the day. As I sat down with books in hand, ready to engage my children's minds, I saw my three year olds tackle each other. While prying them off each other, out of the corner of my eye, my older two were looking like they were practicing for cirque du soleil. Leaping fearlessly off the furniture and gracefully tumbling onto the carpet. That was the only day in the last three weeks I have done homeschool curriculum on the sofa with all four kids. I have to laugh because I … [Read more...]
We Are HOMESCHOOLING!
Well today is the day! This week our kids would have been going back to school and today we are starting our first day of homeschool. What is really crazy is that Josh and I started talking about this being a possible option for our family in March. It is mind blowing that we are here at this point in Arizona. But here we are, homeschool affidavit submitted, and we are ready to make the best of this situation. Let me first start by saying we love our schools. We are sadden that this is happening. But if our schools were open at this point we wouldn't be sending them for in person learning because of how rampant COVID is in our community. Also we wouldn't send them because Josh's job brings him in contact with COVID positive patients and there is also COVID positive firefighters on the department. We could not in good faith send our kids to school in person with the potential that they could be asymptomatic carriers. We are so thankful that there are school options available to … [Read more...]
