Book Adventure

Since our favorite history program doesn't come with specific guides for the literature reading we have gotten creative in finding ways to test our knowledge.  I do think it is nice not to be locked into using only one particular book in order to answer the questions or fill in a worksheet...  but, the downside is that it does leave me trying to decide how to check my girls for reading comprehension.  Sometimes I just have them narrate what they have read, write a paragraph (Kayley), draw a picture or just tell me one thing they thought was really interesting about that chapter...

But!  For fun we have started using nifty website called Book Adventure to take little literature quizzes!

Book Adventure is FREE and offers kids a fun way to take quizzes on books they read using the Quiz-O-Matic!  After setting up a login you can search for books.

Type in the book you are interested in quizzing and chance are, it is already in there!

Take the 10 question quiz to test for comprehension...

As the kids take the quizzes and scores well, they earn points to "buy" things in the Prize Library!

The Prize Library has quite a few different things that that the kids can cash in their points in exchange for coupons, magazine subscriptions, downloads, etc.

It's simple but effective in testing for knowledge level comprehension of the books they have read.  Of course, nothing beats narration but my girls have both found Book Adventure to be a lot of fun!

What We are Reading this Week...

I am a book lover.  I like to read books.  I like to have books.  I like to buy books.  I like to gaze fondly upon books.  I especially like the smell of a book.  (eReaders have not worked well for me-it just doesn't smell as wonderful).  My favorite place to visit is a bookstore...and not just any book store, I prefer a good used bookstore, full of used paperbacks, cheap pictures books, and delightful out-of-print hidden treasures!  Fortunately my kids have both inherited this obsessive desire for books and we probably value reading most in our homeschool!

Today I thought I would share what we are reading this week and you can get a feel for how voracious both my kiddos and I are and maybe you will walk away thinking we are slightly nuts.

First of all, we are using BiblioPlan for our history studies.  This is our 3rd year in a row using BiblioPlan and I think the thing that I enjoy about it most is the flexibility.  It gives you a LOT of book choices plus the ability to replace, add, detract books without affecting the quality of the program.  We are studying Modern History this year...  Our entire homeschool really revolves around history studies and literature with other subjects (science, language arts) always enhancing or complementing history.

Right now we are focusing on the American Civil War, which is such an interesting time period!  We have been primarily using Hakim's History of US as a spine and a jump-off point.  It is recommended for grades 5+ and some of it I've had to explain but it really has been the best text I've found so far.

This week Maggie is reading:



Kayley is reading:


The Civil War is a choose your own adventure reader and they are really awesome!  We have several of these and often enjoy them as a read aloud!  The girls take turns picking the path we follow and we go back and start over and over again to choose a different path.

Read Alouds:

We usually have 2-3 read aloud going at one time...
We read one in the evening when Daddy is home:

And one in the afternoon with just the girls:

 We also really LOVE the "Big Head" book series...  They are a nice biography that Maggie can understand pretty easily.

We are also reading from:

This is pretty interesting as it focuses on how the Civil War was the first war to have so much "advanced technology" and new, modern conveniences like the telegraph and Pinkerton's Secret Service Agents.

Now, of course, I love to read and learn too so I typically choose one reader that is a level above Kayley in history and 2nd book to read that is just for me.  So this week I am reading:

 

We sure love reading.  My kids can devour books pretty quickly and sometimes it is a struggle to keep up with them!  I am always on the lookout for good books...feel free to leave a suggestion!  Thanks for visiting today.  :)

Back-to-Homeschool Scavenger Hunt {2015-2016}

It is tough to believe that I have a Kindergartener and a big 4th Grader this year!  We started "Back-to-Homeschool" the week before last and it has been a surprisingly smooth transition!  We are studying Modern American History, Swimming Creatures, Monet and the poetry of Robert Louis Stevenson!  Both girls are focusing on Language Arts and Math too!  We've taken our homeschool in a different direction this year...trying to approach our schooling from a more relaxed and joy-filled perspective.  (Instead of the intense rush, rush, rush of the last couple of years).

To kick off the fun I created a scavenger hunt for the girls to find their curriculum for the year!  This built up some excitement because I had been talking it up for a few days!  

Each clue took them to a hiding spot for their school books...

Yes, I even wrapped them...after all, being able to school at home is a gift!

  

 

We finished up the evening with the girls getting back-to-school blessings from Daddy.  It was a fun evening and the girls were really excited to get started on school the following day and I was really glad to get back onto a routine!  :)

Calee Reed - What Heaven Feels Like {CD Review}

I don't get a chance to review music very often but it is always a treat when I do!  This new CD by Calee Reed, What Heaven Feels Like, is a great blend of inspirational music with a fun beat.  At first listen I thought it sounded a little bit like country...and I kinda, sort of, somewhat dislike country music.  (Sorry!)  So, I was prepared to dislike the entire CD.  Well, I was pleasantly surprised that after listening to several songs I forgot about my plan to dislike it and was tapping my toes and bopping my head.

Calee's style of music is described as "folk pop" and her voice is really unique!  It is soft and sweet with a strong, clear, tone.  I enjoyed it quite a bit!  I think my favorite is probably the 1st song on the album, Living Water.  You will have to give a listen and see what you think!  I feel like this is something that is joyful and worshipful, just right for dancing in the living room with my children.

The CD includes the songs:
1. Living Water
2.  I Am Enough
3.  Possible
4.  Miraculous
5.  What Heaven Feels Like
6.  Sunshine
7.  Come Unto Christ

You can learn more about the artist at CaleeReed.com and purchase her music through Amazon or other retailers.

Be a fan!  Follow Calee Reed on Facebook!

Disclaimer:  I received this CD free of charge from Deseret Book in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions here are my very own.  Thank you!!  :)

4th of July

We had a LOT of fun this 4th of July!  We went to the parade.  The weather was perfect, we had a nice shady spot for viewing, it was much longer than last year and the kids got balloons, snow cones, candy, frisbee's, tooth brushes, and so much more!