What We Do

For school.  

 This is just to record a few of the resources we like, and some of our favorite books.

Last year, Demetri listened to about ½ of the Tarzan series.  I only got bits and pieces, so I’m still not sure if I like it.  We’re considering Sherlock Holmes.

He read Swiss Family Robinson, Treasure Island, Island of the Blue Dolphins, Hatchet, Number the Stars, The Little Prince, Zia, A Door in the Wall, The Whipping Boys, Little House on the Prairie, The Giver, The Wright Brothers, The Sign of the Beaver, Sounder, Where the Red Fern Grows, Julie of the Wolves, North by Night, Little Women, Just So Stories, The Jungle Book, Kim, and many more that I can’t remember right now.  I wish I’d kept better track:(.  Shawn decided partway through the Wrinkle in Time series that he didn’t like it.  They are halfway through the Scarlett Pimpernel, and A Little Princess (which is being read to the little boys too).  Last year Shawn read Journey to the Center of the Earth with Demetri.  Demetri is reading Pippi Longstocking to the little boys.

The younger boys get lots of Dr. Suess, and picture books.  But what I really like to read to them is Betsy-Tacy.  We stopped after I had the baby, so now I have to get back into it again.

We like to get audio books from libravox.com.  Demetri had an mp3 player (before it went through the washing machine) that he would download books to and then listen while he did chores in the morning.  It might have made him a little slower, but I didn’t really mind.  He also took his audio books to the playground!  I think I’m going to have to get him another mp3 player for his birthday.

We’ve been liking books by Steve Sheinkin for history.  We use Discover the Scriptures for gospel study.  We like the Beethoven’s Wig cd’s for music.  

For “preschool” I usually just buy a workbook they can do at the same time the others are doing school, and we play a few phonics card games here and there.  We use Janeen Brady’s Standin’ Tall Series, and Safety Kids.  

Everyone does math on the computer (even preschoolers).  We use the Linux math game—free, but it’s a whole operating system.  It’s the best math game I’ve seen so far for drilling.  We have a math board game we pull out sometimes, with 3 different math games in it.  They like the dino math one.

Writing consists of writing letters to friends and family, though Demetri has tried a blog and writing a book.  Letters are the most consistent.  I’m working on a short fantasy story that has the kids in it to try to inspire them to write more.  

We use pop-up Chinese, and Growing Up With Chinese, for, you guessed it, Chinese study.  But we haven’t done very well at that one yet.  I’m working on it.  And Shawn thinks the best resources are little kid’s books in Chinese.  I have yet to get through one, even with his help.

We have sports down!  This year I want to focus a little more on drama and piano (the only instrument I can teach them).  We do sporadic art lessons—Olie’s favorite, and last year I conducted a “community” (neighbor kids) cooking class and art over the summer.  Shawn also did Science Saturdays with whatever kids wanted to, usually an experiment, possibly with a short lesson. 

I’ll have to keep writing down my favorite resources as I find or remember them, so that by the end I can remember all the things we liked.

This year we plan on reading Anne of Green Gables—because I’m the mom and it’s one of my favorites, Around the World In 80 Days (Shawn and Demetri), the rest of the Betsy-Tacy books, Little Men, Sheinkin’s Bomb (along with a WWII documentary we have), 5 Little Peppers and How They Grew,  The Second Jungle Book,  The Prince and the Pauper, we might do some more Thornton Burgess this year.  I’m thinking of Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!  and other books by Mo Willems. 

I also like suggestions and favorites!