I Kinda like Kindle.

So a friend of mine recently showed me how to check e-books out from the library and read them in my Kindle app! But if you can't find anything via your local library, do you have any idea how many titles are FREE for Kindle on the Amazon store?! Yah, a bumload. So you can make your iphone or ipad have the same functionality as a Kindle. All for free. Did I mention it's free?

Read - Every. Single. Day.

So I'm on this mission to become better edjumicated. It must have to do with the whole classical, Christian homeschool thing. For SOME reason, these people think that if you're are going to teach your kids How to Learn and also Love Learning, it's best if you Model It. SO, here's what I'm currently reading/just finished/plan to start soon.

The Well-Educated Mind: A Guide to the Classical Education You Never Had by Susan Wise Bauer
Classical Christian Education made Approachable by Leigh Bortins
The Core: Teaching Your Child the Foundations of Classical Education by Leigh Bortins
Ten Ways to Destroy the Imagination of Your Child by Anthony Esolen
How To Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci: Seven Steps to Genius Every Day by Micheal Gelb
Letter to My Daughter by Maya Angelou
Bravehearts: Unlocking the Courage to Love with Abandon by Sharon Hersh

The first few chapters of A Well-Educated Mind encourage us to just get in the habit (the daily habit) of reading. Then, when that's in place, move on to figuring out what you need to read (to fill in the holes of your own education). So, I've been reading a lot more. Which is good. But now NETFLIX misses me.

Classical Christian Education made Approachable breaks down the idea of homeschooling with a Classical mindset into easy (easier) to achieve steps. Helpful. Practical. Also great intro for those contemplating the homeschool way of life.

The Core - more practical and easy steps and ideas for teaching your kids the basics of all the subjects so that they have a great foundation as they grow and learn more.

Ten Way to Destroy the Imagination of your Child - really encouraged me to think about what I allow my kids to do and which/when opportunities I seek out for them. I enjoyed the satire in this book (I love making a point by stating the opposite) - because of course I don't WANT to destroy my childrens' imaginations! I found this book difficult to read - so sobering - but also made me realize how important it is to think about (have intention) about how my children spend their time. And kids need free time, too! And lots of it! Yes, I agree.

How to Win Friends and Influence People - friend of mine was reading it and I always think about reading her book choices. And wow, confession, do I ever feel weak in this area these days. So I humbly sit at the feet of Dale Carnegie. You read it and you think, "Yah obviously!" But as my good buddy Dale says, it's the implementation that's key.

How to Think like Leonardo - given to me by a very creative old roomate. Still working through this one and decided to go through it again with my 9 year old. I think creativity is a major thing that everyone possesses but most people don't think they have.

Bravehearts - again, it's the weak painful area of life - relationships and how to love well. Oh Lord, help me love well. I'm just way too sensitive.

So there you have it - my current reading list. I'd love to know what you think if you've read or are reading any of these books.

(affiliate links in this post)

curriculum.

Lest you think all I do is crafts and making up surveys, I thought I'd tell you about what I mostly do when the kids and hubby aren't on break. Homeschooling! I've had a few people ask what I use for curriculum so I thought I'd lay that out here. Exciting, right?

Let me preface by saying that 1) I really dislike shopping for curriculum and 2) I'm extremely frugal. BUT, I love being able to choose what to use to teach my kids. {And...considering these things, it all might change in the next few days. At least the volume.}


Overall Philosophy:
Mostly Charlotte Mason (read about her and her method) with a rather large portion of Classical Conversations thrown in.

Spelling/Grammar/Phonics 
(covers years of spelling and grammar and the phonics are great)
Spell to Write and Read

Math 
Mathematics Enhancement Programme
(free downloadable curriculum out of the UK from K-12. we've really liked it. it goes about things in a slightly different progression than U.S. curricula* I've looked into but seems very comprehensive. plus it's british. that's just cool.)

Life of Fred
(a fun story about a 5 year old math professor which is very comprehensive mathematically speaking and fun to do alongside your kid. we use it as a supplement about once every two weeks.)

Foreign Language - a conversational approach
German Pimsleur Method (CD)

Music
piano (lessons and Simply Music), tin whistle

Bible
The Bible. (I really crack myself up.)

Art
Drawing With Children: A Creative Method for Adult Beginners, Too by Mona Brookes.
Discovering Great Artists by MaryAnn Kohl.
 
The following subjects are all outlined for me week by week, for free, on AmblesideOnline. Using mostly public domain texts (which I love - on so many levels) and depending on the topic, we do these together as a family more often than not...and usually only once a week.

History (World, US), lots of history
including Our Island Story (here for free) and The Little Duke

Geography
including Tree in the Trail by Holling C. Holling. (How many of you have kids with the same first and last name?)

Literature, loads of literature
including Shakespeare rewritten for kids, Pilgrim's Progress, and The Wind in the Willows
 
Science/Nature Study 
including The Burgess Animal Book (available for free here) 

Folksongs, Hymns, & Poetry
Oh how fun it is to hear my kids singing this folksong!

Handicrafts
things like Soap Carving: For Children of All Ages  

Art History & Appreciation 
we basically look at great classic art and share what we notice about each piece. 6 pieces per term.

Copywork (from the history or literature readings)

So, looking over this list, even though most of it is NOT every day by any means, I just think to myself, "No wonder. There could be a reason I'm not getting everything done!"

*i don't think i've ever used this word before