In my life this week…
This week was my son’s last PE class of the year and I am going to miss the sweet homeschool moms that I gab with every Tuesday like crazy.
They have become such a great source of fellowship and encouragement for me this year and there will be a huge hole left in my week without them.
Cassie, Dana, Julie, Becky, Carrie, and Lisa, I hope that you all have a wonderful summer and I can’t wait to hang out with ya’ll again next fall.
(See… I told you that you’d all end up in my blog one day!)
(((hugs)))
In our homeschool this week…
We’re now down to only four homeschool subjects: Writing, Bible, History, & Photography
We will be ending our school year next week and then my son will officially be DONE with elementary school. *cry*
We’ll be celebrating our BIG transition into Jr. High with a fun night out to my son’s favorite burger joint and I’ll be doing my best to not boo-hoo into my french fries.
My favorite thing this week was…
We are still enjoying our Photography 101 unit this week and I cannot wait to show you the fun pics that my son has captured over the past few days!
If you missed my post earlier this week, I’m sharing what we’re doing and how we’re doing it, if you’d like to follow along.
What’s working/not working for us…
My brain is not working for us!
Can you believe that I FORGOT that next Monday is Memorial Day?
Our principal (my husband) reminded me that he would be home from work on Monday and that we needed to take the day off with him.
Soooooooo, that means that we’re pushing back our last day of school to Wednesday.
A question I have…
How do you motivate your kids to keep reading books when you’re on a homeschool break?
I am pulling together ideas for a guest post that I am doing on another blog next month and I was wondering what you all would suggest.
Also, do you have any book recommendations for kids that I absolutely MUST include?
Your thoughts and ideas would be GREATLY appreciated!!!
A photo, video, link, or quote to share…
I have shared this cartoon before, but in honor of all of the homeschoolers graduating this year, I must post it again:
Happy Homeschooling,
Now it’s your turn to share…
Please read my guidelines HERE before you link up.
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Hey Sue!
First off, thank you for this site, these great memes, and all your wisdom, wit, and fellowship! I so appreciate you.
Congrats on all you are doing!! As for your request for ideas, this link is what I'm doing this summer. Don't the alphabet theme trick you that older kids won't get into this, Foss has activities and books to read for the older kids. The links are a great read! http://ebeth.typepad.com/serendipity/along-the-al… I hope it helps!! So far we are enjoying it!
Can't wait to see the pictures your son took. What a GREAT class! It is amazing what we can do in our "schools". LOVE it!
Blessings!
Love your photography class! How cool!
As for reading, that's been a real struggle in our home. I have one that doesn't stop reading and two that would rather not. I guess that's not entirely true, one of the two really began reading a ton this year- I guess 15 is the magic age. lol
Library reading programs were always a huge benefit to us but as they got older, they weren't enthused with the prizes they got. Sounds bad, I know. My husband decided we'd have our own summer reading program and since money has always been a huge motivation for the kids, they were required to read atleast one book a week and write a mini-report in exchange for a buck or two. My husband paid them waaaay more than I would have, but that's him. I'd have opted to give them computer time or a special movie night after they had read x amount of books. You get the picture.
One more thing, I leave books everywhere. In the bathrooms, on the coffee table, anywhere the kids will see them. I am constantly buying books. They like books, but they would never go out of their way to pick one up. I'd take it upon myself to build interest in the book. I'd read the back, or read an excerpt from the book to give them a taste of what it was about. That would get their attention and now they often fight over who's going to read the book first.
Sue I just wanted to thank you for hosting. This meme has helped me so much. I love you and my homeschool family!
A thought for summer reading…Take nature walks regularly throughout the week, and then let the kids choose library books about what interested them on their walk. The walks can be at different times of the day–a morning walk, an after dark walk, etc. That way, whether its how the constellations got their names or why an insect likes a particular plant, there's lots of reading material, and they get to choose their own interests.
I LOL at that cartoon! LOL!
We go to the library often, and I let them read what interests them. That is usually enough for us.
Gosh, I will be no help on tips to get kids to read over the summer…mine has been chomping at the bit for school to be wrapped up so that she will have more time to read! She was so excited the other day when we stopped at the library and she came out with 4 books to get her summer going!
Sue, I am blessed with 2 students who LOVE to read and gobble up library books all summer break! Maybe if you offered some sort of reward for a certain number of books read…kind of like Pizza Hut does, lol! I would read even more myself, for pizza, lol! I want to thank you for your link up opportunities and for you wonderful blog! Your encouragement to share my HS journey has been priceless to me! I am blessed to have found you and your blog!
Sue,
Could you institute a mid-day quiet time during the summer – sort of a siesta? During this time, your son (and you!) could read. My daughter has devoured Erin Hunter's "Warrior" series.
Carrie
Since we homeschool year around, I have never had a problem with my kids not wanting to read in the summer. I tend to agree with Tonya, find just as many incentives that you can, and keep books constantly available for them.
That cartoon totally made me giggle, thanks for sharing it!
As for reading, I plan to sign my kiddo up for every Summer Reading program available (Half Price Books, Borders, Barnes & Noble and my local library)… that way he's getting rewarded for reading during the summer, just an extra enticement to keep him going. It worked last year, let's hope it works again! We'll see…
that cartoon is so funny!
congrats on moving on to jr high…i have 2 'in the middle' starting next year. i better rest this summer! i have really enjoyed doing the homeschool mother's journal, though i have only participated the past few weeks – so thank you!
LOVE the cartoon!
Reading? Already been mentioned, but summer library programs. Our library also has special arts and crafts schedules as well as photography, cooking, Harry Potter, a magic show, and animal rescue coming. Perhaps a library close to you offers something similar! Quiet Time in the afternoon! EVERYONE here reads, even the non-reader looks at books and magazines.
Everyone is also required to bring a book or magazine ANYWHERE we go – beach, road trip, grocery shopping. It's amazing how much reading can get done driving from one place to another!
First time linking up this week!
I'm going with the summer reading programs, as well. Barnes & Noble has one. The county fair also has one. The libraries probably have one as well, but we haven't been to the library in a while. We have so many books at home, the library hasn't been necessary in a while.
Wait, if you're finishing up school for the year, does that mean no more THMJ for a while? : (
Love the photograph 101.For reading my 10 yo loves reading to me at night.Plus both boys get pizza day when they read 50-100 pages a month.
I loved the cartoon! My daughter finishes middle school next year and it has been in the back of my mind to do something special. Thanks for inspiring
We usually require reading and run through math facts before they can gain any 'screen time'. We use to keep a chart, minute for minute was the exchange: read for 30 minutes, screen time for 30 minutes. It worked great.
Tale of Desperaux the BOOK is wonderful! Also, a lot of libraries have kids reading clubs for middle school and up, just keep an eye on the content. I don't know if your son will still qualify for elementary reading groups, he might. I know our library has a contest every year. You turn in your reading logs weekly and get a little prize then go into a drawing at the end of the year for a BIG prize. They usually end the summer with a party as well
I always enjoy reading your updates. Is your child going into school, or are you going to homeschool him till high school ? Just wondering.
As for reading, although my 9 year old is already reading much higher level books, to encourage the love of a variety of books, I still read a book to them (both my 9 and 5 year old.) each day. Sometimes I stop at dramatic points, and say "I'm tired." that is usually met by protests, and often my 9 year old continues reading out of curiosity, and she reads it aloud coz my 5 yeard wantsto know what happens too. We also visit 2 different libraries every 3 weeks. Howeever, my husband is beginning to get irritated with the number of books lying around everywhere!
congratulations on your boy moving on to Jr. High! (loved the cartoon!)
Hi,
My idea for summer reading. The library reading programs and those sponsored by businesses. So far this year I have found Borders, Barnes and Noble, Pizza Hut. I don't know if the ages will work for you or not. Also for the first you have to be close enough to go into the store and get the books at the end.