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Random…and Blog Walk

July 20, 2010 in Homeschooling, MyBlogSpark with 1 Comment

Image via Wikipedia; Double-O-Arch in Arches National Park in Southwestern USA

Just popping to with a few random things! First off, here are the links to the TOS Crew blogs for Blog Walk, week 6. Take a minute to check out some new blogs and get some great ideas for this year! In fact, one of the blogs listed, Light, Liberty and Learning, is written by Denise on my mini-crew and she has some fantastic thoughts on classical curriculum.

1. Deanna’s Corner
2. Light, Liberty, and Learning
3. Bunny Trails
4. Flowers N Plaid Homeschool
5. Gadow Ohana
6. His Wonderful Works
7. Expand
8. Confessions of a Homeschooler
9. The Sojourner
10. A Full Heart

Next, PLEASE save any Nature Valley Granola Bar wrappers you happen to get. I won’t tell you why…yet, but if you save them and send them, in you’ll be supporting our National Parks…and recycling…and I’ll share all when I do an upcoming giveaway!

Free Classics for your eBook Library from Barnes and Noble

July 20, 2010 in ebooks, reading with 2 Comments

Barnes & Noble eReader Software Coming to iPad

Image by John Federico via Flickr

Well, I am glad to see this pop up! Last week, I wrote a post about e-readers for your iPod, iTouch, iPad…computers, etc. One thing I was disappointed about was that I didn’t like the free ebook offerings from B&N. Today, I see in my email that they have a bunch of classics available for free–just in time for back to school! Check out these B&N classic FREE ebooks.

And, it looks like they may continue offering FREE classic ebooks weekly through Sept 14th! I just may end up reading on these things…..

Setting Sail with the TOS Crew

July 18, 2010 in curriculum, Homeschooling, TOS Crew, TOS Crew Review with 2 Comments

Image by mark.aaserud via Flickr

Well, The OldSchoolhouse Crew (TOS) journey for 2010-2011 has begun!

You will be seeing crew homeschool reviews pop up this week and hopefully, be able to learn about some practical, useful and fun curriculum.

The crew journey last year was a blast. I got to try out tons of new learning products and meet lots of great people. To check out some reviews from last year or to see why we homeschool, you can click on my Homeschool Helps Tab. I can’t wait to see what I’ll be reviewing this year…

This time around, I am also a First Mate with a mini-crew! I’d love to welcome these ladies to the crew and introduce them to my readers. Please check out their blogs for homeschool advice and inspiration.

Here’s our mini-crew logo. We are using an old sailing term “Know the Ropes,” because all of the ladies on this mini-crew are veteran homeschoolers who will be wise reviewers….they do Know the Ropes!

April at Heartfelt Homeschooling
Denise at Light, Liberty and Learning
Kimberly at Until The Day Dawn Weblog
Sarah at Ahoy Maties, My Homeschool Crew Reviews and 212 Mom

Watch for our logo and some great ideas for you and your family!

Purposeful Reading

July 16, 2010 in Book Reviews, family time, health, TOS Crew with 5 Comments

This one will read with me:)

A good blog friend of mine, Annie Kate over at Tea Time with Annie Kate wrote a post today that reminded me of one of the reasons I love reading her blog…because her actions as a homeschool mom–and just as a person–are purposeful, considered and thoughtful.

Why do her posts strike such a chord for me? Well, I think it is that I tend to rush around a bit too much for my own liking, and have trouble sometimes, just sitting down and accomplishing things that I really want to do that take a bit of that sort of consideration and restfulness.

Anyway, today Annie Kate’s post was about keeping a list of books she has read, and participating in a meme that another blog friend, Kristin, over at A Day In The Life, is doing, called 52 Books in 52 weeks.

Not only did I absolutely love the list of read alouds Annie Kate included in her post, but because it is Summer, I was kind of struck by the meme. Hey, I want to do that, my mind just yelled. Which is funny, because I had seen that meme before, and thought Kristin was great for doing it…but I was too busy to really hear or care.

go to the 52 books website...

Now, with Emma’s scare and diagnosis of epilepsy behind me, all the kids school, and whatever else seemed to happen to me–I’m pretty sure I’ve blocked some stuff out–it really has been a horrible year– basically what I now call my “lost Spring,” …now that’s behind me, and the book lover in me wants to read, wants to make a list, wants to sit down with ice tea and lemonade and do a read aloud, for God’s Sake!

There. I feel better. So, deep down, what appeals to me in the 52 Books in 52 Weeks meme is not whether or not I actually read 52 books. It is that I pay attention to an activity I love, and make a record of some of that….and especially that I add some read alouds, read lazily but with purposefulness, to any remaining babies who will sit with mom and listen…

Wish me luck. If you want in, please join up. Take a look at Kristen’s and Annie Kate’s lists. Sit on the couch and read more than just “The Pigeon Wants a Puppy” by Mo Willams (we LOVE that one, but that’s like a warm-up-:)

If you have any ideas for great read alouds, please leave me a comment!

Anyway, this post kind of answers the 52 book question of the week–what makes me want to read a book? I always want to! I just have to make time. And, here’s a link to one of my reviews to get me started: Wholesome and Fun Summer Read For Teens, a review of Trouble With Treasure, by Susan Marlow.