Saturday, November 17, 2007

Christmas Book List

Edited from a post I made on the Homeschool-MovingOn yahoo group.  I plan to add to this list every Christmas.  I need to have it in a nice, permanent place, as I got through this past Christmas totally forgetting quite a few of the titles on this list.


 

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (I know, I had to start with the most spiritual one of all, didn't I?  But I *have* to read it for Christmas)

Christmas Carols for a Kid's Heart by Bobbie Wolgemuth

Jotham's Journey series - Jotham’s Journey, Bartholomew’s Passage, Tabitha’s Travels - by Arnold Ytreeide 

The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado

Jacob's Gift by Max Lucado

My Prairie Christmas by Brett Harvey

Lion Storyteller Christmas by Bob Hartman - we love this one :)

Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciecowski

Legend of the Poinsettia by Tomie dePaola (and there are a few others by him too, Clown of God for one)

Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson

The Trees of the Dancing Goats by Patricia Polacco

Gift of the Magi by O Henry (when it isn't in a collection we're reading already!)

The Tale of Three Trees by Angela Elwell Hunt

Christmas Tree Farm by Ann Purmell

Grandfather's Christmas Tree by Keith Strand

Jesus by Brian Wildsmith 

Christmas in my Heart by Joe Wheeler (there are numerous volumes)

Light at Tern Rock by Julia Sauer

The Farolitos of Christmas by Rudolfo Anayo

Christmas on the Prairie by Joan Anderson

Christmas Blizzard by Helen Ketteman

The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree by Gloria Houston

One Wintry Night by Ruth Bell Graham

The Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

 


 

I know there are others... but there's a start of a list :)

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Treating kids differently

The big thing I keep telling myself is that I love my kids too much to treat them all the same.  This means a number of things to me.  First, it means that if I go do one-on-one time with one of my kids, I can take one to Panda Express (his favorite!), I can go shop for new shoes for another with a stop for hot chocolate at Starbucks, and I can take another to a movie.  I don't have to drag them all to Panda Express (I have one who would consider that a punishment, not a reward).

But the bigger thing is that it means that I'm granting myself permission to school them each differently.

My oldest attended MOPS as a preschooler.  My current 3-year-old attends Cub Scout meetings, even though he won't be able to join for another 2.5 years (and yes, he knows how long it will be until he can join).  Is one of them better off?  I don't think so.

My oldest heard stories like Goodnight Moon and Paddington Bear when he was three.  My current 3-year-old rarely gets a picture book (though we're doing some), instead listening to stories like King Arthur and Little House on the Prairie.  Which one is getting the better education?  I don't know.

My oldest spent lots of time with creative play with Duplos.  My current 3-year-old is more likely to be helping to create a model of ancient Rome or to recreate a Civil War battle scene.  I can tell you my current 3-year-old enjoys his Duplo time far more than my oldest did.

My oldest got plenty of one-on-one time and lots and lots of books.  My current 3-year-old has big brothers teaching him to play chess, how to play marbles, how to play catch, and even how to read.  Who is at the advantage here?  I could argue either way.

My oldest spent hours teaching himself math through play.  My current 3 year old just sits in on all his brothers' lessons and is picking up math concepts even I can't believe.  My oldest might have the advantage, but then again... well, I don't know.

I can come up with long, long lists of things my 3-year-old is missing out on.  Picture books, snuggle time - those are the biggies.  My current 3-year-old is getting a lot that his bigger brothers didn't though - active time outdoors is one big one.


Comment on my original blog:

Anonymous -

sounds like my life...glad its not just me

Saturday, May 16, 2009 - 10:20 PM