Reading Revolution

Hi friend!  Just wanted to stop in today and chat about something that has been a true joy for all of us in my household: READING.

Reading a book aloud together has really helped me to cultivate a deeper relationship with my children.  Taking time out to read, just for myself, has also served to refresh me and encourage me in my spiritual life and as a homeschooling parent.

Some have put it this way: reading can be a very powerful *reset* button to a frustrating day.

Over the past few years or so, I have really enjoyed reconnecting with books.  You see, there was a time when I did not--years when I was working late hours at the hospital, years when I was nursing babies around the clock and had to use any free time I had to catch up on sleep or housework!  But now, in this season of my life, it is one of the most restorative things I do in my day.

Before I dive into what I've been reading, let me chat for a minute about how I record the books I've read.  First, I keep a Word document on my desktop of what I read (titles and authors) and divide it out by category: spiritual, home education, fiction, children's literature, etc.  I start a new list every year, and so in this way, I can easily glance at what I am taking in each year.  Is it balanced?  Do I read too much non-fiction as compared to fiction?  What genres do I not read from (fantasy, for example?).  What do I want to read in the upcoming year?  This list helps me wrap my mind around my annual diet of reading material and tweak it if necessary.

However, I also like to process what I read--I like to rate it and write down some initial impressions about it.  This little "what I read" journal has been just that: a compact way to record what I read and include my personal opinions and impressions about it.  My ten-year-old also has one that she has enjoyed using, too!

"what I read" journal

I used to read books with a pen in hand because I *love* to underline quotes that really resonate with me and jot down notes in the margin.  However, in my attempt to decrease my non-essential spending, I have been using my local library more and more to whittle away at my book list.  That said, I have fallen in love with these book darts which allow me to mark passages, but without actually defacing a borrowed book with a pen or pencil or by dog-earing pages.  In fact, my kids love these too, so I recently bought my six-year-old her own tin.  Once I finish reading a book, I then transfer these marked quotes into my journal and return the book darts to their tin for my next read.

Since my childhood, I have always kept a journal--a place to keep my personal musings on my day, as well as a place to record quotes and passages from books I've enjoyed.  I now know that journals which contain book quotes are sometimes called "common place journals."  I suppose I have kept a common place journal all along, but it is so much more to me than that. If you want to know more about keeping a common place journal, and teaching your children how to use one as part of their homeschool reading, I'd highly recommend checking out this free master class and/or podcast from Sarah Mackenzie at the Read Aloud Revival.

Okay--so, what have I been reading recently??  Come, take a tour with me of the books on my nightstand.  Any and all of these I would heartily recommend if you need any ideas for yourself or your family...

• Children's literature: Sophie Quire and the Last Storyguard by Jonathan Auxier.  Another fantastic book in the Peter Nimble series.  Can we say page-turner?!

• Classic literature:  To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.  A reread for me, and a fantastic one at that.  I just had to rewatch the movie starring Gregory Peck, too.  Sooo glad my sister nudged me to reread this Pulitzer Prize winner and discuss it with her over the phone!

• Non-fiction: This is actually my favorite genre!  I couldn't whittle it down to just one--can't tell you enough good things about the following books:

Barefoot and Balanced: How Unrestricted Outdoor Play Makes for Strong, Confident, and Capable Children by Angela Hanscom

Vitamin N: The Essential Guide to a Nature-Rich Life by Richard Louv

Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature Deficient Disorder by Richard Louv

Do you see a theme emerging??  Bottom line: get youself and your kids outdoors...a lot!

• Home-Education: Another tie! Arithmetic for Parents: A Book for Grownups about Children's Mathematics by Ron Aharoni  (yep, turns out that teaching 5th grade math is kicking me in the tush--this is a GREAT overview of arithmetic and really helps you see the subtlety and beauty of mathematical computations in general) and How To Read Literature Like a Professor: For Kids by Thomas C. Foster (a great one to help you talk to your kids about symbolism, mood, quest, etc...when you read books together)

• Read Aloud with the kids: Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo (can't wait to see the movie with them now!)

• Spiritual life:  Reading both Unlimited Grace: The Heart Chemistry that Frees from Sin and Fuels the Christian Life by Bryan Chapell and rereading How People Change by Tim Lane and Paul David Tripp right now.

• Just For Fun: Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative and Show Your Work: 10 Ways to Share Your Creativity and Get Noticed by Austin Kleon.  I loved the pen and ink illustrations just as much as the words!

So there you have it--let's all just say YAY for reading!!  It truly has been revolutionary for me and my household, and I hope it will be for you and yours, too!

Don't think you have the time to read?  Sarah Mackenzie will give you some great ideas (being a home-schooling mother of SIX herself) to fit reading into your life.  There are also many great ideas as to what your children can do if they have the wiggles while you are reading aloud to them.

So what do you have to lose, dear friend?  As the weather turns cooler and the days get shorter, why don't you brew up some favorite tea or coffee and curl up with a great book?  Just do me a favor and don't forget to record it, somewhere, somehow!  You will be amazed to see all the great ideas you savored through books when you check out ALL that you have read a year from now!

(NOTE: I would be remiss if I did not mention the most impactful book of all in my life: the Bible!  Check out this post for more about my favorites study Bibles, journaling Bibles, gift Bibles and more)