Journeying with Reading Aloud

Did you know that the 6th of March was World Read Aloud Day? 
I didn't, not until I saw a few status updates on facebook about it. 


Did you know that there are 793 million people who cannot read?
I didn't!

There really is so much I don't know and my soul aches whenever I hear of neglect towards children. I know I can't save the world, I'm not called to do that, but I can make a difference in one life or maybe even ten and I trust that the Lord will water the seeds I plant.

One thing I do know is the Lord called me to educate my children at home for purposes that I understand and some I don't understand and remain only in God's thoughts.

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

So are My ways higher than your ways,

And My thoughts than your thoughts."

- Isaiah 55:9

Making reading aloud in our home a habit and a top priority has been a long journey. It all began when I was not satisfied with just text books and a small voice inside me kept prompting me to search for more. It was then that I discovered Charlotte Masons philosophy of education and excitement began to stir within. 

I was very ignorant to the fact of how difficult the road was going to be to break the school system out of my mind. It has been one stepping stone after another and a lot of times I slipped off at times when I allowed other peoples ignorant ideas and criticisms really affect my thoughts.

But I persisted and God sent people into my path who He used to strengthen my weak areas.

One being reading aloud. 

Today I am so pleased to be settled into homeschooling using Ambleside Online and the amazing read aloud system they have going on. I used to be so daunted whenever I would look at the years and all the literature to cover. 

But step by step it is possible. I just made small changes all the time until they became a part of our lives. 

Combining my children has been the best outcome for us even if my son is 4 years older than my daughter, combining all the read aloud's is working out to be very successful. 

The benefits that I have so far witnessed from introducing reading aloud as a way of life are - 

• Precious time with your children
• The ability to listen
• An exceptional increase in vocabulary (and not just from the children)
• It is a time of sailing off into someones world or venturing back to what once was
• Having the ability to comprehend and narrate back in your own words
• Developing a love for reading and for books
• Opens up various subjects for tremendous conversations 
• Expands the mind to think

For us this way of learning has been enriching and I Praise God for His leading and wisdom. 

I certainly don't stand back and judge what others do, for it is really important to do what works for each individual family, and homeschooling according to Miss Masons ways works for us.

So today I read aloud two ch of Ethel Turners 'Seven Little Australians' and 1 Chapter from 'Our Island Story' and it was truly a breeze. Ten years ago I would of struggled to even read half a chapter, but that is what is amazing about learning and growing.

All glory to my Heavenly Father who so willingly teaches. 

 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." - John 15:5

Love Sarah

xxx

AO Year 3 - Aussie Schedule

Hey beautiful blogger's,

How are you? 

This week we started back our home schooling and it's been a nice easy beginning. I have given myself two weeks to complete a couple of readings from Ambleside Y2 before we start Y3 which has worked out to be a very gentle way to ease back into the very full and rich curriculum that Ambleside online bestows.

I began this year by having a personal talk with my children on why their parents decided to homeschool them. I believe it is important for them to understand our reasons and values behind our choices. 

Our reason is very basic - because God said to and above all else we obey and trust Him for He is the Lord of our lives and nothing satisfies more that doing what the Lord Jesus says to. We did discuss other great benefits of homeschooling which was just wonderful.

I then read the Father's love letter to my Son & Daughter and they were both very touched by this and if you have some spare time I encourage you to read this beautiful letter yourself, all scriptural! It is sensational.

For anybody interested here is our schedule for the whole year - 

Ambleside Year 3 schedule 

This is pretty much Ambleside's year 3 schedule, I have only omitted some books to add an Australian presence in our curriculum with the help from Jeanne's adapted AO curriculum.

Our Aussie literature books are -

Blackie the Brumby by C.K Thompson (Natural Science)
Seven Little Australians by Ethel Turner
Storm Boy by Colin Thiele (Joshua's free read)
The Little Black Princess by Aeneas Gunn (Gracie's free read)
The Wonderland of Nature by Nuri Mass ( Natural Science - We have covered the first part of this wonderful Australian nature book, we will cover 'Plants' in term 3 this year)


We are going to be reading 'Robin Hood' instead of The Jungle book for term 3 as I have read (nearly finished) the Jungle book to Joshua and my daughter loves Robin Hood so that suits us. 

Here are our free reads for this year taken from Ambleside Yr2 and Yr3 - 

Ambleside Online Year 3 Free reads 

The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe & The Horse and His Boy by C.S Lewis are our family read aloud's for this year.

So there you have it, our curriculum choices for 2013. I'm pretty excited about it.

I'll leave you with some pictures from a picturesque place we were visiting over the past weekend.

Love Sarah

xxx

p.s I finished Les Miserables last night and tomorrow morning my parents and I are going to our closest cinemas to see the musical, very excited indeed! 

p.s.s I have a few posts coming up on our Arithmetic choices, including Mep, Multiplication and how we are getting on, what books are on my bedside table and others that are on my list to hopefully read this year and some thoughts on Les Miserables and how I was quite disturbed. 

A book review before 'the' book review!

Did you know that I discovered a book shop in Merimbula which I never knew existed?

Actually this bookshop extended their range, and I just didn't know about it.

Anyhow, I got lost in this shop browsing through books, not really looking for anything in particular, nor was I going to buy anything, unless a book just jumped off the shelf and into my loving arms, then yes I would certainly consider it.

Well the book 'Lost! A True Tale from the Bush didn't exactley jump into my arms, but the cover completely captivated me and I picked it up and was left breathless at all the remarkable images on every page I turned.

In August 1864, three children––Isaac aged nine, Jane seven, and Frank

just three––survived for nine long days and eight cold winter nights in the

desolate mallee scrub of the Wimmera District of western Victoria. They walked for

nearly 100 kilometres with no food or shelter and very little water. Against all the odds, the

children were finally found, very ill but alive.

This is their inspiring story.

I walked out of the bookshop with such excitement and delight with this book in my hands!

This is one of our read alouds for this term in AO3 which covers Australian History, literature and art appreciation.

Just couldn't wait to share this book with you!

Have any of you read this true story?