What I am reading and what's next on my shelf!

Recently I just finished 'Become a better you' by Joel Osteen, which would have to be one of the most encouraging books I have ever read. I highly reccomend this book!

Right now I am reading 'The prayer of Jabez for Woman'. I think it was about 8 years ago when I first read just 'The prayer of Jabez' and received the revelation from the prayer and I know that God heard my hearts cry and truly did enlarge our territory. This book I picked up in our local antique shop for $3 and I was stoked. It's a powerful read!

Max Lucado's 'Fearless' I began to read before Christmas, but am only half way through. This book hasn't been (in my opinion) the best he has written, but the content is all truth and a stepping stone to pushing past any fears in your life.

Books next in line are ~

My research and study books are ~

I have been reading 'A Charlotte Mason Companion' over the last year and am only half way through! Karen writes so much, I tend to go back over alot until I truly grasp what she has written.

Mathematics has always interested me and I was so pleased to find this book!

Acoustic guitar is another one of my passions! I began teaching myself at the age of 16 with books. This beautiful study book I brought mainly for the history content about how the acoustic guitar was birthed! I have scheduled more music time into our homeschooling this year, so I am really hoping it works!

Last but certainly not least, 'The Love Dare' is sitting on my shelf and soon I am going to start. I have been holding off maybe because the selfish/fleshly side in me is stopping me! Let me tell you my conscience is very much alive and the Holy Spirit whispers in my heart every now and then saying "The Love Dare" and my spirit says "yes Lord", and my flesh says "umm, when I'm ready"! We all know God's timing is better than our timing. Really, I am looking forward to allowing the Lord to work in my life!

Latest box of goodies...

In my favourites I keep two lists ~

1. Books for now

2. 2010 book list

Whenever I come across a wonderful book I add it to one of these lists. Recently I just ordered all my books on my 1st list for our 3rd & 4th term.

Our first box of goodies arrived in the mail this week and Joshua was the one who had the honours and the excitement of going to the bench and handing over the mail slip.

When Joshua arrived home he said "Mum, I had to sign my name and the lady said very beautifully done. I said hello to Pam and told her all about our trip to Malua Bay and Mogo zoo". Just thought that was so sweet!

Anyway back to the books. Here is what came in our first box of goodies and why I chose them ~ (hold on two seconds, just going to make a peppermint tea ~ would you like one?)

This is one of the books from the 'first discovery - music' series. It's a Illustrated book of the musicians life accompanied with a CD

The name of the book is quite obvious in why I chose it.
I was looking for a devotional that I can do with both Joshua & Grace. The book is based on biblical values which just appealed to me.

We do a lot of art & craft during the day and this book is loaded with a lot of wonderful ideas.

Just a tool to help me be diligent at providing poetry in our lessons...time will tell how it works, looking forward to it though.

Example of one in the book: Mary and James each work. One is a bricklayer. One is a skycap. the man is not a bricklayer. Who does what?

Next term we begin Galloping the globe as our geography studies. These two books are on the suggestion list to complement the curriculum.

Preparation is the key!

Today I have spent a couple of hours preparing for starting term 2 on Monday! As I was putting together the book list for this term, I began to feel very excited and confident about what we are going to do. You see after the end of last terms examinations I was shocked (to put it plainly) in how well the examination week went.



Joshua and Grace exceeded my expectations in what they had learned and picked up in each subject which then left me feeling so encouraged. I have seen such a difference in putting in the prep work and writing down what books you would like to have read and finished by the end of next term.



As I was looking at http://www.amblesideonline.org/ and what composer and artist we are studying this term, joy flooded my heart for I am so grateful for amble side putting together this fantastic curriculum for all who would like to use it.



Here is a quick over view of what is on our book list for this term -


Bible - We are studying the lives of the apostles in the book of Acts


Science - Pagoo - We actually started this book last term and the children were very intrigued so I am looking forward to picking it back up again

Australian History - We continue to read 'Our Sunburnt Country' - This is a very well written and illustrated book, the children love it.


Australian Literature - We have 2 more chapters of the very wonderful 'Dot and the kangaroo', (this read-aloud has been Joshua's absolute favourite) we then start 'The Magic Pudding'


Literature - Continue reading 'Robin Hood' followed by 'Tales from Shakespeare'

History tales - Joan of Arc

World History - Columbus

Geography - Seabird

Poetry - We begin ' The animals Noah forgot'


Reader's - McGuffey's Eclectic readers


For Grace we will be completing the tales from the wonderful Miss Beatrix Potter,






we will then start the beautiful series of A. A. Milne's Winnie the Pooh - the original series




For art we have Lot's of books on our shelf. One that we love is 'A child's book of prayer in art' by sister Wendy Beckett -





Art Appreciation - This term we are studying the works of Caspar David Friedrich (Romantic Painter) "The artist should not only paint what he sees before him, but also what he sees within him. If, however, he sees nothing within him, then he should also omit to paint that which he sees before him." - C.D.F

Composer - Franz Liszt - He was taught the piano by his father; establishing himself as a remarkable concert artist by the age of 12.



Nature Study - We continue the 'Real-Life Bugs and insects' series





We continue to read 'Parables from Nature' for our read-aloud.



Maths - Last term we started 'Memorize in Minutes: The Times Tables' - we are finding this just fabulous, I won't go into detail tonight for this book deserves a whole separate blog which i'll do later on.








Once again the preparation work has been the key to unlock readiness, confidence, joy and eagerness in my heart to begin our next term of learning.



BRING IT ON!