Library Fun

This past spring I read "The Well-Trained Mind"  by Susan Wise Bauer and Jessie Wise.   The book is full of lots of information.  The one thing we started doing this summer after reading the book was to make Eliana read a variety of books.  In the book they gave this list:




One Science book
One History book
One Art  or Music Appreciation book
One practical book (a craft, hobby or "how to")
A biography or autobiography
A classic novel or adaptation suited to age
An imaginative storybook
A book of poetry

After talking to our librarian about it she suggested we add a periodical to the list. Our library has a large section of magazines for kids.

The first few weeks this whole list thing annoyed Eliana.  I realized I had never taken her to the non- fiction part of our children's library.  I spend most of my time there getting books for school.  She was not impressed.  I showed her where each section from her list was located and let her pick books.  It took 5 weeks but last week she ran straight for the non-fiction, saying "Mom, where's my list, I've got to find my books!" Her excitement made the last few weeks worth the fight.

So here are the books she picked this week:

Science:  one on spiders and another on bears
History:  cowboys
Art/Music: Mozart
Practical: Cross Stitch
Biography:  Laura Ingalls Wilder  
                 I am beginning to think she will write her 
                 dissertation on her one day
Classic Novel:  I forgot the list - we missed this one this week
Story book:  To many to list
Poetry: I've Lost My Hippopotamus
Magazine:  American Girl 
                This is the only one she has checked out all summer, 
                 not sure it is educational but she is reading! 

So this is one habit we have added to our weekly library routine.  This fall I may start a smaller list with the boys!

Dance Time

Pinterest Club

With this awful Midwest weather we are having, I have been spending extra time the last few days on my favorite time wasting site Pinterest.  It is just too hot to do anything.  So I find myself at the computer once again. 

Pinterest is a Virtual Pinboard: 

Pinterest lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and organize their favorite recipes.

My favorite things to pin are new recipes and homeschooling helps.   I currently have 40 boards and 1400 pins.  Yeah - I know that's a lot.  So of course I will never realistically be able to do them all!  That brings me to my latest idea.  My Pinterest club!  There are so many things that are doable on my boards, it is just finding the time to do them.  So I have decided to host a  club once a month.  My thoughts are to have everyone bring a new recipe or drink from pinterest to share.  Then everyone can work on whatever project they would like to get finished.   I'll be hosting the first meeting in July at my house!  I would like to rotate around if other people are interested in being involved!


If you are local and interested just send me a private message or leave a comment on the blog.

If you don't have a pinterest account (and would like one), let me know and I'll send you an invitation.

Until then, happy pinning!