To Read or Not to Read

Reading to my granddaughter

Here it is, September already! Hard to believe. It is also the last leg of my journey as a home school mom. My last is scheduled to finish in December, so I have been busy setting school schedules and trying to figure out those last 3 books I want my son to read for school. One of the books I have him reading is an ARC by Eric Greitens. I hope to do a review in October, as that is when it is released. Anyway, all that to say this. I have not  chosen something specific to review this time. Instead, I would like to relate how reading impacted my years as a home school mom.

I always was an avid reader, so when I had children, I wanted to instill in them a love of reading. I read aloud to my children  and as soon as they were able to read, had them read to me. Dr. Seuss was a must. Throughout our schooling journey, reading good books was vital. My oldest, Rebecca T., did literature studies with her two younger brothers. They read Holes by Louis Sachar,The Outsiders by S.E.Hinton, and Hatchet by Gary Paulson. These books were chosen to keep the boys interested in reading.

I tried to find books that would match the interests of each of my children. One year I did a unit study on horses, using Album of Horses, for my second daughter. She studied horse anatomy and read lots of books about horses, including the series by Marguerite Henry, starting with Misty of Chincoteague. I have told you about the science books I used with my sons in a previous post.(The New Way Things Work and The Way We Work by Macaulay)  My third daughter, NaomiRuth, consumed books, especially ones about ancient cultures. A favorite was D'Auliere's Book of Greek Myths.

This is just a sampling of the many, many books we used in our schooling. As you encourage young people to read, find books they are interested in. I wish I had learned sooner that my one son hated fiction, so seemed to hate reading. Once I discovered this, I began giving him biographies and real stories. His desire to read grew and I was thrilled. In case you haven't guessed, it is my last son for whom I am trying to choose those three books mentioned at the beginning. Any suggestions?

Well, have a great rest of September. Remember to read and encourage children to read by getting them books related to their interests. I know I will be reading good books to my granddaughter to encourage another generation of readers. And don't forget to support your local brick and mortar bookstores. Til next month.

Blood and Guts - How Our Body Works

I am on a David Macaulay kick. I enjoy his humor as he presents essential information on how our bodies work. His book, The Way We Work, is co-authored by Richard Walker. I used this book with my son this past year as his anatomy class for high school. The material is simple enough for upper elementary, yet able to be used(with some supplementation) for high school students.

According to GeekDad, "Macaulay spent 6 years laboring on this book, four of them just learning anatomy through means that included attending operations and dissecting corpses."(quoted from Home Biology) This is a writer who is serious about his research! And it shows in his presentation of the material. The text is engaging and draws you in while teaching you anatomy in an interesting fashion.

The Way We Work contains 7 chapters on the different systems of the body. He begins with the cell as that is the building block of our bodies. He continues on through the respiratory and circulatory, the alimentary, the nervous, the immune, the excretory, and the reproductive systems. Each chapter begins with an introduction intended to lead you on a journey through each bodily system. The illustrations are accurate, yet not too graphic(as in the reproductive section). All are tastefully done. The information is given in short doses - two page spreads - so it is easier for use with younger students. 

Did you know that the way our bodies exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide is energy efficient?  It is economical because no energy is used. This two page spread from the book explains the process.(image copied from Home Biology) Chapter 2 is all about the respiratory system where Macaulay uses illustrations like roller coasters, swimming pools and dancing skeletons to keep your interest. 

So whether you home school or have a child or grandchild who is interested in how our body works, go straight to your local brick and mortar book store to get a hold of this book. Or maybe you always wondered how a cell is like a tent, or how the spinal cord relays messages to and from our brain, then get a copy for yourself. You will enjoy it and maybe learn something new.

See you next month. 

How Does a Toilet Tank Work?

Have you ever wanted to know how things work? Like a zipper, or a dentist's drill? Or maybe a submarine. I found that David Macaulay's book, The New Way Things Work, was a useful tool in learning about all kinds of machines and how they work.  I found this book helpful, especially with my boys, as it made the study of Science interesting and unique. 

Macaulay uses a wooly mammoth to tell the story of machines and how they are used in everyday life as he illustrates the various scientific principles with a humorous twist. He speaks of using levers to weigh a mammoth, and a wheel and axle to groom it. In part 5 , he explains "The Digital Domain" in a manner that makes it easy to understand, although mammoth gets upset. But then, you will have to read the book to find out why.

I like how the author uses an informal tone, inviting the reader in to explore and investigate how things work. The illustrations give a clear picture which enhances the information and explanations. The information is divided into short segments to keep a young reader's attention, yet is informative enough to satisfy an older student. If you or your children have a desire to know about the inner workings of machines, then this is the book for you. Pick one up at your local bookstore.

From the flyleaf, "The New Way Things Work has been conceived for readers of all ages....David Macaulay's beguiling treatment of the subject offers access to knowledge in the most captivating manner, and at the same moment makes the discovery seem like fun."