The 4-Hour School Day by Durenda Wilson

 How You and Your Kids Can THRIVE in the Homeschool Life

In short chapters with an engaging and encouraging tone, Mrs. Wilson shares tidbits, stories and strategies how a parent and family can implement  homeschooling. At the end of each chapter questions  help the reader think deeply about the chapter contents and to apply the themes.  Although she does not offer  explicit instructions how to complete school in four hours, she alludes to how she was able to keep school to the morning hours.  A better title would be the subtitle.  

My career as a public school teacher and some other situations in my life hinder me from mimicking a homeschool like she suggests. In my mind how she homeschooled is how I want to homeschool!

Overall, this book encouraged me to continue to homeschool and caused me to evaluate some aspects and pray over my ideals and roadblocks.  Mrs. Wilson's faith is the foundation of all she does.  Her love for God and His Word infused the pages.  

Mexique by Maria Jose Ferrada illustrated by Ana Penyas

 A Refugee Story from the Spanish Civil War

This picture book relates the journey children take from war-torn Spain to Mexico.  The narration switches seamlessly between the boat ride over and the horrors of war.  

Figurative language is incoroprated often.

Although this is a picture book, the subject matter is more suitable for older children.  

-Borrowed from the library.

Sketchbook A to Z by Dave Kline illustrated by Craig Schaffer

" An Alphabetical beginner's guide to Pennsylvania wildlife"

With couplets, Mr. Kline describes various creatures that make their home in Pennslyvania (not all of them are "wild" like cows and goats).  Mr. Schaffer's illustrations are incredible.  A separate section that encourages counting (1-10) creatures is included.  Alliteration is utilized in the numbers section.  Some of the rhyming/word choice was a bit forced.  Animal-lovers will probably know most of the information shared.  

-Borrowed from the library.

Shane by Jack Schaefer illustrated by John McCormack

 As a teen, I  loved Louis L'Amour novels.  Reading this book brought memories of the amazing heroes in L'Amour's exciting tales.  I, however, liked L'Amour's novels a lot better.

The narrator, a young boy named Bob Starrett,  relates how a mysterious stranger, named Shane, arrives to a rural area in Wyoming in 1889.  His parents persuade Shane to remain on their homestead, helping them with their farm.   Even though Shane won't discuss his past, the Starrett family trust him and feel safe with him.  Fletcher, the area's cattle dealer, wants the homesteaders' lands and resorts to bullying and violence to achieve his desires.  Is Shane capable of protecting the Starretts and saving their homestead?

It seemed to me that the family's idolizing of Shane was over the top.  The family's adoration for Shane was a bit sickening. At times it seemed like Shane was romatically interested in Bob's mother and she returned that affection.  Yet the novel was told from a young boy's point of view so it may be an accurate portrayal and well-executed.  

Categorized as "young adult".

Points to discuss/warnings: a couple of swear words, very violent (fights and injuries/death told in description), idolizing, emotional affair (not overt but enough to sense it is occurring)

short stories by various authors

 My ninth grader's first module focused on short stories.  I read the following short stories so I could discuss them with him and assess his writing:

1."A White Heron" by Sarah Orne Jewett-beautiful descriptions of nature; imagery

2. "The Diamond Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant-irony, surprise ending

3. "The Ransom of Red Chief" by O. Henry-my favorite!!, humorous, irony, suprise ending

***The above three were my favorite.  The rest were ok . . .

4. "The Worn Path" by Eudora Welty-well-written, incredible character depiction

5. "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" by James Thurber-again, well-written & great character depiction-I had borrowed the DVD starring Ben Stiller but had no desire to watch it.  This story made me sad.

6. "The Purloined Letter" by Edgar Allen Poe-my least favorite!  The solution was clever but my brain hurt by the end of reading it. . . .I could not wait for it to be finished!!

Gilgamesh A New Rendering in English Verse by David Ferry

 In iambic pentameter and couplets, Mr. Ferry relates the ancient tale of Gilgamesh.  His rendering makes the tale accessible to junior highers, high schoolers, and adults.  What a privilege to read literature from ancient times!  Readers will have a better understand of ancient cultures after reading this text.  I especially liked the section about the Mesopotamian flood.  

I read this aloud with my eleven-year-old.  We skipped some lines because of their depiction of sex.  

Reading response-compare/contrast the Mesopotamian flood to Noah's flood

Warning: harlot/prostitutes, description of sex and/or breasts a few times, mentions demons & many gods

-I own this book.

Hilaire Belloc

 
For our first montly poetry theme (now called "Poetry Pie" instead of "Poetry Tea"-the boys like pie better than tea!!), I featured "humorous intellectuals".  Poems by Hilaire Belloc and G.K. Chesterton were read and shared.  Below are the books we read (I could only find three! Not many are readily available via the library):

1. Hilaire Belloc-An Anthology of His Prose and Verse selected by W.N. Roughead

*My fourteen-year-old memorized a short poem from this one the same day we read and shared these poems!

-Borrowed from the library.

2. G.K. Chesterton-Collected Nonsense and Light Verse   selected and arranged by Marie Smith

-Borrowed via inter-library loan

3. Cautionary Tales for Children by Hillaire Belloc  Rediscovered and illustrated by Edward Gorey*

*Highly recommend (My eleven, almost twelve-year-old, asked me to buy this one for his birthday.  I bought him a similar album with more verses in it).

-Borrowed from the library.

This what I bought for my son for his birthday-

Warning: Most of Belloc's poems/tales end with the child dying.  The humor is dry and a bit edgy.