Advanced 3rd and 4th Grade Reading List

I am putting together our reading list for next year. Please keep in mind that I have two advanced and avid readers. I would put these books into an advanced 3rd grade to 4th grade range. I try to pick a variety of genre as well as length. I want the girls to enjoy the books and to also feel a sense of accomplishment when they finish one. Honestly, I don't know if we will get through all of these, but my goal is to give the girls a wide range of rich literature and if we get through it we get through it, if not, they can always come back to it in their free time or even next year.




The Witch of Blackbird Pond
Freak the Mighty
How to Eat Fried Worms
The Sign of the Beaver
My Side of the Mountain
The Wheel on the School
Little Pear
Detectives in Togas
The Whipping Boy
Mustang: Wild Spirit of the West
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
Sarah, Plain and Tall
Meet George Washington
The Bears on Hemlock Mountain
The Matchlock Gun
The Door in the Wall
Island of the Blue Dolphins
Number the Stars
Good Night Mr. Tom
Captain Grey
The Castle in the Attic
The Trumpet of the Swan
The Twenty-one Balloons
The Cricket in Times Square
Pocahontas and the Strangers
There's a Boy in the Girl's Bathroom
The Learning Dog
The Cabin Faced West
The Indian in the Cupboard
Return of the Indian
Grandpa's Box
The Bronze Bow
Adam of the Road
The Phantom Tollbooth
Henry Huggins
Caddie Woodlawn
Understood Betsy
The Voyages of Dr. Dolittle
Where the Red Fern Grows
The Wizard of Oz
Old Yeller
Pipi Longstocking
Misty of Chincoteague
Amos Fortune, Free Man
Carry on Mr. Bowditch
Strawberry Girl
The Red Badge of Courage
Captain Courageous
Black Beauty
Treasure Island


I hope you enjoy!

Apologia Astronomy Supplemental Resources

I know I have been the worst blogger ever these last few weeks. I will catch everyone up on our move soon, but now that we are in my parents house and in a school routine I have some time to share some projects with you!

This is our first year using a full on formal science curriculum. Last year we used Real Science 4 Kids Pre-Level 1 and loved it. It was just right for the stage that we were at. This year though, I decided to go with Apologia Astronomy for the first half of the year and Apologia Botany the second half. This post will focus on resources for Astronomy.

Before I get into the resources let me just do a quick non-sponsored review. We LOVE this science. I wanted something with real meaty information, just enough young earth creationism (I prefer to supplement in my own theology as much as possible, but wanted the book to have a definite young earth world view) and that was hands on. This science meets all three of those! We also added in the junior level journals, which like the curriculum, are fabulous!

This is going to get quite lengthy but I wanted to put all the information on one post to make it easier to find, and who am I kidding, it does better on Google that way too hehe. I will add to this list as we work our way through the curriculum. Some books will not be from a creation world view. I will put an (S) beside anything secular and a (OE) beside any Christian resources that take an old earth world view. I personally believe it is very important to teach my kids all of the views so that we can reason out together the flaws with the secular and old earth views. These will be appropriate for up to about 4th grade.

Reading List:

Non-Fiction:

Exploring Our Solar System: The Stars (S)

This entire series is (S):
A True Book Mercury
A True Book Venus
A True Book Earth
A True Book Mars
A True Book Jupiter
A True Book Saturn
A True Book Uranus
A True Book Neptune
A True Book Pluto
A True Book The Sun
A True Book Constellations
A True Book The Moon
A True Book The Stars
A True Book The Solar System

Answers in Genesis Astronomy Resources

Picture Books and Fiction:

What Does the Sun Do?
The Sun is My Favorite Star
Happy Birthday Moon
I Want to be an Astronaut
What's Out There?
If You Decide to go to the Moon

Usborne (S):

First Encyclopedia of Space
See Inside Space
The Usborne Book of Astronomy and Space
Living in Space

Internet Resources:
Solar Eruption
Astronomy for Kids
NASA Solar System Exploration
DVD Resources:
In the Shadow of the Moon

Supplies for Experiments from the Text:

Home Science Tools Kit
Creation Sensation Deluxe Kit

Supplemental Science Experiments:

All about the Sun  (S)
Make a Solar Cooker (S)
Make a Solar Still (S)

Astronomy Art/Craft Projects:

Make a Paper Plate Sun
Make Your Own Sundial
Make a Planetarium Box

Review: Imagination Station Series

Finding age appropriate books for my daughter has been a real mission for me. There is so much out there but there but there are concerns. Is it on her reading level, is the content appropriate, will it keep her interest?

I am so excited to tell you about the Imagination Station Series. Of all the books we have read these have just been so fun! My daughter has been intimidated with chapter books as she is just on the fringe of readers and chapter books. She actually cried the first time I told her to pick up Voyage with Vikings. I gave her 10 minutes to calm down and when I got back she told me she was going to finish the book in one day! It actually took her three but she was so excited about the book that I had to make her put it down! She had the same reaction to the other books in the series!

So what about content? Well, each book is historically and Biblically based. While there is creative license in the books they are safe and based on truth. Each book follows two children who travel back in time and experience past events. Because they are published by Focus on the Family' Adventures in Odyssey you can be confident that the content in the books is safe! Best of all the books have an activity page, parent page, vocabulary list, devotion suggestion, and a fun secret word that can be entered on the website for a special surprise!

As of right now there are seven books out. We reviewed the first six and enjoyed them all. They run around $4.50 $4.99 depending on which and where you purchase them and are age appropriate for 7 and up.

These are definitely a must on your child's pleasure reading list!

Disclaimer: I was given a copy of the first 6 books in exchange for an honest review. This post is 100% my opinion.

The Mom I'm Bored Jar

If there are any two words that I dislike hearing they are "I'm Bored". Despite the overwhelming number of toys that my children have, the big back yard complete with trampoline and playground, the numerous art supplies and their siblings, my children never seem to have anything to do.

This could be the most amazing idea I have ever seen. The I'm Bored Jar. There are so many variations of things you can do with this that it makes it the perfect customizable summer idea! I sat the girls down and we came up with a list of about 50 different "I'm bored activities". I will have them pull a card and do each activity for 30 minutes. Once the card is drawn I will move it out of the box until all of the other cards are drawn.

Here is our list of I'm Bored Activities. Feel free to use it :)

Make a Puppet
Have a Puppet Show
Blow Bubbles
Write a Book
Write a Letter
Read a Book
Play Outside
Play Stuffed Animals
Dress Up
Finger Paint
Draw a Picture
Play Store
Chore (x's 5)
Snack Time
Go to Neighborhood Park
Paint Toenails
Computer Time
Play Doh
Tea Party
Simon Says
Play Animals
Trains
Science Experiments
Window Markers
Scavenger HuntSoccer
Hopscotch
Mud Pies
Bake with Mama
Music Band
Wii
Tinker Toys
LegosPattern Blocks
Write in Journal
Collect Bugs
Build a Pillow Fort
Make a Bracelet
Ride Bike
Sidewalk Chalk
Water Guns
Make a Movie
Board Game
American Girl Dolls
Water Slide
Nature Walk
Hide and Seek
Tag
Leap Frog
Follow the Leader
Take a Bubble Bath
Work a Puzzle
Mazes
Dot to Dot
Word Search

You will notice some of these are outside but I thought that limiting them to 30 minutes at a time would help with avoiding sunburns and heat exhaustion. You will also notice that I have snuck in 5 chore cards, hehe. We will probably add to these as we think of other fun activities. If you have any ideas for us please feel free to let me know!

Math U See Stewardship Curriculum Give Away!!

Homeschooling is not just about the three R's, it is also about teaching life skills. Stewardship of money is one of those basic life skills we must teach our children. Math U See has the perfect curriculum for doing just this!

Stewardship comprises 3 books, the Teacher Manual, Student Text and Devotionals. The Teacher manual and student text contain 30 lessons on a variety of topics from checking, to comparison shopping, to the cost of operating a car, to maintaining your home. The Devotional has 38 lessons on financial principles based on the word of God.

Here is a sampling of chapters from the Stewardship teacher manual…

■Earning Money
■Percent
■Taxes
■Banking
■Checking
■Interest
■Budgeting
■Percents at the Store
■Credit Cards
■Comparison Shopping
■Evaluating Phone Plans
■Best Value/Best Price
■Large Ticket Purchases
■Automobiles, Purchase

Plus, it teaches from a Biblical perspective! It's never too soon to start teaching your child God would have us handle our finances!


Now for the fun part! I am giving away ONE Math U See Stewardship Curriculum plus you will also get a Family Worship Book and His Story My Story!! For one(1) entry you can Follow My Blog. For one(1) entry you can "Like" Molding Minds Homeschool on Facebook. . For one(1) entry you can Share On Facebook or on on your favorite social media site (to share just cut and paste this blog into your status and let me know where you shared). For one(1) entry you can follow Molding Minds on Twitter. This is a total of FOUR(4) chances to win! Please post a SEPARATE COMMENT for each entry and be sure to leave an email address for me to contact you at if you win!

Winner will be draw on March 15th !

American Girl Samantha Valentine's Lapbook

Currclick has a great deal on American Girl Samantha Valentine's Lapbook! For just $1.00 you can get this great Valentine's Day lesson plan and lapbook for your Valentine's Day but only until February 15th, so get it quick!

For other great Valentine's Day activities, lapbooks and lesson plans visit here!

Phonics Vs Whole Word Reading

If you have a TV then you know all about the Your Baby Can Read that promises your that your baby, as young as 6 months old will learn how to read. Sounds amazing doesn't it? And we all want to give our children a head start with reading. But what is the science behind these types of whole word reading methods and are the better than teaching phonics?



Whole word reading or whole word language, is exactly what the name implies. Instead of breaking the word down into individual sounds, it teaches the child to look at the word as a whole and memorize it by the way it looks. Kind of like looking at a picture of an elephant and memorizing that picture as an elephant except with words.

Benefits: Children can be taught whole word language reading at a young age. It also, generally results in faster results. This may be beneficial to struggling readers. Visual learners have also been shown to benefit from whole word reading. Whole word reading is believed to give better understanding of the text being read.

Cons: Children who use only whole word reading may have difficulty decoding complex words, because of this, whole word reading also leads to greater reading inaccuracy. Spelling unfamiliar words may also be an issue since the reader has nothing to base the spelling on.

Phonics, uses sets of rules to break down individual sounds and blends in order to decode words. Once these rules are learned, readers learn to recognize and obey the rules instantly.

Benefits: Because phonetic rules give a reader the ability to decode, the reader is more likely to be able to read unfamiliar words. Spelling is usually easier for readers who are taught phonics since the reader is able to apply the rules learned.

Cons: Phonics rules can be repetitious. Early readers may have trouble with comprehension due to the constant stopping to break down words. This usually passes as the reader becomes more proficient.


Which is better? Most likely the answer is both. A combination of phonics and whole word reading in the form of sight words will give the ability to decode words but also give the reader words that s/he does not have to decode. Readers who fall severely into visual learning may benifit more from whole word while extreme auditory learners will most likely thrive on phonics.

(Just as a side note)How do I feel about Teach Your Baby to Read? I actually think that it is a bad idea. Besides the fact that there is no scientific evidence that says that early reading is good for baby, you also have to sit your very young child down in front of a TV and then in front of flash cards. I am all for just for letting your baby be a baby!

Whole Language Curriculum Resources
Phonics Approach Curriculum Resources

Zoobooks Review and Subscription Giveaway

To see a sample issue visit Zoobooks.com!

I was not paid for this post. I was however, given one copy of each magazine to review. The review is a genuine reflection of our experience with zoobooks.

Another great Christmas gift!! Last year I subscribed Brianna and Keira to Zootles and Zoobooks. What a great gift this has been!

Zoobooks.com offers books all about nature! Learn about Ants, frogs, pandas and more while engaging in age appropriate activities. Each book offers vibrant pictures and fun facts that are not only interesting for kids but for adults too!

Zoobooks.com offers three different magazines:

Zoobies is for up to age 2 and features pictures of your child's favorite animals and a little fact with each picture. The animal we reviewed was the turtle. It had great photos and a little activity and rhyme. Also, included were some fun tips on how to include more learning opportunities! Luke sat down and pointed and talked for at least an hour about this book! He now totes it around to tell everyone about his turtle book!

Zootles is for ages 2-6. This is Keira's book. She loves it. They check the mail daily to see if they got a magazine in! Zootles, like Zoobies offers vibrant photos. Our review copy showed us what an ant looks like up close! Kind of creepy!!! We learned all about different types of ants, how they work, what they eat, an how they live. We also did fun activities and we watched ants work by giving them a sweet treat and watching them take it apart and carry it back home!

Zoobooks is for ages 6-12. Brianna's book was about hummingbirds. Zoobooks offers articles for more advanced readers and could easily be made into a mini unit study. But not to worry! It still offers fun age appropriate activities and facts too!

Besides the magazines you also have access to parent and child areas on the Zoobooks Website. This would make a great Christmas present for you child!

Now for the fun part! To enter all you need to do is follow my blog and post a comment (if you already follow just post a comment) ! Want a second and third chance? Follow me on Twitter and/or on Facebook. If you want 2 more entries Share

this post on Facebook. Please post a SEPARATE comment for each entry (up to 5 entries with 4 comments). I will chose the winner using random.org on December 15th! Be sure to leave a contact email! Winner will choose ONE subscription from the above.


US residents only please.

A Homeschooler's Christmas List

Cyber Monday is tomorrow!! When we shop for our kids I really try not to buy junk. They get so much from their grandmother and other family that we often just end up overwhelmed. This year I am making a list and trying to stick with toys that can be "educational" as well as fun! Here is a list of my favorite Cyber Monday gifts!

Kidkraft Deluxe Let's Cook Kitchen- We love our wooden pretend kitchen. So much that we are going to replace it this year with this one. It has been played to pieces! Let your kids whip you up a yummy meal plus get a great deal! This one is marked down quite a bit!

Supermarket Cash Register - Before they can cook in their new kitchen they will need to run to the store to get supplies! Teach money math skills with this cash register and have a ton of fun playing store!

LeapFrog Leapster 2 Learning Game System - Green - Marked down 50%! Offers several educational games that teach anything from art to math.

Melissa & Doug Pattern Blocks and Boards - Melissa and Doug offers many wooden educational toys. Kids learn pattern, geometry, sorting and more, while playing with toys you know are safe from harmful chemicals.

Melissa & Doug Abby & Emma Deluxe Magnetic Dress-Up- These are the number one played with item in our house. A fun take on classic paper dolls, these come with several different magnetic outfits for hours of fun!


Young Heroes Child Police officer Costume, Medium - Let your little hero dress up! Learn about community helpers and let him emulate local role models! Be sure to take a trip up to your local police station to learn all about what policemen do!


There are many Amazon Educational Toys on sale this season, so be sure to check it out. Don't forget that orders over $25 always ship free!

Thanksgiving Lesson Plans and Resources

I wish I had gotten these up a bit earlier, but better late than never right?

There is just so much on the Internet that I could never hope to post it all but here are a few of my favorite sites for Thankgsiving Lesson Plans and Resources:

Thanksgiving Lapbook

Thanksgiving Lesson Plans

Thanksgiving Printables

Thanksgiving Crafts

Thanksgiving Unit Study

Thanksgiving Book List

Enjoy!

Sunday Book of the Week

And actually on time this week!!!

This weeks book is The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter.

"Now run along, and don’t get into mischief," Mrs. Rabbit tells her bunnies. But frisky Peter runs straight to Mr. McGregor’s tasty garden and sneaks under the gate!

Goes great with The Tale of Peter Rabbit Unit Study!