We started strong this week with our Leaping into Literature, only to take a deeper dive when a beloved family ritual, The Bookworm made a reappearance. Instantly an intense book reading marathon engulfing the entire family ‘sprang up,’ therefore the time I’d normally devote to reading picture books was derailed into librarian tasks. I’ll explain our Bookworm ritual in further detail later this week so stay tuned. All the picture books in our family library are grouped into theme boxes; animals, Australian, history, geography etc, this week and last we have predominately focused on animals, hence why all the books in the following list are centered around this one topic. Recall the…

Hard to believe it’s Term 4 already! For the past three years Term 4 for us has included our annual tradition; Leaping into Literature where we immerse ourselves in reading through a huge slew of picture books and the older children have time to dive into towering piles of novels. This year however I’d made the decision we would miss Leaping into Literature to continue ‘slogging away’ at Language Arts as I felt ‘pressured’ because my goals for Language Arts haven’t been meet. However it appears that once a tradition is set, it just can’t be unbroken, so we’re Leaping into Literature after all 🙂 We’re a few weeks late beginning the bookfest, but…

Our Leaping into Literature readings have become rather challenged as we juggle a number of major projects in our life, projects that distract our focus and energy elsewhere, in fact this post has languished for a few weeks in drafts, dusting off to share. All three of the older children have been reading up a storm, however focusing on the picture books this week.   Jelly Bean (11) Kelsey Green, Reading Queen – Claudia Mills JB loved this book Jack Jack (9 – Later Reader) Treehouse Rescue: Peter Rabbit The Raddish Robber: Peter Rabbit Australian – War Remembrance Day was on the 11th November and we read through a huge pile of war books. Well…

Last week was an interrupted week; a belated birthday luncheon for our teens with Marnie (my mum) and our annual local festival, always a big week. However despite the distractions we managed to achieve some reading for our Leaping into Literature theme.  Michelangelo(16) The Warrior Heir – Cinda Williams Chima The Wizard Heir – Cinda Williams Chima The Dragon Heir – Cinda Williams Chima The Enchanter Heir – Cinda Williams Chima   Princess(14) Sweet Little Ladies and the Secret at Berry Creek – Sascha Everett Horrible Science mags That Girl of Pierre’s – Robert Davis   Jelly Bean (11) Star of Wild Horse Canyon – Clyde Robert Bulla Break in at the…

In some respects our Leaping into Literature focus was a little less intense this week, we read far fewer picture books than last week. Although our focus remained on reading, it was more in the nature of our budding readers reading to me rather than me reading to them. I’m finding the most effective method of ensuring reading progress is to make it a ‘family affair’, our emerging readers and new reader all reading at the same time. Imagine children snuggled up in various cosy spots at the same time, that’s what’s working, the togetherness factor.     Individual Reads: Michelangelo(16) The Tournament at Gorlan (Ranger’s Apprentice – John Flanagan Princess (14) Began a few…

This is our third year to embark on our annual Term 4 adventure; Leaping into Literature.  A time when we immerse ourselves in picture books, and chapter books for the older children. This ties in well with our focus this term, literacy; reading, writing and spelling, which deserves a whole post in itself, but suffice for now, we’re seeing wonderful results.  To ‘free up’ time for picture books we omit history, science and geography from our studies, though in reality we cover these in our picture books anyhow. Our library cards are nearly maxed out, with 12 cards in the family and a capacity of 20 reservations per card, we’re already in the 200s! As our…