January Supplemental Reading for Homeschool

Supplemental reading/resources we've used so far this month:

Language Arts

If You Were Onomatopoeia
by Trisha Speed Shaskan

A fun picture book introducing the poetic concept of onomatopoeia. We also read Gwendolyn Brooks' wonderful poem "Cynthia in the Snow."

History

Can't You Make Them Behave, King George?
by Jean Fritz

Longer picture book filled with lots of fun details about the utterly eccentric King George. Good background for American Revolution studies.

Betsy Ross and the Silver Thimble
by Stephanie Green

Early Reader (level 2) read independently by S. Part of the "Childhood of Famous Americans" series.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day
by Reagan Miller

A serviceable book about MLK and how we came to honor his memory with a federal holiday. We usually read a book about King on his day, and this year I had forgotten to put one on hold, so I had to take what I could get. I continue to recommend the wonderful book My Brother Martin by Christine King Farris.

Much better than the MLK book we read this year were the excerpts I read aloud to the sweet girl from the "I Have a Dream" speech. A really hard speech to read without tears.

Fine Arts

How Artists See the Weather
by Colleen Carroll

A really nice book to encourage picture study. Review forthcoming. We'll do more from this series.

We've also been inspired by Jon J. Muth's wonderful illustrations in City Dog, Country Frog (written by Mo Willems). I hope to post some pictures soon of our Muth-inspired art.

Math

Reviewing with Mathtacular 2 (DVD arrived last week...yay!)

S. has also been enjoying some time with "100 Ways to Count to 100." She really digs that she "gets" the pages that use division now.

Science

What's the Matter in Mr. Whisker's Room?
by Michael Elsohn Ross
illustrated by Paul Meisel

A fun picture book in which a creative teacher, Mr. Whiskers (a bit less zany than Ms. Frizzle!) sets up science stations in his early elementary classroom for the kids to explore. He presents several "big ideas" about matter, based on their questions and findings.


(Edited at end of month to add other resources)