Tween Halloween Reading List

Now that I have a Tween on my hands, 

I thought I would update our reading lists, first one being Halloween. 

There are a few yearly favourites but a few new ones this year.

For Reference/Non Fiction reading, we love and I recommend:

• Witches and Wizards by Paul Dowswell.

• Horrible Histories: Witches, by Terry Deary 

• The Wizards Handbook by Dr Robert Curran

For Fiction and Fun Reading we have used these this year:

• Late For Halloween by Camilla Fegan

• The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury

• The 'You Choose...' series titles:  

         Night of the Creepy Carnival 

         The Haunting of Spook House 

         Mayhem at Magic School 

         (these are all 'Choose you own adventure' style books) 

Favourites we re read include:

The Familiars Series 

The Harry Potter Series

So that's our little update. It's often tricky finding books on Halloween that aren't picture books aimed at the younger kids and aren't too scary (and are aimed at older teens and adults) so hope this might have given you a few ideas if you are after something for that in between age range. 

For previous blog posts on Halloween Reading Lists, just click on this link: 

10 Halloween Books to Read

Happy Halloween and a Blessed Samhain to you all!

ANZAC Day Reading for Tweens

Having an 11 year old this year, we have definitely stepped up from informative picture books which up until now have been the books we've read when covering the topic of War and ANZAC Day. 

We are now in the novel zone although not quite ready to tackle the big novels which tend to be more graphic and for a more mature Teen.

So I wanted to share the books we are reading at the moment, that you might find are the right 'fit' for your homeschooled Tween.

1. Simpson's Donkey

(by Peter Stanley)

2. My Story Series

- The Trenches (by Jim Eldridge)

- D Day (by Bryan Perrett)

- U Boat Hunter (by Bryan Perrett)

- Flying Ace (by Jim Eldridge)

- Battle of Britain (by Chris Priestley) 

- Hero at Dunkirk (by Vince Cross)

- Desert Danger (by Jim Eldridge)

- War Spy (by Jim Eldridge)

3. Gallipoli - The Landing

(by Hugh Dolan, Mal Gardiner)

* Graphic Novel aka comic book style *

4. Reg Saunders - An Indigenous War Hero

(by Hugh Dolan, Adrian Threlfall)

* Graphic Novel aka comic book style *

5. An Anzac Tale

(by Ruth Starke, Greg Holfeld)

* Graphic Novel aka comic book style in a large hardback size *

6. War Horse

(by Michael Morpurgo)

* Please note:  
ALL books containing content about war can be difficult for many children to read so when it comes to learning about war, the ANZAC's, death and violence, then it's best done with an adult. 

Our 2016 Homeschool Plan and Resource List

2016 for us brings Grade 6.

The final year of Primary School! 

Yikes! 

That went fast.

Our plan for the year is very eclectic.  We are hoping to have more independent work completed and have some scope for more interest led work.  I have to modify and adjust work to cater for my son's learning disorders and fatigue from his physical health issues means things take longer to complete. So we need a variety of delivery methods and I need to limit the amount of book work. 

So far in 2016 we have theatre trips planned, a homeschool camp, weekly tuition sessions and looking forward to some homeschool excursions in the cooler months when we aren't as restricted by health issues.

Our subject list for Grade 6:

Mathematics: 

We are using Maths Plus 6 from Oxford Uni Press.  We love this brand.  The layout is good, it's colourful, it has explanations, it has answers at the back, it has definitions, it has 4 diagnostic tests throughout the book plus extension work.  Sample pages can be found here. 

English: 

Rather than using workbooks and specific curriculum for Grammar, Text Types, Reading Comprehension etc, we will be learning these as part of our Literature Unit Studies.   

• Literature Units produced by Erica at COAH (Confessions of a Homeschooler).  We use them in a notebooking format (see my Folder Set up here) rather than actual lapbooks and will use these units as starting points for interest led learning and incorporating more writing tasks.  The books used with these Literature Units is the Classic Starts series of abridged novels. We do a few of these each year.

• Harry Potter/Magic Theme Unit Study: Incorporating "Hogwarts" subjects like 'The Study of Magical Creatures' (books covering Magical Beasts, Monsters, Goblins, Mythical Creatures, Myths and Legends etc), Herbology (study of Plants) and Potions.We will be using parts of unit studies/lapbooks from Build You Library as well as many reference books to create our own interest led work. We will obviously also be reading the Harry Potter books.  

• As well as reading the books for the Literature Units, we have set reading time each morning for at least an hour where my son has freedom to choose what he likes.
• 'My Spelling Workbook' by RIC Publications.  
• McGraw Hill Macmillan English Grade 6

History & Geography: 

We are taking a themed approach to the year studying American History and Geography. Both will be studied alongside each other using the following:

• Adventure Tales of America (Illustrated Text books, Student Workbooks and Teacher Guides) 
• Liberty's Kids DVD Series and Online Content.
• A large library of resource books I have collected (too many to list but have photographed below LOL).
• Road Trip USA Geography Curriculum by Confessions of a Homeschooler which is a weekly state by state geography study of the USA. 
• DVD's including America's Civil War documentary series, American National Treasures (Geography series), Trail of Tears, The Wild West (BBC series), Thomas Jefferson. 

Science: 

• Private Science session with a Science teacher each week focusing on Robotics, Coding, Programming and Grade 6 Australian Curriculum Science topics.
• California Science Grade 6 Curriculum Text, Student Workbook & Activity Lab Book.
• Scientists and Inventors Unit Studies by Confessions of a Homeschooler. Using books from the Mike Venezia series "Getting to Know the Worlds Famous Scientists and Inventors'. 
• Using the above Scientists units, we will be doing a project/study between Edison and Tesla. The Tesla book we will be using is 'Electrical Wizard: How Nicola Tesla Lit up the World'. Two books on Edison are the 'Getting to know the World's Greatest Inventors and Scientists: Thomas Edison' and a Graphic Biographies series Thomas Edison. 

Technology:

• Private Science sessions with a Science teacher each week focusing on Robotics (including working with Edison Robots), Coding, Programming and Grade 6 Australian Curriculum Science topics (as listed above)
• 'How to Code' series of 4 books (and Teacher Guide) by Max Wainewright.
• Coding for Beginners Using Scratch by Usborne Books. 

Art: 

• Private Art sessions weekly with an Art Teacher from Artlis Studios, focusing on Drawing Skills, Perspective and Painting.
• Artists Unit Studies from Confessions of a Homeschooler. Using books from the Mike Venezia series 'Getting to Know the Worlds Famous Artists'. 
• Interest led artworks and study

Music: 

• Private Music Tuition weekly with The Music Bus, focusing on playing the Drums and Keyboard, song writing, programming and reading/writing music.
• Composers Unit Studies from Confessions of a Homeschooler.  Using books from the Mike Venezia series 'Getting to Know the Worlds Famous Composers'.

Sport / Physical Education / Health: 

• Sport - Horse Riding, Hydrotherapy & Occupational Therapy.
• Health - We are using the Australian Organic Schools website for their units on Organic gardening. 
• Physical Education Theory - Personal development and Puberty. 

Special Interests:   

• Pagan & Cultural Studies including creating an information book/catalog from researching the history of the culture, of traditional/modern holidays, of nature and the elements of the earth.  Reading about lost civilisations and discovering the meaning of ancient symbols. 
• Journal writing / Diary writing. 

So that's the "plan" for 2016 - for our last year of Primary School.  I have to get used to saying that!  I would love to hear your plans and if you have any questions about resources etc, feel free to post in the comments.  

Wishing everyone a wonderful school year! 

5 Holiday Season Books for the Tween Homeschooler

We have a LOT of books for the Holiday season.  

Most are aimed at younger readers. Which has been fine till this year when my 10 year old found his love of reading and has well and truly moved on from the

 'Holiday Picture Book' stage.

So as a tween (I'm told that at 10 you become a tween LOL), what do you give them to read over the holiday season to get them in the festive spirit?

Well I found 5 good ones and I wanted to share.

1. That Aussie Christmas Book,

 by Andrew Daddo

http://www.andrewdaddo.com/books/that-aussie-christmas-book/

Honestly this one is hilarious.  I mean the first page mentions poo - in a very grose, very tween boy humourous way.  So it has to be a winner right?  It is illustrated by Terry Denton so those familiar with the 13 Storey Treehouse books will love this one.  

2. The Horrible Histories 

"Horrible Christmas" books,

by Terry Deary and Martin Brown 

http://horrible-histories.co.uk/9781407136264/horrible-christmas

We have the first one in the picture and we love it.  It really is a wealth of knowledge and funny at the same time.  For a child who is eager to find the origins behind traditions of the season, then this is perfect.

3. The Angel Tree,

by Daphne Benedis-Grab

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20894027-the-angel-tree

My son has started this one and he is liking it.  The book summary is listed as:

"A heartwarming Christmas mystery and friendship story!
Every Christmas in the small town of Pine River, a tree appears in the town square--the Angel Tree. Some people tie wishes to the tree, while others make those wishes come true. Nobody's ever known where the tree comes from, but the mystery has always been part of the tradition's charm.
This year, however, four kids who have been helped--Lucy, Joe, Max, and Cami--are determined to solve the mystery and find out the true identity of the town's guardian angel, so that Pine River can finally thank the person who brought the Angel Tree to their town.
This is a heartwarming Christmas mystery, full of friendship, discovery, and loads of holiday cheer!"

4.  The Truth About Santa,

by Gregory Mone

http://www.booktopia.com.au/the-truth-about-santa-gregory-mone/prod9781408810248.html

I've heard great things about this book. For the kids who are growing out of 'Santa' and want to believe a little longer then it's a good read and I think those who have already grown out of Santa can have a bit of fun with this one.  So it's on my wish list.

5. A Christmas Carol,

by Charles Dickens

A classic and a must have for any bookshelf.  I think by the tween age range they are capable of reading this (although some may disagree).  There are picture book versions, abridged versions (check out the Classic Starts series of books for an abridged copy), graphic novels (comic style books) and full novel versions.  

Obviously there are plenty more books on the market for the Holidays but these were a few that we have and that are on our wishlist.  I would love to know your favourite books for the holidays for your tween so please leave me a comment below! 

Season's Greetings and a Blessed Yuletide to you all. 

10 Halloween Books to Read

Halloween books can be hard to find.  Well they are where I live!

There are not as many flooding the market like there are with Christmas books. 

 However we have found some that we like and they always get put in the weekly reading basket this time of year. 

Here are ten books (ok more than 10), in no particular order, that you might like for reading this time of year: 

#1 - The Cemetary Dance 

A phonics reader but a good story.

#2 - Bet on It & A Hero's Journey

(Both books are from 'The Book of Life' story)

#3 - Too Ghoul for School Series
School kids and scary things - winning combo.  10 Books in the series.

#4 - Witches and Wizards

This is not a story book, more a reference book with information pages on everything from Magic, Witches, Halloween etc and activity pages. 

#5 - The Familiars Series

These are good sized novels and are about Magic & Animals.

#6 - Frankenstein
We have the Classic Starts series version (pictured here) which is abridged. You can get picture book versions for younger children too.

#7 The Buried Moon
A collection of magical stories including 'The Buried Moon', 'The Council with the Munchkins', 'Do You Believe in Fairies?', 'Shipwreck on Lilliput'.  Not Halloween themed but the stories contain witches and fairies, etc.

#8 - The Witches (by Roald Dahl)

#9 - The Worst Witch Series
Currently a 7 book series about a witch at boarding school.

#10 - The Harry Potter Series

These are a favourite in our house at any time of the year!

and the books that go with the Harry Potter series like: 
The Tales of Beedle the Baird 

There are plenty of others if you use the help of Professor Google, but these are ones we like.  A lot of children like the Goosebumps books and Skulduggery series but my son isn't into those.  There are also a lot more in stores in countries like the USA than there are here in Australia! 

Hope these have given you a few ideas if you are looking for Halloween books.

Beware of HPBA (Homeschooling Parent Book Addiction)

What do you get when you cross a Homeschooling Parent with someone who is OCD and who has a love of reading?

ME!

What you get, is 

HPBA - Homeschooling Parent Book Addiction. 

I have always loved a good collection, I have always loved to read.  But up until I started homeschooling my child, I never mixed the two.  

Now, well I confess, I am addicted to books!  

You can never really get enough ....can you?  Surely there is always room for one more? 

Now we struggle financially being on one income so I have to say that DOES help curb the problem, as I am a great at working a budget and extra great at finding a bargain.  I HATE to think where my obsession would take me if I had unlimited funds and unlimited space for bookshelves LOL.  

However right this minute as I sit here typing my confession and thoughts for the day, I am looking a pile of new books I scored in a sale and breathing in 'book smell'.  I am in my happy place.  

I should probably join a support group but then I fear talking with other book addicts will just help expose me to new bargains and new titles I need to have so lets just not go there LOL. 

I am told I am not alone in this, most of my fellow homeschooling parents are exactly the same.  That's why I think it's an occupational hazard, a workplace health and safety risk we all need to be aware of.  They should have signs up!  

Beware homeschooling means you will suffer a life long addiction to books, knowledge and curriculum. Side effects include budget strain, storage stress, Ikea visits, online-book-site-sale-eye-strain-itis, Pinterest library photo envy, bookmark shortages, experiencing long time lapses and book smell comas.  The whole family needs to be careful not to also catch this addiction and partners in particular should be aware the rate of severe eye-roll-sigh-shake-head disorder is extremely high! 

All jokes aside though, 

I am loving my new books .... and when my partner sees them, 

the phrase "think of all the money I saved" 

will more than likely get a run.