2012 Reading Goals

21 Jan 2012 8 Comments

by smithspirations in Education Escapades, I'll take Hodge-Podge for 200, Alex

We just recently bought a larger bookcase for our living room, and I have to say that I gain a great deal of satisfaction out of having a growing family library. Since becoming a homeschooling family, our collection has grown exponentially, and so has my wish list.

Now the challenge with having a sizable collection of books is making sure that they actually get read at least once, and so I’ve picked out a few that I want to make sure to go through this year, as well as some classics that I want to get to during my read aloud times with the children. This of could of course take me much longer than the next eleven and a half months, but at least I’m making a goal. Most of my books serve some sort of practical, educational, spiritual, or thought-provoking purpose. I personally don’t do much reading for entertainment, though that is something I enjoy while reading aloud to the little people who live here.

A full shelf of books makes me smile.

 

• Practical Herbalism by Philip Fritchey: My mother dearest blessed me with this book for Christmas, and I’ve been working my way through it this month. I’ve been tinkering in herbalism for some time, but I’d like to start expanding my knowledge in this area more. It’s been a great start for me, as it’s not too scientific or technical, it has colored photographs of the various herbs discussed in detail, explains how to make herbal preparations and includes dosages, and is written from a Christian perspective. While I don’t find it necessary for an herbalism book to be written by a Christian, it is refreshing to read the author give the credit for these herbal remedies to a loving Creator, and not Mother Earth or some other spirit.
• Large Family Logistics by Kim Brenneman: I don’t know when a family becomes officially “large,” but I know that if we’re not there by today’s standards, we are well on our way. I picked this up at the end of last year for a real bargain and I was really surprised by how large it is. It’s like a textbook. I’m hoping to gain some new ideas on running the home in a more efficient manner, and as the author is a mother of nine, I’m sure there’ll be some excellent tips. Truth be told, I used to get really nervous reading books like these because I would allow myself to get really overwhelmed by all the things I was doing “wrong,” but I’m trusting that I’m over that little complex and can learn a thing or two by reading this.
• American Dictionary of the English Language 1828 by Noah Webster: No, I won’t be reading the entire dictionary. Though I’m sure it would be fascinating, I do have my limits. However, I want to read the introduction written by Mr. Webster, as well as the prefaces added by the current publishers of this gem. This alone will make for a hefty reading assignment, but I think it will be interesting to pick up bits of American history and word history (that’s etymology for all you smarty-pants), all while improving my own English skills.
• Of Plymouth Plantation by William Bradford: A first-hand account of the original Plymouth settlement written by one of its first governors, I had aimed to read this last fall. I chickened out though, fearing that its language would be too much for my tired third-trimester brain. So back on the shelf it went. With courage renewed I hope to tackle this treasure beginning in October so that I can have some favorite passages ready to go for Thanksgiving, my most favored holiday of the year.
• An Exposition of the Seven Church Ages by William Branham: It’s been many years since I read through this book written fifty years ago by a minister whom many believe to be a proven prophet of God. The book is basically a commentary on the first three chapters of the book of Revelation based on a series of sermons that Rev. Branham preached. Since it has been so long since I read it, I imagine that it will read like a new book to me, and I believe that I’ll greatly benefit from reading through it again.

Read aloud times make for great opportunities to read books that I normally wouldn’t get around to reading, and after this week I plan to turn to some classics: Heidi, Lassie, Black Beauty, and Swiss Family Robinson. If we finish those before the school year ends, and I imagine we will, I’ll continue along those lines and pick some other well-known classics.

As I near the end of this school year, I’ll probably pull out some of my favorite homeschooling books to review what I need to focus on for the following year. I’ll pick up Teaching the Trivium by Harvey and Laurie Bluedorn first, and follow that with The Three R’s by Ruth Beechick, A Charlotte Mason Companion by Karen Andreola, and a few others. The gardening books will have to be pulled out a few times, too, but I doubt I’ll spend much time reading them extensively.

Any good books on your to-read list?

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