Showing posts with label reading. Show all posts
Showing posts with label reading. Show all posts

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Our Current Breakfast Read::Slaying Dragons

                                      

Dragon Slayers: The Essential Training Guide For Young Dragon Fighters by Joyce Denham

Read this morning: "So there you have it, Potential Dragon Slayer: You must choose. And it really doesn't matter if you're confronting a Sinister or an Obstack: in either case, you make a choice. How will you face the dragons you encounter? For you will encounter them, and you can tell your aunt I said so. Will you yield to their taunts? Will you enter their rotting hideouts? Will you roll on your back and let them stomp on you? Or will you train yourself to recognize them and detect the first whiffs of their putrid odors? Will you enter the training course described in this book?  Will you? Will you join the ranks of the Ancient and Ever-Forgiving Order of Dragon Slayers?"

I have to admit that this makes a pretty exciting read. And, if you complete the manual, you will be in the company of other great Dragon Slayers, such as St. Paul, St. Therese, and others! Just to give you a hint. ;)

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Catechism in Stories

Introduced to me years ago, these stories really are little treasures. Catechism in Stories offers short (sometimes just one short paragraph), interesting, applicable tales to supplement any faith study.


CATECHISM IN STORIES PART I - The Creed
God and His Perfections, The Incarnation, The Redemption, The Holy Spirit and Grace, The Catholic Church, The Communion of Saints, Forgiveness of Sins, and The Resurrection and Life Everlasting.

CATECHISM IN STORIES Part II - The Commandments
Several stories for each of the commandments.

CATECHISM IN STORIES PART III - The Sacraments
All seven sacraments are covered in this little book.

One very short story from the "commandments" book:

The Marble Cutter
A priest, while watching a marble cutter at work, exclaimed, "I wish I could deal such heavy blows on stony hearts!"
"Maybe you could if you worked like me, on your knees."

I am careful to preselect the stories that I am going to read to my boys (and my girls way back when). As often happens when reading stories of faith and heroism, the reality can be harsh. Sometimes just changing a word or two can convey the point and avoid unnecessary trauma. Although, I find that my children are often very inspired by the stories (brutal as they may be) of those who put their life on the line for their faith.

***There are references to race that would not be used today- they are not at all used as a put down, but as a common place (at the time) reference to a person of that particular race.

Faith Reading Post 1

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

More Faith Reading

These books are fairly new to our home- I borrowed a much loved copy of Once Upon a time Saints from a friend and didn't return it until she practically pried it out of my hand. (actually, she was much too gracious for that ;)). Anyway, I love these books!These books about saints who "took their ordinary lives and made them in to extraordinary adventures" are well written, face paced and just the right length for an easy breakfast time read.

We now own both the first book and More Once Upon a Time Saints, and I hope to purchase Around the Year Once Upon a Time Saints soon.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Faith Reading

We have a tradition in our family, starting several years ago, to read something having to do with our faith during breakfast. This time has become very special to my boys (me too:)). I can count on finding our "current read" sitting at my chair when I sit down. I am amazed how, over the years, we have managed to read and enjoy so many wonderful stories. If I had sat down and set a goal to read a to z titles by a certain time, I most certainly would have given up. My only goal was to read. Sometimes just 2 minutes, sometimes 10, but always read something having to do with our Catholic faith. Just that little goal has amounted to so much!!

Over the years we have read through many books. Here are are a few:

The New Catholic Picture Bible
I read through this with my children each time one of them turns 5. I usually read one or two stories a week. Each story is read at least once- on subsequent mornings I may talk about the story while showing the picture, reread a small part of the story, or just discuss it with the kids. After breakfast, the kids sometimes draw or color a picture to go with the story.

Devotional Stories for Little Folks
We love these stories! My boys really enjoyed reading about this homeschool family. They talked about the kids in this family like they were friends.

Devotional Stories for Little Folks Too

Faith and Life Grade 1 and 2
This is a nice series that many use as their catechism text. We just read the stories- I read one each week. We use it sort of Five in a Row style. I read the story each morning for a few days, ask questions and have a discussion (as much as little ones discuss :)). We are going to reread these this year for my youngest son who is preparing for his 1st communion.

Little Acts of Grace
This book is from a great little series that is perfect for the youngest listeners. It covers "little things"- holy water, bowing your head, genuflecting... each story is just one short page (occasionally two) with a full page picture to go with it. I would read one each morning for 3 or 4 mornings and then do a reread to review the previous mornings.

Science 2 for Little Folks
My boys love these stories. With titles like "How to Dress a Duck", you can tell it is a fun book. This is a science book, but also a great book to see God's hand in all of creation.

God's Love Story
This is a simple retelling of God's love story from Creation through Pentecost. It is an easy to read book with nice black and white illustrations that can be colored by your child. We read it over a 2-3 week period.

Stories to Learn By (this is a bit corny, but boys loved it K-2)

Stories of the Saints (we have read selections from the volumes 1 & 2)
These saints stories from CHC really work for my boys- they are written with a grade 4 + audience in mind (I believe).

Father Lovaski books (we read ours on various saint's and feast days)

*During Advent we read from books having to do with the season. Usually these are picture books, but we also do special readings from an advent booklet that we own.


Occasionally, when I come across a story from one of my Catholic publications or even short blurb from one of my devotional books that I think would be of interest to the boys, I'll read that for our "morning time".

I plan on posting more of our "breakfast reads" as I get a chance. We have been doing this for about 6 or 7 years, so we have managed to work our way through quite a few titles!

Monday, December 28, 2009

Reading in Preparation for January 1st

January first is the day we honor Mary in her role as the Mother of God. This week's reading from Tomie dePaola unit study is a great, low key way to prepare for that day.
An Integrated Literature Unit for Advent and Christmas by Elizabeth Foss

Week Four:

Mary, The Mother of Jesus by Tomie dePaola

The Donkey's Dream by Helen Barbara Berger

Hark! A Christmas Sampler:
“The Donkey’s Song”
“The Legend of the Rosemary”

Saturday, December 19, 2009

More Advent Reading

A new addition to our advent reading this year is the book Destination Bethlehem. It offers a chapter each day as you journey to the time of Jesus' birth. My three youngest (our boys) are the ones who usually listen to the story and, at ages 11, 9, and 6, they all enjoy it. It is interesting and adventurous enough for the two oldest boys, yet not too difficult to listen to for the youngest.

To compare it to another advent daily read that we loved, Jothom's Journey, this is a bit more manageable- the chapters are short enough that it is not a challenge to make up time if we miss a day. I am also pleased to see an offering by Catholic authors!

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Advent Reading

I have to admit that my favorite part of advent is reading our much loved stories. I am sad that I did not understand the magic of picture books more when my adult children were little. I was surprised to find out recently that my 16yo had never heard the story "Country Angel Christmas" by Tomie dePaola. It is one of the books that we have read each advent for the last several years. I probably did not think to include her in our story time... I wish I had.

(Paul working on craft do go with Country Angel Christmas)

We began this year, as is tradition, with "Strega Nona". It is the perfect beginning to advent because it is all about Strega Nona preparing for Natale (Christmas). This year we are working on a puppet play to present to the family at Christmas. Paul (11yo) has graciously agreed to play the part of Strega Nona. Mark is Big Anthony and James is the townspeople. Erin will be the narrator. It should be fun!!

  



Next, "Country Angel Christmas"...another book about preparing. The boys made our own heavenly stars to hang in our kitchen window.







The biggest inspiration for reading during advent has been Elizabeth Foss' Tomie dePaola Christmas Unit Study. I highly recommend this study!! Included in it are several of Tomie dePaola's wonderful books. We have added a book or two to our collection each year. We have also been able to borrow some of them from the library. Each year we do different items offered in the study-- no year have we done even nearly all of it.
                                                                                                                                                                     
(James working on star craft)

Our first book for this, the second week of advent, is "The Legend of the Poinsettia". As with all of the Tomie dePaola books, this one is full of his trademark illustrations plus the wonder and magic of the season.


We will focus this week on reading about Christmas plants, reviewing what we learned about Mexico (last year we did a short study on Christmas traditions in Mexico), and read Tomie dePaola's book "Our Lady of Guadalupe".


We plan to purchase some poinsettias for decorations to put near our nativity, learn a bit about the tradition of the nativity scene by reading "Francis, Poor Man of Assisi", and, finally, make a banner of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

(image source: amazon books)

This may all happen or not, but we will for sure read all of our books!! :)