What a Homeschool Mom is Reading This Summer
We’re less than 2 weeks away from wrapping up our school year. While we do some lessons over the summer, they’re mostly for upkeep and refining skills. Our days often stretch out, which gives me more time to read.
When I was a teacher, everyone told me how much they would love having the summers off. As the only one in our friend group with a flexible summer schedule, it was easy to think my days were spent by the pool or binging Netflix shows. In truth, teachers don’t actually get summers off. What time they have in the summer is often spent cleaning their classroom, moving classes, setting up their classroom. Professional development conferences, classes, and lesson planning.
As a homeschool mom, my summer schedule looks fairly similar. I like to think that homeschooling is my job, so I treat it that way. My summer time is spent enjoying my children. We enjoy going to the museums, hiking, spending time with friends. I also spend time absorbed in “professional development” by way of books, podcasts and conferences.
I thought I’d share a little about what I’ll be reading this summer and why. For reference, my daughter is going into “fourth” grade (form 1) with a Charlotte Mason methodology. We use Ambleside Online as our core curriculum. My son will be 3 and is beginning gentle lessons focused on habit training.
The Booklist: Is it any surprise that I have this broken down into lists? Of course, it’s non-exhaustive.
Homeschool Professional Development:
How to Teach Your Child Shakespeare by Ken Ludwig: This year we will be reading 3 Shakespeare plays (which we will continue to do so until she graduates high school). My experience with Shakespeare is limited to high school. My hope is that this book better familiarizes myself with making Shakespeare joyful in our home.
Mapmaking with Children: Sense of Place Education for the Elementary Years by David Sobel: I teach geography for our Charlotte Mason co-op. This year we will be working more on physical geography with the goal of beginning making maps. I’m really excited about working on this with our group and I know they’re going to love mapmaking.
Charlotte Mason Volume 1, 4 and 6: I have read the first half of volume 4 with our Charlotte Mason book club but it is one of those books that needs care and attention to go back over and absorb well. Volume 6: A Philosophy of Education is a new read for me and Volume 1: Home Education is a book I read every summer.
Practical Plutarch by Ann White: I have read this book before with moms in our co-op. In year 4 we begin reading Plutarch, so I want to make sure I have a strong foundation going into the year.
A Place to Belong: Celebrating Diversity and Kinship in the Home and Beyond by Amber O’Neal Johnston: I’ve listened to Amber countless times on podcasts and read her blog for the last couple of years. This will be my second time reading through her book and I’m excited to commonplace more as I go.
Pre-reading for Homeschool:
I don’t pre-read everything my daughter will be reading for our homeschool but I do pay particular attention to our history books. I make sure we’re able to adjust, update, and change language as needed. Decide which book may need to be cut completely, and add in supplements to balance the history better. This summer I’ll be pre-reading.
George Washington's World by Genevieve Foster
Abigail Adams: Witness to a Revolution by Natalie S. Bober
Madam How and Lady Why, Volume I, A Walk Through the Glen by Charles Kingsley: From feedback I’ve seen this book has historically been difficult and needs the time and attention to put together meaningful activities to go along with it.
The Plutarch Project Volume Eight by Ann E. White: As stated above, I know little about Plutarch and I want to make sure my knowledge is in order before diving into this with my daughter.
Family and Home:
For the Family’s Sake by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay: For the Children’s Sake was my introduction into homeschooling. I’m really excited to read this book and hopefully implement some things in our own home.
Just for Fun:
Of course, I need some books to toss in my bag when we’re going on a trip or I have down time. This summer I’ll be reading
Lord of the Rings Series by J.R.R Tolkin
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
When I say this list is non-exhaustive, I truly mean it. I have several other books that aren’t in this post that I read in my personal time to further my own education about the world around me, social issues, and parenting.
I am excited about working my way through this list over the summer. If only moms got the fun library reading prizes too.
