Jan 31, 2007

Ms. Moffett's First Year and More

I believe many homeschooling parents are big readers, whether of books or articles on the internet or the backs of cereal boxes. As a community, we typically read. So, here I share with you what we are reading in my house this week.

Mom - I have two books this week. One is nonfiction, and one is fiction.

Ms. Moffett's First Year, by Abby Goodnough. This non-fiction book is an account of the first year teaching experience of Ms. Moffett, who made a mid-life career switch during an push for an experimental program in New York City to become a teacher. Ms. Moffett's experiences are awkward, sometimes painful, sometimes sad, and sometimes funny. This book is neither pro-school or anti-school, but one woman's experience as she learns that teaching is not what she thought it would be. At the same time, it is a tale of one large, urban city's inadequacies towards it students and its teachers.

I Don't Know How She Does It, by Allison Pearson - This book makes me laugh! A fiction book of motherhood, balancing work and life, that any woman, no matter what she does with her life, can appreciate. Kate Reddy has a successful career, a husband, and two children, but motherhood is the puzzle piece that does not quite fit in. Her children are both the rock on which she stands and the wave that threatens to dorwn her. Can she truly juggle a demanding job, real motherhood, and sanity? And where does her husband fit it? This book is a bit irreverant and, well....saucy. However, parts of it are so funny (because we mothers have all been there) and other parts are so poignant, I tear up.

Kids

The nine-year-old and I are still reading Tolkien's The Fellowship of the Rings.We are more than half-way through, and it is getting exciting!

The four (and 1/2) year-old and I are reading chapters from A.A. Milne's The World of Pooh. These stories are so sweet and funny. They use challenging language at times for a little one, but he does appreaciate the humor.

The 7 year-old has been reading various books from the Pokemon series, as well as revisiting one of his favorite books of his younger years, Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson. Some stories are great read-alouds even at older ages.

Well, that is it in a nutshell for this week. Find a good book and enjoy, my friends!