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How To Cultivate a Culture of Reading in Your Home

Reading is such an amazing life skill. It allows you something to do just about anywhere, opens the door to learn about anything, allows you to “travel” without leaving your house and lets you disappear into an exciting story. For us parents, it allows us to spend time connecting with our kids over mutually enjoyed books. Anyone can create a culture of reading in your home. Even kids who don’t gravitate toward books can be won over! Here are a few of my tips for creating that culture of reading in your home.

Have books readily available

I’m not saying you need to go out and spend lots of money on books, your local library is a great resource as are second hand stores. If your child has so far seemed uninterested in reading, make sure you’re seeking out books that surround their interests. That may be books about hockey, skateboarding, animals, friendship, adventures, true stories, etc. You can literally find books about anything. Once you gather up the books, start strategically placing them throughout the house. I use little baskets but you can even just stack them on the floor. A few of my favourite areas to place books are: by the toilet, by the couch, on the kitchen table, in their room and in the car. Have the books positioned so the covers are noticeable and can then draw the child’s attention. Don’t make a big deal about it, just have the books out and let them be drawn in.

Make time for your kids to read

Now I am not an advocate for trying to make your home look like school, even if you’re homeschooling, but one thing I do love is the DEAR time. DEAR stands for drop everything and read. I don’t call it this at home. We just call it quiet time or reading time. We are all together all day, every day so I think it’s good for us to take some time apart after lunch. So after lunch every day, we take 30 min in our own rooms to read. The kids each have a 30 minute timer. As they get older I would love to increase this to 60 minutes. My youngest is not independently reading yet so she can listen to books that have a cd with them to read to her or she can just flip through books or play quietly in her room. But I always put books in there for her and she has a whole bin or books with CD. I also read during this time. That lets me set a good example while also giving me time to sit and recharge and read. It let’s us tackle the afternoon refreshed but also gives us all time set aside to look at books.

Read to Your Kids

Sometimes the act of reading and having to sound out and decode the words can be exhausting for kids and therefore take away from the enjoyment of the reading experience. Kids may think they don’t like books because it is too much of a struggle to both read them and understand what’s going on. Many more kids will listen, with interest, to a story being read to them. This is a great way to hook your child on books and expose them to books above their reading level, while having a shared experience over the content of the book. Be purposeful in your selection. Choose a book that will intrigue your child and draw them in to the content of the book. Experiment with different times in the day to read and see what works best. Provide opportunities for little ones to keep their hands busy while you read and consider providing a snack or cup of tea or hot cocoa to make the experience even more special. Here are a few places I like to read: at the table while they eat (hands and mouths are already busy and this helps them sit quietly to eat), when they are arguing or upset and we need to change our focus of the day, before bed, on long car rides, waiting at a doctor office for an appointment, waiting for our food in a restaurant, over afternoon tea and snacks, while they dry off and warm up on towels after swimming at a lake or our backyard pool, and sitting around a campfire. Many memories we have made reading books as a family around the campfire.

Check Your Expectations

Like all else in the journey of parenting, this takes training. Children may not automatically sit quiet to be read to. If you have been reading to your children since birth, they will likely be ready to sit and listen to one chapter of a book that grabs their interest. If you are starting reading to your kids for the first time, a couple pages may be all you get. That’s fine. Try to see each time reading aloud as an exercise in training. Another place to manage expectations is to not require children to sit still. Kids do need to learn to be quiet while we read, but quiet doesn’t necessarily equal still. Often busy hands can help kids listen to what you’re reading. Some ideas are colouring, building with blocks, playdough, kinetic sand, elastic bands on peg boards, sitting on a wobbly board, bouncing on a ball, crocheting, folding laundry, etc. As long as mouths are quiet, hands or bodies can be moving and sometimes that makes it easier to actively listen to a book.

Some Favourite Books

My number one recommendation would be to read The Read Aloud Family by Sarah MacKenzie as she writes an entire book about the benefit of reading aloud and she has recommended book lists by age in her book. She also has an instagram page with many book recommendations. I will share some of our favourites but really the biggest thing is to find a book that will draw in your child/ children.

  • The Chronicles of Narnia series
  • My Father’s Dragon series (recommended as a first chapter book for young children)
  • The Poppy series
  • The One and Only Bob
  • Who Hq books (non fiction books about people in history)
  • all Roald Dahl books
  • The Trumpet of the Swan
  • Mr. Popper’s Penguins
  • Ginger Pye
  • The Boxcar Children series
  • The Secret of the Hidden Scrolls series
  • Nim’s Island
  • The Dead Sea Squirrels series
  • The Great Summer Camp Catastrophe
  • I Survived series
  • Christian Heroes Then and Now series

And there are so many more! These are just ones that we, personally, have read so far and enjoyed. There are other series’s that my kids read on their own. For instance, Hailey loves to read the Rainbow Fairy Magic series and the Nancy Drew adn the Clue Crew series. She also loves Cul – de- Sac Kids and The Littles. Those are books my 8 year old reads independently. Sophie does not read on her own yet but her favourite books to read with us are any Nick Bland books (The Very ___ Bear) and the Otter Be series. Find what they like and get that in front of them. If that doesn’t work, try a different kind of book. Sophie, at age 4, would sit for hours flipping through a 800 page dog encyclopedia. Don’t give up! Find what draws them in and be drawn in together. It’s worth it for them intellectually and for you both relationally.

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About Me

Hi I am Kristin Stewart. I consider myself so lucky to be a homeschool mommy! Before I was a mother, I was a teacher in both public and Christian boards and I loved teaching so much. However, once my first daughter was born I knew God was calling me to be at home with her. So when it was time for her to start school, homeschooling was a natural fit for us. Read More…

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from_kristin_homeschool

Kristin Stewart
✨better together✨ Another week of school done ✨better together✨
Another week of school done and enjoying the beach on this beautiful Friday afternoon.
1ish week of school to go.
#raisingreaders #alwaysbringabook #raisingreaders
#alwaysbringabook
Homeschool perk- the freedom to travel. Packed up Homeschool perk- the freedom to travel. Packed up our books and brought them to the land of the red sand. The beach is calling, we must go!
Friends, popsicles, butterflies and tiny pools…. Friends, popsicles, butterflies and tiny pools….we love summer ❤️
Starting our study of Numbers today for Bible time Starting our study of Numbers today for Bible time. It’s important to me that the girls understand the importance of looking at a whole book of the Bible for context and understanding of how each event fits into the bigger picture of Gods salvation. 

The Bible Handbook from @thedailygraceco to overview and introduce the book.

The Story of Numbers by @readkaleidoscope writes it geared toward kids.

And not pictured, our Bibles. We frequently go over checking back to our Bible if we arent sure about something in another book. 

What are you studying?
Cheers to the other mamas just finally getting the Cheers to the other mamas just finally getting their quiet time at 10:15 am because they’ve been in diffuse and correct mode all morning. 

Here’s to the mamas with a child who needs a little “extra” in the regulation department. (If you know what I mean, you know). 

To the ones taking deep breaths and calling on the fruits of the spirit to help her deal with the current “explosion”. 

To the mama who wonders if she’s doing it right but knows it’s worth it. 

God chose me to mother her and He chose you to mother yours. He did that purposefully and He will equip us. If you are a Christian, you have the fruits of the spirit and the help of the Holy Spirit. 

Take a deep breath, a quiet minute and ask God for wisdom and help for this day. It’s an honour and a privilege to have this job of mama.

Hard doesn’t equal bad. 

Here’s to you mama! Keep going. ❤️
All About Reading tip: give them last years reader All About Reading tip: give them last years readers for independent reading.

 She always wants a few minutes to read on her own before bed and she likes to read last years AAR readers because she knows she won’t get a story that’s too hard. 

There’s nothing wrong with letting kids independent reading material be below their instructional level.
It’s a great way to build fluency and confidence and avoid frustration.

Thankful for these readers with interesting stories and colourful pictures @allaboutlearning ❤️
We had a great hike adventure on this beautiful sp We had a great hike adventure on this beautiful spring day!
A look through, and long explanation of, Learning A look through, and long explanation of, Learning Language Arts Through Literature grade 4. 
Let me know if you have any questions!
Sharing the math manipulatives I used today in my Sharing the math manipulatives I used today in my stories. My youngest really thrives when she learns hands on. These are from amazon, except the animals that are from the dollar store.
Read with your kids! 👏🏻Read to them. Let the Read with your kids! 👏🏻Read to them. Let them read to you. Take turns share reading. Read your own books beside each other. READ!

The benefits of reading to your kids are staggering. Not only are there crazy academic benefits, there are also relational benefits. Reading together is such a bonding experience. It helps calm your tiny ones and it brings your older kids to you. 

She’s almost 10 and she’s been reading since she was 4. She’s a voracious reader, reads constantly. I might need a job just to keep her in books. She can read as well as people twice her age. Some might naturally think there’s no point in reading to her anymore. She doesn’t need me to, she’s capable on her own. 

I disagree! We always have a book on the go together. It’s so bonding to be mutually enjoying a book and into it together. It allows her to relax or draw while I read to her. It gives us something to do just the two of us when we have time but I’m tired. Sometimes we just snuggle up like this reading our own books, pausing when she wants to talk about her book. Benefits here are we are physically connected and I get to know what shes reading and be available for discussion. 

All that to say, read with your kids!! Even when they’re older!! 

Together, she and I are loving the Tuesday’s with the Castle series. We’re on our last one!! What are you reading with your big kids?
What a great fsmily hike today to the southern tip What a great fsmily hike today to the southern tip of our island! 75 ish min hike for the whole crew!
Mystery of History Level 1. This is the history p Mystery of History Level 1. 
This is the history program we are using this year and I love it. This is likely what we will use for the next few years. I think this level will last us 2 years since we don’t do History daily.
This is a Bible based curriculum. It begins with creation and goes through history chronologically from there. Each lesson is short with a lesson in the text to be read (I read it out loud) and then a selection of activities. Each lesson has an activity for younger students, middle students and older students. 
There are some written components you can choose, such as matching characters with descriptions or answering comprehension questions. But as the teacher you can pick and choose what you want your kids to do. It can all be oral if you prefer. 
You can order timeline images and work throughout this whole curriculum to make a timeline. This is neat as it allows the kids to see how it all first together.
I love using this resource to learn together as a family!! 

#mysteryofhistory #homeschoolhistory
Merriest Christmas from our house to yours!! Looki Merriest Christmas from our house to yours!! Looking forward to this week off of school and next week we will be back at it!! My plans this week are mostly to read! How are you spending this week?
We are all so excited to see the snow and hope it We are all so excited to see the snow and hope it stays for Christmas
Grumpy mom goes to the beach. If you hear report Grumpy mom goes to the beach. 

If you hear reports of a crazy lady walking Stanley beach in the downpour and singing at the top of her lungs, have no fear, ‘twas just me. 

Do you know the best part of homeschooling? Being with your kids all the time. Getting to make so many memories and develop a strong bond, laugh together, train them, shape their character, disciple them, see them grow up….

Do you know the hardest part of homeschooling? 
Being with your kids all the time. All the mess, all the noise, all the discipline and discipling and correction. Not being able to outsource the tiring and hard parts of parenting. 

Homeschooling isn’t neat and tidy that’s for sure. It’s loud and messy and tiring and hard. And it’s beautiful and rewarding and bonding and the best decision we ever made. 

Doesn’t have to be one or the other. Both can be true. I can love it and think it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done all at the same time. 

So that’s what brings me in my raincoat and boots, worship music blaring out of my pocket and out of my lips, to the beach…getting myself ungrumpy and ready for another week of the hardest and best thing I’ve ever done. I wouldn’t change it for all the money in the world. ❤️

@valmariepaper a nod to your grumpy mom takes a holiday book. ❤️
“I believe in God the Father, I believe in Jesus “I believe in God the Father,
I believe in Jesus Christ,
I believe in the Holy Spirit
And He’s given us new life.
I believe in the crucifixion, 
I believe that He conquered death.
I believe in the resurrection
And He’s coming back again
I believe.”

Last Sunday our oldest daughter publicly declared her saving faith and allegiance to Jesus through the act of obedience through believers baptism. What a glorious day! And for her daddy to do the honours was even more special. 

We will continue to disciple her as she grows in knowledge, understanding and love for God. 

You do not need to share my beliefs to be welcome here. I’ve got a seat for you at my table regardless of your religious views. But may where my belief, love and allegiance lays never be in question. 

We love you Hailey girl ❤️
One row of carrots and a few onions harvested. Abo One row of carrots and a few onions harvested. About 1/3 of what’s there so lots more work to do.
Thank you God for this harvest and it’s provision for our family
I accidentally cut myself off! Here is part 2! I a I accidentally cut myself off! Here is part 2! I also forgot that there are usually individual white boards down below with the binders but they used them this morning and they’re not put back yet!
Showing the rolling cart we use for school this ye Showing the rolling cart we use for school this year
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