So many great stories, so little time

[Tracee]

I've been looking through the read aloud lists, and I'm getting bummed, because there are so many good stories that I would like to read to the kids, but not enough time to read them. We do school all year long, so we don't really have a summer break where we might be able to read an extra book or two. I used to always read to them at bedtime, but with everyone getting older and going to bed a little later, and all our extra-curricular activities in the evening, I'm just too exhausted at night.


Are any of the books introduced again? Are they in DITHOR?


Thanks,
Tracy

[edsnyder]

The great thing about Dithor is that you can use any book in each genre so you would just have to decide what level the book was in to know when to give it to your child to read for Dithor.

[lmercon]

Tracee,
I feel the EXACT SAME WAY! With my ds being dyslexic, as you know, I have to read everything to him. I don't have the satisfaction of providing him a great library for him to read through on his own. If I ain't readin' it, it ain't gettin' read! Pressure! I can also relate to the busyness with activities and late bedtimes. I try to read at bedtime as often as possible, but with spring sports here, I'll be lucky to get in a couple nights a week.
Laura

[jer2911mom]

We are trying to read more than one book from each genre in Beyond. So far we have read both Helen Keller (5 days) and Benjamin West (15 days) and both A Lion to Guard Us (9 days) and King of the Wind (11 days, a pretty steady clip). We read Squanto in the evenings and just finished it. I agree, I don't want to miss any of the books, either! It's a delicate balance between keeping it CM and getting through the books you want to read. I'm spreading out Beyond and Bigger to hit Preparing in 4th grade, so that is allowing us a little more time to get through more books, too. I also hope that once my dd is reading better, I can create a "book basket" for her to use during her free reading time.

I'm still trying to read the additional books at bedtime, too, but I know that, like you, we may not always have that option. Do you have any time at breakfast or lunch to read more?

Kathy

[my3sons]

I hear ya! Audio books are an option. Dc can read the books they "missed" later themselves if they are able. Daddy? Would he read at night? My dh is too exhausted or not here (no judgment - love the guy - just isn't gonna happen here), but what about your hubby - would he be up for a little night reading? If none of this helps, rest assured that even just hearing the books alloted time for each year in HOD will give our dc a TON of great books they've heard/read compared to what we did, or what most dc their ages will get to experience. Sleep is important - it makes us happier homeschool teachers and mamas the next day - so don't be giving that up to get in one more book! Just my 2 cents!

In Christ,
Julie

[mrsrandolph]

I just read them all! We usually finish a book for a genre before the guide says to the next genre, so we start another book.

Also, we read the read aloud during school AND at bedtime. We LOVE read alouds!!

[mrsrandolph]

Oh...and buy, borrow, or check out a copy of Red Sails To Capri. It has been my kids' fave book by far. It is a wonderful adventure story!!

[Tracee]

Thanks everyone! I think I will start next year when my youngest are a little older. So far, we've been reading from the boy interest list. I have one more boy that will be using those and then I will choose from the girl interest list for my daughter. It would be fun to add in the classic titles for the entire family to listen too. Maybe I can pull dh away from the television for 15 minutes an evening to do that. DH works long days an often 6 days a week, so I like to let him veg. But, 15 minutes wouldn't be too much to ask.

Shannon, if you read ahead in the storytime box, how do you keep track of the story time activities or narration practice? Some how we got ahead in Sarah Witcher's Story, and we ended up missing some of the story time activities?


Tracy