I have a 4th grade son and a K son. I have already read all the Early year books to my K son, he loves books and begs for 3 or 4 every night at bedtime. I have also read to him all the books listed on AO. We have gone to the library and just picked books too. Recently came across Jan Bret and have read all of hers, all the AA Milnes, all Beatrix Potter, and all the Henry and Mudge. In our school day I want to combine my boys for as much as possible. We do Bible, Art, Music, Poetry, Nature, Science and History together right now with the older boy having extra work and sometimes more advanced books. What are some good choice books that will keep both boys interest? Right now we are reading Mr Popper’s Penguins. What are some good books to meet in the middle for my boys? Should I read aloud from the 1st grade list and then let my 4th grade son read silently from his list?
I guess another question would be, how do you read aloud all day and not feel hoarse? Sometimes my mouth waters too much while reading and other times its so dry I feel like I have to cough. Are there any tricks to it?
You may want to check out from the library or purchase the book called Books Children Love and The Book Tree. They are book list books.
I can’t read alot at one sitting outloud or back to back; I get sleepy! So I break up the read aloud subjects and the independant studies to avoid that; pus I let my children read aloud, too.
What happens when you’ve read everything on these lists? My K son will have read all the K, 1st and 2nd by the end of the year. We have Honey for a Childs Heart too. Just in my free time I read 2 books a day, I am a fast reader.
I assume by your statement that you have the two books I mentioned already. I would look for even older, more challenging books. One site to look at for ideas and authors to pursue would esp. be Yesterday’s Classics; most are available online.
Take the authors you have on the lists and look for their other writings. The Childhood of Famous Amreicans are an easy, but enjoyable read with a long listing, too.
Also, definitely expand into Lamplighter books if you haven’t done so and Grace and Truth Books. Both carry moral and challenging reads from the 1800’s and early 1900’s.
And Vision Forum; Douglas Bond has some books appropriate for your 4th grader that are historical fiction. Maybe he’s ready to read a Henty or two,too.
I also thought to mention to add in more poetry, too. Dover has some very inexpensive author’s collections and you can get so much at the library, too.
We are using the Child’s Book of verse 2 and 3, Poems Every Child Should Know (which you can get free audio online at Librivox), and continuing Child’s Garden of Verses.