Home is where you start from: My local bookstore is my homeschool secret-weapon

Thursday, November 12, 2009

My local bookstore is my homeschool secret-weapon

I aim to keep my homeschool students busy, interested, motivated; and I love to put an occasional smile on their faces. One secret weapon (I happened to stumble upon) for doing all of these things is my local bookstore.

I thought I'd post a little 'this works for me' sort of post...

We are a family of bookstore-junkies. It is usually the end-destination for Sky and I on date-night, and we've made sure to pass along our bookstore affinity to the kids.
Our thought is that you grow young readers by example, in addition to seeing us reading at home, the kids see their parents enjoying an evening at the bookstore.

We started them on "bookstore night with daddy". The youngest looked forward to learning to read so they would be lucky enough to be invited.

I like to mix it up and take them once in a while during the day. Along with the exciting prospect of being out and about during the day, our trips to the bookstore encourage a love for reading in several (happenstance) ways:

1. The enjoyment of a yummy child's hot cocoa with a good read. I started them off with a few board books, then moved on to children's magazines, and then of course...Calvin & Hobbes [icon status in our home...]

2. reading lessons in a new place. Sometimes I would bring our phonics books with us and conduct a lesson while the other children browsed. I would keep it short and sweet and then let the student reader browse, too.

3. Read alouds. Fun way to dip into some new types of books. We might sit on the stage and be a little theatrical.

4. Prizes. I do not give prizes for expected good/responsible behavior, but I have found that prizes for skills not easily learned are a great motivator. In the past, I have given prizes for each 20 lessons completed in our phonics program - the prize was a trip and a book from the bookstore, and all the kids were invited to come along, so the winner spread the happiness. I've given book prizes for multiplication tables memorized, and lately I've given pennies for classical memory work- which can only be spent at the bookstore.

5. Calvin & Hobbes. If you don't know Calvin, look him up...you will love his imagination and expansive vocabulary. My children were greatly motivated to learn to read so they could enjoy Calvin & Hobbes themselves.

Some of our favorite bookstore finds:

Calvin & Hobbes

Graphic Universe books on classic myths and legends

Garfield

The Warriors graphic novels

and, why- yes, we were at the bookstore today! :)

Labels: homeschool, reading basket, secret weapon

posted at 11:22 PM
8 comments

8 Comments:

At 8:30 AM, Barb said...: Hi Jenny!

Returning the visit! My kiddo's love the bookstore. For us it is Barnes and Noble but we occasionally hit Borders. They love it hit Starbucks and just sit and read.

On the Mythbusters....def. look for a coupon. Don't spend $20...$10 is about right.
At 5:15 PM, PancreasJuice said...: I love this idea! I am a bookstore junkie, too....although I secretly prefer the used bookstore. I just found a new one near my house. It's quite the temptation. :)
At 5:17 PM, Lollidale Farm said...: Oops! I was signed into the wrong account. That was me up there....
At 7:08 PM, Tracy said...: We love going to the bookstore here too. Books have always been my addiction of choice. Though over the past few years I’ve had to turn almost exclusively to the library. Before my 4 year old daughter went to pre-school there were several cold snowy days we went to the large Borders by us. My hope is that she becomes a reader to, my son is not instead he listens to books on his ipod.
At 8:47 PM, Hen Jen said...: Dale,

thanks for stopping by! I used to prefer old bookstores in my pre-kid days, but now it is handy to pop into a chain store and order the kids a hot chocolate so I can browse...I love books, however I can get them, tho!

Tracy, I try to alternate between the library and bookstore, since I read so fast, the library saves me money. I think listening to books is a very good habit!
At 12:51 PM, Blessed Mommy said...: Love bookstores and now that the twins are a little older, going back more frequently now. Never thought of doing a reading lesson there....hmmmmmm. got me thinking.
At 10:11 PM, Ritsumei said...: What a cool idea. I love the bookstore, and now that Monkey is getting bigger, this sort of thing is something to consider. Thanks for the tip!
At 8:57 PM, Tim Tinkel said...: Jenny,

We love bookstores as well, but, like Dale/Lolli, we enjoy the used bookstore. Unfortunately, the used bookstore that we go to also has a used video game section so guess where my boys often migrate to? I am a book hog however and we have 100's and I'm talking 100's in our small house. So, even though my kids like video games, reading is a huge part of our lives as well.
BTW - I found you on Homeschooling Hearts and Minds new Tuesday's Toolbox Meme! It's a great new meme.

Tim

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