reading Archives - Spoonful of Imagination

We are only a week into summer, but already loving it! We worked so hard on so many new concepts this school year. As a homeschool mom, I am especially proud of completing another year. Since I teach my kids all year, getting the kids to read during the summer and not feel like they are doing “school” can be tricky. My kids love earning electronic time, and I can play into their love for electronics, by using Disney Story Central.

Disney Story Central is the largest collection of Disney digital stories, featuring a wide array of Disney stories and characters that kids and families know and love.

I can have the best of both worlds by sharpening their love for reading while also allowing them to have some screen time.

The computer doesn’t always make sense for reading. When we are on the go or want to all cuddle up in a more comfy location, we can turn to our iPad. I love that this program can be played on both.

I let my kids pick which books they would like to read from Disney Story Central from our computer. I love that it is a cross-platform experience. Disney Story Central is available via iPhone and iPad app, tablet-optimized website and Video on Demand (AT&T U-Verse).

One of my favorite features of this program is the customizable bookshelves for each member of the family. With a soon to be third grader and first grader, my boys are on different reading levels and they can get personalized reading recommendations for the level they need.

When we were selecting some books, I kept in mind my little Reagan. She’s in preschool and loves to read books! With each book there is the option to read it aloud or have it read aloud to you. She could sit for hours and have these books read to her. She loves it!

Disney Story Central gives families the freedom to choose the reading experience that suits them best, whether through an annual subscription service (unlimited access to the expansive library) or a-la-carte options, using Disney Book Tokens. The Disney book token system works like currency and allows parents to give their kids the opportunity to pick out the books they WANT to read.

My kids love picking out books to read. They sort through, compare, talk about the characters and their favorite parts of the different stories. Reading is so important and starting a fun way to do it as a kid will hopefully create a lifetime love for reading in them.

You can participate in Disney Story Central‘s ‘Mid-Summer Light Reads’ Campaign. The campaign will promote weekly summer reading themes featuring selected Disney titles. By participating you can unlock free books and enter a special sweepstakes! Launching today, June 11, the campaign will run through August 13.

How do you encourage your kids to read during the summer? Thanks so much for stopping by!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

When I look back on our first year of homeschooling, I am very proud. I do lots of art and projects, but there is nothing like trekking through a school year of teaching your child that gives the same reward. My son is reading. It might not be perfect and Lord knows I could have done a WAY better job at teaching him, so it was a smoother transition, but we were learning together. I am thankful I have such a bright son, and who as I tripped on explaining rules and sight words still managed to get something.

At the beginning of the year, our school days were a very formal routine. After breakfast we did the pledge, calendar, etc and went on from there. I pushed to get it all done right away (as I have an early education degree and that is how I was trained). As our year went on (and the moving stuff got crazy)I got more relaxed and together we figured out routines that worked better for us. Having a preschooler and a toddler to care for while also teaching was difficult. I learned that any activity they could do with us should be done up front. We did playdoh and crafts mostly in the morning and they were toned differently for each skill that I was working with.

For example, Caleb might have been spelling words in his playdoh, J making shapes, and Reagan mixing all our colors together as she explored the texture and cause and effect elements. In the afternoon, when J and Reagan were down for naps, is when Caleb and I would do our harder stuff that required more concentration. Sometimes this even ended up being at night, if life happened and dr visits came into play. I learned that was ok. The beauty of homeschooling is it doesn’t have to be at a set time or place. I learned that all the life lessons (like being apart of working on a house to sell) are really important too. Every experience with a kid is a teachable moment and it doesn’t have to be sitting in a chair in a school room all day everyday. I wouldn’t trade the time we had together this year for anything. We had a lot of fun.

I say all this to say, we started the year saying we would just take homeschooling a year (and a child) at a time. We are excited to say, we will be homeschooling again in the fall. Although I feel like I have learned a little on how I can do my job better, I know I still have a lot of space to grow. One thing that needs to change is I need to find a co-op or some kind of class for my boys. This year I was totally on my own. I made my own curriculum and I implemented it all by myself. There are tons of good resources available and I need to lean into that and make my job a little easier. One avenue of help that I have recently learned about is TakeLessons.com.

Takelessons.com helps make it easy and safe to find a music instructor or academic tutor. They’ve been in business since 2006 and have a very high safety and quality priority. From what I have learned is they take the process of researching a good teacher, scheduling and coordinating times of lessons, and billing, so I can just enjoy the lessons. I’m especially intrigued with the range of in home, in studio, or online lessons. There are options!

As I think about next year, I am processing this option. There are over 30 lesson types available and a 100% money back guarantee. Most co-ops I have researched require the year cost paid up front without any money back if we discover that is not a good fit for our family.

I encourage you to research it as well and see if TakeLessons.com might be a good fit for your family-even if you aren’t a homeschooler!

To get a FREE copy of “Quick Guide to Getting Started With Music Lessons” you can click here.

As a special bonus TakeLessons is offering you a 20% off music lesson or tutoring package when you use promo code ‘IMAGINATION’ at checkout. Call 619-618-7473 to speak with a TakeLessons Student Counselor. This offer is good only through July 6, so check them out this week and be sure to mention the discount code.

Other ways to learn more about TakeLessons and connect are by twitter, You Tube, or Facebook.

I hope you are enjoying your summer, and I am excited to share with you a little of what we have been up to later this week!

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