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Home | Books | Keep a Reading List! (WTRW)

Keep a Reading List! (WTRW)

Books

Welcome to my weird post for What to Read Wednesday, where I don’t just recommend a reading topic; I recommend tracking what you read. (This week’s topic for the round-up is Scarecrows and there are some really fun posts going on— keep reading to the bottom to find the links!) You probably think you don’t get to read much (and maybe you don’t), but if you actually write down what you were reading, it might surprise you! You know how we’ve heard that writing down everything you eat will shock you at the end of the day (usually in a bad way – amiright?). There’s a good shock to be had with a similar list of books.

How and Why to Keep a Reading List!

I have done this throughout my life in different forms. As a teenager, I even kept a spiral notebook of what I read, and included a detailed review of the books (Yeah, I was that kid. Remember: I was a homeschooler before it was cool.) I also kept basic lists in journals and notebooks, and have even done some picture journaling (but since I’m a terrible artist, I gave that up quickly).

I finally came up with the 21st century way to keep track of my reading list: Pinterest!

Keep a book list in Pinterest

Here’s why I like it:

  1. It’s right there on Pinterest, duh. I’m on there fairly often, if you know what I mean.
  2. I have a board for each year, and the books are pinned in the order I read them.
  3. I can link to the book on a website, so both my followers and I can click and read about it, order, etc.
  4. If something ever happens to me, it’s public. My friends and family can look back and say, “Aw, look what she read last year.” Or something sentimental like that.
  5. A Pinterest board won’t get misplaced or have something spilled on it. It’s just there in cyberspace. Hopefully that means it’s forever. (Fingers crossed. I’m not even sure about the internet being forever, which is actually the subject of next week’s post.)

You can see my 2015 Book List and my 2016 Book List.

By keeping lists like this, instead of lamenting that I didn’t have time to read much, I realized I was actually reading a lot! And seeing that list there encourages me to make it longer. So I read some more.

A reading list is something I’ve encouraged my children to do, as well. As we read through history/science, we’re keeping a list of the books they read (or that I read to them). It’s amazing even for them to look back at how many there are!

Did you know that many famous names (and quite possibly some not-so-famous names) kept lists of what they read? Here are just a few:

  • Read Theodore Rooservelt’s reading list at The Art of Manliness, as well as the reading list of Thomas Jefferson.
  • See what Jane Austen read at BBC.
  • See a gallery of current leaders in industry and their bookshelves.
  • Read what George Washington had in his library

But what if you (or your children) don’t like to read? It’s hard to amass a list of great books, right? By all means, NO! If you’re new here, then you’ve never heard me talk about Audible. It’s like being read to all the time. It’s perfect for kids who can’t read well or don’t like to read, and for adults who don’t like to read or don’t have a lot of free time to lounge on the couch. I am convinced that non-readers can still be “readers” by listening to audiobooks.

Here’s what I’ve been listening to this month:

My current Audible reading list

 

I’ve also written a post (with a tutorial) on 5 Ways to Use Audible in Your Homeschool! If you haven’t tried Audible yet, click here (affiliate link) to sign up and get TWO free books to start!

 

The usual freebie is only one book. And if you see something in my list you’d like to listen to, I can send it to you for FREE! That’s a total of three free books right away.

So, do you keep a book list? Do you use a method I haven’t mentioned? What’s on it? Share with us in the comments!

Now, for the rest of What to Read Wednesday!

The most popular post from last week was:

Geography Reading Books from HighHill Education

Geography Reading Books

And now for the link up!

What to Read Wednesday mylearningtable.com

Our hosts will still share a themed selection of our favorite books each week.

If you’d like to join us as a co-host for What to Read Wednesday, please contact Anne.

Anne at Learning TableLeah at Sandy Toes Creations

Crystal at Castle View AcademyGinny at Not So Formulaic

logo squareLAL_SquareLogo

14408891_10209070135283094_130750262_n (1)-001What to Read 250

This list has our book themes, but you don’t have to stick to that to link up–any family-friendly posts are welcome. So, come on! Join in the fun!

What to Read Party Details


If you’d like to link back to What to Read Wednesday, here is a pretty button for you!


Instructions: Select all code above, copy it and paste it inside your blog post as HTML

 

An InLinkz Link-up


Welcome to my blog! I live in Texas with my husband and five children, and a wild assortment of dog, cats, chickens, and ducks. I’m a second-generation homeschooler, a book lover, and history enthusiast. I gush about all of these things on this blog, and I hope to share the love with you! Be sure to follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. Join my subscriber list for access to my FREE Download Library:

Join my community to get access to my Free Download Library, upcoming giveaways, and my latest ideas and encouragement!


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October 12, 2016 · 3 Comments

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Comments

  1. Lisa/Syncopated Mama says

    October 12, 2016 at 9:16 pm

    How fun to keep a list there – I started keeping one on Goodreads (before Pinterest was around). It’s definitely neat to look back and see what I read!

    Reply
    • Nicki says

      October 13, 2016 at 7:14 am

      I haven’t used Goodreads! I think that would be fun, too.

      Reply
    • Heather says

      October 15, 2016 at 9:13 am

      I really enjoy Goodreads too! I started keeping my book list there around the same time I started using Pinterest. My favorite part is the recommendations and updates for new releases.

      Reply

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I have two very different sons. One has been an extrovert since he could talk. The other has been an introvert for just as long. The thing about home education is that it doesn’t have to happen at home. What it really means is “not public school.” Not stuck in a classroom all day. Not confined to a government calendar. Not a slave to the system. 23 years ago I helped my aunt Kari start a homeschool co-op. At that time, I had one child and she was three years old. If you have a child that struggles to read, read to them. Read aloud every day. That’s the best advice I can give. New year. New house. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION: How do I homeschool with babies and toddlers in the mix?? Don’t let people tell you that “you can’t shelter your children.” Yes, you can. And you absolutely should. Mothers have a crucial role to play in society, although their job doesn’t always feel very “crucial.” Wiping baby faces, repeating instructions, settling squabbles, and making food is repetitive and doesn’t always seem important. For 2023, I’ll be preaching the same ol’ message that I can’t stop saying: “education is discipleship,” and “you can do it” homeschooling encouragement. Not gonna make the message easier to swallow when the world is attacking children on a grander scale every day. I’m also not going to tell you that homeschooling is a breeze, but I will keep saying that it’s worth every minute.

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