Each week I share the books that I am currently reading for my Read 100 Challenge, as well as interesting links related to faith, family, and frugal living.
Books
Building a Better Teacher by Elizabeth Green
I am a little over halfway through this book, and I confess that I am a bit disappointed. The subtitle of the book is “How Teaching Works (And How to Teach It to Everyone).” With a subtitle like that I expected a bit more of the “how to” than I am currently finding. So far the book is a very interesting history of education and the education of teachers. I have enjoyed it thoroughly for its engaging narrative, but it is not what I expected. Perhaps I’ll be able to give a better review next week once I have finished it. I am hopeful that the last part of the book will live up to its title.
Belle Prater’s Boy by Ruth White
This is my latest audiobook for my commute. I am completely captivated by this gentle story of Gypsy, a twelve-year-old beauty who has lost her father, and Woodrow, her cousin whose mother–Belle Prater–has completely disappeared. This Newbery Honor book has a slower pace than many of today’s books. It is filled with rich characterization and sense of place and is a great pick for 4th-7th grade students.
Shadow by Mike Morpurgo
There are a few good books out there for young adults about the war in Afghanistan, but this may be my favorite. Extremely readable, engaging, and filled with action, Shadow helps Western readers gain an understanding of both the conflict in Afghanistan and the plight of those seeking asylum in Europe. I highly recommend this book for anyone 5th grade and older.
Links I Love
Faith
What The Numbers Tell Us Elissa at Raising Saints discusses the latest Pew Research statistics, which show a rapidly dwindling number of Americans with religious affiliation.
Thankful for the Detour A detour on a hiking trail causes Jane G. Meyer to reflect on life and faith.
Family
How to Structure Your Day as a Stay At Home Mom Excellent tips for using time blocks to organize your day when you are at home with your kids.
How to Handle Work and Home For the work outside the home moms, Debt Free Stress Free Life has some great ideas for balancing your work life and your home life.
Frugal Living
The Best Personal Finance Books for Moms Interested in learning more about budgeting? Curious about the ins and outs of finance? Check out these book recommendations from Financially Wise on Heels.
How to Save Money with Ibotta Are you wanting to painlessly save money on your grocery budget? Morning Motivated Mom explains the ins and outs of the Ibotta app.
What are you reading this week?
