With the holidays upon us, I wanted to share a review about one of my favorite gifts ever…my Kindle Wireless Reading Device (6″ Display, U.S. Wireless)! My husband surprised me with a Kindle for my birthday in October. It was one of those things that always fascinated me but I wasn’t sure I’d want to give up physical books. I have always loved reading and usually have a book or several on my nightstand or in my car. Switching to an electronic version was a risk…but I love it and you might, as well!

 Please note that this review is for the Kindle Wireless Reading Device (6″ Display, Global Wireless, Latest Generation) , not the Kindle DX Wireless Reading Device (9.7″ Display, U.S. Wireless, Latest Generation) . 

For simplicity’s sake, as I know we’re all very busy at this time of year, I’ve just created bulleted lists of what I view as the positives, the negatives and unknowns. If you’d like more information, please feel free to comment on this blog and I’ll get back to you right away.

 Let’s start with the positives:

• Ease of use – I was downloading books within 30 minutes of receiving my Kindle. With a few clicks, you can be reading in no time. Other aspects of the reader may take more effort, but navigation through the process of purchasing and reading books takes little instruction.
• Readability – you can adjust the size of the font. For situations where there is less light, I have found that being able to enlarge the font has just been much more comfortable. For those of you who are 40+, like me, it’s nice to set aside the reading glasses because you can see the print. The contrast of the letters and background is strong allowing for clearer reading and I notice that my eyes get less tired. As well, the screen seems to respond well to glare allowing for reading in the sunlight.
• Available materials – you can order 360,000 different books available at Amazon.com. In fact, I haven’t found a book title yet that wasn’t available for download. You can also subscribe to your favorite newspapers, magazines and blogs. They’re delivered straight to your Kindle! I tend to read multiple books at the same time. I usually have a fiction title, a Christian growth title and others. Certain titles live in my Kindle permanently just for reference or regular use including the Bible in various versions and The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness
  by Dave Ramsey. You can also download children’s chapter books if you’re a homeschooler on the go. Finally, if you’re not sure about reading a particular book, you can download the first chapter for free to preview.
• Dictionary included – if I am ever reading and don’t know what a word means, I can find out in seconds without having to leave the page.
• Prices – materials and books are much less expensive! You almost always get a discounted price for a Kindle book and there are many free items. Especially for homeschoolers, it’s nice to find books like The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes absolutely free! I have even found current books that are free because they’re marketing a new author and Christian books offer many deep discounts.
• Take along value – one of my favorite aspects of my Kindle is that I can easily take a library of books anywhere I go! I can even take my Kindle to church and Bible study, allowing me immediate access to a variety of versions of the Bible and commentaries. When I end up waiting at the doctor’s office, standing in line or sitting in my car while John Paul is in class, my Kindle allows me to read and work. It also provides opportunities to make new friends because so many people see me with it and ask me about it!  It’s extremely light and easy to tuck in my purse, tote, etc.
• Storage – with storage for 1500 books, I can keep my entire library with me all of the time!
• Rotating screen – this feature allows you to read in either portrait or landscape screen position.
• Note taking/highlighting/bookmarking – Although this tool is one that I am just beginning to use, it’s really very valuable. You can highlight text or place bookmarks just as you would in a regular book and you can make notes about specific text or at specific points, all of which remain stored in your Kindle. This is particularly helpful for me with the literature courses I teach and for Bible study. By connecting your Kindle to your computer, you can even print out notes and text or transfer items to your computer to email or share.
• Voice activated books – My Kindle will read some books to me. I can even choose whether I prefer a male or female reader. However, it can’t be used with all books (although a large number of them allow this application) and there is no expression in the reading, as with Audio books. It doesn’t sound like a computer generated voice, but it is rather stoic. It’s a good feature when I am trying to multi-task and I’m just seeking the information from the book. There is no extra cost for this application or for the books that allow it. You can easily tell whether a book works with this feature before ordering it.
• Documents – I can carry documents on my Kindle by transferring them from my computer. It allows for a variety of documents types including TXT and PDF. For teaching, meetings, etc. this provides an easy and readable way to share information without having to carry my laptop.
• Automatic shut off – If I am distracted during reading and haven’t turned a page in a while, the Kindle hibernates to save the battery life. Shutting off the wireless, with just a click, extends the battery value.
• Charging and connecting to a computer – Even as an avid reader, I only have to charge my Kindle about once a week. It includes an adaptable charger that allows you charge from an electrical outline or even from your computer. However, you can’t actually use the Kindle when it is charging from your computer. You can use it while it is charging from an electrical outlet.
• Updates are downloaded automatically – Amazon sends emails to Kindle clients when new applications are available. So far, they have not charged me for any of these upgrades and they are automatically downloaded without me having to lift a finger!

 Although I clearly believe that the positives outweigh the negatives, there are a few points that should be made, in fairness:

• Clicking – I am not sure if this is true with every Kindle, but one of my page turning buttons clicks and it can be distracting if someone is sitting quietly next to me or if I am reading in bed at night next to my husband. The other page turner doesn’t seem to be near as loud, so it may be an issue with my particular reader. It is a very minor issue and I compensate by only using the left page turning button if I might disturb someone.
• Buying – I noticed right away that when you are looking at materials to purchase, the “buy” button is easy to push without realizing it. I have purchased an item by mistake, and although there is a screen allowing you to back out of a purchase, the charge is immediately made to your credit card and you have to wait for a credit. However, after the one mistake, I have learned to be extra careful about my button pushing and more attentive when I am shopping.
• Lighting – I wish they had a backlight on the Kindle. In certain situations, it would be nice to be able to read in the dark, such as when you’re traveling at night, in bed or on an airplane.
• Sharing – You can’t loan a book to a friend when you use a Kindle and that is something that I have done a lot of in the past. Sorry, friends!

 The unknowns basically cover those areas that I haven’t had the opportunity to use enough in order to properly evaluate. If you have a Kindle and have used any of these applications, please comment for our other readers.

• Searching – there is a web browser for content/text based sites but it doesn’t support media plug-ins like Flash or Shockwave. You can search for content and definitions in material already on your Kindle and you can search in Wikipedia fairly easily. I have experimented with this somewhat and it seems to work well.
• Music and Audio books – You can download music from your computer onto a Kindle for background music or just to use for listening. You can download audio books as well. I haven’t tried either so I can’t comment on how easily this is done.
• Available covers – I recently found that there are covers available and I hoping to receive one for Christmas, specifically the Amazon Kindle Leather Cover (Fits 6″ Display, Latest Generation Kindle). At this point, I don’t have an opinion on which one is best, but I think a cover makes a lot of sense!

I am sure I missed some other applications and I’ll be sure to update you as I use my Kindle more. If you decide to order a Kindle, we’d really appreciate it if you’d order through a link from this blog as we are an Amazon affiliate. If you go to Amazon and order, we receive no credit.

The Kindle Wireless Reading Device (6″ Display, Global Wireless, Latest Generation)
that was used for this review is currently $256 and the Kindle DX Wireless Reading Device (9.7″ Display, U.S. Wireless, Latest Generation) that was not reviewed costs $489. Both include free shipping.

 Although the Christmas season should not be focused on gifts, it’s nice when you receive one that you use and value! God bless your families as we celebrate Christ this holiday season!!

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Near the Original Site of the Settlement of Charleston

Named for King Charles II, Charleston was founded in 1670 at Albemarle Point, on the western bank of the Ashley River and was the first European settlement in the U.S. colonies.  Initially named Charles Towne, the settlement was later moved to its current location on the peninsula in 1680.  If you visit Charleston, make sure you plan a stop at the historical park at Charles Towne Landing.

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Nature Study

One of our favorite parts of following Charlotte Mason’s methods are beginning many of our days with Nature Study. Rather than Amber’s family going out to study nature, they conveniently had nature come to them when they found a snake in their basement!  Of course, they couldn’t let it go without studying it first… Nature Study — Snake! posted at The Mommy Earth.Barb loves the following quote about nature study from Charlotte Mason’s contemporary and friend,  Liberty H. Bailey. Barb-Harmony Art Mom presents The Threads of Nature Study posted at Handbook of Nature Study. Have you ever wanted to take a peek at other kids’ nature journals?  Jennifer includes some pictures of theirs along with some glorious fall color in her article, Our Tree Trip in Utah, posted at Living Charlotte Mason in California. Tammy presents a fascinating and informative article about an impromptu nature study that occurred recently at her house:  An Exciting New Find, posted at Adventures On Beck’s Bounty.

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Reproduction of English Settlers' Cabins at Charles Towne Landing

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Handicrafts

Ms. Mason advocated that children learn skills and abilities that would aid them in life and aid them in being productive.  In her schools she promoted handicrafts, not just arts and crafts. Sometimes moms are at a loss for handicraft ideas to do with their sons,  so here are some manly projects gleaned from Rebecca’s experiences as a Cub Scout leader:  Handicrafts for Boys posted at Little Homeschool on the Prairie.

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The Habit of Thinking

Children do not automatically do what is right – good habits must be painstakingly, regularly, consistently trained. Christin offers us a practical examples of how to do that in her insightful article,  The Habit of Thinking posted at Journey of Discovery.

Open in 2005, the Arthur Ravenel Bridge from Charleston to Mt. Pleasant has the longest single cable-stay bridge in North America.

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Forming a Relationship

It is natural that children, when exposed to great ideas from excellent living books, develop a relationship with what they are learning. Keri presents Forming a Relationship posted at Sunny Scholars.  Barb’s children certainly are forming a relationship with the characters as they study Les Miserables.  Read this excellent reflective piece on their literature study :  “An Appreciative Look or Comment” posted at Harmony Art Mom.  Although much broader than just this topic suggests, Bethany LeBedz presents Confessions of an Organized Homeschool Mom: The Tutor’s Private Coaching Session describing her wonderfully helpful magazines for rounding out a Charlotte Mason curriclum, posted at Confessions of an Organized Homeschool Mom.

Although Phyllis is just beginning her homeschooling years, she shares with us ‘what the beginning of a Charlotte Mason education looks like’ in her home as she shares A week in our school posted at Hunsucker’s Home from the Ukraine.

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Rainbow Row

These often photographed colorful row of houses on East Bay Street are affectionately known as ‘Rainbow Row.’  Although there are several explanations for these bright colors, many feel they originated from the colonial Caribbean, a regular port of call on trade voyages to Charleston.

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Copy Work

One of the basic tenets of a Charlotte Mason education is copy work. Cyndi Kinney posts an informative and helpful article on the benefits of copy work: Why Copywork? posted at Red Head Rambler.

Pineapple Fountain at Waterfront Park

During Colonial times the pineapple began to be used in the South as a symbol for the warm and welcome hospitality frequently found here.

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Picture Study

Like copy work, picture study is a hallmark of Ms. Mason’s education. Please read this for an introduction to picture study, and then read Brenda’s article, The Impressionists for Kids posted at The Tie That Binds Us for a wonderful example of putting it into practice.   If you have older children and would like to have them learn a more formal method of evaluating art, please read my article, Charlotte Mason Mondays: Picture Study for Older Students posted at Epi Kardia.

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French Protestant Church

This historic house of worship is also known as the French Huguenot  Church.  This Reformed church was founded about 1681 by French Huguenot refugees fleeing from religious persecution in France during the Protestant Reformation.

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Living Books

Here is an additional post written by Jeanne about reading aloud, called Again, with feeling posted on her beautiful blog, A peaceful day.

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Ruins at Fort Sumter

No visit to Charleston would be complete without mentioning that the Civil War began right in our backyard with Confederate soldiers firing upon Fort Sumter, across Charleston Harbor, on April 12, 1861.  The Federal fort surrendered within a day and a half and would be occupied by Confederate forces for the next four years.

We hope you have enjoyed your Trip to Charleston as well as this edition of the Charlotte Mason Blog Carnival!

Happy Homeschooling!