gratitude wrote:I think I am over complicating book basket in my head so please bear with me.

We are 2 weeks into ADV, and I would like to start book basket this coming week. The other thread I started gave me some great ideas of what to do when the books are difficult to find. So now to actually getting started:
I have a basket in the living room that I have always used for books, so should I just be intentional about what books go in there for book basket time? To start book basket time do I just sit down with a book and announce that it is time to look at books? (Sounds relaxing for mom!

) Not read-aloud time, but
looking at books for 15 minutes or so?
Since my children were very young they periodically throughout the day pull a book off the shelf and look at it; it is how they give themselves down time. Is book basket different from this? Or is it just more intentional? I think in my head I am making it much harder than it probably is.
And what have you done for book basket if you did not find the suggested books? Does MFW stand alone without it?
First, before my babbling, I think you're already doing it right if the children are naturally drawn to look through books.
some "intentional" ideas: when, you have to work one on one with a student (math, spelling, whatever), that can be an intentional "book basket time" for other children.
Or like you said, it can be a time of let's all browse some books now and find something cool to share with each other before starting the dishes...
or "I have to deal with the toddler -- y'all go do book basket for a bit"
I would just add in a few more on topic books to the existing stuff in your living room.
It sounds a lot like you are a natural at book basket. Maybe that's why is feels like it's supposed to be something else? It's just part of your family already. Yes,you can read out loud from them. Yes, they can take them to bed and read for "aww, just 10 more minutes mom!"
You're a good book basket family.
Is it complete if you don't have tons of books? Yes. Book basket has several goals:
to encourage love of learning to read
to encourage some independent learning on a topic of interest
to encourage "ooh, I wanted to know a bit more on that after you read it"
Ideally, we'd want it with topics on the unit studies. But it can be with other studies of interest -- craft, hobby, getting Magazines like God's World News (check the mfw language arts page for discount info)
hopefully something on the Jamestown site might help to fill some learning time if your library has less than what you want.
http://www.historyisfun.org/Curriculum-Materials.htm
-crystal