Joylyn

We had a little drama in the house
yesterday. Janene decided she wanted an
orange and that it needed to be cut and so
did, cutting her finger in the
process. I can't blame her or mark or myself
or the fact a knife was
available--just last month I cut my finger
pretty badly, and I'm a grown up,
or at least that's what people say. So,
mark takes her to urgent care.

The doctor and nurse, as they are examining
the finger, talk to Lexie and
Janene and make comments about how smart they
are, etc. Then Lexie breaks
the news--we homeschool. What does that
mean. You don't go to school at
all, asks the doctor. Nope, Lexie says. You
don't go to school in the
afternoons? Take a math class? Nope, says
Lexie. Doctor looks at Mark and
says "don't you want them to be around other
children?"

Mark tries to explain that they are around
lots of other children, every
day. Lexie, who is still wearing her "thing
1" tag from the Dr. Suess day at
the park, and who is wearing obviously
mismatched clothing, again in honor of
Dr. Suess, tells the doctor "I'm around a lot
of kids, I go to Girl Scouts,
to Soccer, to Park days." Mark continues
"I'm not sure why they call it
homeschooling, that's a misnomer, as we are
really never at home."

OK so Janene's finger is glued with purple
glue (dermabond) and they go
home. Later that night her finger starts to
bleed again so back we go.
Lexie said it was like Dejavu (after I
provide the word), as we parked in the
same spot, had the same doctor, same nurse,
and were in the same room. This
time the doctor just puts a bunch of strips
on Janene's finger, taping it up
well. The doctor continues to asks questions
about homeschooling, now he is
confused because I work all day. How can I
"school" my child if I am not
there. Lexie explained that she just learns
through life and that daddy
"really just provides transportation."

--
Joylyn
Mom to Lexie (6) and Janene (3)
For great nursing clothes and slings, go to
www.4mommyandme.com

"Wasn't it Mark Twain who said it takes a
very dull person to spell a word only one
way?"

[email protected]

In a message dated 4/12/02 12:28:56 PM, joylyn@... writes:

<< Joylyn
Mom to Lexie (6) >>

Lexie's the one at the conference! I have some more faces to go with names
now!

Holly is ten and a half and still not fluently reading. Last night she said
she was really sad because her friend Sarah Louise, who is younger than she
is, has been reading chapter books for a long time, and Holly can't. I said
maybe you can, and she tried some of a Boxcar Children book, just reading to
herself. She got frustrated. She asked how kids can learn to read faster.

So I told her there was a book called something like Teaching your Child to
Read in 100 Easy Lessons, and we could look for one. She said okay.

So today we went to the homeschool-specializing used bookstore here (Title
Wave).
As we were pulling in, I said "I really thought about saying no about this
book, because I would like for you to know you can learn on your own."

She said, "I know I can learn on my own, but I'm getting tired of waiting."

So I asked for the book. They'd just gotten one in, and although the first
2/3 is too easy for her, the back part wasn't. I had store credit, so that
was free, more or less <g>.

But the owner recommended a local reading book that's better, she says, and
Holly liked the look of it, so we got that for $20.

So my virginity is gone now, I bought a piece of educational curriculum!!!

We also picked up the new, free homeschooling newsletter (a glorified
activities schedule) which had articles by four moms Holly knew (counting
me), and so she knew the kids they were talking about too. And there were
quotes by homeschooling kids in town, and Holly was one of them. So that
was cool.

We got home, and went through two pages of one of the books, and six words
into the third page, Holly said I don't want to do this book.

Me, in a moment of lack-of-philosophy, said "We just got $30 worth of books
because you wanted to, so you're going to do them!!"

I'm so cool...

So she started to get tears in her eyes, and I accused her of acting just so
I would leave her alone. (Also we had planned to work on it until I had to
take Kirby to work, and we had five more minutes.)

But she said it was hard and she was making too many mistakes. So I left
that page open and told her to look at it later if she wanted to, and we were
both happier.

When she can read chapter books and feels successful, I can take both books
back to the same store and get credit to buy a FUN book with, so it's not a
total $30 loss. It will be $15 book credit, and $15 invested in either
helping her or convincing her schoolish help can be something to cry about.
I don't know which yet.

Sandra

Karin

Back when I was a school-at-homer (DOH! ;-), I used the Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons book. My son was about 5 and we went through it okay with *some* frustration here and there. We got about 3/4 done with the book and my son didn't want to do it anymore so I said he could stop. BUT, he was reading pretty well by that time - seems he did learn to read with the book.

I tried the same thing with my other son at about the same age (a couple years later) and he just DID NOT get it. After the first few easy lessons, when they started getting into reading paragraphs, he struggled so much. It just wasn't working like it was supposed to, like it had with my other son. I let him give up that book but made him continue with phonics workbooks. These were such a struggle for him to do, I could see his frustration each time he did the workbooks, even though I was sitting right there beside him. He wasn't getting it! We even tried the ever-popular Phonics Game (because it's a fun card game! :-p) and he could only kind-of read the 3 letter words, nothing harder than that, no matter how many times we tried playing and S-O-U-N-D-I-N-G out the letters and sounds in each word.

At about that time I discovered unschooling, was actually specifically drawn to the article at the unschooling.com website concerning late readers. I was hooked from that point on! I knew I had FINALLY found the answer to our homeschooling problems. I found people who had the same problems as I did - kids who didn't like to sit down and do book learning, late readers, frustrated households. And the best part was that I as I learned more about unschooling, I realized that I didn't have the problems I thought I did afterall. The problems I thought I had were just my kids learning things at their own pace, the way it really should be. I am so thankful to have found unschooling.

Since dropping all workbooks, phonics lessons, reading lessons, etc. last Sept., my 9 yo hesitant/late reader recently surprised me when I found him in bed one night reading a Pokemon chapter book. I asked him "Can you read that book now?" and he said "yeah, most of it. Some words are a little hard but I just skip over those". He had tried reading that book several times already in months past and was still too frustrated with his reading level to stay with it. But this past week, HE GOT IT! He is starting to read BECAUSE I stopped trying to teach him reading. :-)

Karin





----- Original Message -----
From: SandraDodd@...
To: [email protected]
Sent: Friday, April 12, 2002 3:03 PM
Subject: Re: [AlwaysLearning] mouths of babes



In a message dated 4/12/02 12:28:56 PM, joylyn@... writes:

<< Joylyn
Mom to Lexie (6) >>

Lexie's the one at the conference! I have some more faces to go with names
now!

Holly is ten and a half and still not fluently reading. Last night she said
she was really sad because her friend Sarah Louise, who is younger than she
is, has been reading chapter books for a long time, and Holly can't. I said
maybe you can, and she tried some of a Boxcar Children book, just reading to
herself. She got frustrated. She asked how kids can learn to read faster.

So I told her there was a book called something like Teaching your Child to
Read in 100 Easy Lessons, and we could look for one. She said okay.

So today we went to the homeschool-specializing used bookstore here (Title
Wave).
As we were pulling in, I said "I really thought about saying no about this
book, because I would like for you to know you can learn on your own."

She said, "I know I can learn on my own, but I'm getting tired of waiting."

So I asked for the book. They'd just gotten one in, and although the first
2/3 is too easy for her, the back part wasn't. I had store credit, so that
was free, more or less <g>.

But the owner recommended a local reading book that's better, she says, and
Holly liked the look of it, so we got that for $20.

So my virginity is gone now, I bought a piece of educational curriculum!!!

We also picked up the new, free homeschooling newsletter (a glorified
activities schedule) which had articles by four moms Holly knew (counting
me), and so she knew the kids they were talking about too. And there were
quotes by homeschooling kids in town, and Holly was one of them. So that
was cool.

We got home, and went through two pages of one of the books, and six words
into the third page, Holly said I don't want to do this book.

Me, in a moment of lack-of-philosophy, said "We just got $30 worth of books
because you wanted to, so you're going to do them!!"

I'm so cool...

So she started to get tears in her eyes, and I accused her of acting just so
I would leave her alone. (Also we had planned to work on it until I had to
take Kirby to work, and we had five more minutes.)

But she said it was hard and she was making too many mistakes. So I left
that page open and told her to look at it later if she wanted to, and we were
both happier.

When she can read chapter books and feels successful, I can take both books
back to the same store and get credit to buy a FUN book with, so it's not a
total $30 loss. It will be $15 book credit, and $15 invested in either
helping her or convincing her schoolish help can be something to cry about.
I don't know which yet.

Sandra

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

waptia

I'm reading a book I got from the local library put out by The
Literacy Volunteers of America, Inc. called _Help a Child Learn To
Read_ by Judy Blankenship Cheatham. I'm finding it very useful for me
in understanding the whole process of reading better.

I like their "working together" approach too, this is an example (feel
free to substitute homeschooling for tutor as appropriate.)

" In any tutoring situation, remember five themes that pervade this
book:

1. A respect for the child as an individual.
2. A view of the tutor and the student both learning and teaching.
3. A sensitivity to the child's needs for immediate relevance.
4. A veiw of tutoring and and learning as collaborative activities.
5. An integration of all four language components -- reading, writing,
listening, and speaking."

My 10 year old learned to read like breathing. The seven year old
isn't picking up the same visual or auditory clues.

Peggy




--- In AlwaysLearning@y..., SandraDodd@a... wrote:
>
> In a message dated 4/12/02 12:28:56 PM, joylyn@g... writes:
>
> << Joylyn
> Mom to Lexie (6) >>
>
> Lexie's the one at the conference! I have some more faces to go
with names
> now!
>
> Holly is ten and a half and still not fluently reading. Last night
she said
> she was really sad because her friend Sarah Louise, who is younger
than she
> is, has been reading chapter books for a long time, and Holly can't.
I said
> maybe you can, and she tried some of a Boxcar Children book, just
reading to
> herself. She got frustrated. She asked how kids can learn to read
faster.
>
> So I told her there was a book called something like Teaching your
Child to
> Read in 100 Easy Lessons, and we could look for one. She said okay.
>
> So today we went to the homeschool-specializing used bookstore here
(Title
> Wave).
> As we were pulling in, I said "I really thought about saying no
about this
> book, because I would like for you to know you can learn on your
own."
>
> She said, "I know I can learn on my own, but I'm getting tired of
waiting."
>
> So I asked for the book. They'd just gotten one in, and although
the first
> 2/3 is too easy for her, the back part wasn't. I had store credit,
so that
> was free, more or less <g>.
>
> But the owner recommended a local reading book that's better, she
says, and
> Holly liked the look of it, so we got that for $20.
>
> So my virginity is gone now, I bought a piece of educational
curriculum!!!
>
> We also picked up the new, free homeschooling newsletter (a
glorified
> activities schedule) which had articles by four moms Holly knew
(counting
> me), and so she knew the kids they were talking about too. And
there were
> quotes by homeschooling kids in town, and Holly was one of them.
So that
> was cool.
>
> We got home, and went through two pages of one of the books, and six
words
> into the third page, Holly said I don't want to do this book.
>
> Me, in a moment of lack-of-philosophy, said "We just got $30 worth
of books
> because you wanted to, so you're going to do them!!"
>
> I'm so cool...
>
> So she started to get tears in her eyes, and I accused her of acting
just so
> I would leave her alone. (Also we had planned to work on it until I
had to
> take Kirby to work, and we had five more minutes.)
>
> But she said it was hard and she was making too many mistakes. So I
left
> that page open and told her to look at it later if she wanted to,
and we were
> both happier.
>
> When she can read chapter books and feels successful, I can take
both books
> back to the same store and get credit to buy a FUN book with, so
it's not a
> total $30 loss. It will be $15 book credit, and $15 invested in
either
> helping her or convincing her schoolish help can be something to cry
about.
> I don't know which yet.
>
> Sandra

[email protected]

In a message dated 4/12/02 6:33:54 PM, peggy@... writes:

<< My 10 year old learned to read like breathing. The seven year old
isn't picking up the same visual or auditory clues.
>>

Kirby learned visually--by sight.
Marty was very phonetic.

Holly isn't facile with either of those.

I know she'll get it. I just wish she didn't have to be frustrated. Other
things she has done quickly and easily, and she's always been gracious about
helping other kids with things she found easier, and I've NEVER heard her say
to anyone else anything like "You still can't skate!?" or "You can't
subtract!?" I wish I could be confident that no other kids are saying "You
still can't read?" to Holly.

Sandra

waptia

--- In AlwaysLearning@y..., SandraDodd@a... wrote:

> Kirby learned visually--by sight.
> Marty was very phonetic.
>
> Holly isn't facile with either of those.
>
> I know she'll get it. I just wish she didn't have to be frustrated.
Other
> things she has done quickly and easily, and she's always been
gracious about
> helping other kids with things she found easier, and I've NEVER
heard her say
> to anyone else anything like "You still can't skate!?" or "You can't
> subtract!?" I wish I could be confident that no other kids are
saying "You
> still can't read?" to Holly.
>
> Sandra

I know. I know. :/

Peggy

Deb K.

I have a ten year old son who struggles with reading. I've tried
everything. Recently I ordered a book called Reading Rescue 1-2-3, by Peggy
M. Wilber. I'm starting to feel hopeful. I'm trying something out of the
book that is working already! It's called "To, With, and By". It's
supposed to help with "fluent" reading. You are supposed to pick a short
selection, read it TO the child two times, then read the selection WITH them
two times, then the child reads BY herself two times. I have modified it a
little - my son does not have the attention span to hear the same selection
that many times, so the way we do it is- I read it two times, the we read it
together once, then he reads it once. He really likes this and is showing
improvement. There is more to the book that I haven't got to yet, but I
wanted to try "To, With and By" right away.
Deb K.


Sent: Friday, April 12, 2002 6:03 PM
Subject: Re: [AlwaysLearning] mouths of babes


>
> In a message dated 4/12/02 12:28:56 PM, joylyn@... writes:

...is ten and a half and still not fluently reading. Last night she said
> she was really sad because her friend Sarah Louise, who is younger than
she
> is, has been reading chapter books for a long time, and Holly can't. I
said
> maybe you can, and she tried some of a Boxcar Children book, just reading
to
> herself. She got frustrated. She asked how kids can learn to read
faster...

Sharon Rudd

Roy memorizes things that quickly. He could read the
a selection (book) with the book shut!!

Sharon of the Swamp

--- "Deb K." <debra@...> wrote:
> I have a ten year old son who struggles with
> reading. I've tried
> everything. Recently I ordered a book called
> Reading Rescue 1-2-3, by Peggy
> M. Wilber. I'm starting to feel hopeful. I'm
> trying something out of the
> book that is working already! It's called "To,
> With, and By". It's
> supposed to help with "fluent" reading. You are
> supposed to pick a short
> selection, read it TO the child two times, then read
> the selection WITH them
> two times, then the child reads BY herself two
> times. I have modified it a
> little - my son does not have the attention span to
> hear the same selection
> that many times, so the way we do it is- I read it
> two times, the we read it
> together once, then he reads it once. He really
> likes this and is showing
> improvement. There is more to the book that I
> haven't got to yet, but I
> wanted to try "To, With and By" right away.
> Deb K.
>
>
> Sent: Friday, April 12, 2002 6:03 PM
> Subject: Re: [AlwaysLearning] mouths of babes
>
>
> >
> > In a message dated 4/12/02 12:28:56 PM,
> joylyn@... writes:
>
> ...is ten and a half and still not fluently reading.
> Last night she said
> > she was really sad because her friend Sarah
> Louise, who is younger than
> she
> > is, has been reading chapter books for a long
> time, and Holly can't. I
> said
> > maybe you can, and she tried some of a Boxcar
> Children book, just reading
> to
> > herself. She got frustrated. She asked how kids
> can learn to read
> faster...
>
>
>
>


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Julie Stauffer

My Zach is almost 9. I tried to teach him to read at 5. It was a nightmare
for both of us. Luckily we discovered unschooling before I damaged him too
severely. He would occasionally let me read to him but not much and he
rarely suggested it. He would ask what signs said and could recognize the
names of television shows on the TV schedule. That was about it.

This week I was reading to my other son and Zach says "I can read almost all
of "Green Eggs and Ham"." I'm thinking he must remember some of it from
years ago when he would let me read to him. He sits down with me and I can
tell he IS READING....not reciting but reading. He taught himself by
finding a book with smaller words and lots of repetition and rhyme.

He showed me this the same day he found out he had been awarded a free goat
to raise through 4-H and the pumpkin seeds he saved from last year's
jack-o-lantern and planted all by himself sprouted.....banner day for young
Zach....and Mama was happy too :)

Julie

Sharon Rudd

Happy Happy Day Zach!!!! Congratulations.

Sharon of the Swamp

> This week I was reading to my other son and Zach
> says "I can read almost all
> of "Green Eggs and Ham"." I'm thinking he must
> remember some of it from
> years ago when he would let me read to him. He sits
> down with me and I can
> tell he IS READING....not reciting but reading. He
> taught himself by
> finding a book with smaller words and lots of
> repetition and rhyme.
>
> He showed me this the same day he found out he had
> been awarded a free goat
> to raise through 4-H and the pumpkin seeds he saved
> from last year's
> jack-o-lantern and planted all by himself
> sprouted.....banner day for young
> Zach....and Mama was happy too :)
>
> Julie
>
>


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