Ren Allen

"How do kids learn to spell if they aren't learning spelling words or
using a curriculum? "

My question is "how do they learn if they're using a curriculum or
being taught!!??" uck.
If somebody does not see a very real USE for information, an immediate
NEED, then all of your "teaching" is for naught. Human beings learn,
that's what they DO. Turning anything into a lesson is detrimental
unless the learner WANTS it.

Your kids are sending loud and clear messages. Listen to them.
Nothing you are forcing is going to help them, it's only going to
hinder. Is good spelling more important than joy in learning?

My Jared (almost 13) learned to read this year. Shame and guilt would
NOT have helped him. Pressure or lessons would not have brought him
closer to joyful reading. He reads wonderfully and types messages to
other players in online games, occasionally stopping to ask me how
something is spelled. He doesn't have ANY of the baggage a schooled
(at home or otherwise) child would have over reading later. We all
learn things in our own way and time....parents can either facilitate
joy in learning, or dampen it. Lessons and pushing are BIG dampeners.

Ren
learninginfreedom.com

[email protected]

Pam,
Great timing for you story.
Riley just recently told me reading is boring. All it is is a bunch of black lines on pages. Reading books has been frustrating for him, though he reads any word which comes his way. He is reading, but it is slow and he continues to sound out words very slowly which gets in his way of comprehending anything story like. It is amazing to see the things which he focuses on. My programmed to read mind often sees only the words, while my son points out color changes, or symbols, or other really interesting things. While he would like reading to be easier, he absolutely does not want to be made to read for readings sake. I asked him, because he does seem to read more fluently when he reads often, like every day. His answer was, Mom, " I don't want you to ever MAKE me do anything." I love the bond between parent and child in unschooling homes.
Also, he plays Halo online, and sometimes the other players cuse and write nasty stuff, but my guy doesn't focus on the dialogue, he focuses on the playing. No parental worries here for my later reader.
Mary

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Pamela Sorooshian

On Jun 8, 2006, at 9:11 AM, mfhickman@... wrote:

> Also, he plays Halo online, and sometimes the other players cuse
> and write nasty stuff, but my guy doesn't focus on the dialogue, he
> focuses on the playing. No parental worries here for my later reader.

AHA - another benefit of later reading! Good one! <G>

-pam

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