Ren Allen

" I was thinking it would be a good
resource for parents who need affirmation that kids can read anywhere
and anything, AND IT COUNTS! Stuff that we've talked about before
like grocery shopping, cooking, planning trips, closed captioning on
tv, etc."


Yes, it all counts.

I have two older boys that don't really read for pleasure...not novels
or storybooks anyway. They read magazines about topics they're
interested in (computers and video games mainly) they read a LOT on
their pc and video games, and of course the day to day stuff we all
encounter.
I naturally assumed all of my children would love to read for pleasure
(many years ago) but not all people do. And that's ok.

For those that worry about reading, keep breathing deep and trusting
the process. Jared (12) only started reading with proficiency this year.
If there's one thing I can't say enough it's TRUST THE PROCESS...which
is basically trusting your child and their unique way of approaching
the whole world.

Ren
learninginfreedom.com

April Morris

When does reading "count" and when does it not? My husband reads all the
time, but in 20 years of marriage I've seen him read maybe 2 novels for
pleasure. His 'pleasure' reading is theology, philosophy, history, the
history of history......If I read, it's for pleasure. I love to get lost in
a book. I cannot get myself to read the stuff he reads for 'pleasure'. I
don't like to read for information. Is one better than the other? Is one
more important? These were hard concepts for me. I was an early reader and
read volumes, mostly for escape, as I was growing up. I thought that was
normal. Imagine my surprise when my kids were not early readers!! And I have
quite a variety. Kate will read anything, fiction or non, for pleasure or
information. Lisa prefers to read non-fiction. She probably has dyslexia and
she had to learn to read her way. Karl didn't see any point in reading for
the longest time. He was 12 before he was reading and is just now at 14
reading for pleasure. He's been reading game manuals and magazines. He just
discovered Manga and devoured a whole series over Christmas. He is currently
reading a book all about Zombies. It's a huge thick book. More than I
thought there was to know about zombies! It's the first book he has read
from beginning to end. He is loving it and I know he is comprehending
because I am learning more about zombies than I ever thought I wanted to
know. My youngest read at a much younger age than the others and loves to
read for fun and pleasure. Each and every one reads for the reasons that is
right for them. Each of them read what they need right now. Late reading,
dyslexia, not wanting to read....in the end it doesn't really matter. It's
all right and good.

~April
Mom to Kate-19, Lisa-16, Karl-14, & Ben-10.
*REACH Homeschool Grp, an inclusive group in Oakland County
http://www.homeschoolingonashoestring.com/REACH_home.html
* Michigan Unschoolers
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/michigan_unschoolers/
*Check out Chuck's art www.artkunst23.com
"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us."
Gandalf the Grey

On 1/18/06, Ren Allen <starsuncloud@...> wrote:
>
> " I was thinking it would be a good
> resource for parents who need affirmation that kids can read anywhere
> and anything, AND IT COUNTS! Stuff that we've talked about before
> like grocery shopping, cooking, planning trips, closed captioning on
> tv, etc."
>
>
> Yes, it all counts.
>
> I have two older boys that don't really read for pleasure...not novels
> or storybooks anyway. They read magazines about topics they're
> interested in (computers and video games mainly) they read a LOT on
> their pc and video games, and of course the day to day stuff we all
> encounter.
> I naturally assumed all of my children would love to read for pleasure
> (many years ago) but not all people do. And that's ok.
>
> For those that worry about reading, keep breathing deep and trusting
> the process. Jared (12) only started reading with proficiency this year.
> If there's one thing I can't say enough it's TRUST THE PROCESS...which
> is basically trusting your child and their unique way of approaching
> the whole world.
>
> Ren
> learninginfreedom.com
>
>


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

Breezy Stevens/ Lady Lasairíona of Crea

Ren Allen wrote:

>
> I naturally assumed all of my children would love to read for pleasure
> (many years ago) but not all people do. And that's ok.
>
> For those that worry about reading, keep breathing deep and trusting
> the process. Jared (12) only started reading with proficiency this year.

I heartily second this! My daughter (11) has only started really reading
this year as well-and she still can't spell or write very well, but she
does get better, albeit slowly. She was pushed to read from the time she
was very small (before I knew better), and I let my stepmom make her
practice every day- when they were done, mom would reward her with a
chocolate- ACK! She was actually in school for 2 years, which did her no
good at all- she had reading homework every night in kindergarten, and
she cried her way through it every time. I went to her teacher and told
her we weren't doing it any more. That was the beginning of the end, I
think...She actually didn't work on it for herself until well after we'd
stopped pushing her. My son, conversely (5), has never been pushed or
encouraged to read at all, and he is reading on his own like crazy!In
fact, he does almost as well as his big sis. So...my own very small
sample supports the idea of backing off and letting them do it on their own.

Blessings,
Breezy

Melissa

has anyone read Henry Winkler's series about Hank Zipzer? Josh really
enjoys it (and so do I!) Hank's a kid with 'learning differences' and
they talk alot about the people in his life who understand him, and
help him learn regardless of how. And it also spends a whole book
with his fourth grade teacher telling him he "cheated" when he
learned about a topic through books on tape. Breaks my heart! And
makes me glad that Josh isn't in school anymore.

Melissa
On Jan 18, 2006, at 11:09 AM, April Morris wrote:

> Each and every one reads for the reasons that is
> right for them. Each of them read what they need right now. Late
> reading,
> dyslexia, not wanting to read....in the end it doesn't really
> matter. It's
> all right and good.

[email protected]

-----Original Message-----
From: Ren Allen <starsuncloud@...>

For those that worry about reading, keep breathing deep and trusting
the process. Jared (12) only started reading with proficiency this year.
If there's one thing I can't say enough it's TRUST THE PROCESS...which
is basically trusting your child and their unique way of approaching
the whole world.

-=-=-=-=-
I agree, Cameron swore to me that he would never read again after leaving school at the end of sixth grade.
He didn't! <g> Until he read Rue's book----cover to cover last month. The first book he read all by himself
from beginning to end. NOW...I can't get his damned nose out of a book!

We went out shopping today---from about 10:00 to 3:00, we were out at thrift stores, lunch, hippie shop,
bank, etc. He had a drumming book with him. Between showing me a magic bit he's working on and some false
shuffles, listening to Phish and Danny Schmidt, and chatting about stuff, he would pick up that book and
READ! Blow me away! <G>

But I really DID trust that he would come to it in his own time in his own way. It happens to be drumming
(!) that's gotten him reading. Go figure! We've subscribed him to Relix and Modern Drummer magazines too.
He also reads them cover-to-cover.

I tease him about it just a little. But he's eighteen next week, and understands unschooling totally now.
He can take a little ribbing. <g>

OH! And we ALL prefer non-fiction to fiction here. Just the way we are.

~KellyKelly LovejoyConference CoordinatorLive and Learn Unschooling Conferencehttp://liveandlearnconference.org


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

[email protected]

In a message dated 1/18/2006 3:29:01 P.M. Central Standard Time,
kbcdlovejo@... writes:

For those that worry about reading, keep breathing deep and trusting
the process. Jared (12) only started reading with proficiency this year.
If there's one thing I can't say enough it's TRUST THE PROCESS...which
is basically trusting your child and their unique way of approaching
the whole world.



THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! I see the "schooled" kids reading , while
my 8 year old is just realizing that the words are read from left to right,
and it REALLY scares me!
So far no comments from family, maybe they will, maybe they won't. But that
is one thing I am ready for, to defend his (my 8 year old Isaiah) right to
learn at his own pace!
Syndi

"Education is an admirable thing,
but it is well to remember from time to time
that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught."
Oscar Wilde


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

S Drag-teine

All reading to me is pleasure. I love to learn and I love to escape. I also
think that the mind is a "muscle" - you loose what you don't use. You don't
learn something new and challenge yourself for some it is reading for others
it is something else.

Shannon

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--of 2,983 everyday products, 884 have toxic chemicals?

I'm glad we switched!
We are now safer and healthier, using toxic-free products and saving money,
too. Call (212) 990-6214 for a 10 minute prerecorded presentation or contact
me directly.

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of April Morris
Sent: Wednesday, January 18, 2006 12:09 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [unschoolingbasics] Reading; was unschooling right this minute

When does reading "count" and when does it not? My husband reads all the
time, but in 20 years of marriage I've seen him read maybe 2 novels for
pleasure. His 'pleasure' reading is theology, philosophy, history, the
history of history......If I read, it's for pleasure. I love to get lost in
a book. I cannot get myself to read the stuff he reads for 'pleasure'. I
don't like to read for information. Is one better than the other? Is one
more important? These were hard concepts for me. I was an early reader and
read volumes, mostly for escape, as I was growing up. I thought that was
normal. Imagine my surprise when my kids were not early readers!! And I have
quite a variety. Kate will read anything, fiction or non, for pleasure or
information. Lisa prefers to read non-fiction. She probably has dyslexia and
she had to learn to read her way. Karl didn't see any point in reading for
the longest time. He was 12 before he was reading and is just now at 14
reading for pleasure. He's been reading game manuals and magazines. He just
discovered Manga and devoured a whole series over Christmas. He is currently
reading a book all about Zombies. It's a huge thick book. More than I
thought there was to know about zombies! It's the first book he has read
from beginning to end. He is loving it and I know he is comprehending
because I am learning more about zombies than I ever thought I wanted to
know. My youngest read at a much younger age than the others and loves to
read for fun and pleasure. Each and every one reads for the reasons that is
right for them. Each of them read what they need right now. Late reading,
dyslexia, not wanting to read....in the end it doesn't really matter. It's
all right and good.

~April
Mom to Kate-19, Lisa-16, Karl-14, & Ben-10.
*REACH Homeschool Grp, an inclusive group in Oakland County
http://www.homeschoolingonashoestring.com/REACH_home.html
* Michigan Unschoolers
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/michigan_unschoolers/
*Check out Chuck's art www.artkunst23.com
"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us."
Gandalf the Grey

On 1/18/06, Ren Allen <starsuncloud@...> wrote:
>
> " I was thinking it would be a good
> resource for parents who need affirmation that kids can read anywhere
> and anything, AND IT COUNTS! Stuff that we've talked about before
> like grocery shopping, cooking, planning trips, closed captioning on
> tv, etc."
>
>
> Yes, it all counts.
>
> I have two older boys that don't really read for pleasure...not novels
> or storybooks anyway. They read magazines about topics they're
> interested in (computers and video games mainly) they read a LOT on
> their pc and video games, and of course the day to day stuff we all
> encounter.
> I naturally assumed all of my children would love to read for pleasure
> (many years ago) but not all people do. And that's ok.
>
> For those that worry about reading, keep breathing deep and trusting
> the process. Jared (12) only started reading with proficiency this year.
> If there's one thing I can't say enough it's TRUST THE PROCESS...which
> is basically trusting your child and their unique way of approaching
> the whole world.
>
> Ren
> learninginfreedom.com
>
>


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




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