sonyacurti

Hi all,
I really enjoyed reading all of your posts. I though I would share a
few comments also. My son Joey is 7 and was pulled out of school in
K. Before he went I bought a program called "Front line phonics" and
he absolutely HATED it. So I returned it and thought I'll leave
this alone. I also thought maybe the schools would do something I
don't know how to (now I know different). I sent him to school and
they suggested I put him into a thing they call Title one (special
help) for him to learn his letters because he would forget them. I
would talk to the Title one teacher and she would say he is doing
wonderful and he knows this, this and this letter. I would go home
and ask him and he wouldn't know. I realized that he just remembered
them just to shut her up. I of course was devastated because I
didn't know about unschooling at the time. Although I didn't know I
pulled him out because I couldn't bear the pain of watching him be
so unhappy. I decided to give him a break (of course not right away
lol......) and just read to him. Thankfully I found this group !!!!!
I even let him have his video games he's always wanted and I find
that he knows a lot of big words and he can listen to very long
stories and loves them !! He can understand and comprhend many
things that doesn't require reading. He has started asking me what
certain words say. I am totally relaxed now. I see he has the desire
to learn in his OWN way and that is fine for me. I see HIS progress
and have let go of my own ideas of how it should be mastered. He
begs me to read to him at night and hates me to point my finger
LOL................ He use to feel ashamed that he couldn't read and
I assured him that he is fine and will learn in his own way on his
own time and he is fine now. He always proudly says I can't read
tell me what that says - but I can see the wheels turning and I do
see that he understands small words but desn't think he is reading
because he cannot pick up a book or a note like I can and fluently
read. I have two stepsons who live with their mother who go to
public school. I can totally understand what you ment by the SOLID
foundation because they are not fluent but they are required to do a
book report - WHAT IS THAT ALL ABOUT ?????? Also my oldest who is 15
HATES to read and I feel badly. Anyway, back to my little Joey he
is also missing 4 teeth in the front and cannot pronounce certain
words and I think it is so cute !! They of course had him in speech
therapy. His fornt teeth peeking through(peeing LOl....) and I'm
excitied and sad that my little boy is growong up reading and
speaking correctly now ..........................................
sigh :)

Sonya
Attleboro, Mass.