[email protected]

In a message dated 9/13/00 6:08:54 AM, [email protected] writes:

<< would it help any if she read into a
tape recorder? ... Taping her reading might be
a fun way to encourage practice while also encouraging her to meet her needs
independently. If you try this, be sure and save the first tape to listen to
somewhere down the road. Just in case she needs to hear proof that she is
making progress. >>

eiraul-- ty for the suggestions. this one is intriguing, i especially like
the part about saving the tape as PROOF and reminder of progress! so often
we are looking forward to what is still UN-done, or not-good-enough yet,
instead of looking back to how FAR we have come! i am guilty of this daily
in many areas. glad for the reminder myself...
erin

Joseph Fuerst

Hey everyone!
I'm slowly reading to catch up and re-enter the e-list after a short
e-sabbatical.
What I did on my sabbatical was get a few of the books from the unschooling
recommended reading list that I hadn't read yet.
If you have read me around here....you may know that I have struggled with
my eldest 10 yr old in regards to reading.
Kolleen describes it SO well....even when I tried to 'let it go' and thought
I was unschooling 'well'...I wasn't. I STILL had my agenda to "get her
reading. I moved from overt attempts (before I was truly comfortable with
unschooling), to covert attempts.....thinking it would help her. I finally
*really* got it....that I was still subtly trying to steer her toward
reading....I don't think I was totally consciuos of all that I was
doing.....and she reacted consiusly at times unconsciously at other
times....but always resisting.
I finally took the focus off of her completely. I began examining *my*
thought, feelings, and actions. And *finally* was able to get out of her
way. It's been about 6 months since I've let go of MY issues, agenda, and
desires about it.
She has recently become comfortable enough to come ask me things about
words now. And I'm capable of simply giving her the information. I have
worked through my feelings about it and she is healing from all my attempts
to turn it into a lesson, or to please, dissappoint, or try to control me.
She is making her way along, though hasn't had a major breakthrough yet.
Somehow, I'm sure she has a better chance now...as she learns she can trust
me to facilitate, not push or *teach*.
It also helped me to read Holt's Learning all the Time. He addresses
reading....and talks about 'immersing youngsters in written language' from
the grownup world, not that dull kid stuff.
So I'm trying to be creative in how to do this ....like putting 'menus' on
the fridge, hanging a calendar with activities spelled out clearly and
legibly, copying words to songs family members like, and changing
'inspirational' quotes I post on the fridge. Though I'm sure the *key* to
it all is my having moved past "my problems" about it.

It also helped me to read Holt's description abput learning math....where dd
and I have had the 'opposite' experience. I had a natural inclination to
simply be interested in her mathematical, logical processing....and so have
been a much more capable facilitator......of course, her confidence in this
area soars!

Shew1 This turned out long! Look out....maybe I'm back! :-)
Susan

>Pat wrote:
>How could you use trickery in regards to reading?

Anytime your agenda, hidden or otherwise, superceeds the child's agenda
to just learn at their own pace, then you are out of the unschooling
realm. This may be an option for a parent, but they will get questioned
on those choices when in an unschooling forum.

When the agenda is hidden, its trickery. And they will catch on. And
there will be resentment.


>I recommended a bringing some comic books and magazines but after reading
>a few of the replies, I realize it is not the unschooling way to take the
>lead with regard to a resistant reader.

Yes, there are no resistant readers in the unschooling realm.

>That being said, why can't we
>look at it the same way we would look a feeding a child not thriving. If
>I was concerned about my child's health because he wasn't interested in
>eating due to a health problem (here I am comparing the damage from ps to
>a health problem), wouldn't I offer a good variety of food to help him?
>Wouldn't it be ok in this situation to bring home some fun things to read
>and let him know what you have?


Again, its the parent putting their agenda over a child's natural desire.

Having stuff around the house is a far cry from going to a bookstore and
spending 3 hours.

Kids learn to read because the written word is all around us. And they
will learn best at their own time, if given the space and trust.

kolleen


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