Reading late
Home Education Magazine
At 4:27 PM +0000 5/20/01, [email protected] wrote:
about my four sons and reading. I don't think any of them learned to
read before they were ten years old, and a couple of them didn't
learn until their mid-teens. They just didn't need it in their
everyday lives, I guess. When they did find a use for it they learned
quickly enough, though.
Our second-oldest son surprised us the most. He'd been packing around
a big orange hardcover book for a while, but we never saw him reading
it. We assumed he was using it for pressing flowers - a family
interest at the time - because we didn't think he could read yet. But
one day he asked a question that showed me he'd been reading the book
- in fact he was over halfway through it already. It was "James and
the Giant Peach," not exactly light reading. That son is now an
industrial electrician, BTW.
Helen
>Just out of curiosity Sandra(or maybe because my nine-yearold ds isn'tI'm not Sandra (I don't even play her on TV), but I can tell you
>reading yet) How old were your boys when they started reading? Did theyjust
>start spontaneously? Kimme
about my four sons and reading. I don't think any of them learned to
read before they were ten years old, and a couple of them didn't
learn until their mid-teens. They just didn't need it in their
everyday lives, I guess. When they did find a use for it they learned
quickly enough, though.
Our second-oldest son surprised us the most. He'd been packing around
a big orange hardcover book for a while, but we never saw him reading
it. We assumed he was using it for pressing flowers - a family
interest at the time - because we didn't think he could read yet. But
one day he asked a question that showed me he'd been reading the book
- in fact he was over halfway through it already. It was "James and
the Giant Peach," not exactly light reading. That son is now an
industrial electrician, BTW.
Helen
Laura Yolo
-- Home Education Magazine
<HEM-Editor@...> wrote:
myelf in a seperate post:-) I have a question for you
and the other experienced unschoolers here. If your
boys didn't read until this late, how did you handle
yearly testing and/or evaluations? In our
state(Washington) children older than 8yo are required
to take an annual standardized test or be evaluated by
a licensed teacher. I'm starting to panic over how my
9yo ds will do during his evaluation this summer, as
it will be his first. He does read, but doesn't know
how to write in cursive and isn't at "grade level" in
math. My second question is how do unschoolers handle
record keeping? TIA! and now I'd better go write my
intro:-)
=====
Laura, blessed to be the mommy of
Jenny 11/6/85
Shaw 5/22/87
Ryan 7/9/89
Noah 3/9/92
Aidan 1/24/00
__________________________________________________
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<HEM-Editor@...> wrote:
> I'm not Sandra (I don't even play her on TV), but IHi Helen! My name is Laura, I'm new and will introduce
> can tell you about my four sons and reading. I don't
>think any of them learned to read before they were
>ten years old, and a couple of them didn't learn
>until their mid-teens. They just didn't need it in
>their everyday lives, I guess. When they did find a
>use for it they learned quickly enough, though.
myelf in a seperate post:-) I have a question for you
and the other experienced unschoolers here. If your
boys didn't read until this late, how did you handle
yearly testing and/or evaluations? In our
state(Washington) children older than 8yo are required
to take an annual standardized test or be evaluated by
a licensed teacher. I'm starting to panic over how my
9yo ds will do during his evaluation this summer, as
it will be his first. He does read, but doesn't know
how to write in cursive and isn't at "grade level" in
math. My second question is how do unschoolers handle
record keeping? TIA! and now I'd better go write my
intro:-)
=====
Laura, blessed to be the mommy of
Jenny 11/6/85
Shaw 5/22/87
Ryan 7/9/89
Noah 3/9/92
Aidan 1/24/00
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Auctions - buy the things you want at great prices
http://auctions.yahoo.com/
[email protected]
In a message dated 5/20/01 3:36:57 PM, ljyolo@... writes:
<< I have a question for you
and the other experienced unschoolers here. If your
boys didn't read until this late, how did you handle
yearly testing and/or evaluations? >>
Didn't do them.
New Mexico no longer has a testing law. Kirby should have gone in in third
grade. I went to the orientation meeting and decided to just ditch the test.
We ditched the make-up test too. Nobody came after us. I quit registering.
If I had a hostile ex husband I'd probably have to do more formal stuff, but
my husband's in favor of skirting the law. There are more ways in some
states than others. If I really, truly had to register or use a curriculum I
think I'd use Clonlara. But I don't, so I don't.
I don't keep records.
If I had to keep records, I would follow the excellent advice I've read in
and around unschooling.com and other such places, and I would keep a
portfolio with lots of photos of kids in interesting situations and places,
tickets from musuems and movies and concerts, etc. I will never again keep
school-style records. When I was a teacher they paid me to do it, and the
records on each child were about 1/3" high and 8" wide for each 9-wk period.
The records on what the whole class had done weren't much more detailed than
that.
I used to look at the expected competencies (kind of a curriculum for our
local school district) every month or two to see if Kirby was learning stuff,
when he was five and six. He was. After a while I forgot to look.
Sandra
<< I have a question for you
and the other experienced unschoolers here. If your
boys didn't read until this late, how did you handle
yearly testing and/or evaluations? >>
Didn't do them.
New Mexico no longer has a testing law. Kirby should have gone in in third
grade. I went to the orientation meeting and decided to just ditch the test.
We ditched the make-up test too. Nobody came after us. I quit registering.
If I had a hostile ex husband I'd probably have to do more formal stuff, but
my husband's in favor of skirting the law. There are more ways in some
states than others. If I really, truly had to register or use a curriculum I
think I'd use Clonlara. But I don't, so I don't.
I don't keep records.
If I had to keep records, I would follow the excellent advice I've read in
and around unschooling.com and other such places, and I would keep a
portfolio with lots of photos of kids in interesting situations and places,
tickets from musuems and movies and concerts, etc. I will never again keep
school-style records. When I was a teacher they paid me to do it, and the
records on each child were about 1/3" high and 8" wide for each 9-wk period.
The records on what the whole class had done weren't much more detailed than
that.
I used to look at the expected competencies (kind of a curriculum for our
local school district) every month or two to see if Kirby was learning stuff,
when he was five and six. He was. After a while I forgot to look.
Sandra
Sharon Rudd
Sandra
Can you elaborate on Clonlara, please? I am looking
at curriculums for the purpose of orienting myself. My
own thoughts need a little organizing in order to make
information available in a logical manner for my
child. I feel that personally I need a bit of
structure to work with. I guess I am trying to
justify my interest.
Thanks , Sharon
__________________________________________________
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Can you elaborate on Clonlara, please? I am looking
at curriculums for the purpose of orienting myself. My
own thoughts need a little organizing in order to make
information available in a logical manner for my
child. I feel that personally I need a bit of
structure to work with. I guess I am trying to
justify my interest.
Thanks , Sharon
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Auctions - buy the things you want at great prices
http://auctions.yahoo.com/
Tami Labig-Duquette
I did a search on google.com for clonara, pretty impressive I thought.
So you might want to check out thier website :)
http://www.clonlara.org/index.html
Tami
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com
So you might want to check out thier website :)
http://www.clonlara.org/index.html
Tami
>From: Sharon Rudd <bearspawprint@...>_________________________________________________________________
>Reply-To: [email protected]
>To: [email protected]
>Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] Sandra, what is Clonlara?
>Date: Sun, 20 May 2001 20:06:44 -0700 (PDT)
>
>Sandra
>Can you elaborate on Clonlara, please? I am looking
>at curriculums for the purpose of orienting myself. My
>own thoughts need a little organizing in order to make
>information available in a logical manner for my
>child. I feel that personally I need a bit of
>structure to work with. I guess I am trying to
>justify my interest.
>Thanks , Sharon
>
>__________________________________________________
>Do You Yahoo!?
>Yahoo! Auctions - buy the things you want at great prices
>http://auctions.yahoo.com/
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com
Sharon Rudd
How did you make reading available to your boys to
learn on their own? I know you had a more than subtle
influence!!
Would your electrician son consider posting to us on
this list? Or at least to me? My seven year old is
not reading yet. He understands how it is supposed to
work, but it just isn't fun for him. He doesn't even
want to read directions for things that he wants to
make! yet. He seems so resistant, but I feel he is
missing out.....there are SO MANY really good fun
things to read! And reading gives me so much pleasure
that, well, he says "Mama, we just aren't the same all
the time." So I read TO him. And I have a sore throat
just now.
Maybe I just need some reassurance. My little boy is
very bright.
Thanks, Sharon
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Auctions - buy the things you want at great prices
http://auctions.yahoo.com/
learn on their own? I know you had a more than subtle
influence!!
Would your electrician son consider posting to us on
this list? Or at least to me? My seven year old is
not reading yet. He understands how it is supposed to
work, but it just isn't fun for him. He doesn't even
want to read directions for things that he wants to
make! yet. He seems so resistant, but I feel he is
missing out.....there are SO MANY really good fun
things to read! And reading gives me so much pleasure
that, well, he says "Mama, we just aren't the same all
the time." So I read TO him. And I have a sore throat
just now.
Maybe I just need some reassurance. My little boy is
very bright.
Thanks, Sharon
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Auctions - buy the things you want at great prices
http://auctions.yahoo.com/
Sharon Rudd
Dear Tami
Thanks, Sharon
--- Tami Labig-Duquette <labigduquette@...>
wrote:
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Auctions - buy the things you want at great prices
http://auctions.yahoo.com/
Thanks, Sharon
--- Tami Labig-Duquette <labigduquette@...>
wrote:
> I did a search on google.com for clonara, pretty_________________________________________________________________
> impressive I thought.
> So you might want to check out thier website :)
> http://www.clonlara.org/index.html
> Tami
>
>
> >From: Sharon Rudd <bearspawprint@...>
> >Reply-To: [email protected]
> >To: [email protected]
> >Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] Sandra, what is
> Clonlara?
> >Date: Sun, 20 May 2001 20:06:44 -0700 (PDT)
> >
> >Sandra
> >Can you elaborate on Clonlara, please? I am
> looking
> >at curriculums for the purpose of orienting myself.
> My
> >own thoughts need a little organizing in order to
> make
> >information available in a logical manner for my
> >child. I feel that personally I need a bit of
> >structure to work with. I guess I am trying to
> >justify my interest.
> >Thanks , Sharon
> >
> >__________________________________________________
> >Do You Yahoo!?
> >Yahoo! Auctions - buy the things you want at great
> prices
> >http://auctions.yahoo.com/
>
>
> Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at__________________________________________________
> http://explorer.msn.com
>
>
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Auctions - buy the things you want at great prices
http://auctions.yahoo.com/
Valerie Stewart
Hi, Laura --
My understanding is that in Washington, the test results are only reported
to the parents, not to the school district.
Some states have laws that permit parents to administer tests at home, and
potentially the parent could read questions to the student.
Betsy
***True on both counts, Betsy. Laura, you can get a standardized test
through FLO (Family Learning Organization...they have a website of course)
for about $25 and "administer" the test yourself. Then send it back to FLO,
who will grade it and send the results back to you. No one else sees it, and
you've complied with the law. I won't tell if you just "forget" to do it,
though. And unless you have to interact with the local schools, no one else
will care, either.
Valerie in Tacoma
My understanding is that in Washington, the test results are only reported
to the parents, not to the school district.
Some states have laws that permit parents to administer tests at home, and
potentially the parent could read questions to the student.
Betsy
***True on both counts, Betsy. Laura, you can get a standardized test
through FLO (Family Learning Organization...they have a website of course)
for about $25 and "administer" the test yourself. Then send it back to FLO,
who will grade it and send the results back to you. No one else sees it, and
you've complied with the law. I won't tell if you just "forget" to do it,
though. And unless you have to interact with the local schools, no one else
will care, either.
Valerie in Tacoma
Lynda
Well, Sharon, I'm not Helen but I can tell you that from our experience it
all comes when the time is right.
Oldest son wanted to join Webelos and didn't want anyone to know that up
until then I did all the reading. He "demanded" that I teach him to read IN
ONE WEEKEND, no less! He learned to read enough to get by but he didn't
enjoy it. In his late teens, early 20s he *discovered* Zane Gray and no he
loves to read and when he isn't reading he is listening to books on tape.
Now, he doesn't write except under great duress!
Second son, I swear, was born reading. I don't remember a time when he
couldn't read. He loves reading and writing.
Third son (17) is a resistant reader (my terminalogy) and only does so
because he has to in order to get prepared as he wants to go to college to
become a veterinarian. He still does as much as he can on video or tape or
on the net. However, he writes beautifully, go figure <g>
Kidlet No.5 learned to read when he was about 10 because he wanted to read
those books that were so popular there for awhile (Goose Bumps) and I just
couldn't read them to him. Now you can't drag him away from books!
I wouldn't worry about age. When they feel a need or want, they will either
teach themselves or ask you for help.
Lynda
all comes when the time is right.
Oldest son wanted to join Webelos and didn't want anyone to know that up
until then I did all the reading. He "demanded" that I teach him to read IN
ONE WEEKEND, no less! He learned to read enough to get by but he didn't
enjoy it. In his late teens, early 20s he *discovered* Zane Gray and no he
loves to read and when he isn't reading he is listening to books on tape.
Now, he doesn't write except under great duress!
Second son, I swear, was born reading. I don't remember a time when he
couldn't read. He loves reading and writing.
Third son (17) is a resistant reader (my terminalogy) and only does so
because he has to in order to get prepared as he wants to go to college to
become a veterinarian. He still does as much as he can on video or tape or
on the net. However, he writes beautifully, go figure <g>
Kidlet No.5 learned to read when he was about 10 because he wanted to read
those books that were so popular there for awhile (Goose Bumps) and I just
couldn't read them to him. Now you can't drag him away from books!
I wouldn't worry about age. When they feel a need or want, they will either
teach themselves or ask you for help.
Lynda
----- Original Message -----
From: "Sharon Rudd" <bearspawprint@...>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, May 20, 2001 8:28 PM
Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] Helen re Reading late
> How did you make reading available to your boys to
> learn on their own? I know you had a more than subtle
> influence!!
>
> Would your electrician son consider posting to us on
> this list? Or at least to me? My seven year old is
> not reading yet. He understands how it is supposed to
> work, but it just isn't fun for him. He doesn't even
> want to read directions for things that he wants to
> make! yet. He seems so resistant, but I feel he is
> missing out.....there are SO MANY really good fun
> things to read! And reading gives me so much pleasure
> that, well, he says "Mama, we just aren't the same all
> the time." So I read TO him. And I have a sore throat
> just now.
>
> Maybe I just need some reassurance. My little boy is
> very bright.
>
> Thanks, Sharon
>
> __________________________________________________
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Sharon Rudd
Dear Lynda
Thanks for the articulate and fun to READ reply. It
is wonderfully reassuring.
Sharon
__________________________________________________
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Yahoo! Auctions - buy the things you want at great prices
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Thanks for the articulate and fun to READ reply. It
is wonderfully reassuring.
Sharon
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Auctions - buy the things you want at great prices
http://auctions.yahoo.com/
Betsy Hill
>Hi Helen! My name is Laura, I'm new and will introduceHi, Laura --
>myelf in a seperate post:-) I have a question for you
>and the other experienced unschoolers here. If your
>boys didn't read until this late, how did you handle
>yearly testing and/or evaluations? In our
>state(Washington) children older than 8yo are required
>to take an annual standardized test or be evaluated by
>a licensed teacher.
My understanding is that in Washington, the test results are only reported
to the parents, not to the school district. My info may be out of date, so
maybe you can find another local to ask.
Complete texts of education/homeschooling laws for each state are available
on the NHEN.org website. (I don't remember the exact URL, but it's pretty
easy to find.)
Some states have laws that permit parents to administer tests at home, and
potentially the parent could read questions to the student. (That's
certainly done in schools for kids who are labled "learning disabled".)
Betsy
Laura Yolo
-- Valerie Stewart <vlos@...> wrote:
=====
Laura, blessed to be the mommy of
Jenny 11/6/85
Shaw 5/22/87
Ryan 7/9/89
Noah 3/9/92
Aidan 1/24/00
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Auctions - buy the things you want at great prices
http://auctions.yahoo.com/
> ***True on both counts, Betsy. Laura, you can get aThanks Valerie! I'll check out their web site!
> standardized test
> through FLO (Family Learning Organization...they
> have a website of course)
> for about $25 and "administer" the test yourself.
=====
Laura, blessed to be the mommy of
Jenny 11/6/85
Shaw 5/22/87
Ryan 7/9/89
Noah 3/9/92
Aidan 1/24/00
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Auctions - buy the things you want at great prices
http://auctions.yahoo.com/
dawn
> state(Washington) children older than 8yo are requiredI do assessments in my state and I never ask about reading (or anything
> to take an annual standardized test or be evaluated by
> a licensed teacher. I'm starting to panic over how my
> 9yo ds will do during his evaluation this summer, as
> it will be his first. He does read, but doesn't know
> how to write in cursive and isn't at "grade level" in
> math. My second question is how do unschoolers handle
> record keeping? TIA! and now I'd better go write my
> intro:-)
>
>
>
else for that matter other than, "what was the most
fun/interesting/exciting/challenging/whatever thing you did this year?"
and "is there anything else you want to
tell/show/demonstrate/perform/whatever for me?" In Ohio, at least, i'm
not charged with makeing sure kids are "up to grade level"--just that they
are progressing at their own level, which i interpret to mean "continuing
to lead engaged, active lives and making some sort of advancement in the
areas in which they have interest." When people ask me what they NEED to
show me, I say usually, "Whatever you want. Discuss it with your child."
Do you know any teachers who also happen to be friends? Maybe one of them
who knows your son and knows how wonderful he is would be willing to do an
assessment? I do them for lots of my friends. Some, I don't even ever go
to their house. WE just exchange the paper. THis year, I'm getting a
bike and babysitting as barter for two.
dawn h-s
dawn
speaking of clonlara, anyone else going to the conference?
dawn h-s
**********
"The problem with defending the purity of the English language is that
English is about as pure as a cribhouse whore. We don't just borrow
words; on
occasion, English has pursued other languages down alleyways to beat them
unconscious and rifle their pockets for new vocabulary."-- James D. Nicoll
**********
dawn h-s
**********
"The problem with defending the purity of the English language is that
English is about as pure as a cribhouse whore. We don't just borrow
words; on
occasion, English has pursued other languages down alleyways to beat them
unconscious and rifle their pockets for new vocabulary."-- James D. Nicoll
**********
[email protected]
Hi,
I just wanted to thank everyone who took the time to share their kids'
experiences with learning to read. It was interesting and helpful!
Cheryl
I just wanted to thank everyone who took the time to share their kids'
experiences with learning to read. It was interesting and helpful!
Cheryl