Re: unschooling/unjobbing
Pam Hartley
----------
Seriously, in today's society, reading can well be considered a "survival"
skill (or at least a skill that society at large fully expects of its
members). ANY child can clearly see that society values reading, hopefully
most of OUR children (unschooling families) also see that reading is a VERY
important skill from being with their own parents and siblings and seeing
them read.
Why do children learn to talk? Because they want to get in on what is
clearly an important and useful skill. Children will learn to read for the
same reason.
My daughter Brit is five this coming Sunday. She's been "learning to read"
since she batted her clenched fists against the paperbacks I read while
nursing her. She has learned in fits, starts, stages, dry spells and
everything in between. This week, most of her "reading practice" involves:
a) Watching Blues Clues with her large MagnaDoodle in lap (much handier than
those tiny "Handy Dandy Notebooks" they sell) and writing the words of the
clues as Steve shows them on the TV.
b) Writing letters to the girls in her dance class, both by asking me "How
do you write 'Chelsea'?" and by writing letters purely at random on the
paper.
c) Pointing out repetitive words in the stories I read to her.
Next week may be completely different, she may not work on anything
resembling reading, or she may do nothing but.
Pam
>From: [email protected]It is in our house! :)
>To: [email protected]
>Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] Digest Number 287
>Date: Mon, Nov 8, 1999, 1:26 PM
>
>if you dont teach in a ritualized manner, you can teach by modeling, and
>answering questions. so how do children learn to read naturally? it is not
>necc for survival
Seriously, in today's society, reading can well be considered a "survival"
skill (or at least a skill that society at large fully expects of its
members). ANY child can clearly see that society values reading, hopefully
most of OUR children (unschooling families) also see that reading is a VERY
important skill from being with their own parents and siblings and seeing
them read.
Why do children learn to talk? Because they want to get in on what is
clearly an important and useful skill. Children will learn to read for the
same reason.
My daughter Brit is five this coming Sunday. She's been "learning to read"
since she batted her clenched fists against the paperbacks I read while
nursing her. She has learned in fits, starts, stages, dry spells and
everything in between. This week, most of her "reading practice" involves:
a) Watching Blues Clues with her large MagnaDoodle in lap (much handier than
those tiny "Handy Dandy Notebooks" they sell) and writing the words of the
clues as Steve shows them on the TV.
b) Writing letters to the girls in her dance class, both by asking me "How
do you write 'Chelsea'?" and by writing letters purely at random on the
paper.
c) Pointing out repetitive words in the stories I read to her.
Next week may be completely different, she may not work on anything
resembling reading, or she may do nothing but.
Pam
[email protected]
And The Skylark Sings With Me, by David Albert, is very inspirational for
parents who aren't sure HOW to follow their childrens' interests in
learning. There are also examples of how parents can find other people
in the community to help their children learn. We, as parents, do not
need to be our childrens only teachers. (How limiting that would be!)
Mary Ellen
Neglect Not The Gift That Is In Thee
touches it!). But that aside, I did learn today that she does not really
know how to ask for the help she needs. And I have to learn how to
listen
and ask the right questions. Today she said she needed more "structure"
when it came to reading. ????????? She reads all the time! So
needless
to say alarms went off. Bottom line (10 minutes and 20 questions later)
I
discovered she was uncertain about how to break down words into proper
syllables and found it tedious - so she would just skip the word when
reading. But hey, I rejoice in the fact that at least it bothers her (it
didn't use to a year ago!) So, I'll do some syllable breakdowns with her
(perhaps steer her in the direction of some pages in a book on the
subject)
and see what she does with it. Man she makes me work hard! :o)
In His Service,
Laraine>>>>
An aside to your daughter's request for structure in reading: My
friend's homeschooled daughter is an avid reader and keeps asking for
"spelling tests". The irony is that she is also an excellent speller!
LOL!
Mary Ellen
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parents who aren't sure HOW to follow their childrens' interests in
learning. There are also examples of how parents can find other people
in the community to help their children learn. We, as parents, do not
need to be our childrens only teachers. (How limiting that would be!)
Mary Ellen
Neglect Not The Gift That Is In Thee
>>>>But do you know what, she would do nothing about it if I just lookedyou
>at her and said "great honey - study the ocean!" So what do you do
>differently when your child wants to study a subject?>>>>
>
>Are you sure she wouldn't? And would it matter if she didn't? Maybe
>need to ask more questions.never
>>>>98 % sure (she has done this several times - we get the info and she
touches it!). But that aside, I did learn today that she does not really
know how to ask for the help she needs. And I have to learn how to
listen
and ask the right questions. Today she said she needed more "structure"
when it came to reading. ????????? She reads all the time! So
needless
to say alarms went off. Bottom line (10 minutes and 20 questions later)
I
discovered she was uncertain about how to break down words into proper
syllables and found it tedious - so she would just skip the word when
reading. But hey, I rejoice in the fact that at least it bothers her (it
didn't use to a year ago!) So, I'll do some syllable breakdowns with her
(perhaps steer her in the direction of some pages in a book on the
subject)
and see what she does with it. Man she makes me work hard! :o)
In His Service,
Laraine>>>>
An aside to your daughter's request for structure in reading: My
friend's homeschooled daughter is an avid reader and keeps asking for
"spelling tests". The irony is that she is also an excellent speller!
LOL!
Mary Ellen
___________________________________________________________________
Get the Internet just the way you want it.
Free software, free e-mail, and free Internet access for a month!
Try Juno Web: http://dl.www.juno.com/dynoget/tagj.