Debra Bures

Our 8 yo dd had been commenting that many of her friends could read well
and that "if i were in school...". I told her that she 'd learn to read when
she was ready--did she want to read? "No" was her reply--but she liked me to
make up sentences for her to read and then she'd illustrate them(like
The fat man sipped cool water with a striped straw. or "This must be the
place," said the Queen as she entered the elegant castle") So I gave her
another sentence--she took one look at it and informed me"Dont be offended,
Mom, but this is really stupid--I want to read books" We went to a local
bookstore and she chose a book--a simplified Little House book. Yesterday
she went upstairs with her book. Last night she read a page and a bit.
She's so excited!!
Just wanted to share
Debra

[email protected]

In a message dated 01/18/2000 12:47:38 PM !!!First Boot!!!,
buresfam@... writes:

<< We went to a local
bookstore and she chose a book--a simplified Little House book. Yesterday
she went upstairs with her book. Last night she read a page and a bit.
She's so excited!!
Just wanted to share
Debra

>>
Yeah -- she should be excited! A whole new world for her!! Yeah!

Nance

Valerie

As a voracious reader (and married to one), it's hard for me to let go of the idea that reading is paramount. Reading is so wonderful...I surround myself with books...write, read...and really enjoy it. But it's just one way to do things. 
 
My dad doesn't read except for a few technical manuals and the newspaper. I have never seen him read a book or write a letter. But he's very intelligent. A master mechanic. A local "car-god". One of the most well-known and successful mechanics in the area. No one cared that he didn't read for enjoyment....they just knew he could fix their car when no one else could.
 
Does it matter if dancers or athletes or others in careers that rely on strength and physical talent don't read unless they have to? They won't be any less happy at what they love to do (IMO) just because they don't enjoy reading. Unless society makes them feel that way.
 
--Valerie

Amy Spang

Wendy,
It sounds as though your seven year old simply has a different
learning style than your five year old! It might be helpful for you to
completely scrap any sort of phonics- based learning for him in an effort
to prevent further frustration. You want to preserve a love of reading
at any cost, since it will be helpful to him in the future and he truly
wants to read. Perhaps you might try backing off of any formal
instruction whatsoever and focus on relaxed reading activities such as
reading aloud, drawing pictures (which is how writing begins), and
letting him dictate stories to you which you write or type and make into
books, etc. If he expresses anxiety at not knowing how to read, explain
that this is how reading begins, and he will certainly learn in time.
Some other activities he may enjoy include:
- labeling things or parts of a room (let him choose words)
- identifying words or phrases that appeal to him and hanging them up
- starting a word bank
-reading, reading, reading books of his own choosing

There are so many books on learning styles and learning to read, and so
many ways to teach children to read. Since there are seven kinds of
intelligence and schools measure only two (one of which is phonics/
visual based), don't be at all surprised if your son does not fit the
typical mold. As a reading teacher I have seen so many children with
reading 'difficulties' which turned out not to be difficulties at all,
but only alternative learning styles. Assure him that everything will be
fine, and let him choose his own path so that he will always be in
control of the process. You sound like a wonderful, supportive parent
and your boys are so lucky to have you!! Remember that Grant Colfax of
'Homeschooling for Excellence' (who went on to Harvard), didn't learn to
read until he was nine years old!
Best of Luck!! Amy in NY
________________________________________________________________
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Debra Bures

Frank Smith wrote _Insult to Intelligence_ and _The Book of Learning and Forgetting_. In the first one, he blasts reading programs, and talks about surounding children with the written word and reading to them. His Learner's Manifesto, which I will post when I find it--it's on this desk somewhere--is worth reading.
Debra


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

[email protected]

In a message dated 8/15/01 6:13:32 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
[email protected] writes:


> My mother wrote the words for objects in the house and taped them
> everywhere when I started showing interest. It worked, I phonetically sound
> out words even now when I need too. I do not remember ever being taught to
> read.
>

This is also how my daughter started reading. I remember the exterminator
being here once, and laughingly asking if he should be wearing a sign that
said "Bug Man".
Renee

~2000 B.C. - Here, eat this root.
1000 A.D. - That root is heathen. Here, say this prayer.
1850 A.D. - That prayer is superstition. Here, drink this potion.
1940 A.D. - That potion is snake oil. Here, swallow this pill.
1985 A.D. - That pill is ineffective. Here, take this antibiotic.
2000 A.D. - That antibiotic is artificial. Here, eat this root. ~



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

[email protected]

One of my sons struggled with reading up until the end of first
grade. The other son seemed to be born knowing his alphabet and
being able to write. To keep this little one happy I gave him a
large supply of post-it notes when he was three. He labeled
everything in the house -- included his older brother and the cat and
a neighbor lady who came to visit. He would come up to his brother
or me with pencil in one hand and his post-its in the other and
say "How do you spell ....... ? We spent about three weeks
automatically spelling something for him. It got to be such a habit
it was a couple days before I realized that he had stopped asking and
I was still spelling out the names of things LOL.

Jan in Marysville

[email protected]

When Kenna decided to teach herself Spanish she spent days putting post it notes on everything. Michael spent just as much time taking them down. So she got 'REAL' creative on where she placed them. She announced that she didn't mind if Michael took them down because he was never going to find them all. She went through 2-3 pads of post it notes. Even now, years later, I 'll open a door or cupboard and find "puerta' written down. Get a warm fuzzy feeling.
Joy in NM

I gave him a
large supply of post-it notes when he was three. He labeled
everything in the house --


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

Sherry Hagen

Hi folks,

I just read about Einstein. Did you know he didn't read until he was 7 and
didn't speak until he was 4? I'm the Mom of a healthy happy 7 year who is
well read, though he doesn't know how to read himself yet.

Sherry Hagen


----- Original Message -----
From: <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, August 15, 2001 5:10 PM
Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] Digest Number 1368


> Message boards, timely articles, a free newsletter and more!
> Check it all out at: http://www.unschooling.com
>
> To unsubscribe, set preferences, or read archives:
> http://www.egroups.com/group/Unschooling-dotcom
>
> Another great list sponsored by Home Education Magazine!
> http://www.home-ed-magazine.com
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> There are 25 messages in this issue.
>
> Topics in this digest:
>
> 1. Re: NO diapers!- was:Foreskin
> From: jefferson academy <jeffersonacademy@...>
> 2. RE: NO diapers!- was:Foreskin
> From: jefferson academy <jeffersonacademy@...>
> 3. Squatting the natural way (was NO diapers!- was:Foreskin)
> From: SandraDodd@...
> 4. Re: stuff
> From: SandraDodd@...
> 5. Re: Squatting the natural way (was NO diapers!- was:Fore...
> From: unschoolr2@...
> 6. Re: NO diapers!- was:Foreskin
> From: cen46624@...
> 7. Re: NO diapers!- was:Foreskin
> From: Elizabeth Sterling Wall <elizabeth@...>
> 8. Circumcision, by and for and about Jews
> From: SandraDodd@...
> 9. RE: Squatting the natural way (was NO diapers!- was:Foreskin)
> From: "Saga" <mom@...>
> 10. RE: NO diapers!- was:Foreskin
> From: "Saga" <mom@...>
> 11. RE: NO diapers!- was:Foreskin
> From: "Saga" <mom@...>
> 12. Typing software
> From: A <mumsienc@...>
> 13. Re: NO Diapers
> From: "Janet F Hamlin" <jefhdvm@...>
> 14. Re: stuff
> From: jefferson academy <jeffersonacademy@...>
> 15. Re: Re: NO Diapers
> From: "Bronwen" <felesina@...>
> 16. RE: Re: NO Diapers
> From: "Jon and Rue Kream" <skreams@...>
> 17. Re: speaking of reading
> From: RValvo7626@...
> 18. Re: Digest Number 1360
> From: RValvo7626@...
> 19. RE: Re: speaking of reading
> From: Laranda Williams <lwilliams@...>
> 20. Re: Re: speaking of reading
> From: "Tami Labig-Duquette" <labigduquette@...>
> 21. Re: Re: NO Diapers
> From: "Castle Crawford" <ec3forme@...>
> 22. Re: NO diapers!- was:Foreskin
> From: "Johanna SanInocencio" <saninocencio@...>
> 23. math / puzzle books
> From: "frazzledmom" <cnlcuroe@...>
> 24. Re: Re: speaking of reading
> From: jefferson academy <jeffersonacademy@...>
> 25. Re: math / puzzle books
> From: marbleface@...
>
>
> ________________________________________________________________________
> ________________________________________________________________________
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2001 03:08:45 -0700 (PDT)
> From: jefferson academy <jeffersonacademy@...>
> Subject: Re: NO diapers!- was:Foreskin
>
>
> --- cen46624@... wrote:
> > True, Bronwen. I'll never forget the joy on my
> > 7-month-old daughter's face
> > the first time I let her go in the potty. She seemed
> > so relieved that I had
> > finally caught on!
> >
>
> Wow - I thought I was the only one who had an infant
> who would go on the potty evey time I put her on. I
> started at 5 months!! I first did it as a joke because
> we had already purchased a potty chair & wanted my
> older daughters to see how cute the baby looked on it.
> I was shocked when she actually used it!!! She
> continued to wear diapers but would use the potty
> every single time I put her on it!
> Michele
>
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Make international calls for as low as $.04/minute with Yahoo! Messenger
> http://phonecard.yahoo.com/
>
>
> ________________________________________________________________________
> ________________________________________________________________________
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2001 03:19:33 -0700 (PDT)
> From: jefferson academy <jeffersonacademy@...>
> Subject: RE: NO diapers!- was:Foreskin
>
>
>
> And I am sure
> > they would recognize these signs earlier if they are
> > already accustomed to
> > feeling a certain way, then being on the toilet,
> > then feeling relief.
>
> I think that is exactly it. I always thought that the
> reason people have such a hard time potty training is
> because they start too late. I put a toilet looking
> potty chair in the bathroom by the time my children
> were about 8 months old (except the last one who was
> only 5 months when purchased - my girls were early
> walkers but late talkers so 8 months was when they
> could take me by the hand to bring them to the potty)
> also brought them with me whenever I went - never
> forced them to use it - but alway offered & all were
> completely (no accidents and would use public rest
> rooms if necessary) potty trained by 18 months.
> Michele
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Make international calls for as low as $.04/minute with Yahoo! Messenger
> http://phonecard.yahoo.com/
>
>
> ________________________________________________________________________
> ________________________________________________________________________
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2001 08:43:49 EDT
> From: SandraDodd@...
> Subject: Squatting the natural way (was NO diapers!- was:Foreskin)
>
> Somewhat oversharing, down the way, but here goes:
>
> << Ancient India had diapers, there are references to a river in their
mythos
> where Krishna's diapers were washed. >>
>
> I had this Indian boyfriend who wasn't circumcised. Surprisingly, he
> reappears in this forum so soon! He had two much brothers 12, 14 years
> younger. When they were little he and the mom and other kids had been in
> India while the dad was in Toronto studying physics. He said the babies
> didn't wear diapers, just little kurtas, the long white shirts. In India
> they have floor-hole toilets, and he said the mom taught the little guys
to
> poop by squatting or sitting and making a little potty-seat with her feet,
> like heels together, feet arched, toes together, outsides of feet toward
the
> floor, and setting the baby on her feet and the baby would poop and then
> she'd flush it (if it was in the toilet) or just clean it up (if it had
been
> on the ground, or on paper or whatever--that I wasn't clear on).
>
> He was just noting that the little potty-chairs Americans use are not
> efficient for helping babies poop because squatting is the way anyway,
knees
> up, butt down. He was pre-med and ended up going off elsewhere and
becoming
> a doctor, and he was interested in some of the dumb things Americans
thought
> were good and right, like chair-style toilets.
>
> I still remember the first time I passed by and saw him squatted up on the
> toilet seat, reading a magazine.
>
> And even now, sometimes if I'm having a difficult time pooping I squat and
it
> really does help.
>
> This clever friend said we would have WAY fewer health problems if we
didn't
> strain ourselves to try to push poop out with muscles which weren't
intended
> for that, and if we'd use the natural position all would be better.
>
> Sandra
>
> "Everything counts."
> http://expage.com/SandraDoddArticles
> http://expage.com/SandraDodd
>
>
> ________________________________________________________________________
> ________________________________________________________________________
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2001 08:46:16 EDT
> From: SandraDodd@...
> Subject: Re: stuff
>
>
> In a message dated 8/14/01 3:48:59 PM, jeffersonacademy@... writes:
>
> << She found it when she
> got up from her nap and came running down the hall
> yelling "Santa came!" >>
>
> I know that feeling myself. The big brown UPS sleigh pulls up...
> Scholastic Books! YES! Even in red and white boxes. Ho Ho Ho!
>
> <<Fun magnet stuff:
> http://www.magnetsource.com/toyanded_products.htm>>
>
> $30 minimum...
> Well let's see... if we give magnets for the next several birthday parties
> that could cover that little technicality EASILY!
>
> Sandra
>
> "Everything counts."
> http://expage.com/SandraDoddArticles
> http://expage.com/SandraDodd
>
>
> ________________________________________________________________________
> ________________________________________________________________________
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2001 08:51:00 EDT
> From: unschoolr2@...
> Subject: Re: Squatting the natural way (was NO diapers!- was:Fore...
>
> In a message dated 08/15/2001 5:46:12 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
> SandraDodd@... writes:
>
> << his clever friend said we would have WAY fewer health problems if we
> didn't
> strain ourselves to try to push poop out with muscles which weren't
intended
> for that, and if we'd use the natural position all would be better.
> >>
>
> I can see where this would make sense..... I am just having trouble
imagining
> maintaining balance while perched atop our American toilets!
> Teri
>
> Co-author of Christian Unschooling; Raising Your Child in the Freedom of
> Christ. Now available at Amazon.com! <A
>
HREF="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1891400223/o/qid=993307267/sr=2
-1
>
> /ref=aps_sr_b_1_1/002-0292323-9457613">Amazon.com: buying info: Christian
> Unschooling : Growing Your Children in the F</A>
>
> Check out our website at <A
HREF="http://www.inspirit.com.au/unschooling/">
> Homeschooling - Christian Unschooling - Natural Learning</A>
>
>
> ________________________________________________________________________
> ________________________________________________________________________
>
> Message: 6
> Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2001 10:18:07 EDT
> From: cen46624@...
> Subject: Re: NO diapers!- was:Foreskin
>
> I am convinced that "experts" have growth-retarded children. I've read
this,
> too. But I've also read reports that women in other places just "know"
when
> their babies have to go and hold them over an appropriate spot, so the
kids
> never learn to go in their underwear in the first place. Then they don't
have
> to unlearn it later.
>
> I do agree, though, that diapered kids don't seem to know when they're
going.
> That's why I favor the "nudie" system of potty training.
>
> :-) Diane
>
> > According to pediatricians the nerve endings and connections to the
brain
> > are not fully developed until around 18 months of age, supposedly
making it
> > so babies cannot tell if they are going or not... that and the
sphinkter
> > (sp?) muscles are not fully developed until that time.
> > some later, some earlier.
>
>
> ________________________________________________________________________
> ________________________________________________________________________
>
> Message: 7
> Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2001 15:34:05 +0100
> From: Elizabeth Sterling Wall <elizabeth@...>
> Subject: Re: NO diapers!- was:Foreskin
>
> When I lived in El Salvador kids just ran around in regular clothes
because
> the available cloth diapers were flimsy pretty much useless for a kid over
> 3 or 4 months (and disposables were just way too hot). Kids did wet and
> poop themselves regularly, but mothers would just take it in stride and
> change the kid completely and clean up everything around them. After on
> month there with my then 2 year old son and 5 month old daughter, I wrote
> to my mom and asked her to send me a big box of American style prefolded
> diapers and velcro-closing diaper wraps!
>
> - elizabeth
>
>
> "What we need are more people who specialize in the impossible."
> -- Theodore Roethke, poet
>
>
>
> ________________________________________________________________________
> ________________________________________________________________________
>
> Message: 8
> Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2001 11:13:24 EDT
> From: SandraDodd@...
> Subject: Circumcision, by and for and about Jews
>
> http://www.circumcision.org/spectator.htm
>
>
>
> Looking for quotes for a workshop (whole different topic) I went to Google
> and entered "inquiry questions children jewish." The second item to
appear
> was an article on Jewish Circumcision considerations. it's too long to
quote
> here, and has a ton of hotlink footnotes, but here's the beginning and the
> URL is above.
>
>
> The religious origin of the Jewish practice of circumcision is written in
the
> Torah where God promised Abraham,
> I will make you exceedingly fertile, and make nations of you, and kings
shall
> come forth from you. . . . I assign the land you sojourn in to you and
your
> offspring to come, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting holding. I
will
> be their God. . . . Such shall be the covenant between Me and you and your
> offspring to follow which you shall keep: every male among you shall be
> circumcised. (Genesis 17:6,8,10)
>
> Over the centuries there has been much written by Jewish scholars about
the
> importance of circumcision. Support for circumcision in the Jewish
community
> today is widespread. There is another perspective on circumcision that is
not
> openly discussed. Contrary to common belief, circumcision has not always
been
> practiced. Moses failed to circumcise his son (Exodus 4:25), and
circumcision
> was totally neglected during the forty-year period in the wilderness
(Joshua
> 5:5). Some Jews in the Hellenistic period (circa 300 b.c.e.-100 c.e.)
chose
> not to circumcise their sons in an attempt to gain public acceptance.1
During
> the Reform movement in Germany in the 1840s, some parents did not
circumcise
> their sons. Theodor Herzl was one of the most prominent figures who did
not
> circumcise his son, who was born in 1891.2
>
> Currently, circumcision is not universal among Jews either inside or
outside
> the United States. The Circumcision Resource Center, a nonprofit
educational
> organization, knows of hundreds of Jews in Europe, South America, and in
the
> United States who either have not or would not circumcise a son. Even in
> Israel some Jews do not circumcise, and there is an organization that
> publicly opposes circumcision.3 The purpose of this article is to
coherently
> explain a few of the contemporary reasons for the increasing doubts some
Jews
> have about circumcision. Then I will apply Torah law and Jewish values to
> these reasons.
>
>
> ________________________________________________________________________
> ________________________________________________________________________
>
> Message: 9
> Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2001 08:35:31 -0700
> From: "Saga" <mom@...>
> Subject: RE: Squatting the natural way (was NO diapers!- was:Foreskin)
>
> <<This clever friend said we would have WAY fewer health problems if we
> didn't
> strain ourselves to try to push poop out with muscles which weren't
intended
> for that, and if we'd use the natural position all would be better.>>
>
> I had read in one of the Bradley Method books that hemmorhoids are
basically
> unheard of in countries that squat instead of using a toilet like ours.
> There was reference to an Indian doctor who would perch up on the toilet
to
> squat.
>
> -Kristi
>
>
>
> ________________________________________________________________________
> ________________________________________________________________________
>
> Message: 10
> Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2001 08:35:31 -0700
> From: "Saga" <mom@...>
> Subject: RE: NO diapers!- was:Foreskin
>
> OK, now I've got to try this with my daughter, she's 9 months old.
> I thought I was doing so much good for using cloth diapers... figured my
son
> would potty train early because suppsedly cloth diapered babies do... but
my
> son refuses to use a toilet for bms and still is completely surprised when
> he wets himself.
> Oh well, maybe they'll "train" together :) That would be great!
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: jefferson academy [mailto:jeffersonacademy@...]
> Sent: Wednesday, August 15, 2001 3:09 AM
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] NO diapers!- was:Foreskin
>
>
>
> --- cen46624@... wrote:
> > True, Bronwen. I'll never forget the joy on my
> > 7-month-old daughter's face
> > the first time I let her go in the potty. She seemed
> > so relieved that I had
> > finally caught on!
> >
>
> Wow - I thought I was the only one who had an infant
> who would go on the potty evey time I put her on. I
> started at 5 months!! I first did it as a joke because
> we had already purchased a potty chair & wanted my
> older daughters to see how cute the baby looked on it.
> I was shocked when she actually used it!!! She
> continued to wear diapers but would use the potty
> every single time I put her on it!
> Michele
>
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Make international calls for as low as $.04/minute with Yahoo! Messenger
> http://phonecard.yahoo.com/
>
> Message boards, timely articles, a free newsletter and more!
> Check it all out at: http://www.unschooling.com
>
> To unsubscribe, set preferences, or read archives:
> http://www.egroups.com/group/Unschooling-dotcom
>
> Another great list sponsored by Home Education Magazine!
> http://www.home-ed-magazine.com
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________________________________________________
> ________________________________________________________________________
>
> Message: 11
> Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2001 08:35:32 -0700
> From: "Saga" <mom@...>
> Subject: RE: NO diapers!- was:Foreskin
>
> <<I do agree, though, that diapered kids don't seem to know when they're
> going.
> That's why I favor the "nudie" system of potty training.>>
>
> We were going to do this this summer but.... we're moving and there is
stuff
> everwhere and the first time I attempted Julian peed on stuff for my work
:)
> So then I thought I'd wait until we got in a better situation where
> everything around would be safe to be peed on...
>
> -Kristi
>
>
>
> ________________________________________________________________________
> ________________________________________________________________________
>
> Message: 12
> Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2001 11:55:28 -0400
> From: A <mumsienc@...>
> Subject: Typing software
>
> What kind of typing software do people like. My kids are 5, 6 and 8.
> Thanks!
> Ann
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________________________________________________
> ________________________________________________________________________
>
> Message: 13
> Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2001 12:06:49 -0400
> From: "Janet F Hamlin" <jefhdvm@...>
> Subject: Re: NO Diapers
>
> My first child was totally oblivious to her body functions until she was
> past 3 1/2. She didn't know she had to go until she went. She is also
the
> type of kid to get so involved in something that she blocks out everything
> else. She wore cloth diapers but it didn't matter to her that she was
wet.
> She finally potty trained at 3 years 7 months, when she was ready.
>
> My son just trained last week, and he's just a few weeks shy of his 3rd
> birthday. He has known for many months what to do, has been very aware of
> his body functions for a while, had been able to hold it, has woken up dry
> many mornings. He just wasn't ready to do it himself until last week. He
> has had other health issues so I didn't push it. He wore disposables for
> the past year (since he got sick).
>
> Janet, mom to Caroline, 6, and Thomas, 2 (almost 3)
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________________________________________________
> ________________________________________________________________________
>
> Message: 14
> Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2001 09:24:47 -0700 (PDT)
> From: jefferson academy <jeffersonacademy@...>
> Subject: Re: stuff
>
>
> > <<Fun magnet stuff:
> > http://www.magnetsource.com/toyanded_products.htm>>
> >
> > $30 minimum...
> > Well let's see... if we give magnets for the next
> > several birthday parties
> > that could cover that little technicality EASILY!
> >
> I forgot about that (believe it or not I did order $30
> of magnet stuff.) But - discount school supply
> http://www.earlychildhood.com/Store
> has many (but not nearly all) of these magnet
> products. One of my favorite is a 'floating' magnet
> toy - but my 2 year old's favorite is a simple magnet
> wand - both are at discount school supply. They also
> have these really cool water wheels that work with
> water or sand (about $3) and a huge selection of
> paints etc. Their free paper catalog has lots of craft
> ideas at the bottom of most pages too.
> Michele
>
> __________________________________________________
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>
>
> ________________________________________________________________________
> ________________________________________________________________________
>
> Message: 15
> Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2001 22:08:03 -0700
> From: "Bronwen" <felesina@...>
> Subject: Re: Re: NO Diapers
>
>
> > According to pediatricians the nerve endings and connections to the
brain
> > are not fully developed until around 18 months of age, supposedly
making it
> > so babies cannot tell if they are going or not... that and the
sphinkter
> > (sp?) muscles are not fully developed until that time.
> > some later, some earlier.
>
> Yeah that is what we are told. I sure believed it :-) But what actually
happens is a baby is aware of his/her eliminiation- just like they are aware
of nursing and how that feels. It is actually sort of odd that we would
think our babies are numb from the waist down or something. They are
actually keyed in to communicating about their elimination needs- just like
nursing- but because we arent looking for it- we don't see it. They learn
to hold it and signal that they want to be taken to the bathroom. Gordon
will NOT pee on me, I will be like, "what's wrong, why are you fussy?"-
finally "DUH!" and I take him to pee. When I am really in tune- I can
"tell" he needs to pee- just like those "magical tribal mothers". Many
cultures still do this- and it is really cool.
>
> The reason it seems that older children "don't have any awareness"- is
because in order to manage a very uncomfortable icky situation (diapers)
they have had to "turn off", because they don't have a choice. Then later,
they find it a challenge to turn back on and control those muscles.
>
> The reason I am going on about this is because if I had even heard one
person say they did this- It would have opened a door for me with my other
children.
>
> And Lord have mercy! THere is NOTHING in the world like holding a bare
baby bum throughout day...
>
> Love,
> Bronwen
> Chloe '88
> Reed '92
> Gordon '00 (turns one on Sept. 22!)
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> ________________________________________________________________________
> ________________________________________________________________________
>
> Message: 16
> Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2001 13:14:23 -0400
> From: "Jon and Rue Kream" <skreams@...>
> Subject: RE: Re: NO Diapers
>
> How do you go about this? I mean, you have your new baby...do you ever
put
> a diaper on him? Can you give us a brief how-to on it? Thanks ~Rue
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bronwen [mailto:felesina@...]
> Sent: Thursday, August 16, 2001 1:08 AM
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] Re: NO Diapers
>
>
>
> > According to pediatricians the nerve endings and connections to the
brain
> > are not fully developed until around 18 months of age, supposedly
making
> it
> > so babies cannot tell if they are going or not... that and the
sphinkter
> > (sp?) muscles are not fully developed until that time.
> > some later, some earlier.
>
> Yeah that is what we are told. I sure believed it :-) But what actually
> happens is a baby is aware of his/her eliminiation- just like they are
aware
> of nursing and how that feels. It is actually sort of odd that we would
> think our babies are numb from the waist down or something. They are
> actually keyed in to communicating about their elimination needs- just
like
> nursing- but because we arent looking for it- we don't see it. They learn
> to hold it and signal that they want to be taken to the bathroom. Gordon
> will NOT pee on me, I will be like, "what's wrong, why are you fussy?"-
> finally "DUH!" and I take him to pee. When I am really in tune- I can
> "tell" he needs to pee- just like those "magical tribal mothers". Many
> cultures still do this- and it is really cool.
>
> The reason it seems that older children "don't have any awareness"- is
> because in order to manage a very uncomfortable icky situation (diapers)
> they have had to "turn off", because they don't have a choice. Then
later,
> they find it a challenge to turn back on and control those muscles.
>
> The reason I am going on about this is because if I had even heard one
> person say they did this- It would have opened a door for me with my other
> children.
>
> And Lord have mercy! THere is NOTHING in the world like holding a bare
baby
> bum throughout day...
>
> Love,
> Bronwen
> Chloe '88
> Reed '92
> Gordon '00 (turns one on Sept. 22!)
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
> Message boards, timely articles, a free newsletter and more!
> Check it all out at: http://www.unschooling.com
>
> To unsubscribe, set preferences, or read archives:
> http://www.egroups.com/group/Unschooling-dotcom
>
> Another great list sponsored by Home Education Magazine!
> http://www.home-ed-magazine.com
>
>
>
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>
>
>
>
> ________________________________________________________________________
> ________________________________________________________________________
>
> Message: 17
> Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2001 13:57:21 EDT
> From: RValvo7626@...
> Subject: Re: speaking of reading
>
> In a message dated 8/12/01 10:29:37 AM Mountain Daylight Time,
> [email protected] writes:
>
> << <>
>
> Are you sure? Are you going to quit being aware of reading levels soon?
> >>
>
> My dd 5 in May complains she can't read. I read to her daily all
> different kinds of books or lables whatever she asks me to. She started
> writing on her own about a year and a half ago. She recognizes all of the
> letters and has a few words she spells on her own. The other day they had
put
> up a NO Boxes sign at the trash cans. She told me this is what the sign
said
> (it also had a bit more) Now I think this was aidentification of the sign
b/c
> there was a box left there and a new sign. But she has done this sort of
> thing a few times.
>
> I am wondering how to teach her to read when she asks me to. I picked
up a
> book at the library the other day, looked at it and put it back,too
schoolish
> for me.
>
> My mother wrote the words for objects in the house and taped them
> everywhere when I started showing interest. It worked, I phonetically
sound
> out words even now when I need too. I do not remember ever being taught to
> read.
>
> Just wondering how it has transpired for those of you who have young
> readers or want to be readers. She gets very upset at times that she can't
> read. I think it would help w/ her car trip fussiness and bed time
troubles
> too. All in due time but I'd like to help her too.
>
>
> NICKI~
>
>
> ________________________________________________________________________
> ________________________________________________________________________
>
> Message: 18
> Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2001 14:02:12 EDT
> From: RValvo7626@...
> Subject: Re: Digest Number 1360
>
> In a message dated 8/12/01 10:29:37 AM Mountain Daylight Time,
> [email protected] writes:
>
> << That extra sensitivity to
> anything, and he just needs guidance on how to ground himself and come
back
> after something sets him off, and hopefully he'll learn as he grows to
> control himself better. Now I just hold him a lot, as he screams and
kicks,
> until the wave wears out and he is finally calm and thankful I was there
to
> hold him through a scary situation. >>
>
>
> have you read Raising Your Spirited Child by Mary Sheedy Kurchinka?
>
>
> ________________________________________________________________________
> ________________________________________________________________________
>
> Message: 19
> Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2001 14:12:26 -0400
> From: Laranda Williams <lwilliams@...>
> Subject: RE: Re: speaking of reading
>
> my 5 year old starting reading books about 2 years ago.
> I read some things from Glen Domain. He has an institute (the gentle
> revolution I think its called) in PA (that I would love to get a chance to
> visit someday)and a book I read 'teaching your baby to read'. It involved
> making flash cards with large print but she enjoyed it has a fun game.
Some
> think that the focus on whole words would make learning phonics hard but
she
> picked that up because she was always able to relate sound to words she
> already knew.
> I looked at some ABEKA reading material and some scholastic readers for
> phonics instruction but by she pretty much just picked it up by herself.
>
> That same 5 year old is delayed 1-2 years in early/basic math skills. She
> read Charlottes web a few months ago but if I ask her today what 2+3 is
she
> may answer any # from 2-10. I just have to remember not to worry about it
> because that stresses both of us out. The author Glen Domain also has a
> book how to teach your baby math but I never bought that one :(
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: RValvo7626@... [mailto:RValvo7626@...]
> Sent: Wednesday, August 15, 2001 1:57 PM
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] Re: speaking of reading
>
>
> In a message dated 8/12/01 10:29:37 AM Mountain Daylight Time,
> [email protected] writes:
>
> << <>
>
> Are you sure? Are you going to quit being aware of reading levels soon?
> >>
>
> My dd 5 in May complains she can't read. I read to her daily all
> different kinds of books or lables whatever she asks me to. She started
> writing on her own about a year and a half ago. She recognizes all of the
> letters and has a few words she spells on her own. The other day they had
> put
> up a NO Boxes sign at the trash cans. She told me this is what the sign
said
>
> (it also had a bit more) Now I think this was aidentification of the sign
> b/c
> there was a box left there and a new sign. But she has done this sort of
> thing a few times.
>
> I am wondering how to teach her to read when she asks me to. I picked
up
> a
> book at the library the other day, looked at it and put it back,too
> schoolish
> for me.
>
> My mother wrote the words for objects in the house and taped them
> everywhere when I started showing interest. It worked, I phonetically
sound
> out words even now when I need too. I do not remember ever being taught to
> read.
>
> Just wondering how it has transpired for those of you who have young
> readers or want to be readers. She gets very upset at times that she can't
> read. I think it would help w/ her car trip fussiness and bed time
troubles
> too. All in due time but I'd like to help her too.
>
>
> NICKI~
>
> Message boards, timely articles, a free newsletter and more!
> Check it all out at: http://www.unschooling.com
>
> To unsubscribe, set preferences, or read archives:
> http://www.egroups.com/group/Unschooling-dotcom
>
> Another great list sponsored by Home Education Magazine!
> http://www.home-ed-magazine.com
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> ________________________________________________________________________
> ________________________________________________________________________
>
> Message: 20
> Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2001 14:23:19 -0400
> From: "Tami Labig-Duquette" <labigduquette@...>
> Subject: Re: Re: speaking of reading
>
> My youngest daughter struggles with reading as well. So far I help her
> whenever she asks and read to her. But I have to say I feel a slight panic
> coming on :) She is 8yo, and I know she will will read, my parents think I
> am ruining my children (I always was the black sheep) <g> and they seem to
> always come up with a snide remark aimed at living style or teaching (or
> lack thereof)style. So far my children have been quick to respond without
me
> stepping in. Very frustrating at times, but, she does know sign language
and
> some spanish so I guess I'll just stay out of her way a while longer :)
> Indiana Tami
>
> "You must be the change you wish to see in the world"
> ~Ghandi
>
> Try out this fun site!
> http://www.neopets.com/refer.phtml?username=angel1bunny
>
>
>
>
> >From: RValvo7626@...
> >Reply-To: [email protected]
> >To: [email protected]
> >Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] Re: speaking of reading
> >Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2001 13:57:21 EDT
> >
> >In a message dated 8/12/01 10:29:37 AM Mountain Daylight Time,
> >[email protected] writes:
> >
> ><< <>
> >
> > Are you sure? Are you going to quit being aware of reading levels
soon?
> > >>
> >
> > My dd 5 in May complains she can't read. I read to her daily all
> >different kinds of books or lables whatever she asks me to. She started
> >writing on her own about a year and a half ago. She recognizes all of the
> >letters and has a few words she spells on her own. The other day they had
> >put
> >up a NO Boxes sign at the trash cans. She told me this is what the sign
> >said
> >(it also had a bit more) Now I think this was aidentification of the sign
> >b/c
> >there was a box left there and a new sign. But she has done this sort of
> >thing a few times.
> >
> > I am wondering how to teach her to read when she asks me to. I picked
> >up a
> >book at the library the other day, looked at it and put it back,too
> >schoolish
> >for me.
> >
> > My mother wrote the words for objects in the house and taped them
> >everywhere when I started showing interest. It worked, I phonetically
sound
> >out words even now when I need too. I do not remember ever being taught
to
> >read.
> >
> > Just wondering how it has transpired for those of you who have young
> >readers or want to be readers. She gets very upset at times that she
can't
> >read. I think it would help w/ her car trip fussiness and bed time
troubles
> >too. All in due time but I'd like to help her too.
> >
> >
> > NICKI~
>
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp
>
>
>
> ________________________________________________________________________
> ________________________________________________________________________
>
> Message: 21
> Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2001 14:30:38 -0500
> From: "Castle Crawford" <ec3forme@...>
> Subject: Re: Re: NO Diapers
>
> >My first child was totally oblivious to her body functions until she was
> past 3 1/2. She didn't know she had to go until she went. She is also
the
> type of kid to get so involved in something that she blocks out everything
> else. She wore cloth diapers but it didn't matter to her that she was
wet.
> She finally potty trained at 3 years 7 months, when she was ready.<
>
> This is my daughter as well. She is 3 1/2 and has just potty trained in
the last month. She has an older brother that was trained by 2 and a
younger brother that will go in the potty or not, he is still 20 months and
not really bothered if mom has to blot up after him...
>
> I used cloth, let her go naked, let her pick out panties, you name it.
She just was NOT ready and could care less if she peed on herself, her
clothes, the floor...She was the same way with talking-she did not say a
word until she was almost 3. Then she had so much to say that it was almost
scary all the chatter coming from my mute child.
>
> She used the potty 3 weeks ago and has had one accident since. It all
depends on the child and the way they learn.
>
>
> Esther
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> ________________________________________________________________________
> ________________________________________________________________________
>
> Message: 22
> Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2001 15:54:02 -0500
> From: "Johanna SanInocencio" <saninocencio@...>
> Subject: Re: NO diapers!- was:Foreskin
>
> one of the reasons I hate wall to wall carpeting. Ever try to clean pee
off
> one?
> Johanna
> Life is the ultimate learning experience!
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Saga" <mom@...>
> To: <[email protected]>
> Sent: Wednesday, August 15, 2001 10:35 AM
> Subject: RE: [Unschooling-dotcom] NO diapers!- was:Foreskin
>
>
> > <<I do agree, though, that diapered kids don't seem to know when they're
> > going.
> > That's why I favor the "nudie" system of potty training.>>
> >
> > We were going to do this this summer but.... we're moving and there is
> stuff
> > everwhere and the first time I attempted Julian peed on stuff for my
work
> :)
> > So then I thought I'd wait until we got in a better situation where
> > everything around would be safe to be peed on...
> >
> > -Kristi
> >
> >
> > Message boards, timely articles, a free newsletter and more!
> > Check it all out at: http://www.unschooling.com
> >
> > To unsubscribe, set preferences, or read archives:
> > http://www.egroups.com/group/Unschooling-dotcom
> >
> > Another great list sponsored by Home Education Magazine!
> > http://www.home-ed-magazine.com
> >
> >
> >
> > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
> ________________________________________________________________________
> ________________________________________________________________________
>
> Message: 23
> Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2001 15:44:10 -0500
> From: "frazzledmom" <cnlcuroe@...>
> Subject: math / puzzle books
>
> Hi all,
>
> My son has been receiving Highlites magazine (gift sub from my mom) but
has
> decided that he'd rather get something like Puzzlemania - has anyone ever
> heard of this as a subscription, and if so, do you have any links or a ph#
> where I can get more info?
>
> Or do you have any other magazine suggestions for a 7yo boy?
>
> Thanks!
>
> ...Lizz in Iowa
>
>
>
> ________________________________________________________________________
> ________________________________________________________________________
>
> Message: 24
> Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2001 14:40:29 -0700 (PDT)
> From: jefferson academy <jeffersonacademy@...>
> Subject: Re: Re: speaking of reading
>
>
> > Just wondering how it has transpired for those
> > of you who have young
> > readers or want to be readers.
>
> Not only does every child learn at a different age,
> but I think they learn best with different methods -
> so you could offer many of them. The words on all the
> objects in your house is a good idea. A word wall is
> another - a wall with pictures of objects with the
> name of the object on the card. Some children learn
> by writing to read. Since she can print you could help
> her to write her own stories by spelling them for her.
> Some children are more sight readers and would be
> helped by having the same few books read over and
> over. She'll soon 'read' it from memory. Some kids
> like to play a game with flash cards where you show
> them a letter and if they can think of a word that
> starts with that sound they win the card. You can
> play a game of saying words like 'lighthouse' and see
> if she can break it into light and house (this helps
> with auditory segmentation.) You can play a sound game
> by saying "/c/ /a/ /t/ - what word is that?" to help
> with auditory blending (both necessary skills for
> reading development. You're already doing the most
> important thing - reading to her.
> Michele
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Make international calls for as low as $.04/minute with Yahoo! Messenger
> http://phonecard.yahoo.com/
>
>
> ________________________________________________________________________
> ________________________________________________________________________
>
> Message: 25
> Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2001 18:09:08 EDT
> From: marbleface@...
> Subject: Re: math / puzzle books
>
> In a message dated 08/15/2001 9:41:59 PM !!!First Boot!!!,
> cnlcuroe@... writes:
>
>
> >
>
>
> Puzzlemania is great. There is also a Mathmania.
>
> Both published by Highlights -- I think-- at least Puzzlemania is.
>
> Phone number: 1-800-962-3661.
>
> Nance
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> ________________________________________________________________________
> ________________________________________________________________________
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>

Debra Bures

We did the names of things written on note cards and taped to the object when my now 9 yo wanted to learn to read. She already knew how to recognize some words but wasn't fluent yet. So we just kept doing what we'd been doing--reading lots of books (we still do it). One day she told me that she'd decided that it was time for her to read chapter books. I suggested we go to the library but she wanted to own
her first chapter book so off to the bookstore we went. She's decided to read all the books by Patricia McLaughlan (Sarah Plain and Tall, etc).
When my now 13 yo was about 8 she told me that she wanted to read the bedtime story one night. She chose Little Men and began to read to us all. It was a mater of waiting for the right time.
We don't want babies to be born before they're ready, why does out society insist they do other things before they're ready, and why do we buy into that fallacy?
Debra


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

Bridget E Coffman

> I'm guessing this may be normal and isn't permanent. Could you tell
> me not to fret?
>
> Betsy
>

Don't fret. When Jenni was 9 or 10 she was pretty much the same. Now we
joke about her need for a 12 step program because she will tear through a
7 book grown-up detective series in a week. She also read every book
Mercedes Lackey wrote at a pace of about a book a day. It comes when
they find WHAT they want to read.



In a later message from Carolyn:
>I'm just wondering if I should stop getting her books, in hopes that
>she'll start looking for herself. I can't even imagine not wanting to
>pick books out for myself. On the other hand, I hate messing up a
>mostly good thing. Now that I've written this, I'm wondering how
>other kids hear about good books and how they make their choices. I
>really doubt any of her friends are telling her about good books they've
>read.

Jenni first got into M. Lackey because a really cool librarian
recommended 'Firebird'. At the time we all thought it was WAY above her
reading level because she had been coosing easy stuff with lots of
pictures. Turns out she just hadn't thought to look at anything else.
Rachel (my oldest) explored my books and my mothers. She is heavily
into Agatha Christie and she likes Robert Asprin. If you picking out
books is okay with her, go with it. Eventually she will start picking
her own.

And from Gunnerfenner:

> The problem with this is , what ? That ELEMENTARY age children
>have to have parental permission .
>I wonder if that same young child can check out The Antarchist
>Cookbook from that same elementary school library ? But wait ..... it
>would be a crime according to you all if they couldn't , right ?
>
>God help us all !
>I'm I the only one on this list that feels this way ?

I personally am of the opinion that if you let your child go to school,
any book in the school library should be okay. If you have a problem
with Harry Potter or Judy Blume, well then maybe you should be
homeschooling because your kids certainly don't belong in public school.
Of course, I also was very careful to get my kids library cards that gave
them access to the whole library. No restrictions at all. It is not the
public librarian's job to decide what is right for my kids. BTW I think
my husband owns the Anarchist Cookbook. They can read it if they want,
but I get to join in any experimenting too.

From: "Lynda" <lurine@...>

>Alrighty, there has to be a happy medium here somewhere. How about if I
>send you a little of our "can we go to the library today" which is
repeated
>as frequently as "are we there yet" and you can send us a little of your
>"not going there." <g>

Thank God and Goddess and Gaia that my oldest can drive now!!! I can
stay home and get something done once in a while now. Daily trips to the
library were getting to be a bit much!

Bridget

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Tyranny of the majority is tyranny nonetheless.

[email protected]

Hi all,

I have been lurking for awhile on this list. I have a quick questions. I
have a five yr who is learning her letters and already knows how to write her
name. She is always asking me to read. She would be willing to sit ALL day
and listen to me read.... as we did this one day. I do tend to get tired of
all this reading even though I know that it is good for her.....so here is my
question how do I find the right balance? It seems the more she asks, the
more I feel like resisting.....I would love to hear any thoughts that you may
have.

Thanks,
Julie

[email protected]

In a message dated 11/7/01 3:47:47 PM Pacific Standard Time, Jaam1224@...
writes:

<< She would be willing to sit ALL day
and listen to me read.... as we did this one day. I do tend to get tired of
all this reading even though I know that it is good for her.....so here is
my
question how do I find the right balance? It seems the more she asks, the
more I feel like resisting.....I would love to hear any thoughts that you
may
have. >>

Well I wouldn't read more than I feel comfortable with. It seems that wouldn't
be very fun for you and her anyhow. I personally have a hard time reading
books that "I" don't find intersting or entertaining. Maybe you could pick up
some tapes that she could listen to in between the reading time.
Kathy

jbpan

Books on tape is a great idea, and if she gets picky and wants it to be YOU
reading, take an hour and read some of her favorite books while recording
onto a tape. I did this for my daughter, recorded into her little toy
recorder and it worked great! That way it's still "you" reading :-)

Blessings,
Brynn


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

Lynda

Youngest kidlet was/is this way so we balance it with books on tape. I
would tell her my voice needed to take a rest for awhile and if she wanted
to listen to more books that she would need to use her "talking" books, as
she called them.

Lynda
----- Original Message -----
From: <Jaam1224@...>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2001 3:42 PM
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] reading


>
> Hi all,
>
> I have been lurking for awhile on this list. I have a quick questions. I
> have a five yr who is learning her letters and already knows how to write
her
> name. She is always asking me to read. She would be willing to sit ALL
day
> and listen to me read.... as we did this one day. I do tend to get tired
of
> all this reading even though I know that it is good for her.....so here is
my
> question how do I find the right balance? It seems the more she asks, the
> more I feel like resisting.....I would love to hear any thoughts that you
may
> have.
>
> Thanks,
> Julie
>
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Allison Crilly

Hi Julie, my son was like this at 5 and 6, just before he started reading on his own. It drove me kind of nuts. One thing I did was to get some books on tape (it worked for him because he's very verbal/audio oriented, I can't listen to the things, though), and to sometimes turn the table and ask him to "read" to me while I did housework or some sort of errand. I also tried to get him to make up stories of his own, and I would write them down for him and make little books that he would then "read" to himself. I'm a single mom, so I know how overwhelming it can get when my son goes through really attention-needy kind of phases. I think the right balance would be reading as much as you are willing to.

Allison
----- Original Message -----
From: Jaam1224@...
To: [email protected]
Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2001 5:42 PM
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] reading



Hi all,

I have been lurking for awhile on this list. I have a quick questions. I
have a five yr who is learning her letters and already knows how to write her
name. She is always asking me to read. She would be willing to sit ALL day
and listen to me read.... as we did this one day. I do tend to get tired of
all this reading even though I know that it is good for her.....so here is my
question how do I find the right balance? It seems the more she asks, the
more I feel like resisting.....I would love to hear any thoughts that you may
have.

Thanks,
Julie

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

Rachel Wolfe Ravenhart

I would suggest that you decide how much you're willing to read on any
given day, then tell her. read at various times during the day. I read
to my son after he finishes his reading lesson. He finds it encouraging
to SEE me do what he's learning to do. BTW, he LOVES 100 Easy Lessons.
He's so excited about reading that he's begging for EXTRA lessons. He
read his first sentence today.

Rachel Ravenhart

Jaam1224@... wrote:

>
> Hi all,
>
> I have been lurking for awhile on this list. I have a quick
> questions. I
> have a five yr who is learning her letters and already knows how to
> write her
> name. She is always asking me to read. She would be willing to sit
> ALL day
> and listen to me read.... as we did this one day. I do tend to get
> tired of
> all this reading even though I know that it is good for her.....so
> here is my
> question how do I find the right balance? It seems the more she asks,
> the
> more I feel like resisting.....I would love to hear any thoughts that
> you may
> have.
>
> Thanks,
> Julie


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

A. Scott

Nancy Wallace (author of Better Than School, which I recommend) talks in her
book about the fact that she and her husband decided to only read to their
children books that they found interesting themselves. I'm not sure I
recommend this method completely, but I have used it as a guide. There are
some books I simply won't read aloud - I just can't take it, and other books
I read aloud because I really want to read them and I know the kids will
enjoy it somewhat.

My point is - if I were in your situation - being asked to read aloud so
much - I would agree to read a set amount of her choice, and then more of my
choice if she wants more. It doesn't have to be something completely boring
to her, but it can be something you really feel like reading. Then it will
probably be less irritating, you think?

Amy

[email protected]

Thanks everyone for the wonderful suggestions! I am going to incorpate many
of them. Someone hit the nail on the head when they said it was harder to
read books that I don't find interesting..... my daughter picks the same
books over and over again.

However, we are reading the Laura Ingills Wilder seris now and we both are
loving it!!

Julie-who can't ever remember reading them as a child.

[email protected]

On Thu, 8 Nov 2001 09:20:25 -0500 "A. Scott" <info@...>
writes:
> Nancy Wallace (author of Better Than School, which I recommend) talks
in her
> book about the fact that she and her husband decided to only read to
their
> children books that they found interesting themselves. I'm not sure I
> recommend this method completely, but I have used it as a guide.

I mostly do this, just because otherwise I'm yawning every other
sentence, and then my mind wanders and I start saying things that don't
make sense... I try, I do, and when she was younger I did read some stuff
that bored me to tears... but there's so much good stuff out there that
she likes to listen to and I like to read.

I do feel a twinge of guilt over never reading her the rest of the
Dealing with Dragons series, but I just couldn't read them aloud anymore,
even though I like the books and did end up reading them all to myself...
OTOH, reading HP aloud was just plain fun, and I'm reading the original
Sherlock Holmes stories aloud now and those are great, too.

I suppose it's easier now because she can read pretty much anything to
herself... when she couldn't, I read more stuff that I considered drivel.

And Amy, have you been here all along? I didn't realize that...cool.

Daron
________________________________________________________________
GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO!
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A. Scott

> And Amy, have you been here all along? I didn't realize that...cool.

:-) About a month I think. I guess I ought to post an intro?

Amy

Tia Leschke

At 05:12 PM 11/7/01 -0800, you wrote:
>Youngest kidlet was/is this way so we balance it with books on tape. I
>would tell her my voice needed to take a rest for awhile and if she wanted
>to listen to more books that she would need to use her "talking" books, as
>she called them.

A friend of mine had a cold one time and told her son that if he wanted any
more reading that night, he was going to have to do it himself. So he
did. He stumbled out loud through a bit of the book they were
reading. Sandy was very surprised and asked him when he had learned to
read. He told her that he had just discovered for himself that he
could. Of course he still wanted her to read to him a fair bit, but it was
a revelation to both of them. (I wouldn't suggest doing this *in order* to
get a kid to read.)
Tia

Tia Leschke leschke@...
On Vancouver Island
**************************************************************************
It is the answers which separate us, the questions which unite us. - Janice
Levy

Tia Leschke

At 09:20 AM 11/8/01 -0500, you wrote:
>Nancy Wallace (author of Better Than School, which I recommend) talks in her
>book about the fact that she and her husband decided to only read to their
>children books that they found interesting themselves. I'm not sure I
>recommend this method completely, but I have used it as a guide. There are
>some books I simply won't read aloud - I just can't take it, and other books
>I read aloud because I really want to read them and I know the kids will
>enjoy it somewhat.

I always set a limit of one time for books I didn't like reading. Well,
there were some that I just wouldn't have read at all, but my son rarely
wanted to pick books for me to read. He was generally happy to have me
pick them and rarely said he didn't like one.
Tia

Tia Leschke leschke@...
On Vancouver Island
**************************************************************************
It is the answers which separate us, the questions which unite us. - Janice
Levy

Tia Leschke

At 11:36 AM 11/8/01 -0500, you wrote:
>Thanks everyone for the wonderful suggestions! I am going to incorpate many
>of them. Someone hit the nail on the head when they said it was harder to
>read books that I don't find interesting..... my daughter picks the same
>books over and over again.

One thing about reading books over and over to a child. That's how some
kids learn to read. They hear the same book so many times that they end up
memorizing it. Then they can sit with it and say the words they hear in
their head while looking at the same words on the page. That's one thing I
regret about moving on to chapter books as early as I did with Lars. He
didn't get that repeated reading of the same book. Then again, he might
not have even wanted to hear any of them over and over. That probably
wasn't his way of learning to read. If it was, it probably would have
become an issue.
Tia

Tia Leschke leschke@...
On Vancouver Island
**************************************************************************
It is the answers which separate us, the questions which unite us. - Janice
Levy

Debra Bures

When Hannah was frustrated about her reading, we played charades: I wrote action phrases on slips of papers (baking a cake, picking flowers, pet the dog, --stuff like that). Everyone in the family took turns picking a paper and acting it out. I also wrote silly sentences (The fat man sat on a chair and ate bowls of noodles. The brave princess stormed through the woods to get to the elegant castle. Sarah Elena, the fairy princess, and her friend, Shimmery Shiny spent the day at the field of giant daylillies) She illustrated them. the Sarah Elena story has become an ongoing adventure story--this fairy has plenty of cool adventures.
Debra



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

Julie Biro

Wow, some great information so far and I agree completely!!!... keep them
coming!!!!

I do see her reading however, sometimes she will say... "now you read it to
me" which tells me she isn't comprehending what she is reading even though
she can sound out the phonics of the words. I, too as a child could read
but by 4th grade had to do a remedial reading "special" class because I
lacked being able to comprehend!

I would like to hear how old each of your children were when it the reading
click for them...I think that would help with reassurance for myself : D


Julie Biro
jaam1224@...
Memory Keeping at Its Best
Don't your priceless memories and photos deserve
more than a shoe box? I can help quick and easy.
Just ask, "How?"!

[email protected]

In a message dated 29/11/2003 05:44:37 Pacific Standard Time,
jaam1224@... writes:


>
> I would like to hear how old each of your children were when it the reading
> click for them...I think that would help with reassurance for myself

My ds is 8. Like a good mom, I taught him how to sound out words when he was
5, assuming that he would then read. NO Way!! He simply got intimidated and
confused. Then I started makin g him read aloud to me from little books and
"readers". YUK He started to refuse toread anything at all. It freaked him out
completely that he wasn't perfect and stumbled. It has taken till now for him to
feel like he can read at all, and that is because I left him alone and stopped
even talking about reading. I sure blew it . Mind you he wasn't asking me to
teach him.
Now, if he doesn't think about it, he can read almost anything . That is just
by reading huge amounts to him, answering him when he asked what things said,
and leaving hiim alone. His comprehension is great, he uses expression and
rarely has trouble with a word, he just doesn't like to read if he doesn't have
to. I wish I could undo the damage I did.
Nancy in BC


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

[email protected]

>
> I would like to hear how old each of your children were when it the reading
> click for them...I think that would help with reassurance for myself

Our first three went to school - the last one in K when he "rose" out.

But #4 has never been and we did no teaching. He loves computer games. So he could read "OK" and "Cancel at age 5 or 6. Because he had to to operate a game.

As games got more difficult, he'd ask older bro to read for him. That was fine for a while, then bro started sleeping in more, so he was forced to attempt reading on his own to play the game. His love of computer games DROVE the reading. He was reading to Grama (little tests she gave him) at a high level at 6 1/2. But if it wasn't for the computer, he wouldn't have chosen reading.

I tell people this story a lot when they hear we home/unschool - I think they think I'm lying. :O)))

Moral: leave it - no one (exceptions for brain damage etc.) cannot read after age 17. No one. Just leave it. Just live it.

My (fuzzy) thots
Tim T.


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

Mary

<<I would like to hear how old each of your children were when it the
reading
click for them...I think that would help with reassurance for myself >>


Tara was reading at 6 but she was a school child since she was 4. I had
bought a program that cost me way more than I had because I was convinced I
had to *help* her so she wouldn't be left behind. We did that program almost
every day and she did read. She managed to keep up at school. She's almost
18 now and she hates to read. Won't read anything she doesn't "have" to.
It's sad really.

Joseph and Sierra learned to read at about 6 and 7. They are 13 months apart
but do almost everything together. They started out with just playing games
about words. Like when we were in the pool and we would do A my name is
Alice and I come from Alabama......... They loved that game and although
when they first started I needed to help them a lot, they got the hand of
some letters and the sounds by just having fun. Then they got into work
books. This was all going on when they were about 5 and 6. The loved doing
them and they also loved the idea of doing sight words. Joseph is very
competitive and loved to see how far he could get each time without
struggling. Sierra just did them because Joseph was. Same with the workbooks
although Sierra did more of the pages then Joseph. I would print them out
from the computer and leave them each in their own book to do whenever they
wanted. One time I noticed they weren't doing them anymore and that was
that. It was months after that and there were no work sheets or sight words
wanting to be done. It was about 5 months later that Joseph was just
reading. I first noticed it with his Pokemon cards, street signs and small
things around the house. It wasn't but a few weeks that he was really
reading well. Sierra was not quite as fast at reading but still doing it
too. Now they are 7 and 8 and both enjoy reading. They both take books to
bed with them and both read to their little sister and even to Joe and I. It
just happened and I have so many friends who homeschool and keep asking me
how I taught them to read. When I say I didn't, they look at me like I have
some great secret I'm hiding!

But I must also say my kids never had a problem with *not* reading. It
wasn't a big deal that there were things others might be doing that they
weren't. Our attitude around here is very much non educational and easy as
far as who should be doing things and when. So they never saw reading as
anything they wouldn't learn. They just kind of knew it would happen
eventually and I guess they just waited for that time. They also have no
friends who go to school so not sure if that helped them or not.


Mary B.
http://www.homeschoolingtshirts.com

Elizabeth Roberts

Sarah probably could have been reading ALOT sooner than she did, but I didn't work with her or anything because I didn't want her to go into school already reading when the other kids wouldn't be... so she was 6, just into the beginning of "first grade" when it clicked for her...but at that time we were regularly going through Phonics Pathways and the Bob Books and I was actively "teaching" her to read. But she had little interest in it, and it was a hard time for both of us, with alot of yelling and hurt feelings as I didn't feel she was really trying and would be upset with her. So in some ways while she had the technical knowledge of reading, it's only been in the past couple months, at 7 1/2 that she's really wanting to read on her own and enjoying it, asking for books to read from the library, etc. So you could consider her truly reading at 7 1/2 although she's had the technical knowledge and ability to 'read' since she was 6 1/2.

MamaBeth

Mary <mummy124@...> wrote:
<<I would like to hear how old each of your children were when it the
reading
click for them...I think that would help with reassurance for myself >>


Tara was reading at 6 but she was a school child since she was 4. I had
bought a program that cost me way more than I had because I was convinced I
had to *help* her so she wouldn't be left behind. We did that program almost
every day and she did read. She managed to keep up at school. She's almost
18 now and she hates to read. Won't read anything she doesn't "have" to.
It's sad really.

Joseph and Sierra learned to read at about 6 and 7. They are 13 months apart
but do almost everything together. They started out with just playing games
about words. Like when we were in the pool and we would do A my name is
Alice and I come from Alabama......... They loved that game and although
when they first started I needed to help them a lot, they got the hand of
some letters and the sounds by just having fun. Then they got into work
books. This was all going on when they were about 5 and 6. The loved doing
them and they also loved the idea of doing sight words. Joseph is very
competitive and loved to see how far he could get each time without
struggling. Sierra just did them because Joseph was. Same with the workbooks
although Sierra did more of the pages then Joseph. I would print them out
from the computer and leave them each in their own book to do whenever they
wanted. One time I noticed they weren't doing them anymore and that was
that. It was months after that and there were no work sheets or sight words
wanting to be done. It was about 5 months later that Joseph was just
reading. I first noticed it with his Pokemon cards, street signs and small
things around the house. It wasn't but a few weeks that he was really
reading well. Sierra was not quite as fast at reading but still doing it
too. Now they are 7 and 8 and both enjoy reading. They both take books to
bed with them and both read to their little sister and even to Joe and I. It
just happened and I have so many friends who homeschool and keep asking me
how I taught them to read. When I say I didn't, they look at me like I have
some great secret I'm hiding!

But I must also say my kids never had a problem with *not* reading. It
wasn't a big deal that there were things others might be doing that they
weren't. Our attitude around here is very much non educational and easy as
far as who should be doing things and when. So they never saw reading as
anything they wouldn't learn. They just kind of knew it would happen
eventually and I guess they just waited for that time. They also have no
friends who go to school so not sure if that helped them or not.


Mary B.
http://www.homeschoolingtshirts.com



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