Re: Reading, Writing, Math....What Matters? wasLate Talking = Late Reading?LONG
[email protected]
In a message dated 4/25/2003 2:44:06 PM Eastern Standard Time,
[email protected] writes:
Julian and I picked up on the unschooling thing the moment he left school
after the third grade to begin homeschooling. (His other mom and his dad took
longer to really get it.) When he left school he was already a passionate
reader, and never had any problems. As a matter of fact, it was instrumental
in our decision to pull him out.
One night Beth had been reading to him at bedtime. They finished, then she
said he could finish the chapter in the book he had been reading on his own
before turning out the light. Two hours later he came out saying, "I'm
lonely." He'd been reading the entire time.
As we tucked him in again and turned out the light he said, "The biggest
problem with school is there's never enough time to read." BINGO! The
decision was made.
So...the confession. Intellectually, I know that he would have been a reader
whether or not he went to school.... But it made buying into Unschooling
IMMEASURABLY easier knowing he could.
I think it all comes down to what we think is important. Julian hated
cursive, and gave up on it early. I didn't care about that at all except....
His Other parents (who shall remain nameless in this example) have signatures
that lead to banks calling for signature checks, etc. His father, in fact, no
longer bothers to write letters, just a hastily written line. I told Julian I
knew it was my stuff, but that I wanted him to have a legible signature. So I
made it worth his while (bribery), and he practiced writing his name in
cursive until he had it down. He thought it was funny (and was probably
relieved that that was all I cared about re: cursive), and told me he'd do it
without the bribery. I figured he deserved it anyway.
On the other hand, he still doesn't know his times tables, and early on we
told him he didn't need to unless he wanted to. From D&D, he can do
percentages and other bizarre things in his head. I never stressed about
that...but I am not a Math kinda gal.
So...I really admire the folks who just trust their kids will learn to read
even if it takes them a while, and I've read enough of your stories to
understand that you are right... And I'm really glad he already knew.
Probably saved him from lots of those "My GOD WHAT AM I DOING TO MY KID'S
LIFE??!!! moments.
Kathryn
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected] writes:
> <<I daresay I was *not* patient and *did* push my oldest dd. I expectedI have a confession to make.
> her to read early and to love reading. As a child, I was an early
> reader. This and society has this message that "Reading is the key to
> education and education is the key to success. Knowledge is power." >>
>
> Me too, Kirby.
>
> Two and a half reading lessons.
>
> Not because I thought he couldn't learn but I thought he would be happier
> and
> I would be more relieved and the grandparents would praise him...
>
> He cried. He thumped his head down on the book and cried.
>
> I promised him a Ninja Turtle toy he really wanted if he would finish
> another
> session (AND my sessions were being too long!!! Why didn't I just go with
> five minute sessions!? I was stupid.)
>
> He said he didn't want that toy anymore. I saw the depth of his pain and
> despair and realized I could make him hate reading AND me, and hugged him
> and
> rocked him and apologized and said never again.
>
> So the younger ones were spared.
>
>
Julian and I picked up on the unschooling thing the moment he left school
after the third grade to begin homeschooling. (His other mom and his dad took
longer to really get it.) When he left school he was already a passionate
reader, and never had any problems. As a matter of fact, it was instrumental
in our decision to pull him out.
One night Beth had been reading to him at bedtime. They finished, then she
said he could finish the chapter in the book he had been reading on his own
before turning out the light. Two hours later he came out saying, "I'm
lonely." He'd been reading the entire time.
As we tucked him in again and turned out the light he said, "The biggest
problem with school is there's never enough time to read." BINGO! The
decision was made.
So...the confession. Intellectually, I know that he would have been a reader
whether or not he went to school.... But it made buying into Unschooling
IMMEASURABLY easier knowing he could.
I think it all comes down to what we think is important. Julian hated
cursive, and gave up on it early. I didn't care about that at all except....
His Other parents (who shall remain nameless in this example) have signatures
that lead to banks calling for signature checks, etc. His father, in fact, no
longer bothers to write letters, just a hastily written line. I told Julian I
knew it was my stuff, but that I wanted him to have a legible signature. So I
made it worth his while (bribery), and he practiced writing his name in
cursive until he had it down. He thought it was funny (and was probably
relieved that that was all I cared about re: cursive), and told me he'd do it
without the bribery. I figured he deserved it anyway.
On the other hand, he still doesn't know his times tables, and early on we
told him he didn't need to unless he wanted to. From D&D, he can do
percentages and other bizarre things in his head. I never stressed about
that...but I am not a Math kinda gal.
So...I really admire the folks who just trust their kids will learn to read
even if it takes them a while, and I've read enough of your stories to
understand that you are right... And I'm really glad he already knew.
Probably saved him from lots of those "My GOD WHAT AM I DOING TO MY KID'S
LIFE??!!! moments.
Kathryn
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]