I kept my son out of school COMPLETELY until this year (1st grade). I did total child-centered learning that didn't involve using a reading curriculum. I just let him learn at his own pace and surrounded him with fantastic literature. I have serious problems with what kindergarten has become in many areas of the country and rejected it for my son. He's an active, NORMAL little boy, and I felt that kindergarten would do more harm than good. I had to return to work in August and was wondering how the transition would be for him. He's actually doing BEAUTIFULLY in 1st grade. The difference is that he's ready now!! :) He's developmentally ready for more formal reading instruction. Until August, we devoured books and did hands-on unit studies. That was it... Homeschooling can be controversial because so many parents don't understand it. It's not what it used to be. More and more teachers like myself are making this choice for our own children because of inappropriate expectations placed on little ones these days. It's a wonderful option, and homeschool groups can be found in every state. My son even went to art and music at the public school last year. We participated in a "Little House Book Club" as well as an environmental club. It was a blast and he learned so much... I believe that they'll take off reading when they're ready. Of course, we need to be there to provide them with the tools they need to do so, but we must be careful not to push too early. Once they lose that natural love for books that EVERY child is born with, it's almost impossible to get it back.. At least that has been my experience... Those are my thoughts on the issue. Sorry for jumping in like this. Jan
Mary Manges <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: As a mother who has a M.Ed. in Literacy I too have been caught up in this with my own children. My oldest daughter struggled in k and 1st. She ended up in Reading Recovery, which was humiliating for me-- the teacher/mom, but the absolute best thing that could have happened for her as a learner. Even after RR, she still didn't really like to read until 4th grade. I almost cried the day I had to yell at her to put her book down and go do her chores (I never thought I'd get to say that). To use a Gary Paulsen quote: "She reads like a wolf eats." Now my son is in kindergarten and learning to read. As a six year old (we kept him back for boyish maturity reasons) he is doing fine. I'm thankful that he isn't struggling like his sister did, but still find myself caught in the craze to push him and work with him more. I've finally just decided to be his mom, not his teacher and backed off. I don't regret it at all. I want him to succeed in life, but I need to just let him be a little boy and learn at his own pace. I turned my focus to reading as a pleasure, not a chore or something on our to- do list. Just my two bits. :) Mary Manges [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Children grow into the intellectual life around them." -Vygotsky On Nov 5, 2008, at 7:36 PM, Mary Helen Chappetto wrote: > Just my 2 cents..... > I don't have any 'research' for you but, my own experience. My son > showed a great interest in books at a very early age. I would have > bet doubling my mortgage that he was going to be an early > reader.....I have pictures of him 'reading' books at 18 months. He > would literally go and sit at a small table in his room and 'read'. > He would flip through the pages and point and we would have great > fun. He understood so much. Well, he didn't read in Kindergarten > and I thought he might be ADHD....just couldn't understand how he > couldn't 'break the code'. I looked into tutoring and was soooo > worried. My husband finally and firmly said "let him be...." I > knew better! Anyway, my son ended up finally breaking the code and > making sense of reading mid-first grade. I would go back and > reassure them that reading and talking to him and providing great > learning experiences are the best foundation for super- > comprehension! My son ended up becoming an avid reader....so much > so he cannot pass the newspaper without picking it up (7th grade), > he joined a book club and has a great knowledge base for many > topics. He has a monthly subscription to National Geographic and he > has read biographies, other non-fiction and a ton of other > books......I think if I hadn't backed off and tried to force the > 'performance' of reading he would not be the learner he is today! > I would also think about what we are trying to do as > teachers....provide children with the knowledge and tools to be > great thinkers! > I agree that learning about being a learner is the best thing to > do..... > Mary Helen > _______________________________________________ > Mosaic mailing list > [email protected] > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org > . > > Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. > _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive.
