Reading 101

I remember being overwhelmed by what I originally considered the most daunting homeschool task: teaching my children to read. "After all, I've never been trained." Reading is a mysterious process. Although various schools defend their methods, no one really fully understands how a child learns to read or at what age it is best taught. However, you can be certain that God has created your child with the intelligence and an innate ability to learn language.

Before the teaching of reading became "big business," children learned naturally without formal curricula to teach them.  In a more literate time, they would grow up immersed in language and books. Reading was learned by reading not by memorizing reading "skills". The best reading curriculum you can give your child is to fill your home with language.  Let them explore books with you, talk with them often. Tell them what you are writing. READ ALOUD EVERYDAY.  Some might think, "I would love to read to my child, if he would only sit still long enough." Don't burden your child with sitting still while you read-then reading will not be fun for the active child.  Instead set up stations. I typically set up four stations consisting of any combination of puzzles, string and beads, coloring, legos, and give them the following rules. While I am reading there is 1. No talking and 2. You may move between stations as long as no one is already there ( my kids start to talk instead of listen if they are all at the same station.) This activates both the right brain and left brain increasing their comprehension. Always ask your children to narrate the story back to you. If they are having trouble narrating back ask "who, what, where, when, why, and how" questions. If they are still struggling to recall, read a shorter portion then stop and ask questions gradually working up to whole chapters.
Read books that are intriguing and stimulating. My Kids 5 and under LOVE The Wind and the Willows, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Original Winnie the Pooh, The original Beatrix Potter Series, Old Yeller, Charlotte's Web, The Original Mary Poppins, Black Beauty and many more.  Kids are more than capable of listening to books without pictures and there is no better way to stimulate the imagination. Do Not Get the abridged versions your kids were created in God's image...they are intelligent enough to hear the original which teaches better vocabulary and life lessons.  Don't be afraid to read the same books over and over or to let your child who has learned to read, read the same book over and over. This is natural for children when they discover a book they like. Repetitive reading reinforces reading development and should be encouraged, not discouraged. Your child's confidence grows as he "masters" a book through repetitive readings just as he would master getting a basketball in the hoop by repeatedly shooting the ball.


"In concentrating exclusively on teaching the child how to read, we have forgotten to teach him to want to read...Somehow we lost sight of the teaching precept: What you make a child love and desire is more important than what you make him learn." (Jim Trelease, The Read-Aloud Handbook, Penguin 1985) Instill in your child a love for language and he will want to learn to read.  

So You Want To Homeschool

 Recently I have been approached by many moms who are looking to or desire to homeschool their children.  It is not nearly as difficult or overwhelming as one might think. In reality, once implemented, homeschooling is a much more natural way of raising, educating and training children. There is no better learning environment than a loving home and a personal tutor, especially when that personal tutor loves them as only a mom can love her child.  "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails." This is God's perfect love. While I daily fall short of exemplifying God's perfect love to my children I know beyond the shadow of a doubt that I love my kids more than any educator could possibly love my children.

Gettting Started:
The first thing I chose to do was create a mission statement or list of reasons why my husband and I are choosing to homeschool.  I knew there would be hard days and many moments I would question our decision. I wanted a tangible list that was printed so at any moment I could read it and be reminded and encouraged about our families decision. I also want a list so that each year we can evaluate if this is truly what God desires for our family and children. As a mom my primary mission field is my children: training their hearts and minds. I believe this training can best be accomplished in God designed homes, not man made schools.

The second thing I did was change the way I viewed education.  “These commandments I give to you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” (Duet 6:6,7) I am training my children for life, not just preparing them to make a living, thus all of life is our classroom. The grocery store is a math and economics lesson; Mrs. Lotz, our German neighbor, is our social studies, collecting leaves on our nature hike is science. Our schooling/learning is meaningful and inspiring, not a mundane desk job they can't wait to leave.

The final thing I did was start reading. Every veteran homeschooler will tell you, reading with your children is the best thing you can do for them. Eventually they will need to learn to read on their own but snuggle them and read or if they can't sit still, let them play with legos or color while you read to them, listen to books on tape and fold laundry while they play. Books are inspiring. The book is always better than the movie because it is more personal. You create and design the characters in your imagination. Don't dumb down your children; Don't read twaddle.  Your child is destined for greatness. Inspire greatness in them and your child will be the joy and will be the blessing that God promises.