Lang arts: phonics
A Gentle Approach to Phonics & Reading
Based on my experience as a second-generation homeschooler and what I’ve heard from veteran homeschool moms, it can really pay off to WAIT to teach a child to read until the child is excited about it. This requires being flexible - it might require teaching phonics and reading in Pre-K or 1st grade. But, my experience so far as a homeschool mom is only building support for the argument that it’s worth the wait.
My oldest was, well, a typical 1st child and jumped at the gun for any kind of “school,” especially learning to read. She learned phonics at age 4 and started reading in kindergarten. After getting over some initial frustrations her reading ability shot up explosively. She is now an avid reader, going in to 4th grade, and is reading well above her grade level.
My second child just asked to learn how to read this spring. It was the end of her kindergarten year, so I had to wait her out a little longer. The waiting was actually difficult for me, because I saw that she fleas ready before she realized it herself. But letting HER decide when to start was very worthwhile. She essentially taught herself phonics based on an alphabet poster I had put up this year (a great $7 investment apparently!). By waiting for her to initiate, we went into the process with a lot of confidence and enthusiasm. Very few tears later, she is solidly at a beginning reading level and is expanding her ability almost daily. I know with this child in particular that I would have had to get through many more tears, etc, had I insisted on formal instruction in phonics and reading at the beginning of her kindergarten year.
I think this path is well worth the wait! | | adaisy8653 |
| | Homeschool helps
Homeschooling is a Blessing
Sometimes homeschooling makes you feel like a drill sargeant, barking out the day's orders. I like to think of it more as gentle but consistent prodding and poking to get things done - in a word, encouragement!
Fighting against distraction and boredom, I know all the effort and sacrifice is worth it. In fact, the freedom to homeschool is a privilege to be cherished. I have friends in other countries where homeschooling is not allowed, where someone else is a major influencer of their children's thoughts and perspectives, who gets their time.
The four years that I've been able to spend at home with my son have been a huge blessing, both academically and relationally. Hopefully, he will have good memories of the field trips, interesting conversations, books read, fun breaks, and all the time together we would otherwise never have had. Plus, a solid academic and spiritual foundation. Priceless.
Make the most of it, parents! It goes by so fast, just like the rest of childhood. Enjoy the time with your children. Watch them thrive as you train and prepare them, tailoring their education to their individual learning styles and interests whenever possible. As has been said elsewhere, homeschooling your child shows them they're worth it. Your investment will pay off in spades in so many ways! | | krisj |
Foreign language
Latin
We just completed our first year homeschooling. We continued the Latin studies the children had started in private school using the DVDs available through Memoria Press. It was a great success! I am knowledgeable enough in Latin that I was able to correct their work, but the lessons really came from watching -- and re-watching as many times as they wanted -- the DVD for reach lesson. One daughter was in First Form Latin, and as some of the lessons took her 2 weeks to complete rather than one, I decided to hold the last unit for next school year. I hope this advice helps! Latin is a great study not only for prayer/Church, but also English/grammar, science, history, and of course college-entry tests! | | seller456 |
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