[Kiddoson]

My DD is 6 years old, we have homeschooled for kindergarten. It has been a bumpy road, I am self employed so we have spread out the year, with a month off here or there and only about 4 days a week. Some days we go great for 2 hours or so, mixing up what we do with math, reading , writing, science. Lately she has wanted to make up games using words or sentances and this goes really well. Other days it is a struggle to get through even one sentance of reading. She knows all her letter sounds and most the vowels, we have even started some consenant blends, 3 letter words that are similar are a breeze. The problem isn't with knowing it, it's with wanting to do it. She finds math easy and does it pretty happily. When she wants to it's all pretty easy (with some help) and we fly through stuff. Lots of fun! But on the days that she doesn't want to, I get so frustrated. I am not willing to "make" her do it, should I? In the beginning we would just redirect and move on to something but that seemed to be starting a pattern, more like avoidance. I have tried to figure out what time of day is best and arrange things that way but it just seems like it doesn't matter these days. I have explained to her that if we can't learn at home she needs to go to school, DH was not thrilled with the HS idea but has since come around, he does want to be sure she is learning what she needs to, as do I. She seems to want to go to school, I think mainly because most other kids go and she is curious. SHe has been in day care 2 days for 1/2 day per week and this year the provider got a kindergarten curriculum and worked on some things with her, she of course had none of these problems. Am I doing my child a diservice by trying to teach her when she seems to learn so much easier, even happily from others? I cried today at the thought of sending her to school where she will spend more time with other people I don't know than her family

Sorry to ramble on, interestingly as I write this she is doing math with written color words that she is sounding out on her own!
Kim

 

[frogguruami]

Here's my take on reading. She is too young to worry about it! Yes, if she was in PS she would be forced to read. But, at what cost? Would she be able to read but hate doing it? Personally, I would prefer that my son take his time learning to read and then enjoy doing it. If he enjoys to read and does so willingly at 12 or 15, how much better off will he be? How much better will he be at learning independently? He won't need information spoon fed to him. He will seek it out and he will enjoy it.

I am not an unschooler but I do agree with that philosophy. I think that if a child shows resistance to learning a subject, especially reading, that they are not developmentally ready yet to fully grasp it. It can be forced but I think the joy that it would ultimately bring will be lost by forcing it. I think that at such a young age, where kids really aren't that independent and they don't want to be independent (even though sometimes they act like it, I doubt most of them really WANT to be

) they don't really see the point in learning to read. After all, in their mind, that is what we are there for. If they need info out of a book then we are there to read it to them and interpret it for them. As they get older and begin to develop independence, then they will develop a desire to read and become receptive to it. And in many cases teach themselves to do it with amazing ease.

I would not worry about her reading independently. You have given her the foundation she needs to teach herself. You said she know the sounds and blends. That is great. She now has the knowledge she needs to teach herself when the time comes. In the mean time, read to her, show her that reading is fun, not stressful or hard, show her how interesting books can be. Take her to the library and let her pick out books. Even if she doesn't read them, she has still chosen her own things. Let her choose whatever she wants, even if it is "above her head". If she is really interested in what she chooses then she will take the initiative to read it. You can try reading her chapter books that she REALLY likes. When it gets to a good part then "conveinently" have to go start dinner. Tell her that you will read with her more after dinner or the next day, OR if she wants she can keep reading while you make dinner. Maybe she can read the story to you? My son loves to cook. He will read recipes all day long. But if I ask him to read a story book he throws a fit. BUT I know he CAN read and in time he will expand his reading library.

Wow, I have rambled on quite a bit, LOL. I am officially off my soap box, LOL.

AM

 

[Piglet68]

I think you need to let go a bit and let her lead the way. I guess I come from what would be described as a strong unschooling philosophy, but I don't think any good comes from trying to make her do things, or turning HS into a chore.

Also, if you can find a community of homeschoolers with kids she can socialize with, I'm sure the desire to go to school will go away, at least the part that just wants to do what the other kids are doing.

 

[Kiddoson]

Thank you both, AM your post hit on the mark. After I posted DD and I talked about it, you are right about forcing the reading, DD loves to be read to, she asks at least 5 times a day. She said all the other stuff is fun but not the reading, so we decided to focus on the math, games and science with me reading to her each night like we always do. I did find a HS group and left a message, if no response i will find another. Piglet68 I think you are right about having a group of kids to play with and socialize. Thank you both, I was really struggling and questioning things today. I guess I needed permission to let go and let her develope at her own rate, after all isn't that what HS is about?? THANK YOU!
Kim

 

[Fieryfly]

Have you considered that the problem lies with the reading program rather than your teaching or your DD's learning? Do you know what program the daycare provider was using, and you could possibly switch over to that? As you said you know that she loves reading, just not that reading program. You are doing so many *right* things since she is enjoying her studies so much, so don't sell yourself short just because the reading part isn't going as you had expected.

I agree with the others. Homeschooling is not always going to be a smooth ride, as with many other things in life, and when you hit a snag, esp this early in your homeschooling, its best to find solutions within your homeschooling rather than considering public school.

Good luck and it really looks like you have your DD's best interest at heart. Trust your instincts and try not worrry so much about doing it the "right way".

 

[NaturalMamma]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kiddoson ... DD loves to be read to, she asks at least 5 times a day. ...

That is super and you want to go with that--she will get plenty from you just reading to her. You don't want to squash her love of reading by forcing her to read before she is ready. I truly believe that every child has their own internal clock dictating when they are ready for certain things. Your job, as her teacher is to observe her and see when that time is. I would really relax with her on the other subjects too...follow her cues for now and you will have plenty to do/learn/research with her. It is much better for you to do that than to "burn her out"--it would be harder to recover from that.

--Just my 2 cents.

cindi

 

[mama_kass]

Sounds to me like your dd is doing super. Just encourage her when she wants to do things and if she has a day where she doesn't want to, don't push it. Don't you have days where you skip doing dishes or laundry?

More academics don't equal more learning.