Saturday, August 24, 2013

All the Information for Me

I am an information junkie.

I love PBS/BBC style programming & will often find myself watching a fictionalized version of a real event or person's life. There are many (perhaps even most) times that I will stop watching & start researching what I am attempting to watch. I will get so wrapped up in reading about the actual events or person, I will altogether stop watching the program & never finish it because I've read enough about what really happened to be satisfied. Am I the funnest or what?

My whole day is like this. It's like I can't just "be". I always need to be reading or looking something up. It's a disease. And I'm not so focused to where I am actually bettering myself with my never-ending searching. My information outbursts are random.

I just read "Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother" and, oh my gosh, I loved it! It's not really a parenting advice book (which is what I previously thought), it's a 'this is my parenting journey' book, which is great. The author is so witty & able to see herself in a honest, sort of self-deprecating way. It was just excellent & I highly recommend it.

I really want to teach Gwen how to read this year. I think she is capable. Any recommendations on how to do this? (Don't worry, I will information-junkie the wool out of this before committing).

Hope your day is great.


3 comments:

  1. We like "teach your child to read in 100 easy lessons."

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  2. I've heard great things about what Kendra recommends from many other parents (homeschooling and not!).

    I made John Paul a phonics flip book that he LOVED when he was learning (get an index card flip book, cut the cards into thirds, write letters on each card - it's a pin somewhere, I'm just not sure where!). We also have the leapfrog fridge phonics set that lets kids build 3-letter words, which is really nice for some independent practice because it sounds out the words for kids who haven't quite figured it out yet.

    I keep meaning to write a better post about how John Paul learned, but he's so atypical that I'm not sure how helpful it'll be! Cecilia told me that she will NOT learn how to read until she's 4 :P

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  3. I have participated in teaching quite a few kids to read. I am not a classroom teacher, but I had kids some of whom went to school, and some of whom were homeschooled, and now all five of my grandchildren are being homeschooled. So climb the mountain to come ask me your questions, and I will answer you. Listen carefully:

    1) Really, really, really, kids are different. I won't say they are all different, but in terms of learning to read you can apply the same methods to a hundred different kids, and some of them will learn to read before they are 5 y.o. and some take longer, like 9 y.o. When you are working hard to teach your child to read whatever was the last thing you did just before they learned, that was what you think taught them.

    2) Some things that help every kid: Read to them a lot. Read books at their level, read books above and below their level, read books you like, and books you don't like, as long as the child is interested. Read true books, and fantasy books, and illustrated books. When they are beginning to learn to read, but it just seems too hard for them, get into the habit of reading about half the book, and stop at an exciting part. Never stop because they need to read it themselves. Stop because you have to make dinner, or answer the phone, or run an errand. Avoid all electronic screens until all the children in the house have learned to read fluently. NEVER EVER make televisions watching or video game playing a reward for doing a certain amount of reading. Make sure that reading is THE most interesting thing to do in the house when there is nothing to do. And lots of exercise, preferably outdoors. I cannot explain why, but lots of exercise before and after reading sessions helps with learning.


    Becky D.

    And have a good time.

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