Walking Therein

What Do You Mean She's Not Reading Yet? She's 9

12:34 AM, Wednesday, September 5, 2007 .. Posted in Living Learning Moments, A Dixon Home Education .. 8 comments .. Link

When we started homeschooling, we used A Beka. So, Amanda learned phonics, and she read in grade 1. Jocelyn went to K-grade at our church, which also used A Beka, when I was on pregnancy bedrest with Eric. She also learned to read in 1st grade. At this time, Amanda and I were schooling Grade 1 at home. Rachel was 3. She liked to play outside - who doesn't?

We continued using A Beka for a few more years, but not so rigidly as we had before. Rachel did not really do workbooks when she was 6. We had just moved here to our home in September, and I was due with Hannah that December. We did minimal school (I have to laugh at that now, with the way we school). The following year, Rachel was 7 and not ready to read. She just didn't want to. (I didn't know it was because she really wasn't ready)

Fast forward to the next year. Rachel was 8. I thought, "Man, why won't she read?". She knew her phonics, but could not get the sentences without a struggle still. I went through all the frustration, knowing I could not make her read. Fortunately, I didn't 'go through the frustration' with her. I realized she wasn't ready. It wasn't that she was being rebellious; she just truly wasn't ready. So... I left it for another year. I thought, "Well, it's not like she'll be graduating and not know how to read." Did I have (well-meaning, misunderstanding) people asking just *why* she wasn't reading at age 9? Of course I did. And a couple were relatives. A few of these were the same ones who thought Eric should be reading at 5 1/2.

It didn't phase me, because I had it set in my heart that is was ok. It was ok that she wasn't reading. It was ok that they didn't know exactly what grade they were in. It was ok with me. No stress. It was ok.

The next year, Rachel, Age 9: Amanda and Jocelyn are reading The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Rachel decides she wants to read. She gets Caddie Woodlawn from the library, and she reads the entire book. She moved on and read the entire Christy series. Then, she moves on the next year to The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.
What others told me was a problem was NOT a problem. It was not an issue. It was only an issue if I got all upset and forced her to read and made an issue out of it.

I am not saying that children don't sometimes need help with their reading skills. What I am saying is that what we learned as a cookie-cutter, public school society is that children must all fit the same mold. As homeschoolers, we can step out of that factory-issued ideology and break the mold with our children.

That is another reason we don't use A Beka anymore. I found it no longer fit what we wanted for our children. For the most part, they have a good foundation, but the child still has to fit the perceived mold. (Of course, that's for the younger ages... I was unhappy with their Algebra.)

If you have been to Rachel's blog and read her writing, you can tell that she has not suffered due to reading at 9. That was God's design for Rachel. I am thankful He showed me that.

And Eric? He is now reading chapter books. He started reading last fall... he was 9. On the other hand, Hannah is going to be 8 in a couple of months. She started reading just about right after she saw Eric was reading. She was 6. They are now both working on The Chronicles of Narnia series. Eric is ahead, but Hannah isn't far behind. I love our children. It's great when they spur each other on to better things!

blessings! -Jacque
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1:39 AM, Wednesday, September 5, 2007 .. Posted by curiouscat
you are right! That is so good that you had control of your feelings and didn't allow other's comments to influence you. Good going! My older kids read much better now they are out of school, DD was in 3rd grade and could perform speaking the words, but was behind on actual comprehension.

DS age 6 basically taught himself, with me just correcting and having lots of reading material laying around lol. I wish I had started at the beginning with them all.

hugs
Denise
ps guess what the Wednesday pic is on my blog, and win a bible study book ;)

Thanks

8:32 AM, Wednesday, September 5, 2007 .. Posted by Vicki
Thank you for sharing this....I have a 6 year old, that is smart as a whip, but chooses to learn things in her own time...It has been somewhat frustrating to me, but am finally learning to relax, and come to the realization that she will "get it" in time....

If you have a minute, and the desire to, stop by my blog... www.prairierosesamongthorns.com/vblog

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10:47 AM, Wednesday, September 5, 2007 .. Posted by sharla88
LOL we use abeka but its not my fav. I'm sure my mum talked with you about it!!! LOL I'm glad I'm still wanted!! ahahah I wouldn't come without my Mum or aunt because there how i got there! ;) LOL I remember when you all got Pemberly so I was happy to meet him and Ive been talking with Miss Jocelyn now for over a year so we felt like we already knew each other! I had so much fun and thank you so much for your sweet comment! If you would like to visit my mums blog here is the site address http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/tierat/ I hope you all keep in touch!!!
Love you all
GB~
sharla~

Sharla- You are always welcome. I hope we can all meet again!
love, Mrs. D

Edited by JacqueDixonSoulRestES on Wednesday, September 5, 2007 at 10:06 AM

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11:23 AM, Wednesday, September 5, 2007 .. Posted by totustuus
I hate it when the culture puts pressure on kids (and parents) to learn certain things at certain ages. All children develop at different paces. I don't think that we shouldn't push children to do things that are hard, but sometimes they're simply not ready. They'll just hit their heads up against the same wall over and over and over again. In that case, it's wisest to wait. I was that way with math.

I know two little kids who taught themselves to read at age 2. I learned when I was 5. A friend of mine wasn't ready until she was 8. Every child has different gifts.

Family News

11:56 AM, Wednesday, September 5, 2007 .. Posted by Vicki
I was so thrilled you stopped by my blog!! I am always eager to make new friends!!

"Family News" is what would have all the "low-down" on my girls, and my homeschooling trials, and my life...I am kind of in the middle of re-organizing my blog, so you will have to forgive the mess of entries in categories they don't belong....

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8:00 PM, Friday, September 7, 2007 .. Posted by cptwentworth
It was a pleasure meeting you and your wonderful kids last weekend. I enjoyed reading your comments on reading since I am having the same issue with my almost 7 y.o. boy. It's really all right that he won't read now. He just doesn't get it. But I know someday it will just click and he'll be off like a shot. Thanks for the encouragement!

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8:43 PM, Saturday, September 22, 2007 .. Posted by Anonymous
I went through that a little with my daughter. When she decided she wanted to read, that was that. She started reading.

interesting

8:49 AM, Monday, October 22, 2007 .. Posted by Anonymous
My firstborn is 8 1/2 and not reading well. I'm completely stressed out about it, and I'm fearful that I'm stressing him out too. It is good to read in your blog about this. Wish I could talk to you more!!

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