Learning Life Through Unschooling

Jul. 10, 2006

More on Reading

Since Matthew taught himself to read, I'm often intrigued about how he does it. Did he memorize words? Does he sound them out? Did he teach himself phonics?

This weekend, he told me he just finished reading The Time Warp Trio, but he pronounced trio with a long i [TRY o]. I told him how trio is pronounced and he said it a couple times and continued with his mini book report. When he was done, I asked him what trio meant and he told me, "it means there are three of them". It's fascinating to watch him learn things.

Rose is working on early reading skills. This reminds me of where Matthew started on his reading-on-his-own journey. I would read him a book and he would read it over and over to himself after I left. He had an excellent memory and I presume that in the beginning, it was word memorization. That led to environmental reading, such as when kids begin to see the red circle target and know that means they are at the store, Target. The first sign I noticed Matthew ever 'read' was the red exit sign at the Science Center when we went to a special moon exhibit just after he turned 4. He was reading small words two months after and full fledged reading came quickly after that. Rose also likes to grab a book and lay down next to Matthew, already engrossed in his own, and pretend to read. I don't expect Rose to have the same experience or time frame as he did but I know she's on a similar road to reading and it's a neat science experiment on my part to watch how their journeys compare and contrast.

Jade took about 10 big steps today!! Her record was sticking at 5 but last night, I saw her very intently concentrating on it. She stood up, looked down at her feet and then took one step and then another. Then she'd flop on the floor, head to the side, laughing wildly with pride. Then she'd stand up and do it again. And then I saw it - the LOOK. She looked me in the eyes with her own glistening with astonishment as if to say, "Look!!! I can make them MOVE!" Next she'll be wanting something pretty to put on them.

At Jade's 15 month checkup last week, my pediatrician practically shamed me that I didn't know how many words she was saying. Well honestly, if you have 3 kids under the age of 6, it's hard to say when a babble changes into a word, believe you me! With the first child, even a hint of a 'm' sound is the word, 'mama' in a mothers eyes. But by the third child, the other two are non-stop loud talkers and who can really say what the third child is saying? I know I've heard a distinct 'mama' and 'dada' and 'mo' (more) from her but anything else? I'm not sure. Lots of babbling. Am I worried? No. But I've been encouraging her to say certain words for two weeks now. I know she CAN say them. I know she HAS said them. I know she HAS said them in the right context. But will she? Nope. Not for applause, not for her dear siblings, not even for a cookie. She refuses. Instead she laughs at me and makes babbles in completely different letter sounds. I was beginning to waiver in my strong conviction that she would talk just as well as the next toddler in no time. When...

The four of us were having lunch today and Matthew started whispering something to me. It wasn't a secret - just a whisper. I whispered back to him. Rose jumped on the bandwagon too. Then, just beside me, Jade leaned forward in her highchair and...yes, she whispered babble at us. We all laughed and thought it was a cute coincidence but Matthew started the game again and for the second time, Jade leaned forward and whispered at us.

Yeah, she'll be talking in no time at all. Heck with the pediatrician's 'chart'...after all, we're unschoolers. We do things in our own time. ;)

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Comments

Jul. 10, 2006 - Yup yup!

Posted by MommylovesRJ

Yeah, she'll be talking in no time at all. Heck with the pediatrician's 'chart'...after all, we're unschoolers. We do things in our own time. ;)
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AMEN!!!!!!!!

And you are so correct about how amazing it is to be a part of their learning. Just today, RJ yelled out to me from the other room: "Mommy...how do you spell 'sports'? S-P-O-R-T-S....right?" I don't know who just about fell off their seat first...me or dh! Just out of the blue, neyond the sight words and other small words he knows so well..."S-P-O-R-T-S....right?"!!! I am so glad we made the choice to be a part of his learning! It is truly priceless!

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Jul. 14, 2006 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Mary&my3sons

Christopher literally started talking overnight. At about 20 months old he only said 3 or 4 words (and Mommy was NOT one of them!) and those were not very clear. The boys stayed overnight with my inlaws on New Year's Eve and when we picked them up, he was saying whatever he wanted very clearly. If he had not spent the night away and done the same thing, I don't know if I would have noticed, but it was dramatic.

My oldest have both learned to read on their own at about 5 1/2 (and at that age they were not even in homeschool). We did nothing to purposefully encourage them, but did/do read to them a lot and answered their questions about what a particular word was or what sound something makes. I don't know how they did it. And I personally don't remember ever not knowing how to read.

And a mommy brag here for my oldest. He was in 5th grade public school last year. He tests at a post high school reading level. On one diagnostic reading test, he answered every question correctly, something his teacher has never seen before. I'd like to take some credit for that, but I don't think it would be accurate.

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Jul. 14, 2006 - Untitled Comment

Posted by amalapert

WOW Mary! That's great! :) I had to post about it because many people who don't understand unschooling honestly don't think someone can teach themselves to read. It was rather amazing to me as a first-hand witness too! LOL I can't wait to see what else he learns on his own. ;)

I don't remember not being able to read either. What an interesting thing to think about. My mom does remember when she learned to read and wrote a very neat story about it. I may have to create a poll now. ;)

Thanks for posting!

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