Educating Emme

• Nov. 4, 2006 - Please help with my schooling problem.....

Emme is almost 7, and she is not reading well. My Dad made a comment about it today and I felt like a total failure. I'm not sure what else to do. We're following curriculum -- we read aloud, we do phonics, we do spelling, we do comprehension, we narrate, do copy work -- what am I doing wrong???? Why can't she read? *sigh*

It's not clicking. She still sounds out everything -- rarely is she remembering any site words.

I upped her reading from 3 times a week to 5 times a week.

Any suggestions? Should I just let her read when she is ready? Should I try another method? Should I try harder? Do something more? UGH!

I know homeschooling her is the right choice -- but reading isn't coming naturally and I have to ask myself 'would she be able to read if she were going to school right now?'

I need all the help, comments, opinions, (*encouragement?*) that I can get right now.

"Children who struggle in vain with reading in the first grade soon decide that they neither like nor want to read". (Juel, 1998)

National Research Council. Preventing Reading Difficulties in Young Children. Catherine Snow, Susan Burns, Peg Griffin, eds. (Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press, 1998).

Sherry

Comments

• Nov. 4, 2006 - You've Moved!

Posted by

Sherry - Please don't let quotes from the "experts" make you worry. No one knows your child like you do and she is benefitting from one-on-one time from a teacher who loves her. She certainly wouldn't get that in pub. school. I think you still have time before you need to be concerned. I believe some children just take longer than others in different subjects. I've seen it happen with my three children and it can be difficult not to compare them. Does she seem to enjoy the reading material she is sounding out? Does she seem frustrated or is she o.k. with the level she is at? Perhaps you both need a break from the "lessons", maybe take a week or two off and concentrate on other subjects. Just read aloud to her during that time. Maybe a different reading program would help. I've always used Teach Your Child To Read in 100 Easy Lessons. My goal here is to help ease your mind and encourage you. I hope this helps. And I'm sorry about your Dad's comment - ouch! People sometimes make comments without realizing how much it hurts. Just know that your daughter is in the best place she can be and go from there!

Kate

Edited by callmekate on Nov. 5, 2006 at 12:30 AM

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• Nov. 5, 2006 - Reading the Waldorf way

Posted by harvestmoon

You may want to read an interesting article at: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/68805/learning_to_read_the_waldorf_way.html about learning how to read the Waldorf way. I'm not sure if you are familiar with Waldorf education, but it may be a good fit for your daughter in terms of reading. Basically, at the age she is now you would be concentrating on reading to her. In first grade, she would learn the alphabet; and in second grade she'd learn to read. It seems late, but you are laying a great foundation for her to understand and love reading on her own. The article also includes some information about the damage that can be done to children who are pressured to read too early. This may be good information for your husband to read and understand. I hope this was helpful.

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• Nov. 5, 2006 - relax!

Posted by kateyz

Not everyone learns to read at the same time. Just keep plugging away at it, it sounds like you're doing all the right things. I give my boys two short reading sessions a day, because they don't like to read. Oh how I wish they did! Make sure what you're giving her to read is interesting to her and hopefully she will be motivated to try.
Most of all, don't worry about what anyone (including dear old Dad) has to say.
Your kids are truly blessed by having a stay at home homeschooling Mom!
Kathleen

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• Nov. 5, 2006 - Hi

Posted by sillysiller

Thanks for your comment, and don't sweat it with your daughter.
My daughter started wanting to read at 7. She will be 8 next month. I couldn't do anything to get her motivated until she realized her cousin could read and she was younger. She started teaching herself. We used the horizon phonics, bob books, and lots of dr suess.
Now, she can't stop reading. Just give her the space, provide the materials (lots and lots of books) and support.
People will start to read at different ages. Just because she is 7 doesn't mean she is ready.
I know, though, that when the husbands disapprove it hurts. Been there done that. Just tell him that it will all work out.
Good Luck

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• Nov. 5, 2006 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Carrie K.

I agree with all the other comments and just wanted to add a few. For each of my kids, reading has been a different process. My daughter "clicked" with reading at 6 and took off like gangbusters. My son, Noah, clicked around the same age, maybe a few months later. My second son, Jonathan was a completely different story. I used the same process - learned the letters, learned the sounds, put sounds together, learned beginning sight words - and yet it just took longer for him. He turned 7 in September, and only in the past month has reading "clicked" for him.

One thing that helped me relax about his slower progress was reading the book "Homeschooling for Excellence" by the Colfaxes. They had three sons. One son read "early - at age 5. One read at 6 1/2 or so - the "normal" time, according to public school. One didn't read comfortably until 8. They homeschooled all three of these boys, and all three of them ended up being accepted at Harvard. They are all brilliant, well-adjusted men. The age when they started reading had nothing to do with the level of their intelligence. All children walk, talk, laugh, tie shoes at different ages - so why do we expect there to be a magic age when all children should be able to read? I encourage you to read the Colfaxes book, and also Better Late Than Early by the Moores. You'll have a ready answer for your dad and any other critics. And rest assured that you are giving your daughter the best education possible. Be encouraged!

Mommy Brain: http://carrie.homeschooljournal.net
nnjmom@yahoo.com

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• Nov. 5, 2006 - Teaching reading at home

Posted by Anonymous

Send the kid to school. The teachers there are trained to teach children to read. You're not!! They have the resources and trained professionals to educate your child.

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• Nov. 5, 2006 - Untitled Comment

Posted by SunnyFlowers

Oh Sherry, I feel for you> I was there, not that long ago. I struggled, I changed methods/curriculum, I prayed. And you know what? When my dd was ready, she read! And boy did she ever! It seems like it was over about an 8 month period that she went from reading level 1 and 2 easy readers to chapter books. Some of the things I found out along the way, that might or might not help you.
1.) She didn't want to read because she thought that I would stop reading to her. Silly gurl! :-) But that was such a special time for her every day, and she thought she would lose that.
2.) Confidence was an issue. Too many words on too many pages were intimidating. Even if you are looking at a reader and think "this is way too easy", let her read and enjoy it. Once my dd *knew* that she *could* read, she tried it more.
3.) Starfall! http://www.starfall.com
After trying this and that, I went back and started at the beginning with this program. She LOVED it, it built up her confidence, the little jingles stuck, and she felt really good when she got completion certificates. You can print out the mini-books online, with go-along worksheet activities, and then read the interactive story online. And it is FREE! You can order the printed materials for cheap, but everything is also available to download for free.

She will get it. You are already instilling that love of reading by sharing your passion for books. It will come. :-)

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• Nov. 5, 2006 - It's me, again ..

Posted by callmekate

I was just reading the comments people left for you and that one listed above from "Anonymous" was really thoughtless. Be encouraged, Sherry. The rest of your comments are from veterans, we've all been through this and we KNOW we can teach our own children to read and our children can teach themselves as well - we work as a team with our kids to help them learn what they want to, need to and should learn. People who do not homeschool may not understand, and maybe don't want to and that's o.k. Take care, my friend!

Kate

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• Nov. 6, 2006 - It will Come in TIme !

Posted by Susan

Sherry,
You are doing ALL the right things. All three of my children now (9, 8 and 6 ) learned to read fluently at different ages. The most important thing is instilling in her the desire to learn and keeping that flame burning. If she feels like she is doing a good job, that reading is fun, that the time you spend together learning is exciting you will see her continue to make progress.

Your goal in HS is to tutor her where she is, not where someone else thinks she should be.

As long as she is making progress and it sounds like she is, you are a success and so is she.

Do not force, do not make a issue of this, do not let the nah sayers get to you. HS works, Mom's can teach their children to read and read well. You too can do this, keep up the good work!

Hugs,
Susan

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• Nov. 6, 2006 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Abiga51

Sherry, I agree wih all the comments except for the stinker that told you to put her in school. I am a teacher and taught for 12 years yet that did not make me a expert with each and every child and their different learning timetables. Every child I taught in third grade did not have the same ability as the other child. And if any lagged behind I did not have the time to work with them one on one with a whole class to supervise. Take a break so she doesn't feel pressured. Continue reading out loud to her often. Continue with all the wonderful creative projects and discovery learning you do with her. She belongs with you at home as only you can understand and love her more than a teacher could. This abiga/grandma says keep your children home. Blessings.

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This is where I come to talk about the things that I love most in the world: The Lord, my family, nature, and BOOKS. Lots and lots of BOOKS.

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Educating Emme

• Nov. 4, 2006 - Please help with my schooling problem.....

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• Nov. 4, 2006 - You've Moved!

• Nov. 5, 2006 - Reading the Waldorf way

• Nov. 5, 2006 - relax!

• Nov. 5, 2006 - Hi

• Nov. 5, 2006 - Untitled Comment

• Nov. 5, 2006 - Teaching reading at home

• Nov. 5, 2006 - Untitled Comment

• Nov. 5, 2006 - It's me, again ..

• Nov. 6, 2006 - It will Come in TIme !

• Nov. 6, 2006 - Untitled Comment

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