It depends on the child. My oldest was reading Charlotte's Web on her own at that age; my other two were nowhere near that! I had a friend whose daughter didn't start reading until age nine, but then caught up quickly with her faster-learning peers. She read "Lord of the Rings" at age 12. Try the "Easy Readers"..."Frog and Toad", "Nate the Great", "Henry and Mudge", "Amelia Bedelia"...things like that. Also, I REALLY like "Real Kid Readers". Your librarian should be your best friend! A simple rule is to pick out a book at the library you feel she can read, open it to the middle, and have her read a page. Count the mistakes on your hand. Zero or one means she can read it independently. Two or three is a good place for her "instructional level", and four or five means it's probably too hard right now. Also, do a search on-line for Dolch words and make flashcards. These are standard "sight words", and are divided into grade levels. (But please don't get hung up on the levels! One of the advantages of hs'ing is that we can work where are kids are at without worrying about trying to "keep up".)
My 7 year old can read a couple dozen words and that's it. We just started on the BOB books a few months back Though with our recent move it's not been done consistently). I don't push it because we have all the time in the world. My now ten year old didn't read at grade level until she was nine at which point she started plowing through stuff way beyond her reading level. I expect the same from my seven year old at some point. Seems to be a common experience in the homeschooling world.
I, too, find this a YMMV issue. My 6yo is reading waaaaayy above his age peers...but, we are still struggling with math facts up to 10 - addition only. I haven't had the courage to even try subtraction yet. I am grateful daily he doesn't have to keep pace with a classroom full of other children.
The reason that we homeschool is because this question has no answer. Every child is different and unique, and that is the way we like them.
Thanks, I find it easy to forget that this homeschool and not public school and I have all the time that it may take to get her where she needs to be. I checked out a book at the library called Reading Rescue 123. This book has easy 3 step plan to get your child on the second grade reading level. We did the reading level test in which she placed at level 2.
I have a question that I don't want even one person to get mad at me for. I just want to understand, and I am NOT judging the way anyone hs. If my Jeannie were 7 again and couldn't read, or only could read a few words, I'd be beside myself. Here's the scenario I picture if she were like that- She's at Brownies- the only hser now- and she and a Brownie buddy are looking at things up on the wall. The buddy comments on something she reads and asks Jeannie about it. Jeannie can't read whatever the other girl did, so she guesses and is way off. The other girl realizes Jeannie can't read, and she knows Jeanne is a second grader like her. I find that scenario scary for a lot of reasons. Depending on the kid, word will get around that Jeannie is 'dumb' or 'stupid'. Within the group of parents, I'm going to get looked at as an idiot, because my kid can't read and I'm supposed to be her teacher. This is why I can never relax about Jeanne's education. My question- when you decide to let things happen when they will, don't you worry that they will be put on the spot at some point, maybe even completely innocently? Once again- I'm just trying to understand. Those of you that know me well know I'm all anal with my hsing, so I'm trying to see the other side of it.
No, I don't worry about it. First of all, I've been in a public school classroom. I've seen too many 7yo's who can't read even the simplest stuff. Faythe's spelling is a case in point. I am VERY MUCH aware that she spells more on a second grade level (imo). And it's noticeable to anyone she writes to (including G'ma and G'pa). When it's mentioned to me, I say that yes, she is very weak in spelling, and we're working on it. 'Nuff said. I don't make excuses, and I don't put her down for it.
Becky.. part of why we pulled Garrett from public school was that at the end of first grade.. so mostly 7 year old kids.. the teacher still had to pass out the work and read the entire page to the class because there were kids there who still didn't know how to read. Yes.. I do see your concern... I would be embarrassed too. Luckily it looks like Ry is going to read soon.. maybe in the next year?? Reagan is finally getting into being read to (I have no clue how soooo many get their kids to sit still and listen to a story at 1 or 2.. I sure can't get my kid to do it), so maybe another 2 years for him (they are 4 and 3 respectively so they will hopefully be about 5 when they are reading)... but at the same time, I won't push them.
Here's how I feel- I couldn't give less of a sh*t if someone doesn't like that we hs. However- I wouldn't ever want anyone to look at her and think 'that's what happens when you homeschool'. I worry about that with her and math. I'd put all my money on her where reading is concerned, but math..... that has me worried. I guess we all have our areas of concern.
That's a good question. I do worry, I guess. I just did this evening. My 8 y.o. son was playing a game (Apples to Apples) with a boy his age and a few others this evening. My son has known this particular boy before they both started kindergarten. Before kindergarten my son knew all of his letters and was picking up his own sight words (actually he was doing that when he was 4). The other boy didn't know his letters at all and couldn't read anything before starting kindergarten according to a close relative. Fast forward to this evening this boy can read harder words than my son! My son seems to be stuck on the 1st/2nd grade easy readers such as Henry and Mudge. He's not quite ready for chapter books yet. My homeschooling Mom panic button went off for a few minutes. I started thinking....Oh no...I took my son out of school after kindergarten and now look what happened! :shock: This boy stayed in school and he is better!! Then, I took a deep breath and told myself we are taking it one day at a time and one day my son will move ahead with reading. I started reminding myself of all my son's strengths too, not just his weaknesses. I really have no idea if my son noticed or was bothered by this kid's reading ability. If he was bothered by it, I will have a talk with him.
Do I worry? - well, yes, but being put on the spot is part of life. It happens sooner or later. Just yesterday, we were at a homeschooling event in a public center. My oldest was being mocked and taunted by two little girls (both homeschoolers). It wasn't about reading, but it doesn't really matter what it was about. It was regular kid stuff, but not nice. Both girls knew better because boy did they make themselves scarce when they realized I was around the corner. My son was a little hurt, but more beweildered because he'd never been treated that way before. He & I had a little chat about it, and he seemed really okay afterward (thank goodness). It hurts my heart, but being on the spot it part of life. I dread it, but I try to prepare my kids, and (like yesterday), I try to help them process. I think the sense of self confidence that comes with comfortable progress and accomplishment at their own natural rate will serve them better than any sense of "equality" that would come with "keeping up with the Jones' " academic norm. On this note, when we decided to homeschool, I decided to go all out. I deviate from the public school curriculum quite a bit. I cover what I am required to by law, but what my kids are/will do in terms of reading, math, and other areas is NOT what the public schools cover. After much reading and my own experience teaching, I believe this will serve them better. HOWEVER, if circumstances arise that will force us to place our children in a public school classroom, they will have some serious adjusting to do (including some "catching up"). We plan so we hope that never happens, but if it does, we'll deal with it when it happens.
well Becky I am with you I could give a rat a-- what people say about hs. I just tell myself some kids go potty on the pot faster then others. Others learn to read faster then others. Maybe she is having trouble reading but great in math or the other way around. We can't do everything right. So, if someone question my girls I have gotten too, well what does your child do in this subject or that and start question them and bingo it stops really fast. I will end up my career hsing my girls and wondering why the world thinks they have to question hsers all the time and why they think they all have to be so smart... they are human by the way.
You know that, and I know that, but I don't think that a six year old knows that. Humiliation is humiliation - it stings no matter what form it comes in. The point I was trying to make is that I endeavor to equip my children so that they will handle such situations. I think it's Dr Phil who says something like we teach people how to treat us (not my favorite guy, but it's a very good point). And, let's say that "being recognized as half illiterate" does not occur within the context of "being razzed," but rather a dawning realization on the part of a peer. I hope that I am teaching my sons that if they are making consistent efforts and show a good work ethic, they have nothing to fret about. We already have extensive discussions about how being different in any way is no reason to feel badly about oneself, largely because one of my sons does not understand that people sometimes feel badly when attention is drawn to an obvious difference. On the other hand, if one of my sons was embarassed because a peer pointed out that something he had not accomplished because of neglect on his part, then he earned that embarassment. I would still feel badly for him, but some lessons we have to learn in our own ways.
