Jen, I really like the way you differentiate between PUSH and CHALLENGE! I think you've summed up very nicely what I've not been able to express! I never thought of it quite like that.
No problem! I think it's good to challenge children because I think some children tend to get bored if they are not able to move forward, but if they don't get it, then obviously it's just not their time to get it and go on to something else. Some teachers don't get that and it can be frustrating as a teacher myself to see it not being handled appropriately by other professionals. And some parents don't get it either. They think because they are a certain age then they are too young for something or should be doing what everyone else is doing. It's frustrating sometimes and I just shake my head. BUT, if we don't challenge them then we never know what they are truly capable of.
And THEY will never know what they themselves are capable of, cuz they're frustrated all the time! My oldest was that way. I did the same kinds of things with him---not to push him but to keep him challenged---excited about learning and wanting more! It worked well, he loved it! I liked the way you put that in words also, Jen!
Ahhhh, so true. I pushed me oldest because I knew he could do the work...but I did it in the wrong way. Then he went to ps for a couple years and it ruined him for a while. It took the whole first year at home before he started to take initiative in learning again. Glad I have my son back now! When done properly, child-led learning is an incredible way to homeschool. We do that now except for math and reading.....and even those subjects are tied into things the child is interesting in knowing....asking to read is one of the things most children, when the time is appropriate, will ask to do because they have come to understand the value of it. Without that kind of ownership, learning to read can become a struggle or even resented. ***DISCLAIMER*** We set up a highly verbal environment from the beginning and took advantage of all sorts of things to teach early reading skills. One child was reading early and the other it just didn't "click" for. Didn't want my approach of "child-led" to imply that you shouldn't teach anything until requested.
Melinda, check out www.readingatoz.com. I use their program with my Jeannie and they are so thorough yet so easy. You do need a membership and I think it's so worth it. A homeschooler membership for one year is 49.99 and it gives you full and complete access to all they have. It's incredible- leveled readers, poetry, phonics, alphabet, and they all have complete, easy to read lesson plans.
Who was it that suggested Study Dog? I signed Phillip up for that. There's some things about it I like, and things I don't. But overall, it was good for him. Does anyone know the web site? I don't right off hand, but I'll look for it later.
Thank you all for your input I looked over the sites and we purchased the 100 EZ Lessons and also a bunch of beginner books she is moving right a lot and doing wonderful its amazing how fast she is learning Thank you all again!!
I just got a slightly used copy of "Teach Your Child To Read In 100 Easy Lessons." I'm going to supplement it with the letter books at DLTK and also some handwriting practice sheets that we haven't used but need to LOL I'm all for creating my own curriculum but the "hurdle" that I ran into is that I had NO clue how to teach my dd how to read. I've let her play on starfall.com and with study dog but she's just NOT into computers that much and I don't want to force her to sit still and do stuff. I think that this way we'll be able to interact while learning - if that makes sense.
