Homeschool Wisdom (worth interrupting the blog break)
I was talking with my friend and mentor Sally about homeschooling this morning and what my days look like. I told her that I recently realized I have been overwhelming my six year old, and we aren’t even doing that much. When I explained that we just do some reading and math and tidbits here and there, but that Ella always seemed to be complaining about it, my friend said, “No! Little ones should not be sitting and learning, you should be reading to them and creating beauty and letting them explore. Make their souls alive! If you make them sit and do work now and they are miserable, they will hate it later. Make your home inviting, give them rewards at the end of the week for reading time each day (you reading to them), cuddle, make it fun. No book work.”
How is it possible that Sally is my mentor and friend, I have read her books, and I still didn’t get it?! I’ll tell you the biggest reason, I was reading other homeschooling posts and comparing my kids to their kids. I read about four year olds being able to read, and two hours of school a day, etc, and I think, “I’m supposed to be doing that, I’m behind, and I’m failing my kids.”
Fortunately, I not only have an experienced mentor, I also have a good friend who homeschools and she has given me some wonderful practical advice. For example, she explained that with Ella complaining everytime we went to do school work, I needed to figure out if it was an attitude problem or if she was just overwhelmed. Here’s what I did (based on her suggestion):
I set a timer for 20 minutes and gave her something focused to do that she enjoyed-mazes, drawing, whatever. When 20 minutes was up, we were done. We did this for one week with no other work, and there was no complaining!
This coming week my friend encouraged me to set the timer for 10 minutes of fun work, and 10 minutes of school work and see how Ella reacts, so that’s the plan. Her school work should not be frustrating or hard at this age or it will just discourage her. There will be a time when she’s ready for more, and I’ll know when that is.
Here is some of Sally’s practical advice:
“I started teaching my children to read when they seemed interested and ready and it differed a little with each one, but I didn’t require them to do any work alone reading and struggling with words until they were seven. I read their work right by their sides and mostly read out loud and didn’t require them to even begin text books or curriculum until they were seven and they had some time to practice their reading skills well. I cooperated with their little hearts and personalities, but I was engaged in their little lives pretty much all day long.”
More advice:
Set a timer for 15 minutes to read to your children everyday. Let them know that if we do our reading everyday, at the end of the week they get a reward (a dollar store toy or something). The goal is to build to 30 minutes to an hour and a half of reading a day by the elementary years. For her children that could read, she made them each reading baskets with new and exciting books or picture books for quiet times, and if they they read each day, they would get a star and a certain amount of stars could then could earn them something they’ve wanted.
Also, if you’re kids are miserable learning to read, they’re not ready. One veteran homeschool mama didn’t teach her son to read until he was eight, and now he is a double major in college and bright young man. Sally says that reading to her children everyday at a young age is what made her now grown children brilliant. :)
I’m taking Sally and my friends advice! My focus is going to be on creating beauty in my home, making it inviting, and setting up exploratory areas for the babes.
One more thing I want to mention. I now view T.V./movies and video/computer games as something like a Pandora’s box-once opened, it is very difficult to put back. If you have not yet begun letting your babes watch animated T.V. or play video/computer games, consider keeping that box closed. I wish I would have done that; letting my children watch too much cartoonish twaddle (as Sally calls it) dulled their desire for reading. The good news is that my babes are still young enough that I think I can stuff some back in. If I could go back, I would only let them watch real movies or educational ones, like Pollyanna, Anne of Green Gables, Lassie (original), Curious George, etc., and those for special times.
For more encouragement, read Sally’s blog, I Take Joy. She’s beautiful and encouraging and is a gift to us young mamas.
See you in a month (unless I interrupt again)!
Thanks for sharing :)
Thanks for cheating on your blog break. I needed this today. :)
here here!
love this!
Great wisdom. Thanks for sharing:)
I am where you are. I am starting to keep a log of the amount of time I spend reading to the babes. (Anabelle is also six but very eager to "do-school") This holds me accountable for the amount of reading versus "school-work" we do. I also just got a great e-book that I am plucking wisdom from and will hopefully implement some of her ideas. (the link is below) I think it's a challenge, only to ourselves, when we think our children need to be at a certain place. I am really trying to let go of that. And I totally agree with the media thing! Especially when it comes to Biblical matters. I know I may get some slack from this but the sillyness, cartoony versions of the Bible are not allowed in our house. I don't want my children thinking the Bible or the Lord for that matter are silly. I also thinks it insult a child intelligence to "dumb-down" the Word. (just say'in)
http://ladyofvirtue.blogspot.com/2011/04/homescho…
THANK YOU for sharing this! I needed to hear it today. I have a 5 year old that very frustrated with book work. To the point that I have taken a step back to watch her and see what she needs from our days. I don’t want her to develop a dislike for learning. I needed this post…thanks for the interruption!
Needed this : )
Thank you so much! I needed this today. I've been teaching my 5 year old to read and although she is progressing nicely, she dreads her reading lesson everyday. She does not enjoy homeschooling time. This is great advice ( :
awesome!
Yes, yes, YES! And did I say, "YES!" Love this. That's why I love my friend Sally. Bless you, sweet SarahMae! You can do it!
Thank you for sharing. I have a 6 year old, too. And I wholly agree about keeping screen time out as long as you possibly can. I couldn't have said it better — once you open that box, it's very difficult to close it again.
Sally once wrote on our children's appetites (I think it was in Educating the WholeHearted Child). What we "feed" our children is what they will crave. We need to make sure the appetites we are creating for them are healthy.
My son who's also six, really enjoys math, so most days he doesn't mind doing math from a workbook. My 3 and 4-year olds insist on doing workbooks with the older kids. I have some I bought from Sam's Club and some from Rod and Staff Publishers. I do not require them to do them, but if they pull them out, I encourage them in it, praise them, and help them where needed.
Reading aloud is another trouble. I hear lots of moaning and groaning when it's time to read aloud and I'll tell you why: it's because of the TV. Because they have been exposed to watching TV so often, and the TV is so instant and less mind work, they prefer it to listening to (and working their imagination) to a story unfolding without pictures. YES a hundred times over to limiting (or eliminating) screen time!
:)
YES…! Your friend, Sally, is wise and a blessing to encourage young mamas in this way, as are you as the Lord uses the knowledge that you have gained to share with many other mamas on this journey. May He continue to work in the hearts and lives of each of us as we pursue His righteousness in every facet of our lives. May I also encourage to read "Better Late Than Early," if you have not been introduced to it to this point. The Moores were pioneers in the homeschooling movement and worked with 300 researchers to gain insight and knowledge and wisdom into the hearts and lives of children, as it pertains to their growth and readiness for academics. It revolutionized the way that I thought about schooling and it echoes all that Sally has encouraged you with. Lord bless you today, Sarah Mae!!
Thank you! It's so hard to know what to do with so many differing opinions and ideas out there! This was encouraging to me… I have 5 and 8 year olds… my five year old is quite smart and reads very well… it's way too easy for me to push her into academic things that her maturity level isn't quite ready for yet. This was a good reminder to me to lighten up, and be more fun.
This was sooo good to read today! I have a 5 year old and we have felt the Lord lead us to "unschool" him this year. Basically, we read a lot of books together and he plays a lot. We learn about things he is interested in, but we aren't doing any formal school work right now. I see him learning things all the time, but sometimes I still waver a little and question if we are on the right path with him at this age (you get so many mixed messages). Your blog was confirmation just when I needed it. I love reading Sally's blog and consider her a mentor to me, even though I've never met her. Thanks for this post!
Oh I love this post! It is something I try to communicate to readers but fail at. It is even harder for me now because I now have one of those young kiddos who is EAGER to read, write, and sit-even before I am ready for it with her! I struggle even sharing what she is doing, for fear of making other mommas feel that their children should be the same. I pray I can communicate what Sally has done so well communicating to you and the rest of us so blessed to know her.
Thankfully I have a "Krash" who is not as eager to learn and I have had to pave the way uniquely for him. We {my husband and I} comment almost daily how thankful we are that God led us to homeschool him, his spirit would most likely be squashed by now in typical public school. Keeping his spirit for learning alive is tricky to say the least! ;-)
All children are different, all mommas are different, all homes are different, and we are all at different seasons of life. I pray that I can communicate this clearly through my blog, and that people like Sally will continue to guide me behind the scenes as I move forward in my own growth.
My parents home schooled my 4 siblings and I like this. Interest driven learning they call it. I think it is very wise. Not all children learn at the same speed. My parent's goal was to make us life long learners so they wanted us to enjoy the process of learning.
Thank you for your word of encouragement! My children LOVE to read! We do not have TV at all. We do have DVD's that we allow them to watch on Saturday mornings. We do not have video games. We have a BIG BOOK shelf with LOTS of books! We also have creative-play toys. One of the biggest blessings of Homeschooling is being able to teach my little ones to read and cultivate a love of learning. My 3 readers are in 4th, 2nd, and 1st grade. They read to my 4 little ones (7months, 2, 3, and 5) who cannot wait to read like their brothers and sisters! Molding a love of learning in our children is a work of LOVE.
Love it, thank you! I homeschool my 5 year old and 7 year old, and it hard not to compare. I need to constantly remind myself that it is about so much more than completing a checklist each day. Thanks for the reminder!
Yayyy! Love this!!
what a beautiful post, my mother in law homeschooled all her 12 children (still is to her 6 still living at home) Her piece of wisdom to me was "Each child is unique and will learn in his/hers unique way, your job is to find out what's unique about them and invest in it!" :-)
She tells me stories of some of her children reading at 4 when others just started reading at 9!!!!! but in the ends when they are 13 no one could tell who started reading at 4 or 9… each of her child at readiness for learning particular skills at their own timing, she just learn to follow their cues of how ready they were, and had (as far as I know) a very enjoyable experience :-)
yes, yes, YES!!!! "Better Late than Early" by the Moores convinced me of this same thing. Thank God for Sally, too.
Well said! I have a five-year-old who has always loved to read (even with a TV in our house) and we have found that Sonlight homeschool curriculum caters well to readers or to those you want to develop a love for reading in. My son's kindergarten work consists of basically no bookwork…mainly just reading. Sonlight chooses exciting, interesting and colorful books that keep kids interest. Most of the books you can find at the library, too, so it doesn't have to be a huge investment. It's a great way to instill in kids a love for reading and learning!
Absolutely what I needed to hear! I was reading a blog post of a friend who just bought curriculum for her preschooler and immediately I felt as if I was behind and not doing enough. When I stop to think I realize that my sons are learning and they are having fun!! I don't want to stifle their learning now by forcing them to do what someone else is doing. Thanks for sharing the wisdom! :-)
I needed this post today. I'm looking ahead at fall curriculum and at the "2nd semester" here in the new year and feeling like so much of what we do doesn't count. But it DOES. I love this post and encouragement and will probably visit it again in the future.
I agree whole heartedly with this post! Home education is an education for us Mama's as well – we need to be teachable and eager to be the 'experts' on our own children – taking our cues from them and not comparing our children to the children of other homeschooling friends! We have the joyful flexibility of meeting our children's needs and turning them on to learning without stuffing them into an educational 'model' or pushing them where they are not ready to go. My children are 11 and 14 and I still read to them each school day – my husband reads to them in the evening and on weekends! They always beg for another chapter! And another …
We made the choice from day one not to have T.V. and I have never regretted it. It was funny over Christmas because we were at my parents who have umpteen channels – they were overjoyed when we let them have at it (within our Philippians 4:8 guidelines)! First they found that there were only a couple of shows that really fit the guidelines and secondly – playing outside in the snow or a board game with Grammy was just a whole lot more fun! After 20 minutes of T.V. they were disgusted and a bit insulted! "This is for kids Mommy? Don't they know kids can laugh at more than just potty humor?"
We love love love classic audio books, Bible stories on tape (A Visit With Mrs. G), Focus on The Family Radio Theatre, Lamplighter and so many more great audio resources! They force the children to engage their own minds eye to 'see' the characters. I'll often have them draw their impression of a character from an audio book and I am always amazed at how diverse their renderings are! Your children's appetite for TV will change as you 'feed' them intentional entertainment! Don;t be discouraged – this is simple a 'mid-course correction' – likely the first of many!
I'm right there with you! Our 5 1/2 year old is fully capable of doing the 2nd grade work his big sister is … but he's too young to spend that much time sitting. Many years ago, before I ever dreamed of being a mom, a homeschooling mom of 7 told me to spend their formative years (through age 8, she claimed!) just teaching them to love learning and love being with you and obeying you. That really stuck with me. I did that with my first one and can see the beauty of that time and effort. I got a little off track with #2, but God has gently been nudging me back. The worst investment we've ever made was in Leapsters and a television set. We have since cancelled cable and only allow movies for special occasions (like Saturday night family movie night … which is getting edged out by games a little at a time). I am starting to read aloud more and more to them. That was hard at first, too, but a another momma shared with me that I should let my kiddos color or play with tanagrams while I read and that would make it more enjoyable. Much to my surprise, it worked — and they can tell me MORE of what I read about than when they were just sitting and listening. You are truly blessed to have Sally to talk with; her books alone have impacted our home. Thanks for sharing this with all of us.
Thanks sweet girl :)
Thank you for coming back from your break to write this post. I needed this.
I am in a very similar situation as you with a 6-year and two others, 4 and 2. And I have been butting heads with him for quite some time as of late. He does not like reading (and groans when I ask him to do it) as much as math and other things and that makes me sad….but maybe I just need to slow down with him and do more of the reading. We may just "take-off" January and go back to the basics….me reading a lot, playing games, looking for all those "teachable moments" throughout our day, bible studies, scripture memory, and character development. All of these are keys to successful homeschooling and we have (I) have lost sight of this in the midst of lesson plans, book work, and the terrible enemy of comparing myself to other moms. I have wanted to give up as of late, but I think I just need to relax a bit with my expectations of my son, enjoy my boys since they are gifts from the Lord, have fun with them, and let all the academic stuff fall into place when and how it should….rather than me pushing it. I want followers of Christ first and foremost, not rocket-sciencetists.
And I need to turn off the TV! I have been more relaxed about it lately and I definitely see how it can draw their little hearts away from the stuff that really matters.
I needed this!
We have a 3 year old who has been reading…and he watches TV on and off during the day…but this makes so much sense if I want him to remain interested in reading! Switching gears this coming week! I have been pushing too hard to find cirriculum to make for him to get myself in a disciplined habit of homeschooling him…but this is only trying to duplicate the school system which we aren't trying to duplicate! The discipline will come in my effort to simple love spending time with my son, reading to him, doing arts and crafts, playing games and doing puzzles, and playing together! *sigh* He is our only one thus far…and will be for a couple of more years yet…and I have been far too hard on myself! Mercy!
Thank you for sharing this, Sarah! Thank you so much!
Yes, this is where school fails children – the focus on textbooks and tests makes children hate learning… there are so many ways children can learn without rote memorization and grueling reading assignments. Sally's advice is spot-on.
Regarding video games and cartoons…. I partially agree and disagree. On their own, cartoons and video games can be superb time wasters, but there are plenty of educational video games that teach children without them even realizing it! And some cartoons have supplements (like novels for beginning readers etc) available to accompany them that create an educational experience. Not to mention these things can inspire a child's imagination, so they can produce their own artwork or stories :)
Anyway, thank you for the post! Letting them explore is perfect….exploration is how children learn when they are first beginning to crawl and walk after all!
Excellent post. We all, as homeschooling mothers, really need to relax and quit trying to measure up to everyone else. Each child learns differently and at different paces.
As for the TV thing …. well that's probably overall true. But not absolutely. I actually let our oldest daughter was a LOT of "twaddle cartoons" when she was younger. Like several hours a day worth. I was fighting hypothyroidism at the time, which made me VERY tired ALL the time. Nothing I could do about it.
Anyway, she has a HUGE appetite for reading despite all those cartoons. She's 8 and has read The Yearling and will be diving into Johnny Tremain after she's done with the 500+ page {each!} Inkheart trilogy.
That said, though, we have cut down tremendously on cartoons here too. We stick with good stuff like Veggie Tales or Gigi, God's Little Princess …. or a few preschool educational things like Mickey Mouse Clubhouse or Backyardigans. Mostly we watch good older movies/tv shows though. :-)
Definitely worth the blog break! Thanks, Sarah Mae.
That was great advice Sally gave you!! I too compare myself and life to other people's and it never works.
Thank you for posting! I really needed this inspiration. I have been trying to force my 4,5, and 7 year old daughters to do way too much. Sadly, my 9 year old son learned to hate school from me the past 2 years. Wish I had Sally's wisdom back then but thankful to hear these words now so I can do it better with my girls! Shockingly enough, when I put down the book work last week and went for a walk at the local duck pond and went exploring in the woods, they said it was a great school day! We put way too much pressure on ourselves because we're constantly comparing ourselves to what other's are doing. I have friends with kids in public school and they are very concerned about what and when their kids are learning things. It really doesn't matter what age and grade, eventually they will learn it! Thanks again for sharing Sally's tidbits of wisdom with the rest of us! God Bless!
I wholeheartedly agree as well BUT I need to figure out WHEN the later is. My 9 year old complains constantly about schoolwork. It's awful ans I think it's mostly his personality (he tends to complain about most things) but it makes schoolwork suck a conflict. Doesn't there come a time when kids HAVE to do book work (math, spelling/grammar, composition)?? WHEN is that time? I'm hoping someone on here has some insight for slightly older kids. I hate that most of my days with my son revolve around m correcting his attitude about schoolwork. It breaks my heart. I don't know what to do.
Any advice is welcome!!
oops I meant to subscribe to the comments :)
From Sally Clarkson (her son’s profile is showing up, but it’s her):
HI, Melinda,
Boys can be boys and are sometimes resistant to seat work, but at 9 he should be able to sit still and do some work without complaint. That can even be one of your educational goals. (We used the 24 Family Ways to teach this principle “We choose to be content even when we feel like complaining.”)
Fun to see all the great comments here. There is so much that is not said when one says just a little. We wrote the book Educating the Whole Hearted Child, (380 pages), to answer and more fully give the way we cultivated a love for learning in your home.
First, children need to have your full attention most of the day when you decide to homeschool. You are engaging their hearts and training them and talking to them and interacting with them and teaching chores and just enjoying life together all day. As a mom who was intentional, I had in mind my philosophy that I wanted by children to have full souls, questioning minds, and the opportunity to discover all sorts of ideas and stories.
I always started out with devotions most every day–with reading the word out of a variety of different books. Then we prayed. And next was always reading outloud together every day—30-minutes.
Yes, I was quite disciplined in helping my children to acquire skills in writing, reading, answering math questions. All my children developed interests at different times and could read at different times. When they showed interest in a something, When Sarah Mae and I were talking yesterday, I told her that to leave a 6 year old sitting and struggling through lots of seat work when 6 year olds need someone to be with them, interacting, and doing hands on.
And as I always say, read outloud, read, read, read! It is the one single most important element, with discussion, to build pathways in your children’s brains and builds vocabulary and raw intellect. And you can do it with all of your children at the same time.
As to a 9 year old, by then, usually he should be able to sit still and do some concentrated seat work and I would nip the attitude in the bud. I was not big on curriculum so my kids did a little grammar and some spelling, (simply grammar) and one math grade a year, and most of the rest of our studies were using literature. My question is, are you using methods that engage the heart and imagination of a boy? Are you sitting with him while he is doing his work and available or is he left to do most of it on his own. All children must learn to do work and cultivate self-control, but many sweet moms leave their children alone with text books or work books and expect them to do lots of seat work without being present or interacting.
As to writing, I used real thoughts, quotes, Bible verses, or fun assignments and letters or writing their own stories about their day or favorite person, etc. for composition.
We tried to cover lots of this in the book. Young children need their moms to be present for their educational hours, in general. But each home and each child will be different.
@Sally do you have a list of books per age or grade that you recommend?? I am just one of those tell what to do and I will do it kinda mamas. When people say just pick and choose I get nervous. Does your book tell me what my grad 2 son should read with me??
Thanks
There is a lot of wisdom in this. I think it is important to remember that we are also dealing with individuals with certain personalities, leanings, interests and giftings that are God instilled. I homeschooled two children from K-12. They are both in college now and doing well. As young children they watched very little TV and played no video games until they were older. What they watched in the way of videos was limited. I had a lot of books in the home. As young adults, I have one avid reader and one who is not. It is just who they are. I did everything I could to try to make them both avid readers, but now I see that it was not all up to me. God made them the way they are. My oldest loves to read, my youngest isn't as interested. And it's okay. They are individuals. they each have their strengths and weaknesses. We cannot make them something they aren't. So, I continue to pray for wisdom to see and encourage them the way God has made them.
And honestly, I have also discovered that if they aren't avid readers…it's not the end of the world! ( :
There is a lot of wisdom in this. I think it is important to remember that we are also dealing with individuals with certain personalities, leanings, interests and giftings that are God instilled. I homeschooled two children from K-12. They are both in college now and doing well. As young children they watched very little TV and played no video games until they were older. What they watched in the way of videos was limited. I had a lot of books in the home. As young adults, I have one avid reader and one who is not. It is just who they are. I did everything I could to try to make them both avid readers, but now I see that it was not all up to me. God made them the way they are. My oldest loves to read, my youngest isn't as interested. And it's okay. They are individuals. they each have their strengths and weaknesses. We cannot make them something they aren't. So, I continue to pray for wisdom to see and encourage them the way God has made them.
yes, this is something I have been struggling with learning this fall as well. I read Simple Parenting and got a bit of a wake up call. Kids just need time to play. I think it is hard with homeschooling because I am worried that people will already judge me for doing it and I feel like I have to prove that I am doing a good job.
My babies are 4 and 8 and we do follow a schedule, but it has been getting more and more relaxed this year (really over the past few years) as I learn more and more that kids need a relaxed environment, and that they will learn stuff almost without any effort when they are ready. I posted about kids 'soul fever' just over a month ago http://lovingsimpleliving.com/2011/11/noticing-an…
and just today I posted about how we got rid of our TV for good! Sure it calms them down, but it turns them into little zombies. Thanks so much for this post!
This is so true!! I'm no longer homeschooling, as my youngest of 6 is now 20 and in college…..this is how I began nearly 30 years ago….read to them, read, read, read, and then very limited seatwork. Lot's of physical activity, lots of love. I feel so sorry for the moms who put themselves and their kiddos on this crazy treadmill of a schedule full of unrealistic expectations of what they "should" be accomplishing. Moms, quit comparing yourselves to others, focus on what God wants for YOUR family, and how HE shows you to do it! Most moms I see today are beginning formal shcool work way too soon and are burning out themselves and their little ones.
Love this post, Sarah Mae!! :) Our days with our younger ones are much more focused on reading and the hands-on fun together. And as for the tv…we went through a period where we just literally pulled the plug and none was allowed for about a month. It's amazing how quickly they adapted and found other things to do. :) They were none-to-happy about it at first, but after a few days it was SO much more peaceful for everyone.
I couldn't agree more!
Although I have felt a strong pull to read and let seat work wait, I too have felt myself compare at times. My kids always suffer when I do.
I'm so thankful to Sally for sharing her wisdom in her book. It really is a wonderful guide.
Oh, I love this…and need encouragement like this :). I, too, have read Sally's books and still find myself second guessing myself. Thank you for sharing!!!
Wonderful wisdom, your mentor shared with you. I am a former homeschool momma (w/ two graduates K-12) and once you learn not to be a slave to textbooks and workbooks, your school day will change. I'd love to recommend to you Karen Andreola's book, "A Charlotte Mason Companion" (link- http://www.amazon.com/Charlotte-Mason-Companion-P… )
This book changed our world for the better. It gives such a good foundation to what Charlotte Mason called- "the gentle art of learning". I think many homeschool momma's are missing out by not looking back, at some of the best resources ever given that can help them with their homeschool needs. You may have already read this book, but just in case you haven't I thought you'd like to know.
This question often comes up on our local homeschool forum. You have done the best job of explaining both the cause and the "cure" for this type of parent/child struggle. Thanks! I'm linking this to my blog and the forum (with your permission, of course).
Diane Allen http://www.dallenhomeschoolreviews.com
Oh Sarah Mae, how I've missed you! I've been a horrible blog follower lately and came across one of your comments on a 2 year old post of mine about homeschooling. I decided NOT to do it at the time, just after you decided TO do it. Three months ago, I pulled my 7 year old out of school and we've become a HSing family.
I have no doubt that God directed me to this post tonight! My 7 year old is doing beautifully with our workbooks and my schedule, but my 5 year old is easily bored and asks to stop. Yet I push her! Why…??? NO. MORE. She will guide our learning time so we can develop her love and hunger for learning.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for this post. Seriously, I have missed reading about your life! If only I had more time to stay caught up on my 1000+ posts on Google Reader. UGH!
Hugs,
Intentionally Katie
Thank you so much for sharing this. I have three adult children and one teenager so a lot of what you said doesn't apply but they all did well in school and we read a lot to them until they didn't want it anymore. What wonderful advice.
I'm not sure what led me to your post tonight, but I needed your wise words so much tonight!
I do not homeschool my 6 year old, and I'm not sure if I'm the kind of mom who you aimed this toward, but your words were healing for me.
My daughter is having difficulty in reading at school and it absolutely breaks my heart. I do not know how to help her, we've done all of the things you're "supposed" to do to encourage reading.. We've always read to her and she "knows" a lot of words, but when it comes to putting it into practice and actually reading through a book, it is very difficult for her.
Your words have helped remove a big weight off of my shoulders about how to address this, reminding me that she isn't off track and that all of the pressure is likely to have the opposite effect that I'm trying to achieve Thank you, thank you!