In earlier American rural life, communities raised barns because many hands were required. These events occured in a social framework with a good deal of interdependence. Members of rural communities often shared family bonds going back generations. They traded with each other, worshipped with each other and celebrated with each other. Barn raisings were an integral part of life and socializing.

In our modern American life, communities don't mean nearly as much as they did back then. It is our family's goal to bring a sense of community back to our lives and those lives that touch ours.

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Reading

Our daughter is teaching herself to read. For more than a year now, I have attempted and failed to accomplish this task. Sitting down with our phonics kit-FAIL. Sight words-FAIL. Easy readers for us to read together-FAIL. Until she decided that she wanted to read, nothing we tried worked. She would get frustrated and weepy at the mere mention of an organized lesson. No matter how gently we suggested (and really, the gentle approach is the only one that works with children) that we should focus on reading, she would dig her heels in and refuse to budge. But last night for our bedtime reading, SHE read to us. She has been reading aloud all day. She started writing a few months ago by asking us how to spell things. We had her sound out the word and write it as she went along. Now, she is sounding out words left and right. It makes me proud to be a homeschooler, or rather an unschooler, when I see my children moving along at their own pace. Just as all of my children have walked, talked and been potty-trained on their own schedule, so too do they get to learn the skills of life when they are ready.

5 comments:

  1. Maycee you are a beautiful budding reader! looking forward to hearing you read to us!

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  2. Sounds like the way Waldorf teaches reading (though at a later age.) They write words well before they read words. Glad she found what worked for her :)

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  3. Learning at it's best! A beautiful progression of life and the curiosity of a child. Go, Maycee!

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  4. Congratulations Maycee!!! We're so proud of you. Keep up the good work. A, lets skype soon so she and B can read to each other!

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  5. So proud of you, Maycee! Can't wait to have you read to us!

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