Homeschooling will look different in every home because, every family is unique.
I’m so thankful for our homeschool journey. When we began home-educating 15 years ago, like most I made the mistake of trying to recreate “school at home.” Having my then 5 year old sit at a desk and giving her worksheet after worksheet.
I spent way to much money on curriculum that had her fill in the blanks and had her trying to memorize phonics rules that made absolutely no sense to her. It all soon led to tears and a quick aversion to books, reading and anything learning. I knew that this was Not what I wanted my child’s life and learning to be like.
At the time I had not heard of:
Interest led learning, relaxed homeschooling, unschooling, relaxed learning, funschooling or any of these methods.
My goal for homeschooling was to create a Love of Learning in my children.
I quickly shelved the curriculum. I went to our local homeschool curriculum sale and the library. Guess what I didn’t buy that year at the curriculum sale. That’s right, more curriculum! I headed straight for the kids book section. I spent most of my time there. I looked for books that were funny, books that were engaging and interesting. I chose books at and above her reading level. I loaded up my cart with books and games.
For the next several months I didn’t require her to read and just simply read to her. I read to her during the day and I read to her especially at bedtime. I knew I had to make reading fun again for her. I wanted reading in her mind to go back to fun, snuggling at bedtime. She didn’t have to know she was learning and she didn’t have to know that she was learning to read.
After a few months I would be reading one of her favorite stories. I would pause on a word and she would read it. After a while I began pausing and she would read an entire sentence. If she struggled or seemed frustrated I would simply continue to read it myself. Then she began reading paragraphs.
Before long she was reading!!!!
I still remember her getting Little Bear off the book shelf and saying I want to read this book to you.
Now not only does she Love to Read but she also Loves learning.
You can help your reluctant reader whether you are homeschooling or not. Just relax and read to them and make reading to them enjoyable. You definitely do not have to have a curriculum to help your child become a reader. Create a love for it first and the learning will come!
Don’t let the fear of “what everyone else will think” lead you to pressure your child before he/she is ready.
All kids don’t learn at the same exact age!