How my other children learnt to read...

I wrote a post not so long ago called: When should a child learn to read?  One of my readers asked me to write about how I taught my middle two to read and this is what this post is all about.

 

I never push reading.  I have never needed too.  All I do is read a lot to them and read as much as I can, provide them with a room full of books and take them to the library.  I also read a lot  myself, not to them, my very own reading time, this way they watch me read.  Children imitate everything we do after all; if mummy likes reading then it must be good. 

 

 

Naomi wasn't really that interested in books.  I read all the time to Chiara and invited Naomi to sit with us.  Chiara also often read to me but Naomi just loved making up imaginary stories with her toys.  In fact, it was Naomi who taught Chiara to use her imagination and be inventive, before that Chiara would tidy her dolls house; it was more about putting everything in order until she began playing with Naomi.  I never forced the issue, I let Naomi be who she wanted to be.  

Sure enough she did want me to read to her in the end.  Then, when she was 3, she turned to me said, Mummy can you teach me to read?  I remember the first thing I said was: are you sure? You're only 3!  I was shocked, she never showed any sign of being interested in learning to read and then she was there asking me to teach her at the age of 3.  To be honest I wasn't exactly sure of where to start as Chiara had just read to me, so we went out and bought some beginners books. 

 

Chiara had read the Oxford Reading Tree books, after her burst of Dr Seuss, and Naomi wanted to do the same so we bought some stage one books and I read them to her and showed her the words.  At times she seemed uncomfortable but my Naomi is a determined soul and she fought her way through it and wouldn't let me give up showing her. 

 

I didn't realise at the time why she struggled so much, I assumed it was because she was wanting to learn at such a young age.  She learnt quickly though and it wasn't until nearly 2 years later that I started noticing her skipping words  or miss lines.  I also noticed that she had more difficulty with spelling words.  I looked in to dyslexia and considered visual stress, as I have visual stress syndrome myself. 

 

Something I found that helped when it came to spelling words was to make the different sounds of a word different colours.  She found this much less upsetting and so did I. 

 

For example the word cat we would write - Cat

 

This not only helped her spelling but her reading too.  But still she would struggle to find the next line as she was reading her short stories.  I tried a green overlay and what a difference.  She couldn't keep her head out of her books and her reading was and is much more fluid.  There are still times when she struggles more than others but she reads and she enjoys it.  I see that as a success story. 

 

 

I also ask myself as a home educator, would that have been noticed as quickly if she had been in school?  To be honest I don't think so.  The eye specialist at the hospital who deals with visual stress said that she was pleased to hear that I home educate because it is much harder for a teacher of a large class to diagnose these things and the white screens they use and the lighting in a school can be so much harder on a child's eyes than learning at home.  Interesting isn't it.

 

Honi was a different story. 

 

Honi loved books from when she was very small.  She often ordered (yes I really do mean ordered) her sisters to sit with her and read to her, book after book after book.  Fortunately Chiara loved this and Naomi found confidence in reading out loud to her little sister who didn't know whether she was getting it right or wrong.  Of course I read to her too, reading and watching films are about the only two things that kept little Honi content for long periods of time as a toddler.

 

Honi asked me to teach her to read when she was 3 too you know.  I laughed, not in a mocking way but in a I can't believe it not again way.  Wow was my actual response but she didn't care for the laughter or the wow she sat by my side with a book she had chosen to read and said: Now!

 

She tried as well.  Although the book of her choice was a tad hard to start with, so eventually, when she agreed, we tried a different one.  She loved it even though it was at first her copying every word after me it didn't matter.  I found that I was more confident as a teacher that I didn't get upset as when a child learns to read it is like a miracle unfolding, it will happen with lots of love and support and patience.  Them learning to reading is about letting them set the pace, I really believe that.

 

She had very little patience though and it was a matter of 2 minute slots so I looked at other ways and found.  Reading Eggs.  Reading Eggs taught Honi to read.  I really can't take much credit for it.  I would and still do get her to read the books at the end of the lessons to me which she loves it.  She also, most nights, reads a book to me at bedtime too.  She now, at the age of 5, reads stage 8 of Oxford Reading Tree easily and has almost finished all 12 stages of Reading Eggs soon to go up to Reading Eggspress.  I am so proud of her and I am so pleased I found a way round her very short attention.  Computers have their place and they have been an amazing tool when it comes to my Honi and her learning.

The other day she even wrote her own story, an extension to reading I believe and shows how much she enjoys reading and language.  I was so proud asI thought she would never write anything as she would so refuse everytime it was brought up.  When she did want to learn she would get so frustrated pens and pencils would fly but now she does it all off her own back!

Another success story for Home Education I think.  I mean, are there schools that provide children with a computer for the whole time and allow them to learn to read when they are ready, whether that be earlier than they expect or later?  No not possible because schools need systems and systems require people to fit in.   No square pegs allowed.

 

Sorry, forgive me, it's great for all of those who are naturally round pegs and love it, it's just I love home education more and more every day!  I love our life style and seeing my children thrive in their environment.

Thank you to Rachel who inspired me to write this post.  I really enjoyed it.