Question:My 7 year old loves to read, but now that I am teaching my 5 year old to read I can see how the 7 year old struggles with reading. I taught him to read using phonics but I notice him guessing at words a lot and so I say, “say each sound”. He enjoys reading and I don’t want to change that. Do I just keep keeping on or what would you suggest? [Read more…]
Question:My child does not like to read, but she will read Harry Potter, Charlie Bone, Twilight and others on a theme of wizardry and black magic. How do you feel about that? Should I just be happy that she is reading?
I feel concerned that encouraging children to read any book which has a theme of the occult, death, or black magic may promote a fascination with the “dark side” and develop an appetite for something less than praiseworthy. There is so much excellent literature of an uplifting, inspiring nature to read that there is scarcely time enough in one childhood to enjoy it all! Has your child read Summer of the Monkeys, Call it Courage, Mr. Popper’s Penquins, The 21 Balloons? . . . there are so very many that come to mind! I think that for some children who aren’t interested in reading but get “hooked” on a series that delves into the occult—reading simply isn’t worth the price of nurturing such a taste.
Question:Homeschooling takes a lot of time and energy output. Is child-raising supposed to take this much effort? I am too tired!
I so understand! Tiredness seems to be every mother’s companion. I think it is very natural to feel exhausted and want to rest.
Louisa and her cat
Okay, Moms. This is the crucial point. You can have the best supplies in the world, but if you can’t get the kids to open a book, it isn’t going to do much good. So the challenge is getting your kids interested so they are begging for more. And finishing their schoolwork eagerly each day!
Forgive me, Lord, for all the tasks
That went undone today.
But this morning when my child
Toddled in and said, “Mommy play?”
I simply had to say “yes”.
And between the puzzles, and trucks and
Blocks and dolls and old hats and books
And giggles,
We shared a thousand special thoughts,
A hundred hopes and dreams and hugs.
And tonight, when prayer time came
And he folded his hands and softly whispered
“Thank you, God, for Mommy and Daddy
And for Mommy playing,”
I knew it was a day well wasted.
And I knew you’d understand.
Time to learn how to get along in the big world!
Homeschool was going great until my son turned twelve. Now I am struggling to keep him interested. Why?
Because your son has reached what I call the “Eleven Year Itch.” It sneaks up on mothers, with their first child. Homeschool seems to be going along in a fairly regular, happy pattern when your oldest child becomes increasingly “ant-sy” and restless and sometimes downright unhappy. It took me a long while to figure it out with my first child in homeschool. Now I watch and expect it to arrive for every child anywhere between ten and thirteen years. It’s sad, it dampens the fun, but the final destination for our children is to grow up and be independent…so they are really just right on schedule!
Question:I just started and am so delighted with homeschooling! My oldest is 11 and we are having a great time, and he is running a little business from home and learning so much and loving homeschooling. I have mapped out a plan to homeschool my children right through high school. Is that wise? [Read more…]
Question:I could use some insights on how to get my kids to turn out better quality book reports and just writing in general. My oldest is in 6th grade and the next child is in 3rd grade, and here we’ve done grammar and writing year after year and yet so many times in journal writing or book reports I don’t see what they’re learning taking hold in everyday usage. I use Rod and Staff English books and I also switched to Winston Grammar for my 6th grader this past year, but like I said, when it comes to everyday usage they’re not getting it. Help! [Read more…]
Kind at Home I’d like for folks to say of me, No matter where I roam, “That child is nice and gentle—but She’s sweeter far at home.
