Homeschool Chat Part III

[jdcthree]

I would love some advice! My dd is 6. She is about to finish kindergarten. Her teacher says dd is reading at a level 3/4 and should be reading at a level 5 before 1st grade. I love her teacher but I'm a little stunned that we are at the end of the year and now peddling fast to catch up. I recognize that dd is struggling to read but I don't know how to help her other than practicing at home.

Do you have any advice for me? Any programs I could use this summer to help advance her reading skills? I have been working with her at home but we're not making much progress. I have no idea how to teach a child how to read.

Thanks!

Reading Works is a wonderful program. I'm not sure how long you want to teach her at home, but if you are willing to put in the work even after the summer, this is great!

http://theworkspeople.com/index.shtml

 

[Lisa71]

Most schools have reading specialists so I would ask for her to be evaluated before you need outside help. Be sure they test for problems too as many kids struggle at first and then catch up.

 

[Nanu57v]

I would love some advice! My dd is 6. She is about to finish kindergarten. Her teacher says dd is reading at a level 3/4 and should be reading at a level 5 before 1st grade. I love her teacher but I'm a little stunned that we are at the end of the year and now peddling fast to catch up. I recognize that dd is struggling to read but I don't know how to help her other than practicing at home.

Do you have any advice for me? Any programs I could use this summer to help advance her reading skills? I have been working with her at home but we're not making much progress. I have no idea how to teach a child how to read.

Thanks!

I'm not familiar with the levels her teacher is using. The best "first" books I've found are the Bob Books. You'll want to start with the "beginning readers" set 1, NOT the ones that say "Kindergarten." Proceed through sets 1,2,3,4,5. By the end of book 5, she will be a pretty good reader! I would also recommend reading to her...a lot! At least 5 books a day (like the Very Hungry Caterpillar type books, or Olivia the Pig). She may ask questions about what you are reading, but also learn that stories are fun!

Oh, its important NOT to read her the Bob books, or she may just memorize them. Those books are for her to read. You have other books that you can read to her!

 

[100AcreWood]

I'm not familiar with the levels her teacher is using. The best "first" books I've found are the Bob Books. You'll want to start with the "beginning readers" set 1, NOT the ones that say "Kindergarten." Proceed through sets 1,2,3,4,5. By the end of book 5, she will be a pretty good reader! I would also recommend reading to her...a lot! At least 5 books a day (like the Very Hungry Caterpillar type books, or Olivia the Pig). She may ask questions about what you are reading, but also learn that stories are fun!

Oh, its important NOT to read her the Bob books, or she may just memorize them. Those books are for her to read. You have other books that you can read to her!

Thanks for responding! Looking at the Bob's books on Amazon, I would say she is reading at their level 4 and would have some difficulty with the level 5. Is that typical for an average kindergartener? We read to our kids a lot. I thought it was normal until my son's preschool did a contest to see who can read the most books. Of course we were reading the books to our kids but my son read 50 books and won the award for most books read. She said he read more than twice the other kids. I was so surprised!

 

[wasnotafan]

Ventured over here from the DISDads home just to rant for a moment with those who would understand. If you don't want to read a rant just skip and go on...

The Mrs. took DS to the doctors for his immunizations. Same practice he has used since birth but he hasn't had to go in about 4 years. They had a new MD in the practice who initially my wife liked until the doctor asked my son where he went to school. Apparently the atmosphere in the room changed drastically when DS said he was homeschooled. The doctor is concerned he isn't getting enough socialization. We are so tired of hearing that. We choose to homeschool for several reasons not the least of which is the school system here is so bad the state had to come in and take it over. Living in Appalachia has its benefits but it has its drawbacks as well. We don't have many other options. We tired a local private school and after two years of them teaching to the slowest kid in the class we decided homeschooling was our best option. I don't care how educated you are, if you don't know the whole story then you should refrain from judging the choices others make.

Rant over. Just needed to vent.

 

[jdcthree]

Ventured over here from the DISDads home just to rant for a moment with those who would understand. If you don't want to read a rant just skip and go on...

The Mrs. took DS to the doctors for his immunizations. Same practice he has used since birth but he hasn't had to go in about 4 years. They had a new MD in the practice who initially my wife liked until the doctor asked my son where he went to school. Apparently the atmosphere in the room changed drastically when DS said he was homeschooled. The doctor is concerned he isn't getting enough socialization. We are so tired of hearing that. We choose to homeschool for several reasons not the least of which is the school system here is so bad the state had to come in and take it over. Living in Appalachia has its benefits but it has its drawbacks as well. We don't have many other options. We tired a local private school and after two years of them teaching to the slowest kid in the class we decided homeschooling was our best option. I don't care how educated you are, if you don't know the whole story then you should refrain from judging the choices others make.

Rant over. Just needed to vent.

Vent away! The socialization argument is old and tired. When someone brings it up, it just shows they know little about homeschooling.

 

[bumbershoot]

I would love some advice! My dd is 6. She is about to finish kindergarten. Her teacher says dd is reading at a level 3/4 and should be reading at a level 5 before 1st grade. I love her teacher but I'm a little stunned that we are at the end of the year and now peddling fast to catch up. I recognize that dd is struggling to read but I don't know how to help her other than practicing at home.

Do you have any advice for me? Any programs I could use this summer to help advance her reading skills? I have been working with her at home but we're not making much progress. I have no idea how to teach a child how to read.

Thanks!

My suggestion is to remember that reading isn't something everyone does early. And I consider K to be early.

When I was in 1st, I was reading at a ridiculously high level, and I was the ONLY one. Everyone else was much slower and had a harder time with the 1st grade books. Now they seem to think that MY level is the norm, and it's ridiculous. All that reading well got me was glasses too early and books that were WAY too advanced for my maturity.

My son is 9 and is finally finally really reading. If he'd been in school, he might have been reading a little earlier, but he would HATE it, just like what happened to my husband. DH is 41 now and is just now becoming a "reader". He got through high school reading something like THREE books and just recycling his papers on them (ah, the things you could do before the internet), because he was so slow and he disliked it so much. I truly do not understand why schools are speeding things like reading up so much now.

Vent away! The socialization argument is old and tired.

I might have shared this here before, but I once had someone ask if I was worried about DS's socialization. Totally normal to be asked that. Except that she had just had a delightful, encompassing many topics of interest to both of them, 20 minute long conversation with him, just before finding out that we homeschool him. That I was right there for, so I know they were both engaged in it, and he hadn't just sat there. He had eye contact and smiles and appropriate remarks and questions and everything. I could do nothing but tilt my head like a confused puppy and tell her no, I wasn't concerned.

And this was during our condo building's every other week social party, that he BEGS me to go to so he can visit our neighbors. I'm the hermit (school-schooled all the way through!) who would prefer to hole up in the condo, emerging only to work out, and they know that. So it was bizarre.

 

[100AcreWood]

I talked to a friend who has homeschooled her 6 children on and off depending on the situation and she advised that I hold off worrying until the middle of 1st grade. I do feel bad for my dd because I know it is no fun to struggle in school.

She is also having a lot of problems with her handwriting. So I bought the handwriting without tears book this morning. Her teacher wasn't worried at first but now she mentions her handwriting often (I volunteer in the classroom once a week). Anyway, I thought if I can at least help her with her handwriting that will be one less thing she has to struggle with . On another note, I agree just in the 5 short years my oldest started kindergarten things have drastically changed. My dd has an average of 8 pages of math homework a week, plus reading every night and sight words. She also has quarterly activities to do that I have completely disregarded because she begs me for more play time. My oldest never had homework in kindergarten.

 

[jdcthree]

I talked to a friend who has homeschooled her 6 children on and off depending on the situation and she advised that I hold off worrying until the middle of 1st grade. I do feel bad for my dd because I know it is no fun to struggle in school.

She is also having a lot of problems with her handwriting. So I bought the handwriting without tears book this morning. Her teacher wasn't worried at first but now she mentions her handwriting often (I volunteer in the classroom once a week). Anyway, I thought if I can at least help her with her handwriting that will be one less thing she has to struggle with . On another note, I agree just in the 5 short years my oldest started kindergarten things have drastically changed. My dd has an average of 8 pages of math homework a week, plus reading every night and sight words. She also has quarterly activities to do that I have completely disregarded because she begs me for more play time. My oldest never had homework in kindergarten.

I'm not sure if you saw my prior answer to your post, but the program I mentioned teaches excellent handwriting. Good luck.

 

[jdcthree]

I might have shared this here before, but I once had someone ask if I was worried about DS's socialization. Totally normal to be asked that. Except that she had just had a delightful, encompassing many topics of interest to both of them, 20 minute long conversation with him, just before finding out that we homeschool him. That I was right there for, so I know they were both engaged in it, and he hadn't just sat there. He had eye contact and smiles and appropriate remarks and questions and everything. I could do nothing but tilt my head like a confused puppy and tell her no, I wasn't concerned.

And this was during our condo building's every other week social party, that he BEGS me to go to so he can visit our neighbors. I'm the hermit (school-schooled all the way through!) who would prefer to hole up in the condo, emerging only to work out, and they know that. So it was bizarre.

I don't think most people understand what socialization is. If they did, they would stop asking, lol.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

I second the recommendation for the Bob Books. My son has finished set 3 and he is 5. He is supposed to be in his second year of Pre-School (Birthday October 6) but I put him in Kindergarten early and he has tested into First grade already. He struggles a little with reading, but for him it's mainly because he wants to play play play! I had to create reading 'games' for him to get more out of reading, but the BOB books are so quick, that he feels AWESOME when he masters a new one!

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

As far as the other suggestion to read 5 books each day, this is an AWESOME thing to do. I have been doing this with my children for years. We follow a 5-A-Day program, where we pick out 5 books on Monday and read those same books every day for a week. This has helped each of my children as the see each word in the book. I also use a pointer when reading to my youngest, so that he can follow each word as I read it.

 

[gerberdaisy1234]

I don't think most people understand what socialization is. If they did, they would stop asking, lol.

True!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[theduck619]

Ventured over here from the DISDads home just to rant for a moment with those who would understand. If you don't want to read a rant just skip and go on...

The Mrs. took DS to the doctors for his immunizations. Same practice he has used since birth but he hasn't had to go in about 4 years. They had a new MD in the practice who initially my wife liked until the doctor asked my son where he went to school. Apparently the atmosphere in the room changed drastically when DS said he was homeschooled. The doctor is concerned he isn't getting enough socialization. We are so tired of hearing that. We choose to homeschool for several reasons not the least of which is the school system here is so bad the state had to come in and take it over. Living in Appalachia has its benefits but it has its drawbacks as well. We don't have many other options. We tired a local private school and after two years of them teaching to the slowest kid in the class we decided homeschooling was our best option. I don't care how educated you are, if you don't know the whole story then you should refrain from judging the choices others make.

Rant over. Just needed to vent.

Every time we get asked that question, I respond that I do worry about socialization which is why WE homeschool. Then I just stop talking and let it sink in. Sometimes they respond other times they drop the topic.

 

[DisneyMom5]

Every time we get asked that question, I respond that I do worry about socialization which is why WE homeschool. Then I just stop talking and let it sink in. Sometimes they respond other times they drop the topic.

EXACTLY! LOL

Another answer is to say back to the person "What do you mean by that?" And let them stumble around explaining it.

Then, you can follow up with (or just use on it's own), "Oh THAT!!! Does anyone still believe THAT nonsense???" And then laugh hilariously as if it's the equivalent of believing the Earth is flat.

OR...you can say "OH...you mean SOCIALIZING. Yeah, we used to get in trouble for that when I was in school. School isn't really designed for getting to know people of all ages."

Never feel that you have to justify what you are doing to answer a question that even the ask-er doesn't properly understand.

 

[100AcreWood]

I'm not sure if you saw my prior answer to your post, but the program I mentioned teaches excellent handwriting. Good luck.

I missed a few posts! Thanks for pointing that out . I will check out the Bob books too. I have a ds right behind her so I could start working with him too.

 

[chris31997]

Ventured over here from the DISDads home just to rant for a moment with those who would understand. If you don't want to read a rant just skip and go on...

The Mrs. took DS to the doctors for his immunizations. Same practice he has used since birth but he hasn't had to go in about 4 years. They had a new MD in the practice who initially my wife liked until the doctor asked my son where he went to school. Apparently the atmosphere in the room changed drastically when DS said he was homeschooled. The doctor is concerned he isn't getting enough socialization. We are so tired of hearing that. We choose to homeschool for several reasons not the least of which is the school system here is so bad the state had to come in and take it over. Living in Appalachia has its benefits but it has its drawbacks as well. We don't have many other options. We tired a local private school and after two years of them teaching to the slowest kid in the class we decided homeschooling was our best option. I don't care how educated you are, if you don't know the whole story then you should refrain from judging the choices others make.

Rant over. Just needed to vent.

Every time we get asked that question, I respond that I do worry about socialization which is why WE homeschool. Then I just stop talking and let it sink in. Sometimes they respond other times they drop the topic.

That is good

EXACTLY! LOL

Another answer is to say back to the person "What do you mean by that?" And let them stumble around explaining it.

Then, you can follow up with (or just use on it's own), "Oh THAT!!! Does anyone still believe THAT nonsense???" And then laugh hilariously as if it's the equivalent of believing the Earth is flat.

OR...you can say "OH...you mean SOCIALIZING. Yeah, we used to get in trouble for that when I was in school. School isn't really designed for getting to know people of all ages."

Never feel that you have to justify what you are doing to answer a question that even the ask-er doesn't properly understand.

Another good one


Posters had it right, people don't understand. Our kids are some of the best at socializing with people of ALL ages and can handle themselves in ALL situations.

My kids count as friends other kids+/- at least 3 years. They play/hang out with all kids.

The best part I know that my kids know how to handle themselves in just about any situation and location.

 

[GusGus77]

So we got two educational catalogs in the mail in the past few days (one primarily "toys" and one books.) I feel like a kid before Christmas looking to put together my list for Santa!

 

[Lora]

So we got two educational catalogs in the mail in the past few days (one primarily "toys" and one books.) I feel like a kid before Christmas looking to put together my list for Santa!

I can relate to that!

 

[Lora]

We held our dd's homeschool graduation over the weekend. We had an open house with a mini-recital/ceremony. We made it! In just two months we'll be driving several states away to take her to college. I am confident that she will be able to thrive there.

Just sharing to encourage everyone. You can do this, moms!