Homeschooling - Am I really doing it 'wrong'?

[princessbride6205]

It sounds like you've thought a lot about it, and homeschooling is going to work for you. If the methods of instruction were working in public school, just not enough one-on-one, then I think you've got a solid plan to stick with a similar curriculum. We are not homeschoolers, but we did just switch DD's school for a variety of issues, and we've been supplementing her lack of learning at her old school with home education.

My DD was refusing to even look at a book by herself (despite loving when we read to her). She was really resistant to even sounding out a single word, since she felt so unsuccessful. Less formal reading activities were really helpful in peaking her interest and building her confidence. Some things that worked for us:
* Word Wall - common words in early readers on a poster in our family room. Every time she reads one, she puts a sticker next to it (the element of choice is key here - she can get 12 stickers next to one word if she wants - no pressure).
* Song Lyrics - DD loves music. I made her charts of the rhyming words in a song, then the full song lyrics below.
* Sight Word Scavenger Hunt - this may be too easy for your second grader, so maybe it would be funny sentences or jokes? The idea being that there are 10-20 shapes hidden around the house, and he has to find and write down the words on all of them.
* iPad apps or websites. Starfall has been the best for a traditional learn-to-read program - different levels for PreK up through 2nd. Her new school uses an app called Express (again may be more Kinder-1st grade than you DS needs). There are a number of others that I can't think of off the top of my head.

 

[Sheepdog23]

I was homeschooled from the sixth grade and my mom started me with a very school-like textbook approach and shortly after, I realized that it really wasn't what I wanted. Let your son help you figure out what works best for all of you. Just because you experiment does not mean he will not learn. Children love to learn if they are encouraged correctly and you will figure it out sooner or later.

As for the reading, my dd is 8 and started when she was 7. In Scandinavia, children do not start school until 6 (mostly play like kindergarten) and reading does not start until grade 1 where children turn 7/8. I read an interesting study that said children are not mature enough to truly understand the science of reading until they are 7 so I do not consider it a problem that he is where he is at. Everyone develops at their own pace and maybe the traditional school approach isn't working. Try a more practical one, like asking him to help you with the grocery list and things like that. Read the Toys R Us catalog. Maybe there is something he really likes and you can find easy books about just that. Once he starts and doesn't feel pressured, he will most likely become attached and read more on his own. Just remember, not everyone is a language person. Maybe he is more math or science...

Trust your gut. Some of the more popular educational theories do not even use textbooks. Read about celestin freinet if you want to learn about how to encourage children to take responsibility for their own education without even using textbooks. My dd is at a freinetschool and she loves the responsibility and is just excelling. She is well above grade requirements in many subjects and is always looking for answers on her own when she has a question. She really burns for learning and it is amazing. Montessori is also a good choice. Just relax. People put too much pressure on children too young. They are just children and should really be playing until they are about 7 because they learn math and language skills plus so much more just by playing. Try playing store and detective etc to encourage him to read. Play games. My kids love treasure hunts and he can practice reading by reading clues! Just try to spark his interest and he will jump on board. Maybe even learning a new language together with you would help.

My adopted sister had very similar issues as your son and she struggled for many years, but with some creative help from my mom, she is now reading several grades ahead. Every child can excel if they are helped based upon their needs with a tailored approach. My youngest biological sister only went to HS and she was never taught to sit still but she excelled and is now a teacher of all things. Homeschooled children adapt well to many situations and are actively sought out by many top colleges. He will do just fine if you teach him responsibility instead of having to follow a school environment. If you want that environment and think it is best for you, by all means continue. Just allow your son the opportunity to take responsibility for his education already now. It really makes a difference in how they sit and learn and if he feels that he has the power, he may find it easier to learn.

good luck! I envy you that you get to homeschool. They recently made it illegal here but I still do things with my kids that they find interesting. You are very welcome to contact me if you want someone to chat with who understands it from the kid's perspective.

 

[Mama Who]

Now this seems totally opposite but it's really not: He is SEVEN. I know, our society really pushes reading and writing earlier and earlier every year but some children just are not ready until about 7 year old to use concrete thinking skills need to read and write. I also worry that too strict of environment may kill his zest and love for learning and that would be worse that being behind. No real answers, but just a few thoughts.

This bears repeating. I know a homeschooling (unschooling) family with three kids in which none of them read with any proficiency before the age of 7. By the age of 10 they are all miles ahead of their schooled peers. Reading, when it is important and how it is achieved is something we really don't do properly because a school environment is a hard place to teach non-readers. While your 7 year old is at a good age to start reading, don't worry too much that he hasn't yet. The switch probably just hasn't flipped yet and in a year you'll be wondering why you were so worried.

I removed my kid from schooling in the middle of 5th grade. We do a much more structured school-at-home method than I might otherwise have chosen because that's what he was comfortable with. I *do* wish I'd spent more time deschooling... but we had some trauma to deal with, so you may honestly not need it. I would suggest thinking about that one thing a little, though. I look at it this way- what's the worst thing that happens if you give him a month to decompress? He finishes his education a month later and... does that hurt him? If he needs one more month, one more semester, even one more year than he might have taken otherwise, will that have a negative impact on him or you? Are the potential benefits of the time it takes to deschool worth it? My instinct would be to give him the summer off rather than launching into a heavy academic load, but I'm not in your house with your kid and you know best what he needs.

I can offer my thoughts but if you look at them and say, "no, that's not best for us," neither of us is wrong. We just have kids who need different things. The best thing about homeschooling is being able to provide those different things.

 

[reneaterry]

I live in Texas, taught 3rd grade in Texas, and hs my children because Passing state mandated tests are very important in texas. Children are expected to pass state mandated tests, staar, at grade level no matter if a child has a disability or not. I think it sounds like you have thought about what will be best for your child and will be successful. I also use a more classical approach to teaching, probably because that's what I'm most familiar with, but we do change things up often and not everything is sitting and doing work. We focus on reading and math and usually take field trips once a week for science and history and play lots of games.

 

[Jessica14]

OP, I think you have really thought everything through. I was a public school teacher for 12 years, had my kids, and subbed in their school and district for five years. We really loved the school and teachers but, like you, there was only so much that could be done for DS who was 6 at the time. DD who was 8, was way above grade level. They both needed more so we choose to homeschool. We are in our second year and can't believe how many social opportunities they have. My son has more close friendships now than he ever did.

Lots of people do a structured day. It's what works for you. Kids do lose a lot during the summer so maybe do some reading daily. As others said, he is seven and he is still developing. DS is now eight and it's better, but still a struggle. One thing he likes to do is select his own books from all genres. He also reads to a service dog which he enjoys.

Good luck and just be confident in your choices and know they can be adjusted as needed.

 

[writersblock42]

As a special educator who has specialized in reading. I would say at this point, he needs a direct instruction phonics based reading program for about 45 minutes a day every single day. Then pair that with a whole language reading approach that teaches reading strategies. I don't know what your background is so I cannot really say but people who teach reading generally have 4-6 years of course work in the area. I would think about hiring a reading specialist as a tutor at least to catch him up. The scripted reading programs would be fairly ok as well. I would add to that about 30 minutes a day of pleasure reading. So you read to him and then he reads to you.
Another thing is that he could stay in school and then you supplement with an hour a day of reading instruction.
Like everyone else said, he is only 7. However, I disagree with the others that maybe he isn't ready. I think you are right to be addressing this now. If he really is 2 years behind though that means he is reading at the age of a 5 year old. The average 5 year old is not expected to read at all. So does that mean that he does not read at all. Does he have good phonological awareness? Does he understand that every letter makes a sound? Can he blend those sounds?

 

[Aliceacc]

I'm not a homeschooler; I'm a high school math teacher.

My youngest also struggles with reading... turns out she has auditory processing deficit. She hears just fine, but the words get mangled enroute to her brain, so sounding out words is just impossible. Spelling is her worst nightmare.

She has seen some real improvement over the last few years, but it hasn't been easy on her.

Anyway, in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, we had a week and half off. Since we were incredibly lucky (our only damage was part of our roof, and we were lucky enough to get it tarped before the snowstorm that followed a few days later), my kids found themselves doing lots and lots of schoolwork. (Sorry, when both parents are teachers, it's kind of inevitable.) Here are some sites that may help you supplement the material you're finding:

I found a couple of websites that my daughter likes to visit to "play school." Her favorite is: http://www.superteacherworksheets.com/ What she likes about it is that she's able to find worksheets on her level, and find success with them. What I like is that she's reading by choice.

I also did some freelance writing a number of years ago for www.edhelper.com and recommend them highly. (No, I don't get paid for the endorsement ) Take a look at their freebies and decide whether or not it's worth the subscription price for you.

The best of luck to you as you struggle to do what's best for your son.

 

[Grammyof2]

OP - I do HS my 12 year old. I started in 4th grade (mid-year) because of a series of events involving her health. I am also a retired Family and Consumer Science teacher.

There is nothing wrong with your HS methods. There are many options and as you proceed you will find what works best. No one can tell you the right way since you are teaching one child and not a classroom of children that have a curriculum that must be adhered too.

My opinion is once you are behind in reading and math skills it is virtually impossible to catch up without intervention. The classroom will move on even if your child has not caught on. It is a fact of life. There is nothing wrong with starting again with 2nd grade. It will go quicker because some of the information has stuck and you are working one on one. Catching up is much easier when the foundation is rock steady.

Do not worry about outsiders. Do what is right for you and your son.

My 30 year old son was behind in reading at that age. We allowed him to read whatever was of interest to him. Sometimes it was a comic book and often it was those crazy magazines they sell at the grocery check out. He was fascinated by a 100 pound baby or an UFO. Of course we had to enforce they were made up stories, etc but he quickly caught up when it was of interest to him. Long before the internet.

Best of luck in you journey.

Excuse spelling/grammar errors. I am on my daughters phone and the screen is tiny and keeps correcting to crazy stuff.