Day Six: Read, Read, Read!

In the midst of french toast and icing sugar, she reads her most adventurous story to date. Her siblings are riveted and move in closer as though close proximity will make it even more real.

He holds his journal open to me and proudly displays his "Draw Write Now" inspired page.

She calls out from the other room, "How do you spell, imagination, Mommy?" She's beginning another new story.

She beckons her siblings to the couch for a bedtime story and they laugh themselves silly as she reads.

Reading and Writing are the hub that our wheel turns upon and they ignite and affect each and every other subject. A few of our inspirations have been (click on the links, if you like):

Sonlight

Delightful Learning

Cultivated Lives

Excellence In Writing

Homeschool Share

Story Starters by Karen Andreola

 

I love what happens in the minds of my children when they've read a good book. I'm riveted myself as they narrate what took place in one of their "readers". The inspiration shows up in their play with each other as they are suddenly sailors in search of the Blue Grotto, or log cabin builders like Pa in Little House in the Big Woods. They've fought battles as Christian did in Pilgrim's Progress and they've spoken with an accent all day after I read, Strawberry Girl, aloud to them.

 

Children also write better when they read great literature. It becomes natural to them as they're being trained by the masters. Charlotte Mason warned about devouring "twaddle" or books that are of little educational value. I think this goes for T.V. and electronics absorption as well. Read-Alouds are important at any age as they listen to me read at a level just above their own. They find their own voice as a writer when they feast from a large buffet of authors. If your child is reading and writing below their "expected level" there are fabulous resources for struggling learners. Homeschool conventions are valuable for finding support too!

 

As we join together in teaching them diligently this year, let's also keep them reading and writing regularly (especially the Word of God)!

 

Whisked Away By Winter

Our mild and lovely Autumn has just been whisked away by wintery winds and snow.

Farewell, Autumn... till we meet again and I scuffle in your brilliant and gently placed blanket.

Moved By History

She re-reads the last sentence slowly and wipes her nose. Lowering the book, she meets my gaze and is reassured that I am also aching with sympathy for the main character of the book she's reading to me. Meg was drowing in sorrow over Elli Friedmann's plight and so, with a quiver in her voice, she began to narrate how Elli dragged her wounded mother and brother off the train while the Germans shot at them and their companions. Too much for the young girl in this true story to deal with, too much for Meghan, and apparently, too much for me.

My daughter and I sit across from each other and the two of us quietly weep as Meghan continues. She's taken my place, today, as out-loud-reader and it seems natural. We connect not only with like emotion but also with an understanding that we're both grappling with this senseless evil and can't do anything but cry. She's grown up enough to share this moment with me and I recognize that she has the potential to change the world with her anger against injustice and to live out Jesus' command to help set captives free with the love of God. It's why He sent His Son.

She gathers the strength to deliver the final chapter and I silently pray she'll see beyond prevailing entitlement of North American culture and desire to be more, to do what she's been called to do. She's being moved by history and God has created her to be stirred in this way.

He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8

Surprised By Hunger

I thought I'd try a little reading aloud one evening while we were camping. Prayer always continues no matter where we are and so does singing--lots of singing. But read-alouds, well, we had taken quite a break from them.

The children were riding bikes with their new friends, up and down the lane way that stretched between campsites. I strolled to the edge of the road and called out to them and held up Wisdom With The Millers. Now, sometimes swimming, watermelon, or campfire (all much loved) cannot tear those kids away from their bikes. Emily, on her just-had-the-training-wheels-off-two-wheeler, Meghan, racing with the boy from three sites down, Molly, meandering here and there with her new friend, and Oliver, often found on a neighbour's John Deere tricycle, spent most waking hours immersed in this activity. But somehow, the sight of that little, yellow book caused feet to pedal faster than ever and wheels soared all the way back to our trailer.

I had already set up chairs for each of us, not realizing, our little neighbour had followed the girls to see what made them drop their bikes at the road and come running. We created a little spot for him too and he plopped himself down like one of the family. Oliver sat for awhile but as it often goes, he headed out to do his own thing after a few paragraphs. Our four year-old guest, who was obviously not used to read-alouds, frequently interrupted and the girls hushed him over and over. Two chapters later they begged for more and I stopped so that we could start campfire. We prayed and each of us glanced at the little boy who had been eager to join us. He seemed oblivious to what was happening. The children set off on their bikes once again to enjoy the last of the daylight. I made a mental note to keep this sweet camper on our prayer list.

I rose and collected chairs, amazed that this simple set of stories of a conservative family intrigue my children so much. The life lessons learned and the connections they make with their own lives are priceless. This is a holy practice we maintain. We read God's Word, we read stories of applying the wisdom in His Word, and we pray for guidance to live out that wisdom. When I doubted their desire for it, they surprised me and demonstrated that there is a hunger beyond what physical activities and fun can offer. Why would this cause me such wonder? We were created with a God-size hole in our hearts! As parents, we simply guide them to the One who can fill it.

I am grateful for the hunger.

That means I'm little...

We have a favourite book in our home called, "Big Or Little?" by Kathy Stinson. It has been one of those coming into their own preschool treasures for each of my children, in turn. They empathize with the boy character because he relates things he can and cannot do to how big or little he is. A couple of the lines go like this:

"When my aunt buys me Bunny pyjamas, that means I'm little. But when the Bunny pyjamas don't come in my size, that means I'm big."

We had one of these moments the other day with my youngest daughter. My mom and I were driving home with the kids from a long day at Meg's ballet competition. My mom passed back a box of timbits to them. Molly chose hers and Emily sat with the box in her lap and didn't take one. This frustrated Molly, who could not understand why someone wouldn't want a timbit. She urged her to make her choice. Emily just stared. A few minutes later, my mom nudged me to look in the rear-view mirror.

My beautiful four year-old girl, when you sit so patiently and watch the dancers and whisper to me how you would like to be a ballerina too, that means you're big. When you fall asleep on the way home and do a face-plant in the timbit box, that means you're little.

So Many Books, So Little Time

"Oh, that my words were written! Oh, that they were inscribed in a book!" (Job 19:23). Here, Job is speaking about his desire for future generations to read about his faithfulness to God amidst turmoil. The Bible has been a great source of learning for my kids this homeschool year and to hear my four year old quote Psalm 23 brings tears to my eyes.

This has been a wonderful year for reading, in general. Snuggling together on the couch and soaking up a good read-aloud has been our most precious time of the day. As we watch school buses zoom by our house, we pull our book off the shelf, grab a blanket, or two, and settle into cuddle-position. There, we enter foreign lands where missionaries face grave danger, search for missing animals with characters we can relate to, giggle as mice ride toy motorcycles, and practice speaking with a southern drawl like a little girl from the piney woods.

It has amazed me how time and consistency has allowed my grade one girl to become used to sitting and listening for long periods. I've loved how my preschooler and toddler have climbed up too, when they heard something that suddenly interested them. And, I can't imagine not sharing many teachable moments with my oldest. Recently, as I turned to the final page of "Strawberry Girl", my 6 year-old cried, "You can't read the last page!" When I asked why, she said, "Because then we won't be able to read it tomorrow!". I wouldn't have our life any other way. As we wrap up the school year, we check online to see what our selections for next year will be. We're already getting excited!

Here are just a few of the favourites my children (themselves) and I (aloud) have read in 2008/2009 (see photo).