Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Learning to Read

The first day of summer break I had my girls write out what they'd like to learn this summer (we spend an hour or so each morning on school work during the summer. Kind of like homeschooling...but not). Timid daughter asked to learn "math about money. How to read. How to tell time on a clock (meaning not digital). And math". And so we are. It's mostly fun. I give her several worksheets to do, we discuss things together and find other teachable moments during the day to continue learning. What she's asked to learn is completely within her grasp, so I think we can reach her goals this summer.

But some of it is painful, especially reading. Sitting listening to your child read verrrry sloooowly through a simple book, while exciting in concept, is torture in practice. If the payoff weren't so great, I'd stop. In fact, I'm starting to realize that at least the reading portion of her learning is going to have to come through the aid of more than just one teacher. Because if I have to sit through another half hour of that any time soon...

Okay, there you have it. I'm a bad mom. And this is why I don't homeschool full time (that and I have not been called to homeschooling). I love that my daughter is learning to read, truly love it. And she is doing so well. But it's still painful. I'd much rather listen to her tell what she thinks the words say the way she used to so wonderfully do. But there's no going back. So I guess I'm asking: is anyone willing to come listen to my daughter read for a half hour each day?

11 musings:

Anonymous said...

I hear you! My 6 year old son anod I are in the same struggle.

BUT - it is exciting when they GET it.

Craver Vii said...

You could get a video recording and play it back for her in the future, when she has learned to fly through these stories. It can serve as a nice reminder of improvement and encouragement to press on.

It used to be that my kids were amazed at how I could read for them. Now, they catch my errors and mispronunciations. Grrr...

Reading is good fun!

L.L. Barkat said...

Sorry, sorry. This one's for you. I endure my own painful sessions almost daily, wherein I alternately think about shaking my daughter vigorously and just closing my eyes to daydream (yup, I'm a "bad mom" too)... and I DO homeschool.

This is just to say that you aren't weird or unfit to teach your child to read. I think of it as personal character training, for me, not for my child. Learning to simply accept where someone is at, who can't do what I can already do, is my training in the school of love.

Llama Momma said...

You are a good Mom. A GREAT Mom. And you are not alone!

Craver Vii said...

One day, "Timid Daughter" will be all grown up, talking to her own children or perhaps someone else's. She'll say to them, "Do you know who taught me how to read?" She'll cast a glance over at you and say, "My mom did." Your eyes will well up with tears, and you will remember this day and say to yourself, "Gee, I wonder what "Craver-Vii" is up to these days." ;-)

Lara said...

Heather-that's the funny part. My daughter is getting it, but she doesn't even realize it.

Craver-okay, I hear your warning. I'll enjoy reading to my kids now before they get "better" than me.

LL-thanks for the perspective. It is a labor of love isn't it? If we're not working on one lesson with them, it's another (I'm sooo glad we're past potty training). And there's something for me to learn with each one (patience is number one this time around).

LM-thanks for the continued affirmation.

Wouldn't you know that, today, after I thought I'd passed the reading mantel to Musing Dad, Timid Daughter came to request more reading time with me. At least she's enjoying it and isn't bogged down by her own lack of speed. And I get extra time just with her (see? I'm working on that perspective thing).

Craver-I can picture it now. The scene will be playing and we'll get to that tear-jerker moment when the announcer will interrupt with "You knew him back then as Craver, blogger extraordinaire, but...Where is he now?".

Jennwith2ns said...

I'd totally listen to your daughter read. If I were still in the Chicago area. Maybe you could talk those people at Craver's workplace into giving me a job . . . ;)

Anonymous said...

You are a great mom! You are encouraging and helping your daughter even though it feels so painful! I seem to remember always reading (though obviously I had to have learned at some point), so I am sure all this pain will eventually be forgotten. I wish I could be there to listen to her too. Maybe Jenn and I could take turns!

Jennwith2ns said...

Charity--I'm in! Or she could just have two listeners.

Craver Vii said...

I was thinking about Timid Daughter's personality, and the thought came to mind… I wonder if she might like to read to a doll or teddy bear. That would not totally replace reading to Mommy, but it might be a decent way to make a compromise for time.

Lara said...

Jenn & Charity - thanks for volunteering! Long-distance reading? Might be interesting.

Craver-aha! I like the teddy bear suggestion. Maybe the uber-princess would even be willing to be read to...Why didn't I think of that myself?

Well, we're off to the library today, so we'll be getting more books, which means more reading and more listening. But I've had a couple of days break, so I think I'm up for it.