| Author | |
Angel
Forum All-Star
Joined: April 22 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2293
|
| Posted: Jan 22 2009 at 12:19pm | IP Logged
|
 |
|
Just wondering how other people handle this situation. We gather as a family in the morning to pray, do catechism, Latin chants, and then to read aloud. Afternoons, when the little ones (sort of) nap, is saved for basics like math, etc. In the mornings, therefore, I'm reading to everyone from my 12 yo on down. I've been shooting for the middle -- kind of somewhere around my 9 yo -- to account for both the 12 yo and the 5 yo. Sometimes I read picture books, and sometimes I read longer chapter books, but I'm not completely satisfied with how this is working. I think that my 5 yo and 9 yo's needs are being served adequately -- especially since my dh has started reading chapter books that my older kids have already heard to my 5 yo at bedtime -- but I'm not sure about my 12 yo. He's an excellent reader, but not so excellent about reading anything "assigned", or not in his area of interest, so if I want him to broaden his interests -- or keep him on the same page with the rest of us -- then I need to read aloud.
So how do you all handle reading aloud with a widening age spread?
__________________
Angela
Mom to 9, 7 boys and 2 girls
Three Plus Two
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
JodieLyn
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 06 2006
Location: Oregon
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 12234
|
| Posted: Jan 22 2009 at 1:20pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Well, I'm always surprised at what the kids like listening to. So I try not to let somethign being "older" limit me from reading it to the kids. The younger kids will often enjoy it as well even if their understanding is more limited than the older kids. Of course it still has to be appropriate for the younger kids to hear.  But I remember reading The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe to my kids.. and the littles did pick up some of it though the older kids hung on every word
Plus, when you're looking at broadening interests.. sometimes it's very helpful to make the topic more easily accessible.. which would mean reading a book that would be "below" a child's level but since it's new material it gives an easy introduction for that child.
I think of it like when I was first trying to figure out what Catholicism was (probably about 1990 or so).. I was in college. I could read college level/professional level texts and understand them. But I went to the children's section of the library to get that most basic information.
It really is ok to not have every thing pushing the upper limits.
__________________
Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Lori
Forum Pro
Joined: Sept 10 2008
Location: Arizona
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 257
|
| Posted: Jan 22 2009 at 6:20pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
What about audio books for the older child? My 10 yo ds was initially resistant to "physically" reading assigned material, but took quite easily to listening to it on tape/cd/computer file.
That being said, I must have skipped things like "Tales of Pooh" with him when he was younger, because he's sneaking into the room to hear me read them to the little ones now! 
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Marcia
Forum Pro
Joined: Aug 20 2007
Location: Illinois
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 437
|
| Posted: Jan 23 2009 at 5:34pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
stalking this thread. I feel like I am in the same boat. My toddler climbs all over us while I try to read chapter books and my old kids roll their eyes when I've read my fifth picture book in a row..."oh mom, I've already read that"
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
JodieLyn
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 06 2006
Location: Oregon
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 12234
|
| Posted: Jan 23 2009 at 5:43pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
something else to remember.. not all kids need to "sit and pay attention" I have several that find it incredibly hard to sit.. but the older ones like that.. I can snag and ask what I just read when to all appearances they weren't paying attention but they can tell me..
so we relax the sit and listen rules.. quiet activity is allowed unless I have to shout to be heard.. then they may have to just sit.
so perhaps younger ones could listen while building with duplo/lego.. or older ones can work on some sort of hand craft or chore (folding laundry) while listening to a younger kids book.
__________________
Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
|
|
4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: reading aloud to wide age spread
