SallyT
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Joined: Aug 08 2007
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| Posted: Aug 19 2008 at 10:11pm | IP Logged
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Hi Kate -- I think I saw your question on the MA list, too, earlier today. We are sort of loose MA users, and I've never used a level as written. The years when we've used it the most closely, I've ended up actually combining levels, taking what I liked best out of, say, Level 1A and Level 2, or Level 2 and Level 3, based on what I knew about a given child's aptitudes, likes and dislikes, etc., and also where we already were in terms of what we'd covered -- we'd been homeschooling for 2 years when I discovered MA, and there were topics, especially in history, that we really didn't need to do again. So I picked and chose and just kind of customized my own levels for my children.
Now I mostly use MA as a syllabus -- I don't follow levels or schedules as written, but just develop a booklist based at least partly on what they've got for a given age that we haven't already read.
In terms of what they're expected to read on their own . . . clearly you want to encourage independence, but I think even more than that, you want to encourage a love of good books and learning, and to that end I'd say to read aloud as much as you want. If a given child would really like a given book, but not if she were left on her own to get into it, go for that book and just do it as a read-aloud and enjoy it. They will learn an amazing amount that way without even realizing that it's the dreaded "education," because instead of pressure and classroom structure, it will be all about being together and enjoying each other and a good story. I'm not sure I'd even try to go for things like narration in any kind of formal sense in the beginning, since they've been in school doing the "read-to-regurgitate" thing. Maybe talk casually about stuff you've read over lunch or dinner, or let them draw while you read, but just focus on the pleasure of a good book, rather than what they're getting out of it. My oldest daughter was 9, almost 10, when we started homeschooling, and even though she has always been an avid reader, this approach was pretty much all that worked with her in the first year.
I love so much about MA -- the book selections have been consistently wonderful over the several years that we've used them, but even more than that, I love the flexibility of it, and the way that I've always been able to bend it to fit my kids, rather than vice versa.
I hope that's remotely helpful!
Sally
PS - I just read a great homeschooling book which I'm dying to recommend to someone, so I'll recommend it to you: Home Schooling, a Family's Journey, by Gregory and Martine Millman. It's brand-new, I'm supposed to be reviewing it, and it's just a wonderful, encouraging, inspiring read. Filled me with lots of new energy for the year, anyway!
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: Mater Amabilis - what level?
