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mumsrea
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| Posted: June 13 2008 at 7:15am | IP Logged
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I need some advice on this! I know that many (or most) of you have children that have never been to school. However, you are PARENTS and that qualifies you to opine....
My son is finishing his 3rd year of casa (montessori) and we'll homeschool for first grade and beyond.
At the moment he sees school as something he does AT SCHOOL and homeschool is a set of school like things that we do here (after schooling.) In general he sees home as the leisure place and school as the work place. He's recently expressed that he doesn't want to home school when school is over because he wants to have a summer. (He wasn't as clear as that, but it was understood.)
I want him to have a nice long restful summer! BUT i don't want to either lose the momentum he's gained (particularly in reading) and i don't want him to see home as a place of non-purposeful leisure because that is a view i'll have to fight to set up school 'systems' in September. I don't want to have to lower the boom and do things SO differently in september - suddenly announcing work time at 9:30 am, etc. I'd rather just extend and progress from things we are already doing. I think it will be smoother and easier for him to accept.
I know that reading is a leisure pursuit btw, but not so much when you are a 5 year old working through phonics and not likely to decide, hmm, i'd rather not jump in the inviting pool right now, but instead sit here and do this See Jack Run type book....
I'd like to start some read aloud in the summer and he MUST carry on with his own reading. I'm hoping to tempt him with some bead work and writing work too. Probably metal insets. I'd really like him to expect to do some of this every day, no matter what.
Anyway, advice on how to start with a "home as school" friendly attitude without depriving him of summer?
Thanks!
MR
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Essy
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| Posted: June 13 2008 at 7:35am | IP Logged
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How about trying out a reading based program like FIAR for the Summer?
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Maryan
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| Posted: June 13 2008 at 7:48am | IP Logged
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Here's my two cents: In summer, I just read really good books at "quiet time" and bedtime. Then I leave the books around.... and am a reader myself. If the boys want to pick up a book, or ask me to read a book, they are all over the house and can freely do so. The TV is hardly on (although they request a movie every single day)... so that means they usually pick up a book - especially the older ones during quiet time.
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Mackfam
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| Posted: June 13 2008 at 8:15am | IP Logged
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MR-
I have a minute before I dive back into the mess I've made upstairs and I wanted to take a minute to respond to you.
I vote for the break (in the sense that there is no "structured work"), both for you and him. But, I follow that by immediately saying that this is really a prudential decision best made by individual families. There are many families here that *school* year round, and quite successfully.
Before I go into the reasoning behind a break of sorts, let me just caution against trying to duplicate his CASA environment/school in your home. There really is a huge difference. I'll leave this thought to settle with you. I don't want to upset you! Truly! But, I also don't want you to have unrealistic expectations of the year. If you're expecting a year of *school* I think you'll be disappointed. If you're trying to set up *school* you'll never get there. If you're expecting a year of *learning* I think both you and he will fall in love.
First, the why...I always take a break in the summer. I need it!  This past year was extremely difficult for me - and I struggled to keep up. I often felt like I was barely treading water and taking in huge gulps most of the time. I need there to be a definite end to the year - a period at the end of that sentence, if you will. I suspect your little guy may need a period at the end of that sentence too. Summer is a time of refreshment - that doesn't mean we stop learning though.
My opinion (and only my opinion ) on requiring a K/1st grader to read every day. I don't. Truly, he won't lose momentum! I promise! I don't start requiring reading until around the 3rd grade mainly because some children just need a longer time to assimilate and really enjoy reading. They struggle with it. Forcing it may kill a love of reading - and absolutely nothing is more key to his future learning than his ability to enjoy his reading.
Now, the how...For a smooth transition, I'd set up weekly/bi-weekly trips to the library with a great picture book reading guide. Cay's Picture Perfect Childhood is my absolute favorite!!!!!!! Then, do nothing but read to him over the summer. Just sitting down and reading together will increase his vocabulary, his love for reading, remove the intimidation of picking up a book, and provide the transition he is obviously requesting of you. I think you might be surprised what it does for his reading when you pick phonics back up again, too. 
Then, as you read your way through the summer have him help you set up your new *work* area. Call it that. Or call it your learning area, but don't call it school 'cause he knows what that is, and that ain't what you got! KWIM? Help him set up your space. Ask him to help make decisions about including lovely things in your space - my kids love going to the thrift store and helping pick out things of beauty and discarded treasures for their work - baskets, vases, pouring pitchers, bowls, trays. This gives him some ownership of his space and his work for next year, and hopefully a little excitement about arranging flowers in the vase he picked out, or setting out the alphabet on the tray he selected with care.
These are just my thoughts. I think your summer and your year will be lovely. Allow yourself the summer to read and enjoy some transition time with your son. Leave some beautiful picture books around the house in baskets. Then, when you're ready in the fall, begin "his work" in your home.
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Jen Mackintosh
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Mackfam
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| Posted: June 13 2008 at 8:17am | IP Logged
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Oh dear, I was cross-posting with Maryan, and she said it so nicely!!
It took me forever to post because the children came in to show me their new "pet butterfly".
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Jen Mackintosh
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mumsrea
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| Posted: June 13 2008 at 8:39am | IP Logged
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the only thing is, i think he will be reluctant to sit and be read to.
crazy, but its true.
MR
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julia s.
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| Posted: June 13 2008 at 12:17pm | IP Logged
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Did the Montessori school you had him at break for the summer? If so than that is probably what he's used to and I would continue with that -- at least for a month. This will give you time for some planning and down time just having fun with him and take the pressure off the both of you for awhile.
Find a routine that you both enjoy. And if you want him to be read to then just keep books out and read books yourself, play books on tape (in the car is a good time), talk about books. Don't expect much, but don't expect that nothing will happen either. You'll be surprised at how easily little guys like looking at books once they're exposed -- a lot
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But go for walks, cook, build things, climb -- Montessori will be there when you need it.
Just my .02 worth.
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Erin
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| Posted: June 13 2008 at 3:45pm | IP Logged
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mumsrea wrote:
the only thing is, i think he will be reluctant to sit and be read to.
crazy, but its true.
MR |
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What about reading to him whilst he is playing outside? I have spent many an hour reading to my active boys whilst in the sandpit.
Putting on audio CD's for him to transition to letting you read.
When you think of reading are you picturing him and you snuggled together on the lounge? Much of my time with boys at that age was spent with their heads on the seat of the lounge and their legs in the air whilst I read. Or draped along the top of the lounge behind me.
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earthmaven
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| Posted: June 13 2008 at 4:12pm | IP Logged
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My girls love being read to while they eat their breakfast, and also when they are drawing, painting, or working with clay.
Just a thought...
Tracy
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Mackfam
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| Posted: June 13 2008 at 4:33pm | IP Logged
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Erin wrote:
| Much of my time with boys at that age was spent with their heads on the seat of the lounge and their legs in the air whilst I read. |
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Have you been peaking in my house?
Why must they stand on their heads while you read?
MR-
I think Erin brings up some great ways to foster reading aloud. Try to read books with subject matter that is interesting. Shoot for 15 minutes a day - that's it. Steal them where you can - when he's modeling clay, while he's out weeding the garden, maybe while he snaps a few legos together...My boys like to hold beeswax while I read (when they're not upside down ) - keeps their hands busy.
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Jen Mackintosh
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montessori_lori
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| Posted: June 13 2008 at 7:40pm | IP Logged
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I'd really like him to expect to do some of this every day, no matter what.
I'm not sure this is necessary...definitely in the fall, but in the summer, not so much.
Even if he were going back to school in the fall, you'd still probably do some field trips, art projects, reading, etc, right? So just do that, but also mix in some materials here and there.
There's no right answer, and you and your son will figure it out together. Learn from observing him - observe, observe, observe!
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Becky Parker
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| Posted: June 14 2008 at 6:23am | IP Logged
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Just wanted to say what helped here. We have "quiet time" every afternoon. I continue it into the summer because it's not really "school" it's life. For quiet time the kids get to rest in the family room while I read to them. If they choose not to be read to, they may rest on their beds, by themselves, no playing. They are aloud to read books at that time, which my older children choose.
This isn't "school" in that they are not practicing reading by themselves, or learning phonics or math skills, but by being read to, they are cultivating a love for books which will serve as motivation when it comes to the phonics work during the school year - at least I hope!
Oh, and there's always Starfall on the computer to sneak in a little phonics practice.
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4Real Forums : Nurturing the Years of Wonder
Topic: start slowly now, or wait till september?
