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Angel
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| Posted: Nov 22 2006 at 7:36am | IP Logged
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My 10 yo is requesting more structure, but I have ambiguous feelings about assigning reading. When we started out this homeschool adventure, back when my 10 yo was a 5/6 year old, I thought we would definitely be unschoolers. Then the need for a little more structure crept in, and now it looks as if we're taking that up another level -- not to the point where *everything* is planned, but -- some things. For instance, my 10 yo reads *a lot*, but right now it's mostly Star Wars books.  It's not that he wouldn't like to read real novels, it's just that he gets sucked into those Star Wars books!
So what I would like to know is:
1. Do you assign reading in your home?
2. If so, how do you balance assigned reading and independent reading? How much reading do you assign?
3. Do you use prepared booklists or have you struck out on your own?
4. What are the goals you hope to achieve with assigned reading?
Thanks!
--Angela
Mom to 3+2 
Three Plus Two
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Willa
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| Posted: Nov 22 2006 at 9:51am | IP Logged
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Angel -- I sort of "assign" books even though I am mostly an unschooler too.
There's two basic ways I do it:
One is by reading books to them they wouldn't necessarily read to themselves -- I guess audiotapes would count too. Very often they end up rereading the book on their own or listening to the tape. My ten year old, who also has a taste for Star Wars books, has listened to Watership Down on tape about 6 times and now is trying to read the book on his own. And sometimes they take the read-aloud and continue reading on their own because I'm not going fast enough.
Another is simply to assign. But the kids know that "assigning" means "give it a try". IT is basically a suggestion and I often tell them why I think they might like it. They are usually willing to give it a try.
It is easier for them than when I assign math or Latin or chores, so they don't usually object much at all. The understanding is that if they really don't like it or aren't getting much out of it, we'll try something else.
I usually assign one fiction book and maybe one non-fiction book per time, and we try to have a read-aloud or two going as well. The basic reading rate is a chapter a day, about 4 per week, but often they end up finishing the book much sooner than that. There are periods of our life when I am not assigning at all -- eg my 10yo is now devouring a series I wanted him to read anyway. So Shuster's Bible History is the only thing on his assigned list right now, and we have a couple of readalouds going as well.
I use prepared lists for resources but I pick and choose what I think the kids would like and what fits into what we are doing.
The goals -- I want to help them broaden their reading. It seems so very normal to me for a 10yo to prefer series type books to single ones -- they are consolidating their skills and learning patterns of how stories work. My brother and my husband both did Hardy Boys and superhero comics when they were that age, for instance. But my time with them is so short that I do want their "feet to be placed in a large room" as Charlotte Mason says. Not in a hurried way, or an overly challenging way, but just so that they have a chance to experience things they may be hesitatnt to try just by picking-off the shelves.
If your son is asking for more structure he MAY be partly asking for a more guided exposure to all that is out there in the world. Sometimes we don't know what is out there until someone shows it to us, and great books are one of those things....
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Willa
hsing boys ages 11, 14, almost 18 (+ 4 homeschool grads ages 20 to 27)
Take Up and Read
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MichelleW
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| Posted: Nov 22 2006 at 6:36pm | IP Logged
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I just started assigning reading for my 8 (almost 9) yo son. I have a "reading basket" for him. At any given time he needs to have going: a reading book (used for literary discussion), a history or science book (fiction is fine, but must have some historical or scientific value), and a "for fun" book. I put books I think he will like in his basket as I find them, and he adds some. We discuss the reading book and the history/science book daily. The "for fun" book has no requirements attached to it.
For the reading book, I change requirements for each book. When we did "The Courage of Sarah Noble" I used a study guide from Progeny Press. For "Homer Price" I used the corresponding chapter of Beyond Five in a Row and writing activities from The Arrow. For "Heidi," and "The Prince and the Pauper" I used Bring the Classics to Life Series Study Guides. Right now, we are doing "Betsy Ross" from BFIAR. For "Charlotte's Web" (next) I plan to do my own thing and supplement with writing activities from The Arrow.
For the history/science book, we discuss historical or scientific details. We often look them up, just to be sure about what is fact and what is fiction. He just finished "Ben and Me," and we are studying the Revolutionary War. Earlier this year he enjoyed "Dolphin Adventure" while studying marine biology.
Michelle
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momtomany
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| Posted: Nov 25 2006 at 12:46pm | IP Logged
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I do assign reading to my 8th grade ds only because he wouldn't read much at all if left on his own. I try to alternate action type historical novels that go along with the time period that he is studying with saints' biographies, such as the Vision books, once again choosing "action" type stories instead of stories of contemplatives, for example.
I have used study guides, such as those from Hillside education, for him.
Reading alone is hard for my special needs 5th grader, while my 3rd grade dd reads everything she can get her hands on.
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Mary Ann in PA
wife to MIchael, mom to Elizabeth, Becca, Tim, Peter, Andrew, Sarah, Matthew, John, Leah and Joseph
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katilac
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| Posted: Dec 01 2006 at 9:13am | IP Logged
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I will occasionally assign my oldest a short book for science, but nothing else yet.
I do search for and check out a variety of library books for her; otherwise, she would stick to all mysteries, all the time! They aren't 'assigned' and she doesn't have to read them, but she generally always both reads and enjoys them. The books I check out don't count toward her library limit.
If this didn't work so well, I wouldn't hesitate to assign books. I like MichelleW's method, which is similar to what they recommend in the Well Trained Mind, but our library system is still in such disarray from Hurricane Katrina that it's hard to implement right now.
We don't worry about minimum reading times, because dd reads for hours on her own each day. If I had a reluctant reader, I'd reconsider that, but for early primary I think it is most helpful to provide a supportive environment rather than set up requirements. A large variety of books readily available, limited screen time, parents who read, etc
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stefoodie
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| Posted: Dec 01 2006 at 9:38am | IP Logged
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1. Do you assign reading in your home?
yes.
2. If so, how do you balance assigned reading and independent reading? How much reading do you assign?
my 10-yo usually has one for history, one for english, one for religion. sometimes i'll combine the 3 especially if it's a good chapter book like his favorite "Outcasts of Ravenhurst". independent reading -- i try to control the quality but not the quantity. i find that they're more willing to take on the heavier books with regularity when i don't limit the fun reading. but "fun reading" can only be done after lessons are done. for science i sometimes assign a book, or they get to pick one from our shelves, usually i just say, pick something you've never read before, and then we do a brief narration, either oral or blogging, afterwards. oh, and i let them "try" the books too -- the 10-yo recently tried to read Shadow Hawk for our unit on Ancients and found it too boring. he did love Golden Goblet, God King and Victory on the Walls.
as to how much, it just depends. some chapter books my 10-yo can go through in a day. if i want him to really digest it i limit him to one chapter a day so we can do rabbit trails, discuss, etc. some that he considers "boring" i may stretch out to two weeks or more so he just reads a page or 2 a day.
the 15-yo has lots of books going, mostly assigned reading -- saints, classics, science, Chesterton and CS Lewis, etc. her fun reads usually are anything Brian Jacques or Tolkien.
3. Do you use prepared booklists or have you struck out on your own?
on my own -- but i always consult first the booklists that i love and trust -- macbeth's, elizabeth's, the ones at love2learn, landscape with dragons, rchistory, etc., then i add anything else that we already have that i know will work, or any finds from the library.
4. What are the goals you hope to achieve with assigned reading?
an awareness of different subject matters, and even a mastery of some; the ability to handle various types of material, e.g., biographies, autobiographies, etc.; familiarity with many authors and their styles; exposure to great art and great writing. also the discipline to accept assigned reading without complaint  because obviously when they get to college they won't get to choose everything they read themselves.
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stef
mom to five
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Cay Gibson
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| Posted: Dec 01 2006 at 10:35am | IP Logged
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Angel wrote:
So what I would like to know is:
1. Do you assign reading in your home? |
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Yes.
Neither of my boys were readders. They have recently come around and both are selecting and reading books of their own. My oldest actually visits the bookstore now and spends his own money on books. 
So I had to assign them in their early years or they wouldn't have gotten off the Nintendo long enough to read.
I have to assign my 9 yr old dd because she is so in love with the American girl series that she would not venture away from them if I didn't offer other selections. A recent example was having her read Sarah Whitcher's Story by Elizabeth Yates (she loved it) and various books on the Underground Railroad.
Angel wrote:
| 2. If so, how do you balance assigned reading and independent reading? How much reading do you assign? |
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Assigned reading is done during a break in (or at the end of) morning seatwork time. It's always the very last thing expected of the kids before we clear off the school table. I assign a chapter a day. Independent reading is done whenever they like, while in the car, and always in bed before lights are turned out.
Angel wrote:
| 3. Do you use prepared booklists or have you struck out on your own? |
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Both. I love booklists. I"m quite obsessed with them. But I usually strike out on my own when we're studying a subject (ie recently the Underground Railroad [history] and dental care [science]).
Angel wrote:
| 4. What are the goals you hope to achieve with assigned reading? |
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To expose them to worthwhile authors, to broaden their horizons, to give them an endless education, and---ultimately---to encourage love for reading. 
__________________
Cay Gibson
"There are 49 states, then there is Louisiana." ~ Chef Emeril
wife to Mark '86
mom to 5
Cajun Cottage Under the Oaks
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rose gardens
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| Posted: Dec 09 2006 at 7:28pm | IP Logged
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Angel wrote:
My 10 yo is requesting more structure...So what I would like to know is:
1. Do you assign reading in your home?
2. If so, how do you balance assigned reading and independent reading? How much reading do you assign?
3. Do you use prepared booklists or have you struck out on your own?
4. What are the goals you hope to achieve with assigned reading? |
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My 12 year old thanked me this week for assigning him to read The Hobbit. (He didn't think he'd like it, but he does.) I don't normally assign fantansy novels, but my son seemed stuck in a rut. (He had hard time finding books he liked, in part because he already read the books that grabbed his attention and wasn't trying others.) For my son, assigning this book introduced him to something he likes that he didn't think he'd like.
Some children need more structure and guidance with book selection. I wish mine would just pick up the great books on our book shelves without me having to assign them, but it rarely works that way here. I usually assign a few living history books each year. I also assign a few other books related to other subjects. Beyond that (and textbooks and workbooks), most reading is independent rather than assigned. I don't use prepared book lists per se, but I consult other's lists for ideas and I often choose from those lists to read aloud to the children.
I guess I'd say my goal of assigned reading is to introduce my children to great literature that they would miss if left to their own accord and to help bring other subjects to life through good books.
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: Assigning Reading?
