One of the first things that homeschool families learn is that children have their own individual learning styles. Knowing this fact is one of the major advantages of teaching in a homeschool environment. Rather than having to stick to a public school curriculum that may not suit their particular needs, your homeschool children will be able to learn in a flexible environment that capitalizes on their strengths.
When it comes to teaching children to read, there is no reason for homeschoolers to adhere to the standard practice of the public school system and start when children are very young. In public school, children start their reading education in kindergarten, whether they are ready for it or not. This can have negative connotations for children who would be much better off learning to read at a later age, as they can be labeled as “slow readers” early on. Once a child has received such a negative label, it can affect every aspect of his or her education. In homeschool, parents have the freedom of being able to focus on their children’s particular learning styles, and they don’t have to force their children to learn anything before they are ready. Supported by studies that have shown that children may be better off learning to read at a later age, many homeschool parents are comfortable with adding formal reading studies to their homeschool curriculum when their children are 7 years old or even older.
Even though many homeschoolers don’t put an emphasis on teaching reading in the early school years, that doesn’t mean that their younger children aren’t learning about reading. When homeschool parents read to their children often, watch videos with them and help them learn to recognize their names or phone numbers, children are learning the beginning steps of reading in a very natural way. Without the pressure of being forced to read textbooks that they might not particularly like, or the pressure of knowing that they will be tested on everything they read, children learn that reading can be pleasurable. Watching their parents enjoy a good book, having a parent read to them, and observing how parents read such things as road signs, restaurant signs, etc, teaches children the importance of being able to read well without making reading seem like a chore. Homeschool parents are more in tune with their children as students, and they will know when their children are ready to take the next step to a higher level of reading education. Learning to read in this natural way can give children a lifelong love of reading that will positively affect every aspect of their lives.
One of the first things that homeschool families learn is that children have their own individual learning styles. Knowing this fact is one of the major advantages of teaching in a homeschool environment. Rather than having to stick to a public school curriculum that may not suit their particular needs, your homeschool children will be able to learn in a flexible environment that capitalizes on their strengths.
When it comes to teaching children to read, there is no reason for homeschoolers to adhere to the standard practice of the public school system and start when children are very young. In public school, children start their reading education in kindergarten, whether they are ready for it or not. This can have negative connotations for children who would be much better off learning to read at a later age, as they can be labeled as “slow readers” early on. Once a child has received such a negative label, it can affect every aspect of his or her education. In homeschool, parents have the freedom of being able to focus on their children’s particular learning styles, and they don’t have to force their children to learn anything before they are ready. Supported by studies that have shown that children may be better off learning to read at a later age, many homeschool parents are comfortable with adding formal reading studies to their homeschool curriculum when their children are 7 years old or even older.
Even though many homeschoolers don’t put an emphasis on teaching reading in the early school years, that doesn’t mean that their younger children aren’t learning about reading. When homeschool parents read to their children often, watch videos with them and help them learn to recognize their names or phone numbers, children are learning the beginning steps of reading in a very natural way. Without the pressure of being forced to read textbooks that they might not particularly like, or the pressure of knowing that they will be tested on everything they read, children learn that reading can be pleasurable. Watching their parents enjoy a good book, having a parent read to them, and observing how parents read such things as road signs, restaurant signs, etc, teaches children the importance of being able to read well without making reading seem like a chore. Homeschool parents are more in tune with their children as students, and they will know when their children are ready to take the next step to a higher level of reading education. Learning to read in this natural way can give children a lifelong love of reading that will positively affect every aspect of their lives.
E-Mail to a Friend