“Many persons consider that to learn to read a language so full of anomalies and difficulties as our own is a task which should not be imposed too soon on the childish mind. But, as a matter of fact, few of us can recollect how or when we learned to read: for all we know, it came by nature, like the art of running; and not only so, but often mothers of the educated classes do not know how their children learned to read. ‘Oh, he taught himself,’ is all the account his mother can give of Dick’s proficiency.” - CM 1/199
“But the learning of the alphabet should be made a means of cultivating the child’s observation: he should be made to see what he looks at.” - CM 1/201
“But the learning of the alphabet should be made a means of cultivating the child’s observation: he should be made to see what he looks at.” - CM 1/201
From the very first day 'official' day of kindergarten, when I, teacher/mom, left a welcome note on the chalkboard and we ate sack lunches on the back steps, read stories and baked a batch of cookies together, to the mid-year tweaking of the daily routine, to the latest decisions on where to store supplies out of the reach of chubby little 18 month old little brother's hands, this year has been filled with challenges, delight, and lots of fresh air!
In this post, I'm setting out to document a part of that process that I am witnessing here at home, the exciting 'learning to read' phase that has begun! After reading Volume 1, I felt free to be purposfully relaxed about the process so as not to burn either of us out. I hope to remember some of how this went for when my 2nd is ready for reading, though I know the learning process is as individual as the child. Regardless, here's what I've observed.
Posted school routine which Mason says plays a NECESSARY role, Yep!
I remember asking my professor, while everyone else was furiously taking notes, in our reading methods class in college, "...but how do they actually learn to read?" If I remember right, she chuckled and never really answered my question, but instead handed us some activities to use in our future classrooms. Now, here I am, a mother, watching it all unfold before my eyes with my own child, and I'm agreeing with that 'mystery' aspect that I was left with in college. It used to freak me out a little, back when I had my first classroom, I wanted firm sureness, but I now view it as one of the awesome intricacies of how our brains were created to capture and lay hold of information. I probably will never fully understand that. What I do understand is the part where the Holy Spirit leads my child's mind to just the right knowledge at just the precise time. The best part is that, as the one who is with my child daily, I get to assist in that divine process as opportunities are revealed to me. It's a pretty cool experience, when you think about it. Read Mason's 6 volumes for more on that.
Here's how it began. As a baby/toddler my son had some letter toys. I sewed some big cloth ones; he had a wooden puzzle and ABC blocks. We hung his name on the wall in his room, and he began to recognize and learn those letters almost without prompting. It was like curiosity got the better of him, and he had his own interest in those ‘shapes’ that he was seeing repeatedly in the world around him. He would ask me, “What’s that letter, Mom?” I never drilled him with flashcards; we didn't watch alphabet DVDs. We learned the letters A, J, Q, K while playing card games. He knew D was for Dad, and M for Mom. and we read S-T-O-P every time we walked to the end of our road. Simple.
Here's how it began. As a baby/toddler my son had some letter toys. I sewed some big cloth ones; he had a wooden puzzle and ABC blocks. We hung his name on the wall in his room, and he began to recognize and learn those letters almost without prompting. It was like curiosity got the better of him, and he had his own interest in those ‘shapes’ that he was seeing repeatedly in the world around him. He would ask me, “What’s that letter, Mom?” I never drilled him with flashcards; we didn't watch alphabet DVDs. We learned the letters A, J, Q, K while playing card games. He knew D was for Dad, and M for Mom. and we read S-T-O-P every time we walked to the end of our road. Simple.
Play station
At the beginning of the Kindergarten year I began to make 'letters' a more focused thing. We had 10-15 minute ABC lessons 3x’s / wk when we did our ‘school’ days. We really only did the fun things like play ABC Go Fish, put together a letter train puzzle, and read ABC books. We sang the Alphabet song while putting the ABC refrigerator magnets in order, and then we tried learning the song backwards, ha! I found some ABC dot-to-dots; we took sticks and made giant letters outside, or drew them in the dirt. He learned to write his own name during this time. One purchase we made was these wood pieces. They helped to mentally visualize the letters' shape.
About halfway through the year, I could tell his interest was growing; he began to fill up piece after piece of scratch paper with E’s, P’s, and T’s etc. and explain how he was being a book writer. So, keeping it interest driven, we went a little further, and I started loosely doing a letter of the week lesson. This I kept very simple, practical and something that requires little to no prep! I didn't want to weekly find library books to go along with each letter, or remember to print off a coloring page, or spend time pulling together craft supplies for a cute pinterest letter project. I didn't even put the alphabet up on the wall.
About halfway through the year, I could tell his interest was growing; he began to fill up piece after piece of scratch paper with E’s, P’s, and T’s etc. and explain how he was being a book writer. So, keeping it interest driven, we went a little further, and I started loosely doing a letter of the week lesson. This I kept very simple, practical and something that requires little to no prep! I didn't want to weekly find library books to go along with each letter, or remember to print off a coloring page, or spend time pulling together craft supplies for a cute pinterest letter project. I didn't even put the alphabet up on the wall.
My intention with the letter a week (or so) was for visualization and to help his hand muscles learn write them properly. To begin a lesson, I modeled the letter on my own piece of paper or wherever, and then he'd try writing in the air or a tray of sand. I switched to cornmeal and now we use salt because it seems more sanitary and cleans up better. We use a personal sized chalk board and did the 'wet, dry, try' method modeled after this curriculum, which I didn't buy but did read up on. After I'm sure he's able to form the letter correctly, he writes one capitol and one lowercase in his own special word notebook as best as he can. We made our own notebook with paper like this. Other days we play a game, ABC-Sound Go Fish and consonant dominoes are current favorites, or we just play around with our movable alphabet. I'm still on the hunt for the perfect set of ABC game cards with beautiful illustrations on them. For now, I like these free printable ones. Each lesson is no longer than 8-10 minutes- no exceptions!
The lessons flowed like a breeze until we hit 'Ss." I noticed frustration and that the fun seemed to be out of the lesson. So I completely backed off. I didnt even mention the letter lesson for a few weeks. We instead played games, and read together on the couch. Once while waiting in line, we drew S in the air. Once while finger painting we made S on the paper. Once while counting for fun, I drew on paper for him an S next to a 5 next to a 2 and we identified each one. After a while I pulled out the letter lesson (as above), just to test the waters and he wrote his Ss with not a worry! Now we're off again to finish up the rest of the alphabet.
My other goal during our lessons is for him to give focused mental effort for a short period of time, a gentle building up to first grade work. In the context of everyday life, the letters we are learning pop up quite often, of course. I love seeing how he's noticing. If I'm observant I can tell exactly what he already knows, and I don't have to quiz him over it in any way. I think Mason would describe it in her own lovely way, as a living idea that is forming its due relations.
The lessons flowed like a breeze until we hit 'Ss." I noticed frustration and that the fun seemed to be out of the lesson. So I completely backed off. I didnt even mention the letter lesson for a few weeks. We instead played games, and read together on the couch. Once while waiting in line, we drew S in the air. Once while finger painting we made S on the paper. Once while counting for fun, I drew on paper for him an S next to a 5 next to a 2 and we identified each one. After a while I pulled out the letter lesson (as above), just to test the waters and he wrote his Ss with not a worry! Now we're off again to finish up the rest of the alphabet.
My other goal during our lessons is for him to give focused mental effort for a short period of time, a gentle building up to first grade work. In the context of everyday life, the letters we are learning pop up quite often, of course. I love seeing how he's noticing. If I'm observant I can tell exactly what he already knows, and I don't have to quiz him over it in any way. I think Mason would describe it in her own lovely way, as a living idea that is forming its due relations.
Various notebooks on the nature shelf with picture study and calendar below. Finally an arrangement that works! (for now)
Other times during the day I have some ABC things around that he can pick up as he wants. Before I mention any, I just want to say that with a little creativity, I believe a child can have a quality education without spending a fortune on curriculum or manipulatives. On that note, here are 3 we like:
So, for the pre-reading skills level, this is what we're doing, nothing elaborate. Next will come those very first reading lessons, which I am really looking forward to doing when he's ready! I hope to follow and document how we use Mason's method as outlined in Volume 1 and described well in this series of lovely blog entries. I am also liking this book for possible future phonics instruction.
- We made our own version of these language objects by raiding Grandma's craft cupboard and cake decorating supplies. I might make labels to go with them. I saw something similar on a bulletin board in a kindergarten room once.
- - I love these images of Nature's Alphabet (free printable.)
- My kids like this magnetic toy, though I wish the pronunciation was clearer.
So, for the pre-reading skills level, this is what we're doing, nothing elaborate. Next will come those very first reading lessons, which I am really looking forward to doing when he's ready! I hope to follow and document how we use Mason's method as outlined in Volume 1 and described well in this series of lovely blog entries. I am also liking this book for possible future phonics instruction.
Teaching my kids to read was one of the things I was most looking forward to experiencing when we started homeschooling. Now there are so many things I look forward to, I wouldn't even know where to start!
“Reading presents itself first amongst the lessons to be used as instruments of education, although it is open to discussion whether the child should acquire the art unconsciously, from his infancy upwards, or whether the effort should be deferred until he is, say, six or seven, and then made with vigour.” - CM 1/200
“Reading presents itself first amongst the lessons to be used as instruments of education, although it is open to discussion whether the child should acquire the art unconsciously, from his infancy upwards, or whether the effort should be deferred until he is, say, six or seven, and then made with vigour.” - CM 1/200
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