A Timely Reminder About READING from The Old Schoolhouse Magazine (and a Freebie!)

I receive regular e-mails from The Old Schoolhouse Magazine (TOSH), and this most recent one helped me remember why we are homeschooling. I'm having one of those weeks when I am questioning our homeschool journey, and feel like I'm not doing "enough," and am half-tempted to enroll Tim in one of the local Catholic progressive preschools! 

Thank God too for fellow ROCKERs mom Maricel of Medela Moms, who was very assuring and encouraging too during our online conversation yesterday!

This is JUST what I needed, Lord! Thank YOU! ;-)

P.S. Don't forget to scroll down for a freebie especially for TOSH subscribers! If you aren't one yet, it's super easy to subscribe! Click here for more details.

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At what age do children learn to read? It depends . . . your 5-year-old may read sooner than your 7-year-old and some kids don't read until they're 11 or 12. Kids are different and not everyone learns at the same speed. For example, we've probably used a different phonics program for every kid. What works for one doesn't always work for another. Some kids are ready to read in kindergarten; some kids aren't ready to read until later. Homeschool isn't a factory where we turn out cookie-cutter students (grin).

But that's part of why we homeschool, isn't it--to teach our children when they're ready and not force them to some artificial schedule. You are blessed--they are home with you. You have time to really know them, enjoy their unique ways, study their learning styles, and help them to learn when it's time.

The reading will come, just take it one day at a time. And if your child is not ready to read, let it go and play games with him instead. Cook in the kitchen, play on the floor, and read to him. Play "Memory" and "Chutes & Ladders," that sort of thing. Play and read aloud!

Let's slow down, read His word, pray, and PLAY (or talk or cook together or read stories or go for a walk with them) with these kids when we're tempted to get stressed or worried. God is faithful, and He'll help those kids learn to read when the time is right. Someday those letters will make sense, it just takes time.

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And now, for the FREEBIES, thanks to The Old Schoolhouse Magazine! ;-) Click here to fill out the form so you can download a FREE copy of "Mrs. Wishy-Washy and the Big Wash" by Joy Cowley! 

We have several books (mostly readers) by Joy Cowley, and the kids love using them for our read-alouds! (Thank You Lord for the generous people who donated the books to our library, hehe!) ;-)