On Our Own

When my oldest daughter struggled with reading, I was introduced to the book, "Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons." Half-way through the book, her struggles were overcome and she was off and reading on her own. I had always planned to use the book again if I had more children. What I didn't expect was to use it with a 3-year old. Jeremy has started going through the book with her and she is doing very well. (Yes, I'm bragging. It's my child and my responsibility as a mom to do so.) It's amazing to me how quickly little ones can pick up on reading skills. Before we started with the book, she was trying to sound out letters on her own and even doing a good job of figuring out what letter started words just by the sound the word makes.

Homeschooling is not about sitting a child at a desk at age 5 and going through textbooks while at a chalkboard (or whiteboard - don't want to date myself too much!). It's about teaching them at every stage of their development, focusing on their interests, and challenging them to do more than they think they can. It happens in the car, snuggled in bed, at the dinner table, playing outside. You get the picture. :) It doesn't take a "professional" teacher, a degree, or an institution to teach. It takes a dedicated parent who is willing to take the time. It doesn't take expensive curricula or fancy methods. Parents teach their children all the time without trying. It comes naturally. We teach them by our words and actions everyday. That's why Grace shouts, "Come on, stupid people!" when we're in slow traffic on the road.