Comments on: Little Boys Who Don’t Love School http://www.preschoolersandpeace.com/?p=1094 Discovering Joy in the Journey Mon, 06 Sep 2010 10:11:33 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Annie http://www.preschoolersandpeace.com/?p=1094&cpage=1#comment-10056 Annie Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:05:16 +0000 http://www.preschoolersandpeace.com/?p=1094#comment-10056 Thanks for the word of peace about rushing the little ones! Your blog is such a blessing. Thanks for the word of peace about rushing the little ones! Your blog is such a blessing.

]]> By: Denise http://www.preschoolersandpeace.com/?p=1094&cpage=1#comment-9986 Denise Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:59:06 +0000 http://www.preschoolersandpeace.com/?p=1094#comment-9986 In an earlier comment, Kelly mentioned leap frog videos which both of my children enjoyed watching - esp the letter factory. If your son enjoys playing games, check out our website at www.sightwordsgame.com. In an earlier comment, Kelly mentioned leap frog videos which both of my children enjoyed watching – esp the letter factory.

If your son enjoys playing games, check out our website at http://www.sightwordsgame.com.

]]> By: Kelly@ In Everything... http://www.preschoolersandpeace.com/?p=1094&cpage=1#comment-9977 Kelly@ In Everything... Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:20:15 +0000 http://www.preschoolersandpeace.com/?p=1094#comment-9977 sorry... thought I'd add something else... my younger brother could do worksheets early but didn't have the ine motor skills to write his letters.... so my mom used... STAMPS to complete work! And sometimes if the point of the work is NOT penmanship I let my older one use STAMPS, too! Mix it up a bit... everyone likes a little variety:) sorry… thought I’d add something else… my younger brother could do worksheets early but didn’t have the ine motor skills to write his letters…. so my mom used… STAMPS to complete work!

And sometimes if the point of the work is NOT penmanship I let my older one use STAMPS, too! Mix it up a bit… everyone likes a little variety:)

]]> By: Megan Volmer http://www.preschoolersandpeace.com/?p=1094&cpage=1#comment-9967 Megan Volmer Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:00:46 +0000 http://www.preschoolersandpeace.com/?p=1094#comment-9967 Kendra's words of wisdom are right on target. I was so worried about my eldest learning early enough etc. I started her at 4.5 and had many "difficulties" especially as she has dyslexic and ADD tendencies. She turned 9 yesterday and is reading on grade level and probably would have been had I backed off for a year or two. Learning is important, but trying to teach a kid who is developmentally unready is not only a waste of valuable time, but often falls into the category of "provoking a child to wrath. Why are we all so content to let a kid walk at whatever age he chooses and then force them into phonics at 5? I think the 5-10 minutes a day is a good rule of thumb. My first grade daughter is speeding through Alphaphonics. My K son is going along with many lessons chopped in half. They are all different. Patience. I have heard (through the blog) Kendra say it is like you wake up one day and realize you are not in the same situation you were. When I started reading this blog nearly 4 years ago mine were 5, 3, 1.5 and I was barely pregnant living overseas. Fast forward through a duty station in the NE and now we are in the SE with a 9, almost 7, 5, 3 and one due in 3 weeks. I marvel at how much simpler life is and how helpful they have become. Training does pay off. And kids really do get to the point they can brush their teeth, wash their hair and their bodies alone. The first years with many littles are hard but they really do go fast. Read what Kendra says all over this blog she has been there and knows wherewith she speaks! Kendra’s words of wisdom are right on target. I was so worried about my eldest learning early enough etc. I started her at 4.5 and had many “difficulties” especially as she has dyslexic and ADD tendencies. She turned 9 yesterday and is reading on grade level and probably would have been had I backed off for a year or two. Learning is important, but trying to teach a kid who is developmentally unready is not only a waste of valuable time, but often falls into the category of “provoking a child to wrath. Why are we all so content to let a kid walk at whatever age he chooses and then force them into phonics at 5?

I think the 5-10 minutes a day is a good rule of thumb. My first grade daughter is speeding through Alphaphonics. My K son is going along with many lessons chopped in half. They are all different.

Patience. I have heard (through the blog) Kendra say it is like you wake up one day and realize you are not in the same situation you were.

When I started reading this blog nearly 4 years ago mine were 5, 3, 1.5 and I was barely pregnant living overseas. Fast forward through a duty station in the NE and now we are in the SE with a 9, almost 7, 5, 3 and one due in 3 weeks. I marvel at how much simpler life is and how helpful they have become. Training does pay off. And kids really do get to the point they can brush their teeth, wash their hair and their bodies alone. The first years with many littles are hard but they really do go fast.

Read what Kendra says all over this blog she has been there and knows wherewith she speaks!

]]> By: Cindy http://www.preschoolersandpeace.com/?p=1094&cpage=1#comment-9953 Cindy Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:51:25 +0000 http://www.preschoolersandpeace.com/?p=1094#comment-9953 We do ABEKA and I have loved it....it is totally oral with a tiny bit of printing involved (at least that is how I use it). It is bright and colorful and uses picture that catch the kids attention. It can be a little repetitive at times, but we move on with those that don't need the repeat, repeat, repeat. We use the simple, incentive games that come with the program and my boys and girls love it....I also try and be sensitive to when we are having a bad day and just do the bare minimum, like reading a book of interest out loud. From past kids that have learned to read, it is usually in gr.1 half way through that the light bulb goes on fully and it all starts to make sense. I have them write their letters neatly, but my older kids all have their own style, so now I just leave it alone, but insist on neatness, letters being on the proper lines. I had the toughest time teaching my daughter as she just had a hard time focusing....but I loved her up on my lap during the lesson times and she thrived during those times, being more cooperative to do the work expected of her and without a fight. Being allowed to hold a pointer to point at the blend ladders or whatever we were working on was fun for them too!! We do ABEKA and I have loved it….it is totally oral with a tiny bit of printing involved (at least that is how I use it). It is bright and colorful and uses picture that catch the kids attention. It can be a little repetitive at times, but we move on with those that don’t need the repeat, repeat, repeat. We use the simple, incentive games that come with the program and my boys and girls love it….I also try and be sensitive to when we are having a bad day and just do the bare minimum, like reading a book of interest out loud. From past kids that have learned to read, it is usually in gr.1 half way through that the light bulb goes on fully and it all starts to make sense. I have them write their letters neatly, but my older kids all have their own style, so now I just leave it alone, but insist on neatness, letters being on the proper lines. I had the toughest time teaching my daughter as she just had a hard time focusing….but I loved her up on my lap during the lesson times and she thrived during those times, being more cooperative to do the work expected of her and without a fight. Being allowed to hold a pointer to point at the blend ladders or whatever we were working on was fun for them too!!

]]> By: Spacebunny http://www.preschoolersandpeace.com/?p=1094&cpage=1#comment-9952 Spacebunny Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:38:16 +0000 http://www.preschoolersandpeace.com/?p=1094#comment-9952 My kids were fairly early readers, but only because they were interested in it. The oldest (boy) learned phonics because he was allowed to actually touch Daddy's laptop when he was doing it (if he got the letter or sound correct then he could push the button to continue on the powerpoint slide show my husband made for them). The girls learned at the same age and using the same method with good results. The one thing I tell people who ask me is that it only takes about 5 minutes a day, never more than 10 even if they are really into it that day. Sometimes we're so worried about them learning that we push too hard. One of the online reading sites my third especially enjoyed was starfall.com My kids were fairly early readers, but only because they were interested in it. The oldest (boy) learned phonics because he was allowed to actually touch Daddy’s laptop when he was doing it (if he got the letter or sound correct then he could push the button to continue on the powerpoint slide show my husband made for them). The girls learned at the same age and using the same method with good results. The one thing I tell people who ask me is that it only takes about 5 minutes a day, never more than 10 even if they are really into it that day. Sometimes we’re so worried about them learning that we push too hard. One of the online reading sites my third especially enjoyed was starfall.com

]]> By: Kelly@ In Everything... http://www.preschoolersandpeace.com/?p=1094&cpage=1#comment-9947 Kelly@ In Everything... Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:24:41 +0000 http://www.preschoolersandpeace.com/?p=1094#comment-9947 Thanks for yourt wisdom Kendra!! I have a boy in a similiar situation..... he is sooo ABLE, just not soo willing:( I actually bought a K workbook from Walmart that touches on the big points.... the characters throughout the book are monsters:) So he LOVES doing it... asks to work on it:) YAY! AS far as his "learning to read" book... I'm taking it super SLOW... like a lesson a week instead of a day! We work on the words, then make the words with magnetic letters, write on the whiteboard, do a rhyming game, etc!! Boys are busy.... so he's not just going sit through a whole lesson... at least right now:) The LeapFrog Letter Factory is followed by 2 or 3 other videos that we really have liked. They cover using vowels to put words together. One is called Talking Word Factory... anyway it's a series... also a math one:) They won't teach reading but DEFINITELY exposes them to sounding out letters and how letters make words.... I LOVE their little songs that remind us of phonic rules... "when two vowels going walking the first does the talking"!!! The math taught my son (3 yrs old) how to count by 10s:) Thanks for yourt wisdom Kendra!! I have a boy in a similiar situation….. he is sooo ABLE, just not soo willing:(

I actually bought a K workbook from Walmart that touches on the big points…. the characters throughout the book are monsters:) So he LOVES doing it… asks to work on it:) YAY!

AS far as his “learning to read” book… I’m taking it super SLOW… like a lesson a week instead of a day! We work on the words, then make the words with magnetic letters, write on the whiteboard, do a rhyming game, etc!! Boys are busy…. so he’s not just going sit through a whole lesson… at least right now:)

The LeapFrog Letter Factory is followed by 2 or 3 other videos that we really have liked. They cover using vowels to put words together. One is called Talking Word Factory… anyway it’s a series… also a math one:) They won’t teach reading but DEFINITELY exposes them to sounding out letters and how letters make words…. I LOVE their little songs that remind us of phonic rules… “when two vowels going walking the first does the talking”!!! The math taught my son (3 yrs old) how to count by 10s:)

]]> By: Cathi http://www.preschoolersandpeace.com/?p=1094&cpage=1#comment-9945 Cathi Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:30:10 +0000 http://www.preschoolersandpeace.com/?p=1094#comment-9945 Very wise words, Kendra. I would add that very early copy work doesn't have to involve what we normally think of as handwriting. Boys this young don't usually have mature fine-motor skills, but there's no need to forgo copy work altogether. Boys (and many girls) seem to prefer writing on a chalkboard or whiteboard with large letters that make use of their large motor skills and don't tax them in areas they aren't ready for. This is akin to the idea that we shouldn't delay children's writing until they can actually (hand)write LOL...they are two very different skills involving different parts of the brain and shouldn't be dependent on each other. When a child is ready for one and not the other, find creative ways for kids to transfer what's in their head to paper, screen, or board! Very wise words, Kendra. I would add that very early copy work doesn’t have to involve what we normally think of as handwriting. Boys this young don’t usually have mature fine-motor skills, but there’s no need to forgo copy work altogether. Boys (and many girls) seem to prefer writing on a chalkboard or whiteboard with large letters that make use of their large motor skills and don’t tax them in areas they aren’t ready for. This is akin to the idea that we shouldn’t delay children’s writing until they can actually (hand)write LOL…they are two very different skills involving different parts of the brain and shouldn’t be dependent on each other. When a child is ready for one and not the other, find creative ways for kids to transfer what’s in their head to paper, screen, or board!

]]> By: Amanda http://www.preschoolersandpeace.com/?p=1094&cpage=1#comment-9938 Amanda Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:11:14 +0000 http://www.preschoolersandpeace.com/?p=1094#comment-9938 Thank you so much for your feedback and wisdom Kendra. I recently attended a Homeschool Conference that also helped me get a better perspective. You have confirmed it again for me...I worry too much! LOL I'm backing off the phonics and simply having more fun with him - reading books, playing games, singing songs and teaching him road signs (which is an interest at the moment) and common words about the place. For the 2010 school year, I am looking at some computer options. I have used a couple of online phonics games with him and he loved it. I think if I can incorporate a computer portion, learning to read will become much more enjoyable for him, and more relaxing for me. :) Not to mention that 2 of his younger siblings are developing an interest in words and sounds. Yes, the only "copywork" is whatever he wants to do - labels for his work or asking for something in particular (he sometimes asks me to print off the bible verse he is learning or whatever for him to trace in 'curvy writing'). However, if there are lines to copy it and it's in cursive, he won't copy it...he'll only trace over it. I've come to be comforted by the fact the he is asking to write something, even if it's not consistent. The only thing I really focus on now is that he forms the letters correctly when he does write. As you mentioned - bad habits are hard to break. :) Blessings to you, ~Amanda. Thank you so much for your feedback and wisdom Kendra. I recently attended a Homeschool Conference that also helped me get a better perspective. You have confirmed it again for me…I worry too much! LOL

I’m backing off the phonics and simply having more fun with him – reading books, playing games, singing songs and teaching him road signs (which is an interest at the moment) and common words about the place.

For the 2010 school year, I am looking at some computer options. I have used a couple of online phonics games with him and he loved it. I think if I can incorporate a computer portion, learning to read will become much more enjoyable for him, and more relaxing for me. :) Not to mention that 2 of his younger siblings are developing an interest in words and sounds.

Yes, the only “copywork” is whatever he wants to do – labels for his work or asking for something in particular (he sometimes asks me to print off the bible verse he is learning or whatever for him to trace in ‘curvy writing’). However, if there are lines to copy it and it’s in cursive, he won’t copy it…he’ll only trace over it.

I’ve come to be comforted by the fact the he is asking to write something, even if it’s not consistent. The only thing I really focus on now is that he forms the letters correctly when he does write. As you mentioned – bad habits are hard to break. :)

Blessings to you,
~Amanda.

]]> By: Rebecca http://www.preschoolersandpeace.com/?p=1094&cpage=1#comment-9934 Rebecca Mon, 26 Oct 2009 08:16:45 +0000 http://www.preschoolersandpeace.com/?p=1094#comment-9934 Hi ! What I'd like to know is : how do you know when a child is ready to learn to read ? Thanks for the encouragement to not put too much pressure on a male kindergartner... Hi !
What I’d like to know is : how do you know when a child is ready to learn to read ?
Thanks for the encouragement to not put too much pressure on a male kindergartner…

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