www.TheOldSchoolhouse.com
I share this to show you that testing
was not necessary. We learned nothing
we;didn’t;already;know.;The;only;ben-
efit;of;the;testing;was;that;it;galvanized
us;into;action.;Looking;back,;I;believe
we could and should have acted with-
out;it;;we;just;didn’t;know;any;better.;We
were young enough and new enough and
homeschoolers were few enough that
we thought we needed help. We failed to
realize that all the help a homeschool
parent needs lies within the heavenly
realm and rushes to assist at the slight-
est invitation. So my message is simple: If
you;feel;there;is;a;problem,;act;like;there
is;one.;Again:;Go;back;to;basics.;Instill
a love of reading; focus on mechanics;
work;on;comprehension.
Some gentle-souled friend reading this
may;well;ask:;“What;mechanics?;Specifi-cally,;what;should;I;do?”;Look;at;your
reading curriculum. Each represents a
graduated;process,;and;going;back;to;les-
son;number;1;is;easy.;In;one;short;hour
you;can;breeze;your;way;back;to;your
current place if there is no problem, and
if;you;get;stuck;along;the;way,;you’ve;dis-covered where you need to place your
focus.;Begin;again;from;there.
If your child becomes frustrated with
reading words but not stories, review
the rules, because too much context has
made for a sloppy little reader. If your
child reads the words but fails to get the
gist of the story, begin discussing the
events chronologically, along with what
lesson was learned. If you are not using
a;graduated;curriculum,;bookstores;offer
hundreds;of;booklets;that;focus;on;either
mechanics or comprehension.
Some of the best techniques require
no money and just a little snuggle time:
Work;on;flashcards;of;sight;words.;Us-ing a hymnal, read big words that have
been cut into syllables—a Scripture lesson plus a phonics lesson in one easy application! Fish out a bag of tiny treats,
and offer one for each syllable in every
word;read;in;a;chapter;book.;Tailor;your
read-aloud stories to a child’s interest—the sports page, animal stories, etc.
Start;a;book;club;for;little;readers,;and
invite a couple of little friends to join.
They;can;each;read;the;same;book,;il-lustrate;their;story,;and;enjoy;a;cookie
while;they;discuss;it—works;for;adults,
doesn’t;it?
The most important thing a tortoise
needs;is;the;flag;at;the;end;of;the;race.
Recognizing;accomplishments;and;cele-brating;the;ability;to;read;a;certain;book
or;the;completion;of;a;program;signifies
that;your;child;is;a;winner.;Make;him
into one and enjoy the celebration . . .and
the;quiet;when;you;suddenly;find;him
ensconced;in;a;chair;with;a;book.
Raising a tortoise yields its own special
rewards, and the best one is the secret
knowledge;of;what;you;and;God;did;to-gether.;Like;Mary;of;old,;it’s;something;to
ponder and enjoy in your heart of hearts.
When;it’s;all;said;and;done,;I;enjoyed;my
tortoise every bit as much as my hare,
maybe more.
Saralee Rhoads is a homeschool mother
of three grown and married sons; she now
homeschools two of her grandchildren.
Many in the state of Missouri will remember her from The Heart of America Report. You can read more of her adventures
on her blog: www.homeschoolnana.com.
Fun Activities and
Additional Resources
Have you ever wanted to bring a
book;to;life;but;are;at;a;loss;for;the
time needed to create your own activities from scratch? Could you
use a fresh approach to help your
tortoise;master;the;reading;skills;he
needs?;Marla;Schultz;and;Dr.;Mat-thew Glavach may have the answers
you;are;looking;for.
Why simply read a book when
Schoolhouse Literature Teacher
Marla;Schultz;can;help;your;family
experience it? Her monthly litera-ture;kits;will;equip;you;with;the;re-sources;you;need;to;bring;books;to
life with minimal preparation time.
Come along as Marla cooks, col-ors,;sketches,;maps,;and;sculpts;her
way;through;a;different;book;each
month. Along the way, your children
will not only be exposed to great
books;but;also;language;arts,;science
and;nature,;Biblical;truths,;art,;Gos-pel missions, and more!
Dr. Matthew Glavach has been
helping students read better for
many years. Join him each month
on SchoolhouseTeachers.com as
he shares with you techniques that
may help your child develop phonics
skills, reading fluency, and a love
of reading. Let him help you equip
your child with the tools he needs to
read without stumbling.
You;can;find;both;teachers;each
month on SchoolhouseTeachers
.com, the curriculum arm of The Old
Schoolhouse® Magazine.
Teaching the Heart,
Soul, and Mind™
company
Notgrass
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“For the first time, my children
enjoyed studying history!”
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. . . I enjoyed my tortoise every bit as much
as my hare, maybe more.
