What are you reading this Fall?

Tag Archive - reading

Bragging on the Birthday Boy

February 2, 2012 in Boys, Family, Homeschooling with 2 Comments

I have to seriously brag on my big boy today…

1. Jonathan’s learning to be independent. Two days in a row this week he has successfully done two pages in his Math Mammoth 1A math book – without me. I’ve been a little slack the last few weeks in my morning routine and haven’t made it to a shower until during Jacob’s. So, Jonathan and I made a game out of who could finish first, me in the shower or him with his math. He beat me both days. He’s mastering his addition facts up to 10 and enjoys working with numbers so he’s to a point where the work is easy and focusing is the challenge.

2. Jonathan is really developing a love for reading. He knows that he has to read before he can play electronic games, so he has been reading a chapter early in the day so he’s covered for a little game time. Then later in the day he usually reads another chapter or two because he loves the story. He’s read so many Magic Tree House books in the last few weeks, I’ve lost count. One day he stopped, sighed a happy and contended sigh, said to me, “Mommy, I love to read.” Does it get any better than that?

3. Jonathan’s handwriting is incredibile for a 4 year old, almost 5 year old boy. Boys in general don’t usually have fine motor skills like this at his age and aren’t usually as interested in writing. We joke that his handwriting is better than Daddy’s!

Jonathan has a big day coming up this weekend – his 5th birthday! Josh’s parents arrive this evening for a long weekend to celebrate with us. Jonathan is so excited about their arrival that he’s been counting down for weeks.

Thank you to these blogs for inspiring and provoking thoughtfulness, thankfulness, remembrance, and showing my how to celebrate my boys:

Four Things to Remember When Teaching an Early Reader

January 16, 2012 in Homeschooling with 2 Comments

When my son Jonathan was about three and a half, he started showing an interest in reading. He knew all his letters and most of their sounds. He would flip through books and “read” the ones he’d memorized or make up the story for those he didn’t know. And then, he started asking to learn to read.

At first, I panicked. I found myself a little lost at how to teach a child to read. I thought I’d have a few more years before I’d cross that homeschooling bridge! Thankfully, I attended a local homeschool seminar and found some great resources. I learned so much in the process over the last year and a half.

Continue reading Four Things to Remember When Teaching An Early Reader over at The Homeschool Classroom where I’m a monthly contributor.

Help! My Early Reader Has Hit a Reading Wall

January 9, 2012 in Homeschooling with 0 Comments

I have an early reader. At just over three and a half years old, Jonathan showed an interest in learning to read. Within one month of starting to sound out words, he was reading at an early first grade level. Fast forward about a year to age four and a half. Jonathan now reads at around a 3rd grade level. He easily reads chapter books and sounds out new words independently.

But then it happened.

Read the rest over at The Homeschool Classroom where I am a monthly contributor.

Fall Into Reading 2011 – A Recap

December 23, 2011 in Books with 1 Comment

Fall Into Reading 2011 was a serious win! I finished all of the books on my list except Habakkuk, which I’m about half way through and will finish soon. Go take a look at my full Fall Into Reading 2011 list.

I added some discussion series and reviews here on the blog for a few of these books. Take a look…

And I decided to do a book club for How to Have a H.E.A.R.T. For Your Kids! Get all the details for the HEART Book Club which begins January 2!