I started the day with a plan. My plan was neat and orderly and included things like Spelling with Boy #1 and Reading with Boys #2 and #3.
My life, however, is not neat and orderly. Apparently, I’d forgotten that I have four boys with minds of their own.
The trouble started while doing reading with Boy #3. We’re using a Hooked on Phonice Learn to Read system that I picked up at Waldenbooks for $20. When I first brought it home, Boy #3 couldn’t wait to get started. Today, though — four days into the program — I saw signs of resistance.
He was distracted. He was frustrated. He clearly wanted to be doing anything other than reading. When he said, “I hate reading!”, I knew we were done.
Up til now, we’ve taken an unschooling approach to reading. In other words, we read to them, answer their questions, play rhyming games, have lots of books around the house, magnetic letters on the fridge, etc. It’s all about creating an environment that encourages reading and then letting each boy approach it in his own way, on his own schedule.
With all the back-to-school hysteria, though,
