SCM Discussion Forum

1. 

   kortayabs
   Member

   I have a 11 yr old 7th grader who is an avid reader.  She literally devours books.  She will pick 5-7 books from the library at a time and have them done in 10 days.  While I'm thankful for this quality, it has posed some problems in teaching her.  I tend to go back and forth between CM and Classical in my homeschool.  They tend to get along well together, so that's just what I do. 

   Anyway, since she is starting middle school I would like her to "do something more" with her books instead of just devour them.  I have tried to slow her down and make her narrate, I have let her read the book and narrate the entire book (that goes better) and I have tried to have her pick an activity to narrate the book (like make a radio show, or drawing pictures, etc).  She doesn't like any of these b/c she just wants to "be left alone" to read the book. She DOES comprehend them, she IS getting something from them.  I have a high schooler, so I know someday soon my 11 y.o. will need to be able to discuss and interpret a book, not just eat them up on sight! 

   I keep being tempted to buy a workbook-type, Classical-type literature study and put her through a couple of books doing that.  I just envision the tears and frustration with that and it makes me throw my hands up and say ok, fine, not this year.

   Does anybody have any words of wisdom for me?  SHould I just give her the stack of books and let her have at it?  Are there any really great non-workbooky literature curriculums out there to supplement?  (She did not like Beautiful Feet)  I am also not afraid to tell her she's doing it no matter what b/c it's for her own good-type lecture.  I just dont want to squash this love she has for learning.  I want to tred lightly if I need to.

   Thank you all!

   Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
2. 

   wendysue
   Member

   My daughter and son really enjoy Total Language Plus. They produce literature guides that contain comprehension questions, vocabulary,writing, spelling, field trip, and project ideas. While there is some busy work, such as some of the spelling exercises, there is enough other things to do that my kids enjoy these studies thoroughly. It helps them slow down and think about what they are reading.

   Reading for pleasure is a wonderful past time ,and I encourage my children to do that as much as possible, but I feel, they also need to read in order to learn and understand deeper parts of a novel and its message.

    

   Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
3. 

   Bookworm
   Member

   She may be getting something from them, but she is not getting from them much that she can take with her for life.  I know, I used to "eat" books like this, and I wanted to be left alone with them too.  I was essentially eating candy.  I only took in what I wanted and left anything "hard" behind.  That didn't serve me so well later in life--I've essentially forgotton completely probably 80% or more of what I read.  She is obviously bright--she CAN at her age narrate and discuss books, but she is likely not to WANT to, because it is harder work.

   I was concerned about this exact thing when I began investigating Charlotte Mason's ideas.  So I decided to set myself a test.  I read for six months just like I always had--gulping books in succession as quickly as I could.  Then I "tested" myself.  Then I set myself to read several harder books, but forced myself to read them slowly and do written narrations over them.  Then I "tested" myself over those.  I was blown away by the difference in what I remembered and in what I actually understood. I thought I was smart and remembered a lot--until I did it the other way and noticed what I'd been missing!  I quickly began to interfere in my sons' preferred book-gulping too.  I do let them read the occasional "light" book quickly, but the "big stuff" needs to be lived with, thought over, considered, to be really internalized.  I want the truths of excellent literature permeating my mind and heart--not just a dusting of literacy on the surface of my skin. 

   I encourage you to consider trying this same experiment yourself and also propose it to her.  Again, it is definitely more WORK and that may be daunting.  She may very well object.  Most of us would rather do something the easy way.  But I don't think book-gulping is good preparation for college and life.  My kids balked a bit at first, although they were younger than 11 when I stepped in. 

   I encourage you to try a "book group" approach instead.  Make a mommy-daughter date time and read a chapter or two of a book and have tea or treats or something and discuss.  Try to make it an attractive option and see what happens.  Discuss, and then set a time to read the next bit and discuss. 

   Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
4. 

   Tristan
   Member

   My 10 yo daughter is this way too, she devours books.  We've come to a compromise.  School books (like the history books we'll read) have to be done at a slow, scheduled pace with narration.  We generally do a chapter a day or a chapter a week, depending on the length of chapters.  It took her a bit to accept, but one of the wonderful things about a slower pace is she has lots of time to think about it, digest it, and anticipate or predict what she thinks will happen next.  Her free reading books are hers to read as fast or slow as she likes.

   Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
5. 

   Tristan
   Member

   Ha, I posted right after Bookworm and she's full of wisdom as usual!

   Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
6. 

   kortayabs
   Member

   Bookworm--you rock!!! 

   My mommy instincts have paid off once again.  Everything you all have said is exactly what I've been thinking for a couple of years now.  You are right, I need to just buck up and do what I know I need to do for her own benefit.  It's like exercise:  you hate it at first but you are always glad you took the time to do it.

   I love love love the idea of a mommy/daughter book group thing.  I love to read and used to be like her until I started this whole homeschool/mommy thing.  :)  This would be fantastic for me as well!!

   I am going to do that, definitely.  That would be the best for her as she isn't a strong writer (surprising). 

   I am so excited!  Thank you thank you for your wisdom and your willing to share it with me!

   Amber

   Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
7. 

   Alicia
   Member

   What great insights here - how helpful - I am dealing with and have wondered about the exact same issues with my 9 yr old.  I have been a little concerned that she is just skimming some of the books she reads.  This gives me a solution!

   Alicia

   Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
8. 

   missingtheshire
   Member

   The books I have really retained are the ones in life that I took the time to savor and read slowly - I have read many books in a speedy manner, but don't ask me now to tell you about them, I couldn't. So now, I have a few books on the go on a personal level, and I really take my time and it is so much better. Linda

   Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
9. 

   Wings2fly
   Member

   What a great topic. I know that I retain more when I take notes. Thank you.

   Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
10. 

    my3boys
    Member

    I agree with everything said. I used to "gulp" books, too, but now I actually enjoy "living" with them for a bit longer. Plus, I've chosen much harder books for myself (and my boys) that forces us to take our time.

    I'm in the middle of 2 books right now that I did not read as a child and really taking my time (well, I kind of have to raising the kids 'n all) and I love the idea of having them with me for a longer part of my life. I am anxious to see what happens, but then again, I will be so sad when the leave my life, silly, I know.

    My oldest ds is starting to book gulp and I don't mind the free reading ones but I certainly don't want that to happen with the "school" books, either. On some level, I'd like him to slow down on his free reading, as well, just for the sake of enjoying something for a longer period of time. Or, have a several free reads going and alternate them to slow down the pace...we'll see.

    Great ideas Bookworm....such wisdom from these ladies.

    Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
11. 

    coralloyd
    Member

    I am reading The Secret Garden with my 10 yr. old dd. It has been such a lovely experience. Each day I read some and she reads some. We discuss vocabulary while we read. Then I have her look up definitions and write them down later. After reading I ask ?'s about the characters, the differences between them, changes in them, the setting, and the wording of things. Dd planted her own little garden when we planted our big one, and she tends to it each day. She drew a picture of what she thought the garden looked like when Mary found it, all overgrown. She looked up some of the flower names that we did not know; research and drew pictures of them. She also wrote her own nursery rhyme, since "Mistress Mary Quite Contrary" is mention often. We looked at pictures of Yorkshire moors on the Internet. It has been a lot of fun. I definitely encourage you to make it a mother/daughter thing. And get creative with it.

    Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
12. 

    Sue in MN
    Member

    Beginning in 7th grade we have really liked using Hewitt Homeschooling's Lightning Lit program. The 7th grade Lit program is a good place to begin because it teaches beginning Lit Analysis and Writing. This is the first and only Lit Analysis and Writing program that we have liked and we've homeschooled for almost 30 years. Yes, we have book gulpers too but this helps them to get more out of their reading and develops the writing.

    Posted 1 year ago # Report Post

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