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Getting Started
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Hi,
I am new to homeschooling and Charolette Mason and have been reading the posts on this SCM site. My daughter is 11, is in 6th grade and is a reluctant reader. Any recommendations for reading materials or suggestions on how to instill a passion for reading? Also what are Moduules and where can they be found?
Thank you, Gina
Mudules are the SCM program that combines Bible, History and Geography in one resource (lesson plans) that has you use living books, map drill, and other activities to study a certain historical period alongside the Bible-era of that same period. For example, as you study Creation – Moses, you are also studying Ancient Egypt and learning about the Egyptian culture and doing map drills of the African continent. They are intended for grades 1-12 family study with addtitional assignments for the various grade levels. There is a list of resources to get and use with each one. The history modules can be found in the Bookstore link and the Curriculum link (click on history).
We are currently finishing Module One Genesis thru Dueteronomy & Ancient Egypt. I am enjoying these more and more as I go. They are so simple to use that I can forget just very effective they are. I am collecting all the resources needed for the next ones and I do not think that I will ever have to feel the need to change my history, simply because the structure is there with enough flexiblilty that I can do whatever I need for each child. And because they are so well prepared, I am not having to do much, if any, tweaking. =)
Can you tell us more about your dd interests and level in reading? We will have a better idea of what to suggest. Also, if she has been in a public school situation, she will probably need you to leave her reading alone for a bit. She will relax and begin to read because she wants to, not because she has to. There is a big difference and it does work. It happened here. =)
Thank you so much Sheraz for the info regarding modules with the SCM program! Yes my dd interests are horses, dogs, arts and crafts and she loves to be ourdoors. Her level in reading is between 5th and 6th grade. Yes, she was in public school and she only reads when she has to. She finds no joy in reading and it’s always been stressful for her. Her biggest struggles with reading are comprehension, confidence and finding something that interests her. We would love for her to enjoy reading and are eager to learn from you and others on any recommendations on how to achieve that. God has put us on this new path and we are grateful to have found out about CM. 🙂
Hi, Gina–welcome! Since your daughter likes horses, you might want to introduce to Marguerite Henry’s series of books: Misty of Chincoteague; Sea Star, Orphan of Chincoteague; Stormy, Misty’s Foal; Misty’s Twilight. We started off with the first two as family read-alouds for literature. We just love to share good literature, so I have always done our read-aloud together every day and then I include in the daily schedule 20-30 minutes of what I have called “Assigned Reading.”
I originally intended it to simply be free reading, but my kids (especially my oldest dd 13yo) would end up choosing to read Garfield comic books if I let them do all of the choosing. Instead, I choose a couple of good books and then they can decide which of those to read. When we had finished the first two Marguerite Henry books, I had scheduled something else for the next literature book. My oldest asked if she could read the next in the series for her “assigned reading.” She was hooked on them.
My youngest daughter struggled with reading fluency (and still a bit with comprehension) through 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grades. I had her read aloud to me a lot and we sometimes shared reading, taking turns by page. This year, in 5th grade, she has done all of her “assigned reading” by herself. Her narrations have been good. Today, I had her read a bit aloud, and I was surprised at how much better she is reading.
Perhaps the key for your daughter will be found if you read together for awhile, and if she gets really interested in a book or series, you can begin to have her read the next chapter or even the next book by herself from time to time. I found with my girls that eventually, they preferred to read good literature by themselves.
I think that she would be interested in the Marguerite Henry books. My dd who was in PS and struggled with reading also loves these books. She takes a while to get though them, but she is reading them. She really enjoyed Misty. Don’t forget Black Beauty.
I think that she may really get into the Thorton Burgess books, which are fun stories of animals. They are a series type in that all the characters show up in all the books – and he teaches the kids how the animals, birds, etc look and behave. My reluctant reader likes those too.
The Laura Ingalls Wilder books should capture her imagination. There are lots of things in those. Cassie Woodlawn is another good one. She may be ready for Anne of Green Gables or the Little Women, but if her fluency and comprehension need some work, I think I would start with Laura. They are not as intimidating looking. 😉
Another fun series she may like for leisure reading is the Trixie Belden series. Trixie and her family live on a farm and make friends with the rich family across the hill. They become best friends and have all sorts of mysterys to solve, and the kids (the brothers and sisters) create a club to serve others, they have chores to do, they respect their parents. It may capture her imagination so that she wants to read.
Check out the books for boys post. While those are interesting for boys, lots of those I have read and enjoyed. Most of them deal with the outdoors, horses, dogs, adventures outside, etc.
You may let her read a few “easy” for her books outloud to you once in a while to help her gain confidence and fluency.
Also, if she has no interest in reading right now, you could let her do some arts and craft things with her hands while listening to some audio books, like Black Beauty, etc to capture her attention. She may get enthused when she realizes that the stories are from real books and not everything in a book is about the Spongebob or Disney princess levels. (and yes, I have Disney princess books, lol) Anyway, that helps my dd who stuggles a bit. She draws while we listen.
Something that may peak her interest is a Kindle – lots of amazing books are available and she may feel grown-up to use one. LOL I am thinking of getting one for my 5-6th grade level reader for Christmas. HTH
Thank you Sheraz and Sue for the wonderful feedback! I will definately be looking at all the books the two of you recommended as well as putting into practice the techniques you both mentioned. Thanks for the inspiration! God Bless, Gina
Oh, Trixie Beldon! Thanks for that blast from the past, I read so many as a kid. My mom, who grew up in the Cherry Ames craze (I think she was a mystery solving nurse?) got them for me. I will have to check our library and also see if my oldest is ready for them yet, though she is 9 and not a super reader yet. Anyway, my thoughts on your questions Gina are this: 1) pick a book you could read to her, something she wouldn’t be able to read well on her own but a story she might enjoy-maybe she has not heard a lot of read alouds and this way you can be demonstrating fluency and what to do when you run across a word or phrase you don’t know the meaning to or pronunciation of 2) Find something well within her ability so she can gain confidence, we like Burgess books as well, and the chapters are very short 3) audio books while she is doing something that feeds her learning style (like sheraz suggested with a craft if she is a more hands on learner), possibly gaining information through reading is not her primary learning style, maybe lounging in a new bean bag chair or out in the yard or in the bathtub! There are lots of books at http://www.librivox.org 4) I would also second the kindle, my daughter thinks it is a very special treat to get to use mom’s kindle when her other sisters don’t get to yet. I hope you find lots of help here, this is a wonderful forum and I find so many things I wasn’t even looking for! Search the archives when you have free time and you will probably find answers to most any question you can think of!
I recommend the Little House on the Prairie series (Laura Ingalls Wilder). Our library has the full set on audiobook and we listen to them in the van, but have the books too. Some audiobooks we have enjoyed are The Cricket in Times Square, Wizard of Oz, and some mysteries. Another idea is to read aloud the first one or two chapters and let her finish reading the rest herself, after you’ve caught her interest and curiousity.
Welcome from another Gina with a 6th grader girl:) My dd also loves horses and dogs (ALL animals!)
No new suggestions….but my dd enjoyed Little House, Misty books, Lassie, Black Beauty, Anne of Green Gables. And she loves to make cards, so I allow that when I’m reading to her. HTH some:) Gina
P.S. Absolutely no need to respond if not interested, but my dd is queen of penpals and is always on the lookout for another if your daughter would like one.
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