Name: ICHE Homeschool Conference
Start: 2025-06-05T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-06-07T23:59:59-05:00
Location: Bourbonnais, IL

Tagged: independent reading, literature, Read Aloud

This topic has 12 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 9 years, 11 months ago by Tristan.

Viewing 13 posts - 1 through 13 (of 13 total)

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June 15, 2015 at 6:35 pm
Michelle Brumgard
Participant
We completed all of book group 1 and part of book group 2 listed in literature for grades 1-4 this past year. My daughter is entering third grade and I plan to complete book group Two and three. A few times this past year my daughter would pick up the book and begin reading where I stopped (like if I had to pause to do something). If it is a book she can read independently, do I still read it aloud? How do you decide what to read aloud? She read Busy Times, and More Busy Times aloud to me last year. I did not require any other independent reading. She did read some on her own but not consistently. I plan to schedule independent reading time for her this year. How do I know what reading levels or books to choose?
June 15, 2015 at 7:07 pm
AFthfulJrney
Participant
I’m sorry as this has nothing to do with answering your question, but I’m still new to the site and was wondering where I find the book groups at?
Thank You!
June 15, 2015 at 7:46 pm
Michelle Brumgard
Participant
Plan Cm drop down menu, free curriculum guide. Scroll down that page and you will see literature listed. Click and you will find the lists. 🙂
June 15, 2015 at 7:50 pm
AFthfulJrney
Participant
Thank you! 🙂
June 15, 2015 at 8:47 pm
missceegee
Participant
As your kids are able, begin to turn over their school books to them in the different subjects. This is usually a gradual process and varies with each kid. My dd14 reads all but 1 book alone, typically; ds11 reads all but 1 or 2; dd8 (reads at a high school level) also reads most of her own, but I keep 2-3 to do together. I do recommend always keeping a family read aloud going even when they’re in highschool. It’s simply a joyous part of family life. CAUTION – keep the kids reading aloud to you periodically so that you can still make sure they are moving forward in their fluency and ability. We call this Elocution.
June 15, 2015 at 11:29 pm
Michelle Brumgard
Participant
Miscegenation, I believe I remember you use Apologia too. I have myself reading aloud the SCM module 2 History/Bible/Geo, Apologia Science, literature book, and LDTR lesson. I agree that I want to create and continue a daily family read aloud habit. Besides independent reading, would I have her read the SCM history and science by herself? I can’t picture this with the purpose of the family study. I have a four year old coming behind her in the next two years. Part of her independent reading time will be to read a book to her little brother 3 times a week. She does this already and enjoys it. How do you choose your family read aloud to engage everyone? From my understanding, she will have more independent history reading next year.
June 15, 2015 at 11:31 pm
Michelle Brumgard
Participant
We use MUS and she does that independently or less she needs help.
June 16, 2015 at 7:54 am
missceegee
Participant
I don’t use the Apologia elementary books. My oldest used 3 of them, but they were not faves at our house so we won’t repeat.
With history, I read aloud one or more books to all and then my kids who are able, read some independently. For example, I’m about to read Amos fortune aloud to ds11 and dd8, but they are each reading their own books too. If you choose the SCM modules, they give guidance for how you could do this. Once you’re comfortable, it’s easy to do on your own, too.
For literature, we just pick. Right now I’m reading Strawberry Girl by Lenski for the 2nd time be only oldest dd14 remembers it. I’m reading the Breadwinner trilogy and a couple others on a rotating plan.
Each of my kids has their own science this year. Next year I am using scm’s pond and stream companion with dd8 and ds5.
June 16, 2015 at 9:24 am
Tristan
Participant
For us things work like this (usually):
Kids have independent reading book for literature once they can handle chapter books. Right now that means my 7, 9, 10, and 14 year olds. The 7 year old could handle chapter books at age 3.5 though, so he’s unusual in my family. He’s had a literature book to read independently for a long time. The next child is 6 and not yet reading independently, so he doesn’t have a lit book on his own.
Then kids have history books to read and research with AND I read some history books aloud. I read most of the books for the 5th grade and under crowd aloud but I also have them on a shelf beside the dining room table and the kids pull them out to look through often. Double exposure…
The 14 year old reads all her own books. I will read the same books sometimes so we can discuss them.
We also keep a family read aloud going all the time – it’s our homeschool book club title. So right now it is Misty of Chincoteague. Everyone, ages 14, 10, 9, 7, 6, 4, 3, 1, listen to this.
We have daily quiet time and there is an audio book playing during part of this where everyone can listen if they choose, and it gets turned on again at bedtime. During this my kids also have book lights and can read what they want, but this way the non-readers have something to listen to (though the book may be for any age! we’ve listened to classics like Heidi and Swiss Family Robinson and more current titles like Eragon or The Underland Chronicles as well as younger kid titles like Charlotte’s Web.)
Reading in other subjects:
Science – I read aloud to all kids together except the 14 year old (we’re using God’s Design for Science). 14 year old does Apologia independently.
Scriptures – We have daily devotional and read aloud together and all independently reading children also have personal scripture study daily. Non-readers sit with mom, dad, or an older sibling for a scripture story read aloud daily as well.

June 16, 2015 at 11:20 am
Michelle Brumgard
Participant
Thank you. My daughter can read chapter books but hasn’t had a book she couldn’t put down yet. However, I don’t think she has tried on her own too much. I think I will definitely assign independent reading more and in various subjects to discover her interests.
June 16, 2015 at 11:26 am
missceegee
Participant
Try getting her started with something like Boxcar Children (one of the first 19 books) and leave her hanging. Many kids want to find out what comes next.
June 16, 2015 at 11:42 am
Angelina
Participant
Agree with missceegee on Boxcar. It is great for the early reader just getting into chapter books. This series got ALL my boys to fall in love with reading and eager to read independently. Sugar Creek Gang was another series that accomplished my goal of getting them to fall in love with reading and to embrace any and every opportunity to read independently. I wouldn’t call Sugar Creek “school material” – but this series, along with Boxcar and Little House series, got the job done of getting my children to love books. Also on the list was the Moffats series by Eleanor Estes. All great picks to encourage independent reading at age 8-11 or so…
June 16, 2015 at 11:52 am
Tristan
Participant
Yep, agreeing! And what about reading a chapter to her, then having her read the next on her own, then you read a chapter to her again? Just a way to get her far enough into a book that she reaches that can’t put down spot? Even if that means you read every other chapter of the whole book!