On the Ledge and Need to Be Talked Down

Well, I was/am reading Jim Trelease's book, The Read Aloud Handbook, again! I read it when a dear friend (yes, Tina, you!!) lent it to me when Isabelle was about a year old. Before then I hadn't really been reading to her. After reading this book I started our 15 minutes a day which quickly grew to an hour or more a day. By the time she was in kindergarten I had already read her The Wizard of Oz, Charlotte's Web, and was so excited to have a voracious reader/listener. I was SURE reading would be so easy for her. After all, she could listen for hours!!! Little did I know........

Since then our days have been consumed with school work. And somehow I have lost the time to read as much as I like to my little ones or even to Isabelle. Reading Jim's book (yes, we're on a first name basis) has re-sparked the old flame in me. And so this week I have started our days with me reading to Isabelle (Heidi) for about 45 mins. to an hour. I then read to the younger ones for about 30 mins. Isabelle then practices the piano while I hurry and school Anna. Isabelle then does math and then goes and does her SSR. Anna benefits doubly because she listens to Isabelle's and the little ones' books.

My question (and this is where I need to be talked off the ledge .... Michelle?????) is: can't we just do this everyday? Math, read alouds, silent reading, and piano???? And that's it??

I brought this up to Craig and he said, try it for a few weeks. In other words, he's the one that put me out on the ledge. Until then I was only thinking about it. He's given me permission!!!!!

And so, I'm off to email my consultant because she's pretty good. But a part off me doesn't want to be talked down. I just want to jump!!! I just want to spend all day reading and having them read and play the piano. I see the value of Latin, science, history, poetry, religion (okay, we would keep on with our Baltimore Catechism) BUT it takes so much time. Or I'm just being inefficient with my time. I did make up a color coded schedule and its looks so perfect!! But somehow, it works out better on paper than in real life.

And Isabelle gets tired easily and the reading seems to be the first thing to go. And honestly, I don't remember ANYTHING from my science when I was in the 4th grade. I don't remember too much of my history either. Actually, the only thing I remember is the math I learned and the books I read and the books my teacher read to me. And I remember that I had a HUGE crush on Mr. Tipton. That's all.

Anyways, reading this book has thrown me for a spin. I bought a used 4th edition at Half Price. But last night I also bought a new 6th edition because the chapter on SSR (Sustained Silent Reading) was TOTALLY different than my 4th edition!! Is an author allowed to change his chapters so drastically?!?

I don't know what I'm doing right now. Maybe I'll just do this for a week or two?? I always imagined homeschooling being about books, music and math. And other subjects too. But I seem to run out of time and the reading seems to be left behind. At least for Isabelle. She needs the time carved out for her. And she can't be fatigued. Anna is a different story. She logs at least 1 1/2 hours a day in reading on her own. She seems to have the ability to finish her schoolwork and still find time to read. But she's only in 2nd. Maybe we're going through growing pains in the 4th??? I don't know??

I'm off to email my consultant. And to start reading the the SSR chapter in the 6th edition. And to also continue Homegrown Kids.

I also ordered one of my favorite homeschooling books, Homeschooling for Excellence by the Colfax's. As if that is going to help me off the ledge!!! LOL!!

Thanks Tina!! You started all this 9 years ago!!!! Michelle, really!!! Email me and tell me how you're doing it?!?