A Reading Program

Last year I began using a program for reading from Christian Light Publishers.  I fell in love with the simple, quaint stories in the quality story book.  I thought the light units (workbooks) that came with the reading book reminded me of the worksheets I did in school as a child.  They were simple and old-fashioned.  I loved the program.  I even posted about how much I liked the program.  Laura, on the other hand, liked ACE.  Wanting to use what she loved, especially since she struggled a little with Christian Light, I switched. 

This year I've gone from using ACE back to Heart of Dakota, a Charlotte Mason approach.  Finances have been tight, so I couldn't afford to buy the Drawn Into the Heart of Reading Program that Heart of Dakota offers.  Laura and I LOVE our read aloud time where I read literature, both from the HOD program and other great books, but I wanted something with more structure.  I had some of the ACE books, but I didn't have all the workbooks.  Laura had begun to dislike them anyway, so I was hesitant to order more of something that she didn't want to use.

I dug out the Christian Light reading program I had bought for fourth grade.  I scheduled a couple stories to "see how it would go".  If Laura hated it, I would just drop it altogether and we would just read as much as we could this year.  I would focus on a reading program next year.  I was shocked that Laura liked the program.

It's a fourth grade program, but when I read through the questions and the vocabulary words, I realized that this simple, quaint program is actually very strong.  It's not overly easy, even for a fifth grader.  It is almost narrative in form in how it talks to the student.  Yes, it is a workbook and a reading text, which so many people can't stand.  I am one of those that has seen workbooks overused and misused.  Workbooks are not a complete education.  However, I do feel they have a place.

There are some subjects where I don't know how to teach.  I love to read, and could share stories with my daughter for hours.  However, I am not an expert in story structure or bringing out the grammar lessons that are in the story.  I may discuss the moral of the story with Laura, but I would never think of activities or extra research to really bring the story to life.  I would not emphasize making a map or using an encyclopedia.  I would just read and enjoy the story.  There is nothing wrong with that!  However, I don't want my daughter to miss some important lessons that might benefit her just because I wouldn't think of all those details.

I have gained a little more experience with curriculum over the last couple years.  I really delved into the teacher's guide for Christian Light's Bridges Beyond.  It has all of those things that I listed above.  There are Lesson Leads which is a list of activities you as the teacher can do with the student before they even read the story or touch a workbook page.  Finding or researching the location or background of the story, fun activities that bring the story to life, questions to ask to build the child's curiosity, even suggestions to highlight Christian character qualities.   

Each lesson has objectives listed for the parents.  There is also the Story Verse which gives conversation starters or activity suggestions for after the story is read.    As a parent that believes in the importance of reading aloud, that isn't neglected either.  In the appendix in the back of the book is a set of stories to read to your child.  These stories are set up for the student to learn to ask the Who, What, When , Where questions while listening to the story.  They are encouraged to take notes on the story being read.  There are questions the parent can ask after the story either as an oral quiz or just to see if the child is comprehending the reading. 

My favorite extra in the program is the list in the back appendix of grade appropriate books for my daughter to read.  These books are published by either Christian Light Publishers, Rod and Staff, or Pathway.  I know that all of these books are going to safe for my daughter to read.  They will be full of wonderful, God-honoring stories. 

The key to any program is that it is a part of the overall.  This is not the only reading my daughter does.  She is usually reading two or more books on top of her other subjects, the reading program, and our read aloud time.  All of these things work together.  I have learned that there isn't one curriculum, one thing, that will meet all that I want in a curriculum.  I have learned to mix and match and use what works for us, what I need. 

Some subjects I love to be creative and others I want it all laid out for me.  I love reading the Bible with Laura, but I also know she needs to have some of her own Bible time with God.  I like step by step with grammar and math because those are not subjects that I find fun, but I do know they are necessary.  I use a variety of things for Language Arts because Laura learns best by using a hodge-podge of methods.   Sometimes a hands-on activity will help cement a history lesson. Other times it takes a story or a movie to get Laura interested.  There are lots of methods I am learning to use... and I am not ashamed of using them.

I love reading and researching all the methods and ways in homeschooling. All this research and trying a little of this and a little of that has made me more comfortable with the fact that trying new things is okay.  I usually felt bad somehow if something I picked wasn't working.  Now, I drop it.  Sometimes I drop it for awhile, and sometimes I drop it forever.  Sometimes, as is the case with Heart of Dakota and Christian Light Reading, coming back to something has been a great experience.  Maybe Laura just needed to grow a little.  Maybe Mom just needed to grow a little.