Journey to Excellence

Probably you know this already, but perhaps you don't ... our Eli, age 8 1/2, is on the autism spectrum. Although we have never had him officially diagnosed (why, really?), he has all of the characteristics of Asperger's Syndrome. I would imagine it's a mild case, but it's there, alright. One area of stress for Eli has been reading. Give him a math problem, and he's done in a flash! Give him a book with more than one line on it and he can't hardly begin to read for being stressed about the number of words on the page. (He is actually much better about this than he used to be, but that is always the first thing he says about a book when he opens it to read it.) Enter the Eye Level Reading Ruler by Crossbow Education . What a marvelous tool! How I wish we would have had this tool when Eli was first starting to read! How does it work? It looks like a ruler with two separate guide lines: one for reading one sentence at a time and one for reading a pa...

I have been taking a crash course in U.S. History this summer. And I have loved it! It makes me realize how dry and boring my school history classes were when I was a kid and teenager and how I learned nothing! I don't know if Dawson and Brynne will learn anything, but we are going to have fun trying! I have learned more this summer than I ever thought possible, and the history of our country is an exciting thing! One of the things I am most excited about with this course is the Living Books we will be reading. I like to do these as Read-a-Louds so I can enjoy them, too. Here is what we will be reading (I have three more units to plan, so I will add to the list): Blood on the River by Elisa Lynn Carbona Yankee Doodle Boy by Joseph Plumb Martin The Captain's Dog by Roland Smith The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe The Slopes of War by Norah A. Perez O Pioneers by Willa Cather Black Elk Speaks by John G. Neih...

And for me, this is where the rubber hits the road when it comes to how The Book Whisperer applies to homeschooling. The fact of the matter is .. if a public or private school teacher puts his/her blood, sweat and tears into creating the free reading environment that enhances a student's desire to read, it doesn't mean that the teachers in following years will do the same. And that teacher has no choice but to LET GO and hope that what was accomplished that one year will stick. Donalyn Miller says, in the final chapter, "Instilling lifelong reading habits in my students is like trying to hold the ocean back with a broom, a futile endeavor, if they are going to go right back to the same controlling environment they had before my class." How sad. Thankfully, as a homeschool parent, I don't have to worry about that situation. If I am able to accomplish a free reading environment sufficient enough to get my students excited about reading, that is something t...

Chapter 6 of The Book Whisperer did not apply as much in the homeschool setting, but it was still very informative to me as I have two public school students who deal with the exact classroom reading procedures described in the chapter: whole class novels, comprehension tests, book reports, reading logs, round-robin and popcorn reading and incentive programs. In reading this chapter I can see clearly how these procedures do not work! Donalyn Miller gives some excellent alternative procedures to use that seem as though they would be much more effective in a classroom setting. There were a couple of things that stood out to me. Again, are we teaching books or readers? If we teach readers, they will learn all they need to learn about books. Comprehension tests. "[H]ow many adult readers would choose to read if they had to take a multiple-choice test for every book they finished?" Accelerated Reader. " ... in which books are assigned a point value and students m...

"I am just feeling so inspired. Anybody reading the book feel the same?" That was the last line of my last post about The Book Whisperer and Reading Notebooks . And Chapter 5 is all about our students catching the fever of excitement we feel about reading. We can't fake it. If we don't like reading, those watching us will know it. But if we always have our nose in a book, it's pretty evident that we think books are the way to go. In the Self-Reflection Activity the question is posed, "What were your reading experiences as a child?" I really don't remember reading that much as a child. It was more in high school that I caught the bug. I would read in class when I was supposed to be listening to a teacher. My friends and I were really into Danielle Steele novels, and read them all the time. I can even remember crying in class when reading Fine Things . I don't remember any teachers reading. I don't remember any educators showing me ...

Well, the more I read The Book Whisperer the more I know in my heart that reading should be more of a focus for us this year! Homeschooling has brought back out the inner reader in me. And I want my kids to have the passion for reading that I have. I had planned to make writing an emphasis this year, especially for Dawson, and purchased the IEW (Institute of Excellence in Writing) U.S. History Supplement. It. is. intense. Or at least it is in addition to the extremely full American History curriculum I have put together. I was already worried about Dawson's ability to keep up with it. After I read Chapter 4 of The Book Whisperer , and Donalyn Miller's discussion about the Reading Notebook and reading requirements, I was feeling stressed about how to add in these great reading items into our already tight schedule. So I really spent some time thinking about what I thought was important for the kids this year, primarily Dawson. And I just felt that reading is that imp...

That question jumped out of Chapter 4 of The Book Whisperer and smacked me! It is posed by Donalyn Miller in response to a debate about whether to allow students to read "mind candy" for pure "escapism" or require all books they read to be up to the teacher's standard of superior "literary value". She goes on to say, "By allowing and encouraging students to read what they want, I also endorse their culture and their interests -- something we do not do enough in school ... Once students find at least one book they like and receive approval for reading books of their own choice, it is easier to move them toward books you suggest." These thoughts are reasons why I don't agree with Charlotte Mason's opinion about "twaddle". Of course you cannot just let your students read any 'ol trash, any 'ol time, all the time. But I think about myself ... sometimes I read some great stuff, and sometimes I just want an easy read ...

Being a homeschool teacher isn't that much different than being a public or private school teacher, except that I love my students more than a traditional teacher loves his or hers and I know my students better than a traditional teacher knows his or hers. I have planned all summer for the educational needs of my two specific students out of pure love for them, and I don't have to spend several weeks learning the strengths, weaknesses, likes and dislikes of my students. I already know their family dynamics and history. I already know their educational abilities. I have it easy. I know this because I have two children still in public school. I know that each year when I write that "introduction letter" to my child's teacher that I always get a heartfelt (albiet desperate) "thank you", because without it that teacher was going to have to get to know my child by trial and error while doing the same thing with at least 20 other children. And that's ...

When Kyndal was in the 2nd grade, which seems like a lifetime ago, she had a teacher named Mrs. Owens. When I think back, I realize this year was Kyndal's best year in school, ever. There were times I would come into the room and it would appear to be in chaos. Kids would be sprawled out everywhere ... under the desks, on the desks, on bean bags, etc., with shoes and socks all over the room. The room was trashed and I just couldn't imagine how any learning was happening. And that teacher is now the school's librarian. Hmmmmm ...... She obviously shared Donalyn Miller's philosophy of not having a designated reading corner in the classroom . She felt that if kids were reading, and enjoying it, that she could stand the smell of stinky feet. In Chapter 3 of The Book Whisperer , Ms. Miller says that "[b]uilding a trusting relationship with students is easier when you expect them to do the right thing instead of assuming that they are not." (pg. 67) She is refe...

Have you ever given a written survey to your homeschooled student? I've gained insight from my kids about certain topics before, but I have never handed them a written survey to complete. In The Book Whisperer chapter entitled "Whisper: Surveys", Donalyn Miller discusses the concept of classroom surveys, and even has an example of the one she has used. What a great idea to get students, especially non-readers, to think about their interests, likes and dislikes, put them in writing, and submit them to someone who could decipher them and help them find books they would like to read. I know that some of the best books I read are as a result of a recommendation. Perhaps my students would be more excited about reading if I, or a library professional, was able to take their interests and recommend a book or series based on those interests. I know that this has been a problem with Dawson. We go to the library, but he is so overwhelmed with the vastness of selections that...

The assignment on The Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller is to read Chapter 2, which I just did. But while reading about her suggestions for allowing her students to choose what they want to read, based on their interests as long as they are reading, and reading often, I was reminded of something she said in Chapter 1. She talked about how during free reading time she would also read a book of her choice! Her students had the opportunity to see her reading because she enjoyed it. And that is contagious! After finishing Chapter 2, I immediately went to my office and took my proposed hand-written daily schedule for next year and revised it. I want Dawson, Brynne and I to have a thirty minute time of personal reading, that we do all at the same time. During that time we will each sit in the living room together and read, whatever book we want to read. Why shouldn't I get to read what I want during this time, as well? And why shouldn't the kids see me reading? I usually do my r...

I am a teacher. There is no doubt. I hardly ever engage in any activity with my children without seeing the educational side of it. But I also love to learn. And lately I find myself soaking in every tidbit I can to be a better woman, wife, mother and teacher. I don't feel pressure to learn, just a desire. I am not feeling inadequate or that I'm not doing enough, I am just enjoying finding new and inspirational ways to do things. The other day I stumbled across a book study on The Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller going on at Thinking of Teaching . And I don't know why, but I jumped on board. I love to read and since I have started homeschooling, reading has become one of my greatest passions. And I want my children to have a passion for it as well. There is never any reason to be bored when you have a book to read. It takes you anywhere you want to go. So I'll be posting my discussion questions from the book study here, since this is my homeschooling blog. The b...