
all of a sudden my eldest son has started to read, carefully sounding out words all by himself. When we drive he is reading road signs and posters and taking delight and pride in this new found ability. He has been at school for a year and a half now and the school "actively" encourages reading, he brings home new reading books and homework most nights. We have "actively" tried not to pressure him, not forcing homework when he is tired or simply doesn't want to do it, encouraged a love of books by sharing them with him ~ in fact we have probably been working against the school ~ making sure he makes the most of his childhood by learning to play, to play outside, to cook ~ there is plenty of time to become a rocket scientist!
This new found ability to read seems to have just happened all on it's own, he is still five and a half after all. The funny thing to me is that it has happened at the same time as his first wobbly tooth, it is as if now that his body is growing up, he is now ready to learn and somehow that feels just right. I am sure I have read something about Steiner teachings {I should read more}, that the body goes through phases, which is why they don't believe in teaching children to read until they are seven years of age and ready to learn. I read Nicole's blog
here and took great comfort that my feeling that education steals away the best part of childhood are shared by others. I have also been following
Eren's concerns about her childrens education and how she is researching the best options for her family.
I wish I could find a strength in my own convictions to know what is the best route to take ~ I suppose the most important thing at the end of the day is that they are happy.