Welcome to The Educating Parent Beverley Paine's archive of articles about homeschooling and unschooling written over a period of 30 plus years

HomeAbout Blog Articles Curriculum Resource Directory Shop Kids Pages Facebook

Download our FREE The Educating Parent Resource Directories today! Plus... more FREE resources!

Free download a quick guide to getting started with homeschooling and unschooling by Beverley Paine The Educating Parent in this excellent Resource Directory

 

Free directory of Australian homeschooling and unschooling support groups organised by national, state and territories

 
Plan, record and report all in the one document! Always Learning Books planners available in each year level to suit your homeschooling needs, includes curriculum checklists
Australia's original homeschooling manual from veteran home educator Beverley Paine, how to write your own learning plan and curriculum to meet your child's needs
Let Beverley and friends help you design and write your own curriculum to suit your child's individual learning needs, learn how to prepare lessons, unit studies and more, record and evaluate your children's learning in this series of 3 parent workbooks developed on Beverley's popular homeschool manual Getting Started with Home School Practical Considerations
Introduction to
Home Education
  National and State
Support Groups
  Yearly Planner, Diary & Report Beverley's Original Home Ed Manual Series of How To
Parent Workbooks

Support Groups: National SA VIC NSW QLD TAS ACT NT
Registration Guides: VIC NSW QLD SA WA TAS ACT NT

Looking for support, reassurance and information?
Join Beverley's The Educating Parents Homeschooling and Unschooling Facebook online group.

 

Jump-start reading tips for reluctant readers

Beverley Paine, May 2004

Every parent wants their child to be a strong reader, but some children either have an aversion to reading or develop reading skills late. Because so much emphasis is placed on reading, this can lead to a great deal of anxiety for the parent and frustration and low self-esteem for the child. If there is a chance your child may have a physical problem visit a developmental optometrist for evaluation. Children learn to read at vastly different ages, from three to thirteen, but if you are worried and your child is keen to read but can't master the basic skills, it's reassuring to seek an expert opinion.

I don't believe in the myth that everything a child learns must be fun - children aren't like that. They learn most of their important lessons when they aren't having fun, but when the work is serious and meaningful to them. So I'm not going to say, as many reading experts have, make reading enjoyable. Sure, your child is likely to spend more time at activities they enjoy, but if they can't read yet, or don't like reading, how are you going to make it fun? I say, make it personally meaningful to them.

When I think about why I want my children to learn how to read it is because I want to share with them wisdom have passed down through the ages; give them to access information that will empower them and help them make important decisions throughout their lives; and also to communicate effectively with others. Many of the following suggestions will help improve your child's vital comprehension skills - even without a book in his or her hands!

Be sure to emphasize the importance of communication by modelling and expecting appropriate listening habits. This means making sure you have your child's attention or he has yours whenever you talk. I did this by saying the child's name at the beginning, rather than at the end of my sentence, and by making eye contact from time to time as we speak. I wait until the child has finished concentrating on whatever task he or she is doing before speaking. My presence is often enough to alert the child that I want to say something and she will usually look up expectantly.

Encourage conversation. Most of us would be surprised at how little we actually talk with our children. Notice I said 'with' and not 'to'. There is a difference. Share ideas, ask questions, seek clarification if you don't fully understand or if there is a chance you are assuming that you've got the picture - remember your life experiences often mean that your way of seeing things is very different to your child's.

Don't lapse into verbal laziness and use words like 'thing' or other such generic words. Everything has a name. As does every action. Use nouns and verbs; describe precisely what you mean. Use adjectives and adverbs to help expand your child's vocabulary and to help her identify relationships such as similarities, opposites, sequences, cause and effect, examples, etc. Make vocabulary a family activity. Do crosswords together, or make your own. Play word games and encourage the dictionary and thesaurus.

Read to your child, just for fun, or whenever he or she asks you. Don't make every attempt to read a 'lesson'. We accepted that our children would learn to walk and talk in time, given appropriate encouragement and an environment that supported the development of those skills. Read in front of your child so that your child sees you reading for information and enjoyment often.

Read books and articles on topics that interest your child so that you can share ideas. Don't forget to talk about what you are reading if you are reading together. Talk about your own experiences or his and compare them to what you are reading. Borrow or buy books that you think may interest him, or extend his interests further. Another great idea is to encourage your child to have a question in mind when reading for information.

When your child is reading aloud and makes an error that changes or destroys meaning, gently ask at the end of the sentence, "Did that make sense?" Sometimes misplaced punctuation can change the meaning of the sentence. Query the action in the story, or the information, so that the child has the chance to reread the section. Explain the role of punctuation. It helps to model reading with expression whenever you read aloud.

It goes without saying that nobody likes to be forced to do anything, and we don't particularly like to be bribed with rewards either. Let children discover and enjoy the power of reading without coercion. Don't expect your children to read every word, or particular books. Learn to recognise where you child is already using and practicing her reading skills. It may be playing computer games, or reading LEGO catalogues, as mine did, or it may be the labels on cereal packets at breakfast time. Young children practice reading every time they go for a drive and delight in recognising letters and words from signs.

Was this article helpful? Was it worth $1.00 to you? Your gift of $1 or more helps to keep this site operating offering encouragement and reassurance to families wanting better outcomes for their children.

Thank you for your gift contribution!

Beverley Paine with her children, and their home educated children, relaxing at home.

Together with the support of my family, my aim is to help parents educate their children in stress-free, nurturing environments. In addition to building and maintaing this website, I continue to create and manage local and national home educating networks, help to organise conferences and camps, as well as write for, edit and produce newsletters, resource directories and magazines. I am an active supporter of national, state, regional and local home education groups.

"You've been an inspiration to me, I love the way
you really listen to people."
Vanessa

"Whenever I read your writing I always come away
with increased confidence in my ability to provide and
share a wonderful learning journey with my family!"
Davina

"Your guidance, understanding, support and words of
wisdom changed our lives. We now offer support and
organise many homeschooling events for others."
Lesley

"Thank you once again for your prompt and friendly service.
I am convinced that your books are going to add
quality and peace of mind to my journey of teaching my kids
at home! Just from studying your website, until almost
2am in the morning, I 've been encouraged!"
Louisa

"Thank you for all your many,many reassuring words
over many, many years. You probably don't know exactly how valuable you are to the Australian Home Education community. I've been reading your stuff for maybe 8 years or more now. And I'm very grateful."
Gythaa


CLICK HERE if you want to learn
how to write your own education plans
to suit your unique children's individual learning needs?

Or you are looking for quality curriculum and teaching tips...

Welcome to the World of Home Education
and Learning without School!

We began educating our children in 1985, when our eldest was five. In truth, we had helped them learn what they need to learn since they were born. I am a passionate advocate of allowing children to learn unhindered by unnecessary stress and competition, meeting developmental needs in ways that suit their individual learning styles and preferences. Ours was a homeschooling, unschooling and natural learning family! There are hundreds of articles on this site to help you build confidence as a home educating family. We hope that your home educating adventure is as satisfying as ours was! Beverley Paine

3 ESSENTIAL STEP BY STEP GUIDES

Getting Started with
Home Educating Series of

PARENT WORKBOOKS

#1 Create Your
Own Curriculum

#2 DIY Lesson Plans
& Unit Studies

#3 Recording and Evaluation Made Simple

$10.00 each (includes postage)

let experienced home educators Beverley, Tamara and April walk you through HOW to create a learning plan that builds on solid foundations that works for YOUR family AND ticks all the boxes for home educaton registration with part 1 of this getting started with home educating serioes of parent workbooks, Create Your Own Curriculum!
Let experienced home educators Beverley, Tamara and April walk you through HOW to create a learning plan that builds on solid foundations that works for YOUR family AND ticks all the boxes for home educaton registration!

To see the full range of Beverley Paine's books on homeschooling, unschooling and natural learning visit Always Learning Books

Tap into Beverley's experience
through her books

"Your books, your blogs helped me beyond words... they helped me to find comfort in knowing it is ok to choose exactly what is best for my family." Nisha

"Your books and information are mind blowing and already I am feeling good about this new experience." Diane

"Your guidance, understanding, support & words of wisdom changed our lives." Leslie

"I feel specially inspired by Beverley's words and, the more I read her comments, the more inspired I feel, since my need for support, respect for different parenting styles, and information are fully met." Marijo
purchase Beverley's practical and common sense books on homeschooling and unschooling
Connect with Beverley and ask questions
through her online The Educating Parents Homeschooling and Unschooling Facebook support group
.

The information on this website is of a general nature only and is not intended as personal or professional advice. This site merges and incorporates 'Homeschool Australia' and 'Unschool Australia'.

The Educating Parent acknowledges the Traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Owners, the Custodians of Australia, and pay our respects to Elders past and present and extend that respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people viewing this website.

Advertise on this site.

say goodbye to home education registration stress with this ultimate rego bundle from Fearless Homeschool

complete comprehensive step by step program that teaches you how to craft your ultimate homeschool

make homeschooling a lot easier, zero to homeschool's excellent course is here to help

Australia's best home education consultant, let Tamara Kidd guide and help you prepare your home education registration application or review

Twinkl downloadable Home education resources helping you teach confidently at home

Online science lessons for primary school aged home educating children

30% discount for purchases from ReadyEd Publications when you use the code 'homeschool' at  the checkout

reset your mindset for homeschooling success with deschooling essentials a quick course to help build your confidence as an educating parent

200 pages of templates, planning pages, tables, prompts and record sheets to organise your whole year!

subscription video art lessons by Australian artist

Australia's premier online annual conferences, lifetime access to video and audio recordings, freebies, notes and associated resource guides.

EVERY SUMMIT IS UNIQUE!

$29 each 2023 2022 2021
$25 each 2020 2019 2017

"Biggest and best Aussie homeschool event of the year!"

Home education is a legal alternative
to school education in Australia.
State and Territory governments are responsible
for regulating home education and have different
requirements, however home educating families
are able to develop curriculum and learning programs
to suit the individual needs of their children.

animated Australian flag

Without revenue from advertising
by educational suppliers and Google Ads
we could not continue to provide information
to home educators. Please support us by letting
our advertisers know that you found them on
The Educating Parent. Thanks!

Support Centre
Contact Us | Join a Support Group | Beverley's Books | Resource Directory | Blog | Donate

About The Educating Parent
Beverley Paine | April Jermey and Always Learning Books | Advertise with us

Sitemap

What is Home Education Why Home Educate Getting Started & Registering Different Ways to Home Educate
Life as a Home Educator Resources & Support Teens and Beyond Curriculum and Teaching Tips
Unschooling & Natural Learning Travelling & Home Educating Record Keeping Children's Pages

animated smiling face Thank you for visiting!

Beverley Paine, The Educating Parent
The opinions and articles included on this website are not necessarily those of Beverley and Robin Paine,
nor do they endorse or recommend products listed in contributed articles, pages, or advertisements.
This website uses browsing cookies and conducts other means to collect user information in order to display contextual ads.
Text and images on this site © All Rights Reserved 1999-2023.