I was one of those moms who said I would never home school. I have five children, I’m not the most organized, and to be honest, Β it always seemed like it was not an option. But this year something changed. My sixth-grader started to complain a couple weeks into school that the book she was reading was giving her nightmares. Her class, a level 2 novels course, was reading The Clay Marble by Minfong Ho aloud.
We began reading the goodreads and Amazon reviews, which mentioned the book was sad and depressing. I could not understand why school children would need to be reading about war-torn Cambodia. There is graphic violence as well as a public bathing scene with a 19 year old girl. Granted some of the hardest lessons are those you read in the pages of a book. Anyone who knows anything about me, knows that I love novels. But, when my daughter started experiencing PTSD-like symptoms from this particular novel, I knew we needed to ask the school for an alternative.
Only there was no alternative.
At first the teacher said she would be able to sit outside the classroom while the class was reading aloud– that only worked for a couple of days. Then her grade dropped from an A to a C as they started giving her zeros for every time she was in the hall. After several emails with administration it was determined that they would not offer an alternative book in school. The curriculum and the book had been Board approved and they saw no reason why the title should be abandoned or another one offered in its place.
So we decided as a family that we would check out my daughter during reading time and bring her home. The administration at our school wanted us to pick an approved book, print out study guide questions, correct them and return them to the school graded. I argued we as parents, under state law, are able to choose her curriculumΒ while we are homeschooling. They argued we need to prove she is proficient. I argued the school give her a no-grade.
We had voiced our concerns as parents and now it was time to safeguard our child.
This began our journey that is called dual enrollment.
After two weeks of checking her out, I noticed she did not have a passion or enthusiasm for reading. She would only read one chapter at a time. I asked for clean, well liked titles for her age group and we went to the library. But still, the spark in her had gone out. She has grown up surrounded by books, with a full library and more coming in the mail every day. We go to the library often.
What causes a child to love or not love reading? Can school or assignments sometimes kill that spark?
I am trying a new approach this week, backing away from Newbery Award winners or the classics and letting her pick her own favorite book from the shelves at Barnes and Noble.
We have seen lots of smiles since beginning home school, and when her class had finished reading TheΒ Clay Marble, she did not want to return. She wants to continue homeschooling her novels class, lunch and recess.
So, here we are. This is a new journey. If we as parents won’t advocate for our children, and really dig into ask what they are learning at school, who will? Ask what books your children are reading, and pay attention to how they react.
I am grateful for the opportunity to help her discover books. I worry that this will not be our first run in with content or themes that are not “for our family.” But we will be in this together. Talking and working with them every step of the way.
Jill
My favorite books in sixth grade were “Calico Captive” and “The Ordinary Princess” both by authors I still enjoy. I don’t really remember any others. I have re-read both in the last few years and discovered they are even better than I remember. Sixth grade was tough. Those books were a soft place to land.
Enbrethiliel
+JMJ+
Hi, Heather! I hope it’s okay to leave this comment as a reply to Jill’s. I’ve been having lots of trouble with CommentLuv lately and have found that I can only comment in replies.
Good luck sparking your daughter’s love of reading! Does she have other interests that you could find books that tie into, like ballet or riding? My favourite books at her age were From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg and the SF/Fantasy novels in Madeleine L’Engle’s Time Quintet–but they’re probably not helpful recommendations if you want to think beyond Newbery winners and the classics.
It’s probably worth adding, though, that one of my favourite books about reading is Mary Leonhardt’s Keeping Kids Reading, in which she shares her model of four reading paths. First of all, figure out whether a child prefers “relationship” reading or “action-adventure” reading; then, see if he prefers realistic elements or magical/SF elements. Then choose books accordingly. If I recall correctly, she also mentions that the most reluctant readers are those who naturally learn by doing and honestly can’t appreciate learning by reading or by other vicarious experience. She recommends getting them really technical books, related to practical projects that they may be doing–from cookbooks to repair manuals!
Heather
Thanks Jill and Enbrethiliel! Great ideas, I will check those out π
Sabrina
I’m noticing with parents pointing out their concern for their children’s attitudes that has been brought on by the new curriculum they are determined to use, that their children are affected quite quickly, and it seems like it takes a while until they are at peace again. Makes me sad for those children whose parents don’t keep an eye out with how their children are doing in school. You are your child’s hero! π And, I’m sure you will notice that she will progress faster with your instruction than she ever has in school.
Heather
Thanks so much Sabrina! We are so fortunate that CC has not fully hit our school yet. I keep close tabs on everything they read, the testing, the computer programs and the textbooks.
Penelope
I thought I commented a few days ago, but apparently I didn’t. Anyway, good job safeguarding your daughter! It must have been a hard decision, but I’m so glad it seems to be working out for her. It sounds like she’s got that reading spark back again. Good luck in your dual-enrollment journey!
Penelope
Also, I forgot to add that in sixth grade, I loved The Lord of the Rings (though that may give her nightmares as well), the Little House of the Prairie series, and the Dear America books. She might also like Anne of Green Gables.
Penelope recently posted…The Book With No Pictures by BJ Novak | Review
Penelope
Also: All of Gail Carson Levine’s and Shannon Hale’s books. Okay, I’m done. π
Penelope recently posted…The Book With No Pictures by BJ Novak | Review
Heather
Thanks so much Penelope! I see all the homeschooling things you post on Pinterest and I know you rock at it!