Homeschooling mum: "why I won't teach my child to read".

Language lies at the root of 

that transformation of the 

environment that we call 

civilization” -Maria 

Montessori.

As Maria Montessori said, language is a "root". It is something that helps us to connect to outside world, our inner world, develop, grow, become part of the society. As a mum and educator I like to provoke deeper thinking look in the matter of things. Essential skills like reading and writing are skills that help to create person's world. For some reason becoming mum made me take completely different perspective on education and led me to decide to homeschool our children in future. As a part of my plan I have made a decision to past upon teaching reading and writing until the age of six or even seven. Here is why.




I believe there is a logical explanation the reason government is pushing for earlier start at school. Children who begin school earlier, graduate earlier and begin to earn money sooner. Early graduates earn more money by the time they are 30. This means that they start to pay taxes earlier. Source But I have different concerns as a parent:


Earlier this year, a coalition of 50 leading academics, authors and childcare organisations launched a campaign group – Early Childhood Action – to push for an alternative curriculum focused almost entirely on a play-based approach.
Dr House said the new EYFS should be used up to six, with parents given the option to keep children out of school until this age (six years old). Ministers should consider the move as part of a wholesale review of the school starting age, he said.
Speaking before the Westminster Education Forum on Wednesday, he claimed the case for change was supported by a longitudinal study of gifted children who started in school in the US in the 1920s.
Prof Howard Friedman, a psychologist at the University of California, analysed their progress over 80 years and found that “early school entry was associated with less educational attainment, worse midlife adjustment and, most importantly, increased mortality risk”. Source 
Now, returning to my topic: reading.
Maria Montessori taught us that children undergo sensitive period for language from birth to the age of six. What does it mean? Does it mean that children loose any interest in writing and reading after that? If you  look closely Dr. Maria Montessori personally developed language materials for the early-childhood classroom:the metal insets, the sand paper letters, and the movable alphabet. These materials introduce children to alphabet and sounds, allowing them to "feel" it and connect certain sounds to objects. Montessori designed environment is incredibly reach in presenting various aspect of language that aspire children to learn naturally. 


I consider possessing passion towards books and reading is paramount and the most important aspect to teach children in early years by creating special family moments, by reading to them out loud. Introducing to various forms and arts of text, like creating drama pieces, puppet shows, reading poetry, nursery rhymes,  etc. Raised in Russia, I was not taught to read until I went to school at the age of seven. However, I will never forget the most bonding and precious moments  with my dad and mum, who could spend a couple hours every night reading our favourite books out loud. The excitement of discussing the characters, picking next book together is something I will cherish and pass to my children. I still remember the books they used to read to me when I was ten. 
   
Take a look on a personal example of this man: 



To be fair, it was mostly the girls reading when I was in kindergarten (1972), while the boys played. However, I managed to get through first grade without learning to read - and well into second grade. The teachers thought I was developmentally disabled - not to mention hyperactive (as an adult I was finally diagnosed with ADD) - and I was put in the "slow room" with other slow learners, all of whom were boys.So I did not learn to read until I was seven years old - however, by the time I was nine years old, my teachers wanted to move me up two grades (from 4th to 6th) because I was bored and disrupting the class. That year I also was tested for and admitted to a "talented and gifted" program.The downside of this experience was that I experienced a great deal of ridicule and shaming in 2nd grade for not being able to read. As I got older, I became hyper-aware of how I was perceived by others, which I have no doubt contributed to developing social anxiety disorder. Source
 Without any doubt there are many people out there who can relate to this man's experience. 

Prof Howard Friedman, a psychologist at the University of California, 
“Most children under age six need lots of time to play, and to develop social skills, and to learn to control their impulses. An over-emphasis on formal classroom instruction – that is, studies instead of buddies, or staying in instead of playing out – can have serious effects that might not be apparent until years later.”
Dr Richard House, a senior lecturer at Roehampton University’s Research Centre for Therapeutic Education, 


".. children’s “run-away intellect” actually benefited from being slowed down in the early years, allowing them to develop naturally".

Louise Bates Ames, PhD, the director of research at the world-renowned Gesell Institute of Child Development, stated that



 “a delay in reading instruction would be a preventative measure in avoiding nearly all reading failure.” 

Astounding amount of evidence and research points out that formal education before the age of six and early reading does not guarantee  child’s success in school, and there’s 
evidence that it may even be damaging to their brain development.

Bottom line: Every human's brain wired to seek safety first, it's priority is to survive, not learn. Once child has started building positive approach to life and strong attachment to their parents, caregivers and teacher, their outside world, they are ready to develop better focus on formal learning, start learning to read and write on their own.

Let me share with you some of my Books Treasury: (affiliate links)

"Invisible String" by P. Kart

 


Max Lucado's You Are Special and 3 Other Stories: A Children's Treasury Box Set

By Max Lucado



The Oak Inside the Acorn

By Max Lucado



Because I love you. 
By Max Lucado



Follow Montessori Nature's board The Montessori Method on Pinterest.

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2 comments:

  1. Very well said! It was a struggle for me when my (just turned) 5 year old came out of school where he'd been doing well with learning to read and write. At first I was worried I was failing him by not keeping up with his reading and writing (which he showed no interest in).
    Then I let go and just read aloud to him and got an Audible subscription to satisfy his huge appetite for audiobooks.
    Now at age 8 he has an enormous vocabulary and reads very well (having taught himself). He has just started writing a 2000 word story for NaNoWriMo, typing it himself with his own phonetic spelling.
    I'm so glad I didn't force the pace.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Lucinda, thank you for sharing your story!!! It is a brave thing to do to trust your intuition! Your son sounds amazing!!!! I also start collecting audiobooks. My daughter is only 19 months old but still enjoys listening to stories accompanied with songs. All the blessings to your family!

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