| Perhaps a bit unfairly, the parents of | | | | environment than it is in a traditional school setting. |
| homeschooled children sometimes discover that | | | | Standardized Assessments Encourage Early |
| the success of their children's reading | | | | Reading Skills |
| achievement is often evaluated differently than it | | | | The movement towards assessing student |
| is for traditionally-schooled children. | | | | progress has invaded what was once a rather |
| Traditionally-schooled children are tested regularly | | | | freestyle homeschooling environment. Students |
| on their reading skills because the traditional | | | | nationwide are now expected to perform at |
| teaching methods rely so heavily on children's | | | | certain levels based on their age and academic |
| reading ability as a way for them to learn other | | | | grade. And, even though standardized |
| subject matter. The teaching reading is so | | | | assessments can be good indicators of overall |
| significant for the traditionally-schooled child that | | | | performance, they are somewhat constraing to |
| they seldom achieve academic success without | | | | homeschooling enthusiasts because they fail to |
| first mastering fundamental reading skills. | | | | consider the different learning styles and speeds |
| Developmental Readiness vs Early Reading Skills | | | | of individual students. Periodic standardized |
| The story of teaching reading in the homeschool | | | | assessments, which are now required of many |
| has evolved somewhat differently. Home schooled | | | | homeschooled children, seem to be forcing |
| children have many advantages and opportunities | | | | homeschooling educators to focus on ensuring |
| that enable the acquisition of reading skills less | | | | that their students learn academic skills at roughly |
| stressful than they are for traditionally-schooled | | | | the same pace as their traditionally-schooled |
| children. Some homeschooling authorities many | | | | peers. This means that teaching reading has |
| that there is really no need to be concerned | | | | recently become more important within the |
| about mandating the development of reading skills | | | | homeschool environment. |
| in homeschooled children because many | | | | Many educators, homeschooling and traditional, |
| homeschooled children don't master reading until | | | | strongly dislike standardized testing. Still, it looks |
| years after their traditionally-schooled peers. Many | | | | like it's here to stay, at least for the moment. |
| homeschooling educators believe that teaching | | | | And, for the homeschooled child to meet the |
| reading is something that happens naturally. | | | | expected standards and to stay on track, that |
| Because they are taught in different ways than | | | | child has to have mastered certain skills, especially |
| traditionally-schooled children, homeschooled | | | | reading, by a comparatively early age. In situations |
| children may not require mastery of reading skills | | | | where standardized testing is an important |
| at the earliest possible age. The | | | | assessment tool, children who fail to develop early |
| traditionally-schooled child must adhere to a set | | | | reading skills are likely to be incorrectly assessed. |
| standard that is designed to ensure that all | | | | And, an incorrect assessment is dangerous to |
| children develop at the relatively same (fairly | | | | both the child and the homeschooling program. For |
| slow) pace. Teaching dozens of children the same | | | | this reason, it is important for homeschooling |
| material requires that those children be at the | | | | educators to emphasize reading skills as a learning |
| same basic level of preparation. A public school | | | | tool and that they emphasize teaching reading. |
| teacher faced with teaching ten, twenty, or even | | | | Reading as More Than an Ordinary Skill |
| thirty children at varying learning stages is likely to | | | | Teaching reading to children as early as possible |
| be unsuccessful at such an endeavor. Ensuring | | | | does not have to be a perceived slight to the |
| that children learn certain skills by a certain age | | | | homeschooling approach. Although, like Maria |
| simply makes teaching large groups of students | | | | Montessori, many homeschooling educators take |
| more efficient. | | | | issue with forcing children to learn any skill before |
| The Influence of Maria Montessori on Reading | | | | they are developmentally ready, there is no |
| Instruction | | | | credible research that indicates that teaching |
| The work of Maria Montessori changed the face | | | | children to read early see their future |
| of teaching reading and opened the door to a | | | | development harmed in any way. As a result, |
| new home schooling movement. Dr. Montessori | | | | apart from the obvious difficulties associated with |
| challenged traditional teaching theories and | | | | teaching children skills that they may not be |
| methods by presenting research that children | | | | prepared to learn, early reading development |
| learn at varying rates and that hands-on activities | | | | probably still is a worthwhile endeavor. |
| enable children to learn better and more | | | | The benefits of reading are well-documented. |
| completely than traditional rote memorization | | | | Reading is fun, opens doors to new subjects and |
| teaching techniques. Her pioneering work in the | | | | adventures, and helps prepare children to think |
| late 1800's and early 1900's made dramatically | | | | critically and embrace information that is both |
| clear that having multiple learning levels in the | | | | educational and entertaining. Reading is so |
| same classroom generally provides surprisingly | | | | important to today's teaching methods that its |
| unexpected benefits. Regardless of age, children | | | | importance spills over into the areas of |
| learn from each other. Older children teach | | | | mathematics, social studies, science, and other |
| younger children without even realizing it. And, | | | | academic areas. The student who is interested in |
| younger children give older children the | | | | reading develops faster in many academic areas |
| opportunity to learn by experience. However, | | | | than peers who are unprepared with basic reading |
| because the Montessori classroom relies on | | | | skills. |
| individualizing teaching methods to each student, | | | | Homeschool parents and home school providers |
| employing this method in the public school | | | | have a large basket of tools available to |
| environment is seldom. More about Dr. | | | | encourage their child's early reading skills. Some |
| Montessori's work can be found at | | | | reading experts insist that the first ten years are |
| Intentionally or unintentionally, homeschooling is | | | | crucial for reading development and that teaching |
| Montessori-like in the practical application of | | | | reading and a love of reading before the age of |
| homeschooling teaching methods. Like Maria | | | | ten sets the stage for a lifetime of reading |
| Montessori's theories, homeschooling today | | | | enjoyment. Many theories adhere to the belief |
| emphasizes the specific learning style of the | | | | that reading to young children helps them develop |
| individual student over the need to teach certain | | | | a love for reading. When young children then |
| skills by the time a child reaches a certain age. | | | | express a desire to learn to read on their own, |
| The child who is a weak reader might be verbally | | | | they then practice reading by doing, and ultimately |
| advanced and a verbally weak student may be a | | | | read for their own satisfaction and/or pleasure. |
| good reader. This suggests that the homeschool | | | | Children who have become regular readers and |
| teaching partner plays on each child's strengths to | | | | who truly enjoy reading live in a world that is |
| teach each individual child. This format is far more | | | | forever enriched and expanded by this one simple |
| easily implemented in the homeschooling | | | | skill -- reading. |