Sunday, February 24, 2008

Favorite Shot of the Week

54/365: Reading to Mama.

Forgot to post my favorite 365 shot from this week. Here is what I wrote about it on Flickr:

If there is one thing I have learned about education and children, it is that kids are ready to read at very different times. We learned the hard way that the current early reading push for kids can have devastating effects. I shudder when I think how easy it would have been to start down a road where we would have said things like, "oh school is not his thing."

Luckily we decided to do Kindergarten over, {probably the hardest parenting decision we have ever made.} and his teacher this year saw that what our boy needed was some academic confidence building after spending last year feeling like everyone was better than he was in school. Our teacher assured us that once his confidence was built up he would decide he wanted to read - on his own. We were asked not to put any pressure on him at home. We should read a lot to him, but not push him to read to us.

Sure enough soon after Christmas he started sounding out signs, asking us what different things said, then wanted to read some of the plethora of early reading books we have at home. Now he is so into it and so proud of himself.

Oh yeah and it was a huge win for Obama tonight. I just don't see how Hillary can pull this one off anymore. Yes we can! Si se puede!

And yes I thought about moving the crap off the back of the couch - but since I want this 365 to be about becoming more comfortable with myself I decided to leave it. Believe it or not even though I know everyone knows I am surrounded by chaos there is a very strong voice in my head screaming, "CROP IT OUT! CROP IT OUT!."

3 comments:

Christina said...

That's a great shot!

FWIW, I have the same instinct when taking photos in my house. Re-shoot without clutter or crop it out.

My son is 11 and can read quite well on his own, but I still read to him every night. Just something we love to do together.

Anonymous said...

You brought tears to my eyes with this post Lauren. You are so right about the reading thing..also we love your "chaos"...so much more interesting than some cookie cutter McMansion with no life!

Anonymous said...

all my kids on the couch photos are surrounded by crap. it's that crap that surrounds us that makes our homes so "homely" (SIC!!!!!!)

anyhoo.... we are struggling teaching our kids to read (in a second language) and it is a slow trudge up a long hill... inch by inch, row by row.....)

oh and.... kayla is 10 now... issei, too.... next is yours!!!!!!