some long and rambling thoughts on curriculum

originally published September 19, 2012 

A few days ago we went to the library. Rosebud picked out some picture books and one little early reader novel, Tia the Tulip Fairy or some such inanity. They are pink and sparkly and fluffy and I look upon them with disdain. However, I let her bring it home and didn’t even comment on the quality of literature.

Big Sacrifice.

At any rate.  I won’t rant about that today.  She didn’t want me reading this book to her to interfere with the Chronicles of Narnia at bed time.  Do not interfere with the Chronicles.  So she was wondering if I would read this book some time outside of bedtime rituals.  I said yes, I would.  I can not be a snob sometimes, y’know.

So we decided that after our sit down work was finished, I would read them to her. She carried the book around, hugging it to her bosom for a few hours.  Then suddenly she says, mama, I just had a great idea!

What?  What great idea have you had just now, Rosebud?

You know how the boys just read to themselves?  Well, I could just take this book and read it to myself.  I just read the first two sentences, and I could read them!

That you could, Rosebud.  You can read enough now to read a novel. (aside:  I use the term loosely)

Okay!  I’m going to start right now!  And she sits down on a kitchen stool, right exactly in my way and crosses her knees and looks every bit the lady and reads quietly for twenty minutes.  It was a very satisfying moment.  This youngest of seven who is so severely neglected.  How she managed to ever speak or read, one will never know.

But there it is.  So how did she get from A (not reading) to B (reading)?  I think that is an interesting question.  I don’t actually teach my kids to read in any direct way.  I don’t use any kind of curriculum.  For reading or much else.  So it is possible.  I know it is, ’cause it is the seventh time I’ve seen it.  It is so cool.  Just like…magic or something.  I don’t know.  

If we are going to have a very onesided conversation about not using curriculum (because I’m doing all the talking) then I think it is important to start with reading.  Learn to read and read to learn.

How to teach reading without doing much at all…tomorrow.