Although I consider myself a homeschooler, our forays into "schooling" (in any formal sense of the word) have been pretty much zero. At five, Henry is still a "preschooler" to me. I have no interest in hurrying him into the world of academics. As I ponder pedagogies and philosophies, I find myself inspired by two opposites -- Waldorf and Unschooling. And while they differ in many ways, "schooling" a 5-year-old would not be popular in either circle.
What our days lack in modern kindergarten curriculum, they make up for it in eclectic learning. Following the young child's passion to drink in the world is really amazing. Such a fun ride! Sometimes broad, sometimes deep, a bit of art, a bunch of life science, and reading. Always reading.
By "reading," I mean the adults have been the readers around here. The little guys are the avid listeners. Reading lessons? No. Ohhh, no. And although I haven't followed the Waldorf extreme of delaying letter introduction until first grade, the "late" Waldorf reading schedule resonated with me. Age seven ... or later. Fine. He'd learn it easily when the time was right.
So, yes, Henry had learned the alphabet long ago ... and then eventually he picked up letter sounds/phonics a bit here and there ... and I knew he was recognizing some sight words -- quite a few, in fact. But I was in no rush to flesh out this framework.
In recent weeks the boys have taken a liking to playing "mail." I'm the official mail carrier. The boys go inside the playhouse and listen for the little metal mailbox to clink closed. They fight over retrieving the new delivery from the mailbox. Growing bored with delivering the same "pretend" mail, I started scrawling little notes on cardboard "postcards." Just silly things like, "Dear Henry and Charlie, We are having burgers for dinner tonight, etc, etc. And, lo and behold, this "real" mail has inspired real reading in that little playhouse! After a few minutes* with the newest "postcard," Henry would emerge and make a relevant comment about the note. Or answer a question I had posed in the note -- "yes, mama, let's have apples with the burgers instead of pears." And then he'd ask for more notes like that!
So, I guess the right time is ... now. In spite of the "teacher" and the "ideal" Waldorf schedule. We have a reader. Go figure.
*I love the above photo, which I clicked from afar. Henry's little finger is tracing across the "postcard" as he quietly and carefully ... reads the mail.
