Reading Day

Days that begin at 5 o'clock in the morning; days with semi-sick or worn out children; days where the temperature is already soaring at 9 am for the 18th day in a row. Some of those days, I can't push myself to teach fractions, or nouns, or melodica, or counting, or much of anything. One of the ways I deal with those days is to announce a "Reading Day." Inspired in part from the much loved "Read-ins" in elementary school, "Reading Days" are just what they sound like - a day full of reading and not much other schooling. Fun and still educational!

Since sweat was dripping down my back from the moment I stood up this morning, I chose the kids' air conditioned bedroom as the reading room. We began, like every morning, with reading the Bible. Then each of the three older girls read us a story, library story-time style, with feeling and excitement and showing the pictures around. Then each child picked a story for Mommy to read. After that, it was quiet reading time while Mommy tried to get Calla to sleep. Eris had some reading to catch up on for schoolwork about Lewis, Clark, and Sacajawea. Meriel read has been working her way through "The Four Story Mistake" by Elizabeth Enright while Hollis has been ambitious with "Charlotte's Web."

 

After Calla's tiny nap, we did some more reading aloud. Meriel read to Hollis, then Eris read to Meriel, and Mommy read to Simeon and Calla. Calla looked on while Eris read to herself. By the time lunchtime arrived, all of the reading children had learned to read new words and everyone had earned new vocabulary. So while no math problems were solved nor musical notes played, I would say today was a successful learning day. And Mommy got a bit of a break.