An overarching goal for my homeschool is for my children to develop a love of learning. Central to this is a love of reading and writing.

• If my children love reading, they will naturally expand their worlds.
• If they love writing, they will wrestle with ideas as they try to get what’s in their heads down on paper.

So, how does a parent/teacher do this? How do I influence my kids to love reading and writing? Since my homeschool mentors have been such a help to me, I thought I’d do some reflecting and write down what my family has done since the kids were babies that has influenced them to be strong readers and writers.

In my homeschool group I’ve had several mentors help guide me in areas outside of my interest and/or expertise. There is Math Mom and her predecessor Super Math Mom. I’ve got my adventurous group of Science Moms. And since my vaguely-remembered-French is going to be of little help in teaching Spanish, there’s a class for that!

My teaching heart rests on the written word. I’ve loved books ever since my mom read aloud The B Book by Dr. Seuss over and over again until she could read it with her eyes closed. And then I was on to the Dick and Jane books when I was learning to read, and then Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, More Secrets from Grandma’s Attic, Nancy Drew, and The Velvet Room. And who could forget Sweet Valley High? When I read Anne of Green Gables I was over the moon. How could a book be so good?!

After one of my elementary school teachers read Watership Down to the class, I started writing my first novel, and continued dabbling in writing through high school. I simply wanted to be a part of this great tradition of reading and writing. Now, of course, I want my kids to love it too.

And they do! My kids are the ones you see reading books while walking out of the library; my son chooses books based on size—the thicker the better.

Perhaps what I think is natural and—why wouldn’t every parent do this?—might be like my Math Moms introducing me to competitive math. Who knew?

In order to process my own thoughts on this idea, I think I’ll have to start at the beginning and work my way up to the teen years. I’ll make this page like a Table of Contents page and link to all the others as I write them.

Maybe some of the things I say in this series will be obvious to you. Maybe you’ll find some new ideas. In any case, I hope when you are reading these blogs you will feel free to add to the discussion. I know I’m always looking for a good tip!

From Baby to Preschool–Create a Book Rich Environment

Elementary Years

Teens!