ZR> ...and she wants me
 ZR> to spend  4+1/2 hours per week studying spelling and writing with my
 ZR> son.  My son, on  the other hand, has little to no interest in being
 ZR> pushed into reading.
 Has he applied for a library card yet? Sometimes a variety of books
 may pique his interest, especially in those subjects he loves.  Let him
 wander around, touching the books to get a 'feel' for the place and then
 ask him if he'd like to check a few books out and if so, let him pick
 them out.  He'll get such a thrill out of that!  If he's already done
 that, take him there on a rainy day, just to go....  Allow him to play
 with the toys they have available, play on the computers, if this is
 what they have, sign him up for reading programs they might have
 available, etc.  Don't worry.  Read to him and let him see YOU reading
 and he'll pick it up evantually...
 ZR> He  likes to make the letter shapes but doesn't
 ZR> even know the names for them  because that is just not very important
 ZR> to him right now.  In addition, Aaron, my son, seems to have a big
 ZR> aversion to this subject.  Today I made letter,  phonics and simple
 ZR> word flashcards.  He took one look and literally /ran/ out of the room!
 ZR> :(  Later he got hold of a pipe cleaner and was making letter  shapes. 
 ZR> I eventually got him to do two rows of the letter S with a crayon,  but
 ZR> he was not very thrilled with this, refused to finish and wouldn't
 ZR> draw a  picture to go with it.  I am all for him learning to read and
 ZR> write, but am  feeling that pushing him is not right and that he'll
 ZR> learn in his own sweet  time... but in the meantime, how do I honestly
 ZR> satisfy a requirement for 4.5  hours a week of spelling and writing? 
 ZR> Any suggestions?? 
 Well, if you feel pressured to have him learn all this within a time
 period you may feel is rather limited, then you can't very well let him
 take his 'own sweet time', now can you?  Is it possible that he may
 need the more structured environment that a school environment has to
 offer?  Maybe you could pick up a small desk from a used furniture
 store and paint it in his favorite colors?  Maybe you could 'play
 school', taking turns teaching.  Or maybe he just needs to be in
 school.  Does he miss being in with children he knows are going to
 school without him?  Have you had him tested for ADD, ADHD or any other
 learning disabilities?
     
 ZR> 20.5 hrs/wk total.... 1200 minutes, or 240 minutes per day
 4 hours a day.  My kids would LOVE it!  :)  As is, they're gone all
 day now!
 
 ZR> Aaron's strong subjects (areas of interest) are science and art.  I am
 ZR> wondering if I'm doing him a disservice in pushing writing skills when
 ZR> he  really wants to do science... and it seems that every spare minute
 ZR> is spent in art projects, so we're going way over the mere 1.5 hours
 ZR> per week that are  required.
 ZR> One more thing I'd like to ask... what kinds of P.E. activities do
 ZR> your  children like?  The advisor tells me that taking the kids to the
 ZR> park is not  enough -- I have to /teach/ him something.  Today we did
 ZR> broad jumping and  playing frisbee.  Any other suggestions for a six
 ZR> year old?? 
 Although he's not enrolled in a local school system, would he be
 allowed to sign up for T-ball through the local Parks and Rec. Dept.?
 How about play groups with other kids his age?  And in the meantime,
 take him hiking.  Give him a backpack with a snack and a drink and take
 along a sweatshirt and have him wear a good pair of walking shoes.  We
 have a small hill here that's a popular area for climbing and hiking
 and my kids love it.  We go on Nature Hikes and taking care for anything
 poisonous, usually bring a few natural goodies home.  We also go walking
 along the beach.  Taking off his shoes gives his lil' feet a good workout
 in the sand.  Have him gather a few souvenirs for his home lessons.
 You can incorporate those into his Science and Writing studies.  Have
 him write you a few sentences on what you saw.  He can also illustrate it.
 Art.  And count how many of one thing that he has.  Math.  There you go.
 In one afternoon you've managed to conquer 5 different subjects and all
 from one simple walk along the beach!  Learning CAN be fun without turning
 it into something more aligned, which is what you seem to be wanting to
 lean away from...  ;)
 
 Chris
                                                            
... Learn to listen. Opportunity sometimes knocks very softly.
--- Blue Wave/RA v2.20 [NR]
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