Sequence of Knowledge and skills
math, reading, writing & spelling.
When we are babies, we learn things in a certain order. We have to crawl before we walk as the old saying goes. So, why is it so different with schools? They teach American History before any other history. Why not teach it from the very beginning? There are steps we must follow to make learning more meaningful. Here are those steps to help you along.
Note: I highly recommend using Ruth Beechick books: The Three R's and You can Teach Your child successfully for a more in depth sequence. Although her book has it listed by grade, there is good sequence to follow. I also highly recommend Books to Build On by E.D. Hirsch for a general resource.
When children are very small, they begin learning math skills:
1. With real objects. When they play with rocks, cars and even help set the table. They are learning numbers and counting.
2. After plenty of time using real objects for math (counting), they go on to seeing pictures of groups, objects, dots, clocks and eventually they can picture these things in their mind. Home is where the math (and other) learning begins.
I was amazed at my son when he was four. I heard him upstairs counting. I went up and found him counting out pennies from a jar. There were over 160 pennies and he counted every one correctly. Learning takes place when we, as parents are not even aware of it.
3. The actual numbers (3, 5, etc) or digits come next with signs usually beginning with addition, followed by subtraction, multiplication and division. With single digits and as the child masters that, by adding on another digit, then going on to the next concept (from addition to subtraction). All the while also reviewing previous lessons (drill).Fractions begin in every day life (dividing up a snack evenly with siblings, cutting pie) It also follows the pattern: real objects, seeing objects or pictures on paper, writing the numbers and using signs. After Fractions: Pre-algebra, Algebra, Geometry, trigonometry, calculus, advanced algebra and statistics.
Every parent wonder when their child should begin reading. Just like when he began to walk, he did it when he was ready.
The most important thing is to make sure you are reading to your child. This is the start to the love of reading. I try to read to my children every night (even to my oldest, he still loves it). We read together and this creates a greater family bond as well as fond memories.
Many children do not have any desire to read until they are older than what most people believe they should be. So, we end up putting a label on children in school as a "slow reader". They are stuck in a class, pressured from teachers and parents, and become miserable. Eventually, they hate to read. Why? Why do we force our children to hate something so important?
My youngest son is very unusual. He has older brothers who read and he began showing an interest at a very young age in reading, but I did not try to force him to read. In fact, I discouraged it more than I should have. He began listening to phonics tapes when he was two or three that he would casually borrow from the library. He loved to sit and listen to these tapes. When they show such an interest, play games of phonics you make up yourself or buy a phonics game.
When your child wants more formal reading, then go on to Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy lessons and Bob Books (bought or borrowed from the library). After your child has completed 100 Easy lesson, they can read (some say at a second grade level, others much higher) easy books for fun, then begin to challenge them a little more. Let them choose books from the library. Have them read a book a day, as they get older, chapter books. If your child likes to read, this will be very easy. Compliment your child when they read to lend encouragement. Pathway Readers are also very good wholesome books (available through Timberdoodle). You can start with the first grade book after 100 lesson and continue on up. Your child is now reading to gain knowledge.
Writing
Writing is best learned from seeing good works and copying. You didn't learn how to make the letter A from guessing. Many schools believe in guessing at math, and other subjects for creativity. I sure can't draw a picture of a chair, if I don't know what a chair looks like, the same concept applies in all subjects.
A child must learn to write by seeing good writing. We begin having letters for children to look at and play with (magnetic ones work well). They may show an interest in writing letters on their own when they color or mess around with pencils and paper. When ready you can follow lessons from Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons. After the child has mastered the letters they can begin to copy sentences, then paragraphs. When they are good at copying and correcting, next they should learn to write from dictation. There are several lessons in Ruth Beechick books to help you get started. The child will need to learn to write cursive, and can learn in a short few weeks. Take a break from the copying to learn cursive a few letters at a time (two letters a day is plenty) and then a word with that letter (only use words that you have taught the cursive letter with). Cursive i and t are great to start with. They are made in similar ways and when connected spell a word. Start with lower case cursive letters and go on to the Capital cursive letters last. After cursive has been taught, go back to copying small sentences and work up to paragraphs. Throw in dictation when the child has mastered copying correctly.
Spelling
Spelling can also occur in a natural order. First teach the most commonly used words. They make up 50% of our language. (See The 3 R's for the list). Prefixes and root words are very helpful to know (for older children). Knowing these would have made my medical training much easier.
Knowing the main spelling rules and phonics will also ensure good spelling.
As your child writes, you will notice spelling mistakes. Make a list of these words and have the child learn them. This way they aren't testing over words they already know. If you aren't sure, on the first day, use a list, any list (from phonics, spelling rules or premade list from another source like Abeka, etc.) and read the words to the child. Have them write them down. Then the ones the child missed use as the new list. The child then copies them, studies them and can be tested a few days later. The ones missed can be added to the next weeks list of words.
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