Homeschooling in California

With a stack of books already in my arms, my daughter found a Lilo and Stitch book she wanted to check out at our latest trip to the library.  I almost said no, that we had enough books, but I didn’t.  I already feel sometimes like she watches too much TV (or maybe I should say DVDs) so I hate bringing home these same over advertised characters home in our reading materials too, but she asked so politely, I couldn’t bring myself to say no.

 Well, I’m glad we checked that book out.  It’s one of those “Step into Reading” books, level 2.  Hannah read it to me yesterday, struggling a great deal but refusing any assistance.  Then she wanted me to read it to her for her bedtime story.  Today she had read it to me no less than 3 times.  It feels like it takes her an hour to get through this simple story, but she loves it so much and is working so hard, I can’t help but puff with pride a little each time. 

Sure, it flies in the face of my lofty goals of beautiful classic children’s literature.  It seems silly and trivial, but I’m over that part now.  Hannah loves this book.  What could possibly be a better thing to teach her than that reading is fun and wonderful?  If all she gets out of school is a passion for reading, then I think we’ve done well.  (I’d like her to be able to add too, but you get the idea.)

Luckily, she loves the other stories I read to her as well.  I’m hoping that her infatuation with this book is really a sign that she’s growing in her reading confidence, and that having the characters be familiar and beloved only help keep her engaged long enough to get through it.  Time will tell. 

I have to go now.  She wanted to read it again to me before bedtime.  I’ll have it memorised soon.

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