Perhaps one of the most gratifying times in a home school mother's life is watching her child learn to read. When he discovers that the world is full of written words, and is eager to try to read them all, it is an exciting time for mother and child alike. Even a simple ride in the car becomes an exhilarating chance to read every road sign, every advertisement, every word which passes by the car window. It is nearly impossible to understate how important it is to read. Imagine going to the shop to buy groceries and not being able to read what is in each tin can or package. Imagine not being able to leave a note for yourself or another person, or to read a note or letter. You cannot even make a shopping list. E-mail and the internet are beyond your ability. Books are nothing more than worthless objects full of bewildering symbols. The Bible is beyond your reach. Reading opens a whole new world!
Many languages around the world were oral languages only until Christian missionaries came. Missionaries converted these oral languages to written languages for one purpose, so that these people could read the most important book of all: the Bible. Reading allows us to learn from other people whom we may never meet. It allows us to learn from people who died long ago, or people who are far away. Reading allows us to escape the confines of our own culture, and our own time. Reading is the ability to learn, magnified a hundred fold. Reading is what you are doing now.
WHAT SHOULD I READ?
Jesus taught, "The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!" A more modern paraphrase might be: Whatever you fill your eyes and ears with, that is what you become.Because Vanguard Education is very centered on children learning to read, and read well. There are plenty of things to read about reading.
(1) READING INTRODUCTION (You are on this page)
(2) BEGINNING READING: TEACHING A CHILD TO READ
(3) WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN'T
Buy DADDY, I WANT TO READ books - takes you to the shopping section
ABOUT THE BIBLE - takes you to the Bible section
SUGGESTED BIBLE READING CURRICULUM - takes you to the Bible curriculum section