I’ve mentioned now and then that we home school.Yep – I sure do, but this post isn’t about that fact .
It’s about the English language, and my poor kids trying to learn it.
Do you understand how crazy our phonetic system is?
Do you know how hard it is for some children
to decode words, no matter how hard they try?
It’s about the English language, and my poor kids trying to learn it.
Do you understand how crazy our phonetic system is?
Do you know how hard it is for some children
to decode words, no matter how hard they try?
Tell me why in the world there are EIGHT different ways to spell the LONG A sound?
Think about it…..
ey (they), ay(pay), ai (pail), a-e(cake), ei (as in veil),eigh (weight),ea(break)….
do you get the picture?
Since all five of my children are SO dramatically different in terms of their learning styles,
I have contemplated it all.
I mean good grief…I even speak at home school conferences, for goodness sake.
So when one son read The Hobbit in second grade and polished off The Lord of the Rings by third, I contemplated how easy this home schooling thing was.
And then I began to teach my daughter, and life changed
(insert pretend reflective post on all the monumental ways this mom has grown through teaching this precious blessing).
This delightful 9 year old of mine has struggled.
My precious, kind hearted, responsible, and diligent worker …….struggling…… with the fuh-ne-tics of the English Language.
So when this phone conversation occurred Sunday evening with my hubby….I just had to share, lest I be driven to drink.
(Studying American History, and being the good home school mom that I am, I thought we should rent an educational video.)
Here is what I overheard from my daughter who dialogged as straight faced and sincerely as Mother Teresa.
“Daddy, we picked out a family night movie…..
yes, it’s called the DIARRHEA of Anne Frank.”
Think about it…..
ey (they), ay(pay), ai (pail), a-e(cake), ei (as in veil),eigh (weight),ea(break)….
do you get the picture?
Since all five of my children are SO dramatically different in terms of their learning styles,
I have contemplated it all.
I mean good grief…I even speak at home school conferences, for goodness sake.
So when one son read The Hobbit in second grade and polished off The Lord of the Rings by third, I contemplated how easy this home schooling thing was.
And then I began to teach my daughter, and life changed
(insert pretend reflective post on all the monumental ways this mom has grown through teaching this precious blessing).
This delightful 9 year old of mine has struggled.
My precious, kind hearted, responsible, and diligent worker …….struggling…… with the fuh-ne-tics of the English Language.
So when this phone conversation occurred Sunday evening with my hubby….I just had to share, lest I be driven to drink.
(Studying American History, and being the good home school mom that I am, I thought we should rent an educational video.)
Here is what I overheard from my daughter who dialogged as straight faced and sincerely as Mother Teresa.
“Daddy, we picked out a family night movie…..
yes, it’s called the DIARRHEA of Anne Frank.”
Poor, poor Anne….first hiding people in her attic, and now this!
Hi Jen~
Isn’t it amazing how different children can be, and how they learn so differently? That is pretty impressive that your son read the Lord of the Rings in third grade! And what your daughter said is great! You know, I really think those cute things they say is one of the best parts of being a parent! Even when they are all grown up, we get to remember them as they were, too!
Okay, it must be getting late because I am just rambling on and on! 🙂 But I wanted to say thanks for visiting my blog today! 🙂
I hope you are having a great week! 🙂
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L…O…L!
And I’m sure we Southerners don’t help with our horrible pronunciation of words.
Minny (many), git (get), since (sense)…I could go on and on…
Don’t get me wrong…I LOVE being a Southerner, but it makes for a difficult time teaching Phonics! : )
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I discovered this when I had to learn Hungarian and how everything is perfectly phonetic here. There is NO SUCH thing as a spelling bee and Hungarians cannot fathom whey our language is so strange…when theirs is considered one of the top 5 hardest languages in the world to learnd… it is odd trying to explain english to them
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I have been there with one who gets it and one who well we are still trying to get it. I am with you on how tough “spelling” can be with the English language!
but we get through don’t we because we stay light hearted with all the laughter our kids bring us. That was too funny!
Thanks for all of the encouragement. You are the best encourager! It is Always on the tip of your tongue isn’t it!
Thanks for the laugh!
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So So cute! Phonics is a beast isn’t it. Hang in there – you’re the best one suited in the WORLD to teach her.
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LOL! Jen I sure hope that you’re writing all this down for the book that you will definitely have to write someday!
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Each child is so different…you seem like such a sweet mommy…you really know your kids! I taught 2nd for years and I still am not great with the whole phonics thing! So many rules…one does the walking the other does the talking!
-Sandy toes
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Um, LOL – wish I had some advice, but we’re dealing with the same sort of things. Hey, at she’s trying!
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Oops! That was supposed to be ‘at LEAST she’s trying’. Seems I’m having a bit of trouble with the English language, myself!
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Oh, Jen, do I ever know what you are talking about. My first and second daughters are reading queens. It was a breeze to learn phonics for them. Then came the boy and you think reading was tough, spelling is a nightmare. However, he is great with numbers and my girls could take them or leave them. So I guess in the end it all works out. By the way, I want you to come speak at our homeschool conference!!! LOL Oh and I am so with you heathahlee on the whole Southern venacular too.
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As a former first grade teacher, it is soo true, kids all learn differently…Even my own three are all different learners. That is so funny about the pronounciation of Anne Frank!
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Poor Anne, indeed! LOL!! All children do learn differently! Our school uses “smartie-spelling” for writing. They just want the kids to experience writing, and they know the correct spelling and structure will come in time. They tell kids to write it how it sounds. For example the word Beauty could be smartie-spelled by a child “buute”. The teachers don’t worry too much about it, they know it’ll come when the child is developmentally ready! Your daughter is lucky to have such a wonderful mom/teacher in you! 🙂
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I was LOL when you left me the comment about the diarrhea on my blog!! It truly is a difficult language. That truly is funny though!!!
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Bless her little heart! 🙂
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TOO FUNNY! They didn’t even teach us phonics in school. I to this day have no idea how to use the pronunciation guide in the dictionary!
Also, you got an award! ITs on my blog.
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That is a crack up! You have to record that somewhere (oh, maybe here on your blog…duh!) to remember for when she is older!
Carrie
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hehehe! I was in one of the first writing to read programs here in NC and we learned to spell fuh-net-ic-lee… Now I cannot spell worth a flip!! I always want to put an F where there should be a ph…. yipes! I can read and know more words and definitions than most people but just CANNOT spell! Good luck with your daughter!
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Yup! That is me! I met Stacey at my mom’s antique shop in Raleigh!
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It is a crazy language. One I used to despise, now love. I too had problems reading. Then my mom enrolled me in a private school (Carden) that taught a poem with all the English rules and exceptions. It was easy to memorize. I’ll see if I can find it. It really helped me. I remember having so many troubles learning to spell. Then my dad gave me an idea (for spelling) that worked. I started saying my spelling words-just in my mind- the way they looked to me on paper. So instead of break, I said bree-ack. I got it down quickly. I think the key is finding the way she thinks. Look at me, giving advice and you don’t even know me. Sounds like you are already phenomenal. I’ll shush. Have a great day. (I’m still going to try to find that poem)
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LOL! Oh my goodness! That’s just so cute! It is difficult – I don’t remember what I did with my daughter. But there are so many different approaches out there, I’m sure you’ll find something to help her with this.
Manuela
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That’s priceless!
I don’t homeschool, but I am a 2nd grade teacher. Teaching reading is so tough sometimes!
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What a cute post. English drives me crazy & my poor children (in public schools – for now) have always been taught to sound out the words…..how many English words are actually spelled the way they sound? Not too many.
I'm seriously praying about & contemplating homeschooling my two – any advice you could give would be greatly appreciated.
(5th & 2nd grades BTW):)
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I Agree! I wish we could vote to change the way we spell some words in this wonderful language of ours. It would make it easier on everyone.
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oh preciousness!!! Its great that your recording this here because these are things we realllly will want to remember later.. Thank you for sharing these special moments..Leah
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That is adorable. I have an eight year old son who has the hardest time figuring out words. I don’t blame him!
Cute story!
Melissa
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so funny!
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Oh, I hear you! My oldest mastered learning to read so easily…my youngest who is six now is having a little more trouble.
And yet, her artistic abilities match my nine year old’s right now!
I hope you can join me for my first Home School Open House on Tuesday…come on over for details!
(Loved reading about your little girl’s Anne Frank blooper!) 😉
Blessings,
~Tammy (Lattes and Lollipops)
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Oh, my! That is just too funny. 🙂
Thanks so much for coming by! Blessings to you and may God fill you with His great wisdom as you teach your sweeties!
Blessings,
K
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Poor, poor Anne! My goodness! She’ll get it. She’ll get it. Kelly
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I just was on here searching your site for homeschooling. I have 2 kiddos in public school with 2 more to follow. I’ve been thinking about homeschooling since the beginngin of time…lol I have even talked other people into homeschooling. Isn’t that hysterical?! Anyway, I know this isn’t a homeschooling blog, but I would love to hear about your journey with homeschooling. How did you decide to do it. I’m so not a Type A person. I’ve always said I was closer to Z…and I think I remember reading that you said you were too. I’m also not a morning person. I get frazzled thinking about homeschooling 4 when organization, while not a weakness, is not my first love:)
Ok…I will stop my post:) I’m excited to meet you at Relevant.
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