HOMESCHOOLING BEGINS WITH HOME
|
| From Linda: This book is a study of how images negatively affect the lives of people who embrace them. The dynamic characters surprise the readers, however, as they grow and change. The relationships that develop between the young men and women are useful for dialoguing with your own children about girl-boy relationships. But the main point I want to share with you relates to my then 8-year-old son’s observation and how I was able to include him in the reading of such an advanced story while validating his contribution to our family reading time. But first, the book synopsis from an outside source. | of Blackbird Pond by |
Book Synopsis from Amazon:
The setting is the Colony of Connecticut in 1687 amid the political and religious conflicts of that day. Sixteen-year-old Kit Tyler unexpectedly arrives at her aunt and uncle's doorstep and is unprepared for the new world which awaits her. Having been raised by her grandfather in Barbados, she doesn't understand the conflict between those loyal to the king and those who defend the Connecticut Charter.
Unprepared for the religious intolerance and rigidity of the Puritan community, she is constantly astounding her aunt, uncle, and cousins with her dress, behavior, and ideas. She takes comfort in her secret friendship with the widow, Hannah Tupper, who has been expelled from Massachusetts because she is a Quaker and suspected of being a witch.
When a deathly sickness strikes the village, first Hannah and then Kit are accused of being witches. Through these conflicts and experiences, Kit comes to know and accept herself. She learns not to make hasty judgments about people and that there are always two sides to every conflict.
Maureen Cash Moffet,
St. Anne's Catholic School, Bristol, VA
Copyright 2003
Reed Business Information, Inc.
As my children and I read together each afternoon, my eight-year-old son sits on the floor and plays. He does try to add to our conversation often, and sometimes what he has to say seems more like interruptions than contributions; but I do want to hear what’s on his mind and heart, so I let him share most of the time.
At one point during this particular story a young girl Prudence, whose mother oppresses her to the point of abuse, begins to leave wildflowers on the doorstep of the dame school for the main character, Kit, who is teaching children to read.
Privately, Kit begins teaching Prudence to read in a meadow. Eventually Kit willingly gives Prudence a beautifully decorated horn book—adorned with silver filigree and velvet. For the first few lessons, Prudence is so overwhelmed with its beauty that she doesn’t even notice that there are letters on the book.
I said something like, “Can you image Prudence touching velvet, after she has been wearing a sack for clothing, or her looking at silver when she has only observed wooden trenchers? She’s never held a thing of beauty like that in her hands before.”
And my dear son responded, “Yes, she did, Mommy. She brought those flowers to Kit.”
I put the book down, called my son to me, hugged him, and remarked, “You are so right, sweetie. Prudence did recognize a thing of beauty, didn’t she, when she saw those wildflowers. And not only did she see it but she also shared that beauty with someone she loved and trusted. Thank you, my dear, for pointing that out to Mom. I would have missed that very important point. What a deep observation you made about beauty.”
Then at supper, I shared my son’s insights with his Poppy, as he affectionately calls his dad, and with our daughter who didn’t join us for the reading because of her college classes as well as with the other children at the table.
While reading to children, the Lord gives us opportunities to include our growing children and validate where they observe real life. Not only can we teach them but they teach us as well through family reading times.
Reading this story together,
- provided an opportunity for me to validate that my young son recognizes beauty.
- provided the Lord with an opportunity to teach me through my young son that the beauty man creates is a simply reflection of the natural beauty of God our Creator.
I pray this example gives you a glimpse into how simply reading to children provides opportunities to develop relationship with your children—opportunities where not only can you validate their growth but also you, Mom, can hear the Lord speaking through them to you.
Five additional articles to encourage you:
- Setting up “reading to children” routines
- Reading to elementary and junior high school children
- Reading to children of various ages
- Identifying quality books for your season
- Dialoguing with an older child
and Your Body, the Church.
May she press on in the fear of the Lord
and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit
as You give her the wisdom to validate her children
and to hear You speak through them to her
through simply reading together.
slow to speak,
and slow to become angry.
~James 1:19
Return to Homeschooling Articles Page
Return to the top of this Reading to Children page
