Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-08
OUR CHILDREN
BIZ ANGELO PATRI.
Home Teaching.

1t sometimes happens that child Is
to be taught at home. The mother Is
usually the teacher. The first subject
is reading. The second one numbers.
The question rises as to how the t2acn-
| ing is to be done? II II is well done 1t
helps the child tremendously III DONE
1t hinders him in greater proportion.
1t is best to begin with reading and
let the number lessons wait. II child
wants to count help him to do so, but
tables can wait a while. At least until
reading is well on its way to accom-
plishment.
Now about reading. We do not teach
children their letters any more. Not as
the first step. They will learn the let
ters, but afterward. Not in the be-
ginning. We start with a story. we
tell the story. We tell it exactly as it
is in the book. Word for word Then
we read that story and let the child
look on while we read it. After that we
begin the process of teaching reading.
Not very complicated process, but a
careful one, If We would make good
reader Of the new pupil.
The f1rst thing to do when a child Is
to be taught at home is to get in touch
with the school to which he is to go
later on In his career. If you teach a
child one method of reading, and the
school another, the child falls between
the two stools If you use one set Of
readers and the school another, the
child is at loss again. So get in
touch with the teacher who teaches
the beginners to read. Get the book
she uses, Get the manual she follows.
Get her interest in your pupil. Get her
| to let you watch her teach the class to
read. Then get her to come in once
in while and listen to your pupil
read. Her advice and cooperation are
precious to the progress of the child.
1t is hard on child who has been
brought up on the Little Red Hen to
be faced with a reader whose hero is the
Goat My Father Bought. Either Goat"
or Hen" will do. Which one does the
school to which the child will go, use?
Use it and save the child time and
encouragement.
If the child is under years Of age,
and he can enter school at the age of
6, why teach him to read at home?
Much better to leave the reading for
the teacher. The child learns to read
much easier after he Is s, than before
He learns easier in school than
at home It is not wise to try to
get ahead Of the school. The child who
knows the reading lessons, yet must
sit in class while they are being taught,
is at a great disadvantage. He finds
IlOtIltIlS W 11AISACoO nc BGbo 4LlbO
poor habits.
During the first five years he learns
to name things. To talk. To tell his
name. address, and telephone call: His
fathers name. To recognize seven
primary colors. To ride his wheel, or
| tend her doll. To recite nursery rhymes.
! To have good manners. To practice
health habits. To get along with other
children To cooperate with other
people in the Housekeeping them and
learning to adjust himself to them.
That is plenty for small child to do.
The child who cannot go to school
during his sixth year ought to be
| taught to read and tell stories at home,
| And that should be done in cooper
alton with the school and the teacher.
| (copyrisht, 1881, by the Bell Syndicate, Inc.)
Mr.. Parti will give personal attention
to inquiries from parents and school
| teachers on the care and development
Of children. Write him in care of this
paper, inclosing stamped, addressed
envelope for reply.