An art teacher passed me this book when she saw me waiting for my little boy to finish his class. The book inspired me alots on home schooling. Anyhow, I don’t think I can perform as good as the mother in the book.
Below are some key points noted down while I read through the book (do excuse my poor English as I was translating from the Mandarin version of the book).
Home schooling can start as young as 6 months old. Learning should focus on reading, writing (写作) n discussion instead of mathematic n science.
Chapter 1 – Knowledge start fr Reading
- Tuition will only add burden to the child
- Reading should be conducted in a relax n enjoyable environment
- Quantity of reading matches the success probability
- Parents should involve in the reading activity. A research shows that parents who involve in the reading will groom children with less pressure, more positive, better social skill n observation
- Should allow the child to raise questions while reading. It expands a child’s imagination
Chapter 1.1 – How to choose children books?
- Don’t buy book which is beyond the child’s understanding
- The book should match a child’s language n sensation ability, let them have the freedom of imagination
- Parents must filter the book content before their child read, incl. verify the facts of the book. Must take note that once the child learned the wrong facts, it is very difficult to correct him later
- Some children books are too focus on moral n logic, lack of fantasy
- Family reading is the only way to groom the reading habit of a child since small
Chapter 1.2 – Intensive Reading & Extensive Reading (精读 & 泛读)
- Before standard 4: extensive reading (read more varieties of books)
- After standard 4: intensive reading (choose few good books of each area n read more thoroughly)
- Reading must make a child happy
- The reading purpose will determine the reading method
Eg. We read novel quickly without understanding every single word but we read discussion article slowly n intensively to understand the meaning behind - Let the child involve in the selection of the books
Chapter 1.3 – Books should be read like this…
- Mama Tan’s children can read thick books of university at very young age as they have mastered the skill of reading
- Must read the title n the author’s name. Then, observe the cover page as it tells the story in it
- Can ask quiz after the child read the story or take turn to repeat what he has read
- 3 steps:-
Step 1:- Read briefly. Just to understand the overall content n the intention of author
Step 2:- Look for the new vocab in dictionary. Repeat reading at the difficult section
Step 3:- Read one more time fr the beginning. Require to do some pen notes
Chapter 2 – The 9 secrets to let the child fall in love with reading
Chapter 2.1 – Utilise tools which can activate a child’s curiosity
- We can have activity after reading. Eg. Repeat the story, acting the characters in the story
Chapter 2.2 – Tidy n Organise Books
- Goto library once a week
- Keep the self-writing books on the books rack. Whenever guests read it, it will cultivate the pride of the child
- Grouping of books
Method 1: Group by size
Method 2: Group by category (animals, transportation)
Method 3: Group by alphabetical order (based on the title of the book)
Chapter 2.3 – Start fr Practical Life
- After reading, relate to real life
Eg. Read about butterfly, bring them to butterfly park. Read about history, bring them to museum - Let the child read the label on the food
- Let the child read the recipe while make the cookies
- Let the child read road sign n poster in the journey
- Let the elder child read stories to the younger child
- Question n answer is very good foundation for writing essay in the future
- Organise a reading gathering once a month. The participants can exchange books n share what they feel n think after reading the book (读后感)
- Play imagination game in the car. Ask the child what if we can’t read, what is the benefits of reading n etc.
- Can blend song n music into reading. Or let the child enjoy drinks n ice-cream after reading while he share what he thinks of the book
Chapter 2.4 – Replace GPS with Paper Map
- When travelling, let the child study the tourist spots on the map n sometime even let them to narrate the direction
- The best method to let the child to understand map is via question n answer. Start with US n ask the child to name the capital for each state
- The first map for the child shld be where the child stay. That is related to his daily life
- Study map oso enable a child to understand the history, culture, race n language
Chapter 2.5 – Library
- Goto library once a week
- Let the child to learn how to search for books fr the librarian
- Encourage the child to seek for answers in the library, not only from the Internet
Chapter 2.6 – Picture Book (绘本）
- Picture book shld be the child’s first book (as early as 6 mths old)
- Do not read fr beginning till the end at one shot. Let them take a look at n touch the cover page n last page
- Do not use flash card while reading. Only repeat reading
- Can spot similar shape n colours in the book pics
- Can also ask them why
- Learn to create our own story with unexpected ending
- The elder kids can read story books with pics. Not necessary full wordings
Chapter 2.7 – Fr mother’s story till professional books
- Don’t let the child addicted to TV. Once it becomes a habit, pretty hard to pull them away fr tv
- Family reading together is the best way to instil reading habit
- Everyday must read at least 30 mins
- Ask just enough question only. Too many questions will affect the child’s concentration
- Can let the child read newspaper with pics
Chapter 2.8 – For Child Who Start Reading Late
- The best time to start is during early childhood
- If they missed this period, the key point is to create their interest of reading
- Starts with books which has pics
- Set reading time before bed
- Tips for late reader:-
– don’t force. Starts with newspaper, magazine, ordering form n dictionary
– don’t keep correcting their wrong pronunciation
– don’t keep asking them “what did u learn?” n “what is the title?”
Chapter 2.9 – Let the Child Remember the Parent’s Reading Image
- Parents is the mirror of the child
- Reading habit should not be stopped or interfered
- Setup “Monthly Book Purchased Day”
- The only “shortcut” to cultivate reading habit is the entire family involve in the reading activity
- Set a reading time every night or every weekend
- Don’t let the child sit in front of the computer before 5 yo
- Let the child sign the book
- Suggestion on cultivating child’s reading habit:
1. Don’t restrict the volume of books read every day or week
2. Every month conduct a “Family Books Purchase” trip
3. Give pocket money for buying books
4. Every week at least one night switch off the TV after dinner, everyone read quietly – newspaper, magazine, comics or any book
5. Always emphasize the importance of reading books
7. Visit library or books store
Chapter 3 – Cultivate Independent Reading
Chapter 3.1 – 15 activities which make Reading Interesting
Don’t force the child to read, instead create their interest of reading
- Record the story read by the child n make it into a CD. Can let them draw the CD cover or print on the CD cover
- Let the child read n recite poem in front of ppl. Teach them the tone n feels
- Relate the book content with the real life
- Let the child read the book recipe n follow the steps or read the manual to assemble kite
- When strolling with the child, teach them to observe the surrounding n categorise the things – plants, animals. Observe ppl n teach them “fast, slow, run”
- Ask the child “what if the author make another decision?” If the child can’t answer, the parents tell their opinion n let the child thinks. Build up the child’s view
- Play words n numbers game with the child
- Let the child predict the story. After read, compare the prediction n actual story
- Diss the importance of the pics to the story
- In the car, play game of story telling – one starts the story n others take turn to continue the story. Observe what is the child’s thinking n how the child handle a situation
- Parents can imitate the sound n action of the animals n insects read fr the book
- If the child request to repeat the same page, don’t jump to another page. If the child feel bored, make use of the words n pics to ask questions to the child
- When we read a book which we don’t understand at all, imagine the ending
- Make use of the verbs in the book such as “smile”, “cry”, “jump” n “run”
- When reading the comics, tell the story roughly to the child. Let him draw out their imagined story in comics form
- Limit the usage of digital device to search for pics n videos only
Chapter 3.2 – 10 Ways to Assist the Child to Understand the Content of the Book
Diss with the child the intention of reading (pleasure or learning)? Seek for the right type of book to meet the intention
Chapter 3.3 – Write Reading Log
Chapter 4 – Critical Thinking Ability
Bloom’s Taxonomy divided learning into 6 categories:-
a. Knowledge
b. Comprehension (理解)
c. Application
d. Analysis
e. Synthesis (综合)
f. Evaluation (评价)