We're going lighter on the formal lessons and leaving room for things like puzzles (and nature walks and anthills and free-reading and cooking) these days. It's been nice. And learning this way is far more effective than I ever imagined it could be. Even home schoolers have to be deliberate about making room for these kinds of enriching activities, otherwise our kids will just end up being "schooled at home," not home schooled.
"...the child should have a set time everyday to read for fun. Begin with half an hour for first graders, and build up to an hour of reading time daily... This is an important part of the child's education: it improves his reading skills, teaches him the habit of sitting still with a book, and reminds him that reading is fun... free reading ought to be spent on literature at or slightly below the child's present reading level so that he can simply enjoy himself. The easier reading will help him increase his speed." The Well Trained Mind: The Guide to Classical Education at Home by Jessie Wise and Susan Wise Bauer
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