One thing I really love about homeschooling is getting to creatively tailor education to my kid’s particularities. When we started wandering aimlessly with reading, I resolved to find a solution. I came up with a “Reading Rewards” idea to help motivate them to a little more challenging reading. They were bored with “Frog and Toad”, but complained constantly of being overwhelmed by some of the longer chapter books. So I spent an entire rest time one afternoon (think very valuable time) searching out and planning reading schedules for each girl. I wanted to vary the books enough to let them feel successful, but also challenge them a bit. On top of that, it’s not as easy as it might sound to find well written books of substance that aren’t teeming with moralisim, people are basically good, believe in yourself messages. There is a lot of drivel to wade through.
After making the lists, I bought a treasure box and filled it with all sorts of trinkets from the $1 bins at Target. The deal was they would be allowed to pick 1 treasure for every book they finished and wrote a summary about. When I showed Chris the list, he asked how long I thought it would take. My response, “Oh a solid 2 months. There are some books on those lists over 100 pages!”
We started the program on Thursday. Maggie is on book 4 and Emily is more than half-way through her 3rd. Apparently they do not have a reading issue but a character issue. Another reason I love homeschool: I get a front row seat to their hearts. Reading is an easy fix. I’m happy as a clam that they can read so well. Laziness is going to take more than a box of trinkets to fix. It will take more than any program has to offer. In fact, there is only one way it will every truly be fixed in their hearts and mine. We need a new heart and a righteousness that is not our own. We need a heart that has never been lazy or complained, never been proud or selfish. Thank you Jesus for giving us what we don’t deserve, cannot earn, and cannot live without: You.
Talking Wall 
Hey have you ever heard of Honey for a Child’s Heart. It’s a book about books. It does what you’re doing for your girls. Finds books that work for your child, and pretty morally sound. Just a thought.
Thanks! I’ll check it out.