The Covenant of Subtitles

My son was angry.

 Reading was so stressful
​it turned his stomach into knots,
his eyes to tears,
and his emotions to rage.

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​When I decided to homeschool I made the commitment to do whatever it took to encourage my children to fall in love with learning.

​On July 1st, I told Matthew that he no longer had to read anything.

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Not. one. word.

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I would do all of the reading until he decided he wanted to read.

No matter when that would be he was given full freedom to never read again unless it was his choice. He only needed to agree to following along when I read. 
​

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We had an accord.

​A covenant was made. 

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​In September we began our homeschooling journey.

Matthew’s grade 3 year started with that covenant in place. I read everything. He watched the words as I read.

He started to relax and enjoy stories, magazine and newspaper articles, even advertisements. 
​

In mid-November it happened. Matthew wanted to read!

​It had taken four and a half months of liberty for him to fall in love with the written word and to want to read again. 

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​Years later, Matthew declared a secret;

“You know how I got good at reading?” 

​He beamed as he answered his own question,

photo credit: Prologue, Lego Lord of the Rings for Xbox 360

“I watched the subtitles on movies and video games.

​I learned to read better by listening to the narrator tell me the story while I followed along with the words.”
​

​It was then I realized, in those early months of our homeschooling journey, 
​

"I had given Matthew the Covenant of Subtitles."

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​Do you have a disheartened and reluctant reader? 

Offer them the Covenant of Subtitles ... it might be exactly what they need.

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​What strategies do you use to encourage your reluctant reader to read?

Let's get the conversation started...

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