This Language Arts Reading Guide is based on the Garden Allegory as presented by HomeMakers for America on the Hearthstone Education Plan website. If you have not already done so, we recommend that you view the presentation “What is a Heart Based Education?” and the “Five Elements for Conditioning the Heart” on the Hearthstone Plan website.
Young children are in the Core Values phase of their learning. This is a time to prepare and condition the heart so that a natural love of learning will develop in later years. The Garden Allegory suggests that this is the time to “prepare the soil” by building relationships, establishing family routines and responsibilities and experiencing the joy of discovery.
We recommend that reading instruction begin only after the child expresses a desire to learn how to read. This Reading Guide provides the second level of a phonics-based reading instruction program that parents may use to teach reading, spelling, grammar and comprehension to their children.
Young children are in the Core Values phase of their learning. This is a time to prepare and condition the heart so that a natural love of learning will develop in later years. The Garden Allegory suggests that this is the time to “prepare the soil” by building relationships, establishing family routines and responsibilities and experiencing the joy of discovery.
We recommend that reading instruction begin only after the child expresses a desire to learn how to read. This Reading Guide provides the second level of a phonics-based reading instruction program that parents may use to teach reading, spelling, grammar and comprehension to their children.
The lesson plans are modeled after the garden allegory. As we consider the process of gardening, we discover five steps that are repeated year after year in agricultural production. In this simple model from nature we learn how energy travels through a growth and development process. This same model may be applied to the growth and development of the heart. Each step of the gardening cycle may be applied to a heart-based learning of all subjects, including learning how to read. These steps include:
1: Prepare the Soil: This first step reminds us to evaluate the condition of the heart. Just as soil needs to be plowed and nourished with water and sunshine before seed planting, a child’s heart must be softened and prepared. The Well-Educated Heart program is designed to prepare the soil. We recommend that children remain active in this program to maintain a heart that is prepared to learn. For more information see www.welleducatedheart.com
2. Plant the seeds: In this step, students and teachers define principles or concepts. The lesson plan begins with defining the principle or objective. This section is for the parent or teacher to prepare themselves to be effective learning coaches for their students. After seeds have been selected, they need to be planted. In the Reading guide, we have labeled this activity as “Assess knowledge and make connections”. Students in this phase will take the time to research and study about the principle or concept they want to learn about. This is a time to ask lots of questions and make connections between what is already known what can be learned in the future.
3. Nourish and cultivate: This is the application phase of learning where students perform experiments, practice skills and develop new habits. Academic service projects may be considered during this step where students find a service project that allows them to use the new skill in service towards family and friends. In the Reading Guide, we have labeled this step as “Practice Reading, Writing and Speaking.” The guide offers suggestions for learning activities. Parents and students are not confined to these ideas, and may incorporate other related activities as well.
4. Weed it out: This step includes evaluation of the things that have been learned. Students develop critical thinking skills as they learn to discern truth from error and as they discover how to apply the information that has been learned. This step is labeled as “Evaluate and Discuss” in the Reading Guide.
5. Share the Harvest: This final step provides an opportunity to celebrate the growth by creating something related to the principles learned. Creative works may include poems, stories, music, handicrafts, art projects, research papers, presentations, and demonstrations. Students may also consider how to share their learning with others through a service project. This step falls under the subheading of “Create and Share”.
Each lesson is designed to take a few key principles and follow them through the full garden cycle, from seed planting to harvest. There is no set time period for completing the lessons. Some lessons may be completed in a few days; others may take a few weeks. We recommend that families schedule time for reading practice without determining how much content should be completed. Reading practice time should be stress-free. Allow the student to move through the material at their own pace so they may experience the joy of learning and reading without undue pressure.
The Reading Guide comes complete with creative works pages that families may copy. Flash cards from Reading Level 1 will be used in Level 2 so parents should keep these readily available. Students will also continue to add words to The Spelling Notebook as they complete the activities in the Reading 2 lessons.
Pre-requisites: Children should have completed Language Arts for the Heart – Reading 1 using the McGuffey Primer and McGuffey Pictorial Primer.
1: Prepare the Soil: This first step reminds us to evaluate the condition of the heart. Just as soil needs to be plowed and nourished with water and sunshine before seed planting, a child’s heart must be softened and prepared. The Well-Educated Heart program is designed to prepare the soil. We recommend that children remain active in this program to maintain a heart that is prepared to learn. For more information see www.welleducatedheart.com
2. Plant the seeds: In this step, students and teachers define principles or concepts. The lesson plan begins with defining the principle or objective. This section is for the parent or teacher to prepare themselves to be effective learning coaches for their students. After seeds have been selected, they need to be planted. In the Reading guide, we have labeled this activity as “Assess knowledge and make connections”. Students in this phase will take the time to research and study about the principle or concept they want to learn about. This is a time to ask lots of questions and make connections between what is already known what can be learned in the future.
3. Nourish and cultivate: This is the application phase of learning where students perform experiments, practice skills and develop new habits. Academic service projects may be considered during this step where students find a service project that allows them to use the new skill in service towards family and friends. In the Reading Guide, we have labeled this step as “Practice Reading, Writing and Speaking.” The guide offers suggestions for learning activities. Parents and students are not confined to these ideas, and may incorporate other related activities as well.
4. Weed it out: This step includes evaluation of the things that have been learned. Students develop critical thinking skills as they learn to discern truth from error and as they discover how to apply the information that has been learned. This step is labeled as “Evaluate and Discuss” in the Reading Guide.
5. Share the Harvest: This final step provides an opportunity to celebrate the growth by creating something related to the principles learned. Creative works may include poems, stories, music, handicrafts, art projects, research papers, presentations, and demonstrations. Students may also consider how to share their learning with others through a service project. This step falls under the subheading of “Create and Share”.
Each lesson is designed to take a few key principles and follow them through the full garden cycle, from seed planting to harvest. There is no set time period for completing the lessons. Some lessons may be completed in a few days; others may take a few weeks. We recommend that families schedule time for reading practice without determining how much content should be completed. Reading practice time should be stress-free. Allow the student to move through the material at their own pace so they may experience the joy of learning and reading without undue pressure.
The Reading Guide comes complete with creative works pages that families may copy. Flash cards from Reading Level 1 will be used in Level 2 so parents should keep these readily available. Students will also continue to add words to The Spelling Notebook as they complete the activities in the Reading 2 lessons.
Pre-requisites: Children should have completed Language Arts for the Heart – Reading 1 using the McGuffey Primer and McGuffey Pictorial Primer.