Mike Smith:
Marcia, many parents worry about the time they think it will take to teach their high schoolers all the subjects they think that are required. What is "Read-Think-Write," and how does it help parents overcome this challenge?
Marcia Somerville:
"Read-Think-Write" is a rhythm that we developed when we were developing my Tapestry of Grace curriculum. And what it does, Mike, is it allows moms to spend the most time with their youngest children who are non-readers who need them the most. The "Read-Think-Write" rhythm simply adds that the older children who are fluent readers—and this can be from about 4th grade up, but it especially is good for high school—read on their own for a significant amount of time (a day or two). Then they come, mid-week, and they discuss or think aloud with a parent who's been prepped on a topic. They think aloud with that parent in the form of discussion. Then they go off again independently and they write about what they've read and thought about, to recategorize, to reshuffle, to reselect facts and make them their own in some form of written presentation. What this does is it frees up the parents to really only be interacting with their children on the material on this middle task of the "think" part of "Read-Think-Write."
Mike:
Well, thank you, Marcia. And tomorrow, we'll go on to discuss other ways that we can help our children become independent learners. So until next time, I'm Mike Smith.
