I only discuss Kiddo's literacy skills with people I know really well. People I know who won't just think I am some crazed alpha mom with flash cards and a Harvard interview scheduled for 2023. If I talked about it at the playground or at soccer it might just sound like I was bragging. But somehow it seems okay to discuss it on internet land. Or maybe I just desperately want to brag about my child.
Kiddo can pretty much read anything you put in front of him. Sure, he needs help with words like "notorious" and "indefatigable" but there's no glossing it over... he can read. He has been reading regularly since he was about 3.5 but it wasn't until I got him the Bob Books that I realized how well he actually could read. I never needed the second set. What was the point? And although we certainly did some word games and activities I never really thought I was teaching him how to read, that is what is amazing.
Now, when we go to the library, he heads straight for the easy reader section and chooses a stack of books to read. Most of the time, he still prefers that I read to him, but he usually likes the read his "level 1" (though he also chooses level 2) the first time by himself. (Sidenote: why are so many easy readers based on TV characters? That is so annoying.) Also he feels a lot of ownership over his ability to read. As he should!
I also know that there is a big difference between being able to decode words and being able to decode stories so I never push him to read, it is always his choice. I want to make sure his reading comprehension skills are on a par with his reading skills.
And that is my brag post of the day.
I totally thought Julia would be reading by now. She just turned 5, and she's super smart. Her vocabulary is enormous and she's known all her letters and numbers since she was 2. She does recognize some words now and can write all the names of our family members on her own, but I don't think she's "reading" per se. Maybe because I've never done even one tiny iota to encourage it (other than reading to her I mean!!!!). I feel pretty lazy about it, but I guess I figure that's the kindergarten teacher's job. ;)
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing the answer is yes, but have you read The Read Aloud Handbook? Another good one is How to Get Your Child to Love Reading by Esme Codill. They both include suggestions for books for his age group and talk about why reading isn't a skill that's necessary to push on kids at an early age (if they get it fine, if not they will).
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! What an exciting milestone for you both!
ReplyDeleteI am a big fan of bragging.
ReplyDeleteIn fact, I think sometimes my blog posts come off way over-the-top in the bragging department. I honestly believe I've even lost a few "mommy friends" because of it.
Oh well.
Congratulations! You should indeed brag...I was really excited when Benjamin "read" one of the pre-readers we have on our shelves. I was so excited that I pushed him a little too hard to read other books and soon realized I needed to back off. LOL
Now I'm cool as a cucumber...no pushing. I figure he'll read when he wants to read, right? He's a big fan of copying words now...so I'm sure reading is in our near future.
As for Kiddo...and his voracious appetite for reading--WONDERFUL!! Brag on! :)
You are totally allowed to brag about that. I offer up a bob book from time to time and Seth says he doesn't want to because he can't read. It's a confidence issue so after an encouraging word I back away. I agree about the tv character books. Might I suggest the Usborne science readers - a little non-fiction mixes it up. Or the level 1 hello readers by Hans Wilhelm - I find them a bit boring but my son likes me to read them to him. They deal more with emotions or issues a kid might have but with a dog as the main character.
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone for your comments, it's good to know I can brag a little sometimes....
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree that reading is not a skill that needs to be attained at an early age. Kiddo just seems hard-wired for system-thinking so he caught on quickly. Honestly, I think reading comprehension and vocabulary are MUCH more important at this age than decoding words but I won't be encouraging him to stop!
That's awesome...I totally understand the not mentioning things to people unless they are pretty much family.... I'm sure he's going to continue to amaze you.
ReplyDeleteI think you should brag about him! Reading is fantastic, it's wonderful he can and obviously enjoys it :)
ReplyDeleteBrag on! ;)
ReplyDeleteBrag away! I think it's awesome that Kiddo is already reading so well. I'll be interested to read about how he progresses on his reading journey. CJ can read in the sense that she sound out words, but I don't know about her comprehension either. She still vastly prefers me to read to her. I wonder when she'll take the initiative to check out book son her own like Kiddo does? She is so not there yet!
ReplyDeleteI agree, brag on~!! It's always nice to hear of children super young totally into books and reading etc.....
ReplyDelete