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early reading question
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We followed SCM guidelines for early reading in kindergarten and first grade, including working through the Pathway readers. We are now in second grade and I’m not sure what to think. She reads through the second grade Pathway reader very well- this includes longer paragraphs and, in my opinion, more storyline that she is reading. I feel pressure, though, to supplement her reading with other chapter book selections. Problem is, she struggles in other book series. I have even found chapter book series that are supposed to be geared towards younger or reluctant readers, and she struggles. Mainly because they thrown in big or unusual words. The books are less words and simpler sentence structures than the Pathway Reader that she reads with more ease. I can’t decide whether I should continue to press her to read these other books or not. First, it slows her down and she isn’t reading with ease. She is getting to too many words that are complex or unsual, and that 1) bothers her that it slows her down; and 2) I also think it knocks her confidence down because she feels that she should know those words or should be able to read more fluidly. But on the other hand, she is getting introduced to new words, right? I don’t know what to do. Thanks for any thoughts!!
I would continue with what she enjoys and offer to read with/to her the tougher ones. Either reading it all to her, or switching page by page, or paragraph by paragraph, who reads just a couple times per week. That way she can practice different books, words, writing style, but not become discouraged or bogged down.
Reading did not get easier for my older two until they were almost 9. They could read but it was work, right around 9 it got fun. They had their select books that were easier for them and the others I read with and to them. I have to remind myself often that there is no rush, they will get it and then often take off 🙂
Thank you! Going off of the thoughts you shared, I think I will continue letting her read the Pathways out loud to me by herself, but when it comes to the other book series, I will actually sit down with her and read them together. I think that will help.
Thank you for telling me about the ages of your own two. That helps me quiet down all those feelings of pressure I feel. There is so much obsession with reading, that I feel if my child isn’t reading like crazy at an early age- I am failing. so thank you!
I would encourage her to read easier books if she wants to read more in her free time. This will help build confidence and fluancy. These can be Dr. Seuss, Richard Scarry or other early readers. And some picture books like those by Eric Carle are good too. My daughter loved the Biscuit series by Alyssa Capucilli about a girl and her dog. She read them over and over again in her free time. You could also look at the readers used in Sonlight. For school readings, I would continue with the Pathway series. They are a great set of stories, teaching good character lessons along the way too.
Another source we enjoyed were Cyr Readers. They were written by a woman named Ellen Cyr, and alternate between nature stories and poets/authors. I just happened across them in a used book shop and bought them. The thing about them is that they introduce the words needed ahead of the reading. So my struggling 2nd grader (at the time) was comfortable with the words before she read the passage. It really gave her more confidence, and we enjoyed the stories so much. They were so easy to implement with a Charlotte Mason education! By the 2nd Reader, you are reading about Longfellow and Whittier, both of whom she knew! Their poetry is then interspersed. We loved them.
http://faculty.education.illinois.edu/westbury/paradigm/Vol3/Barry.pdf
I found the Art Readers reprinted at Forgotten Books, but I don’t own those, so I can’t speak for them.
HTH
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