Where to start an early reader?

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  • July 13, 2010 at 3:03 am
    brookben
    Member

    My daughter started reading when she was 3, mostly on her own.  It was not a forced issue at all and I was completely surprised when she was reading before her 4th birthday.

    Anyway, she’s 4.5yo now and reads the Little House series, her favorite, without trouble.  I’m not sure what grade level she’s on but that gives an idea.  🙂  Her comprehension skills seem to be right up there, though she hasn’t been tested, but she can answer questions about things she has read.

    My question is just this:  do I just skip all reading lessons for now?  And if so, when do I know to pick them back up?  She hasn’t had any formal reading lessons.  Part of me thinks she’s gotten it and another part is concerned she could be missing a basic element somehow?  When she reads aloud, it sounds beautiful and conversational.  No stumbling or sounding out the words.

    She is really begging to begin school, so I wanted to start in August.  With Math, I am leaning toward RightStart.  I think she should begin in Level A, but I took the ‘test’ and it  mentioned an advanced reader as a reason to go with Level B — is there some correlation between early reading and math?  Again, I’m concerned she would miss a foundational concept if we started in B.

    Also, spelling is something I wondered about.  She has a distinct interest in spelling words and writing letters.  it’s fascinating to me that she can read a word without issue, but needs help spelling them.  I am reluctant to begin her spelling while so young — should I be?  Should I simply follow her interest and begin some sort of spelling lesson?

    Thanks so much for taking the time to read my post. 

    Misti

    July 13, 2010 at 1:30 pm
    Bookworm
    Participant

    Misti,

    Two of my sons began reading on their own at an early age.  One never needed any phonics instruction; one did.  I encourage you to watch her, listen to her, and see how she tackles unfamiliar words.  If she sounds them out, then you really have no difficulties.  If she stumbles and doesn’t know how to tackle them, then you might consider a quick run through of basic phonics; I liked Phonics Pathways for this.  My second son spent a couple of months doing this and has been just fine since.  Early readers can be different–some really have figured it all out, and some just have such a strong visual memory that the “memorize” the words they see easily, but that can cause them trouble when they move up to more complex words.  I’ve had people tell me that ALL early readers with no phonics instruction will “hit the wall” and cease to be able to read at 4th grade–bunk.  🙂  And also I’ve heard people say that anyone that can read at 3 needs no reading instruction–also bunk.  So you’ll need to see if she’s sounding out or genuinely uncertain how to deal with unfamiliar words.

    I can’t answer the question about RightStart as we’ve never seen it.

    I do want to caution you–I made the mistake with my oldest of assuming that since he was clearly bright and clearly wanted to “do something” that this meant he was ready for the consistent effort of every-day school work.  He was not–he maybe had an older brain but  he still had a four-year-old body.  So be cautious–follow her lead some, but do not allow her to burn herself out.  Have you seen Charlotte Mason’s list of attainments for a six-year-old?  That might give you some things to work with her.  (Is this availble online anywhere else but on an AO site?)  I’d of course let her read, perhaps add in number and spelling games, and focus on LOTS of nature study and outdoor time and developing her attention and imagination.

    Charlotte Mason did some beginning spelling while teaching phonics.  While I would not recommend buying a spelling curriculum and doing worksheets with a 4 year old, you could very well begin doing some basic beginning phonics-related spelling.  I’d keep it simple and game-friendly.  Perhaps a bucket of magnetic letters and a cookie sheet, and when she asks how to spell something, (like, oh, DOG) then say, “Hmm, what letter makes the “d” sound?  and on like that.  Then see if she can spell “log” or “fog” and build up slowly from there.  KEEP IT LOW-KEY and fun.  You do NOT want a jaded, tired six-year-old who doesn’t want to “do school” anymore.  Trust me.  🙂

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