one really exciting w.i.p.
Something exciting is happening around here: J is teetering on the brink of reading! Brian always has his nose in the newspaper, and I'm a book junkie. J loves us to read to him, but for the last several months he's been itching to do it on his own. Sparking his interest even more is the fact that some of his friends at school are already reading fairly well.
He knows the letters and their basic sounds and is just beginning to pick out words by himself, but I needed some help in how to instruct him. After consulting Brian's cousin Kara, who tutors kids, and my one homeschooling friend, I ordered this book. So far the lessons are easy and short, and he's really enthusiastic about them.
I'm hoping with the reading lessons I give him and the lessons he gets at school, he'll be reading in no time flat. OK, OK. No pressure. Maybe by the end of the school year... Go, Jie. Go, Jie.
One other very exciting thing happened this morning. They fixed our curb- Ooooh, ahhhh! A few big saws + a backhoe + a little steam roller + a dump truck = spellbound children.
Have a great weekend, everyone! Enjoy the first official days of Fall. (or Spring!)
Comments
that is so exciting! i used part of that book to teach my daughter. it's a little too scripted for me, and we started in the middle, but it is very useful. i don't like how most books do the reading and writing at the same time. most kids can read before they have the fine-motor skills necessary to write. enjoy the moment!
Posted by: kirsten | September 22, 2006 4:51 PM
I taught mine to read in kinderg also... they love it and it gives them so much self confidence... we had short 15 minute lessons each day too.... and eventually it just all clicked.... and they were so very proud. Way to go Alicia.... and J too !!!!
Posted by: diana | September 22, 2006 7:29 PM
I might look into that book. My daughter is still young for reading but has recently gotten very interested in what letter a word starts with. I am a book junkie myself so I wonder if she will be too.
Posted by: Mama Urchin | September 22, 2006 7:30 PM
oh I'm so glad you're trying it! I'll be excited to hear about his progress. So wonderful when the lightbulb goes on. For Tommy it just "clicked" one day and that was that. Grace is just starting very short sentences and still has difficulty remember letter sounds.
As I said before we never followed the "script", nor did we do the handwriting, but I really like the short lessons and the technique.
so cool!
Posted by: estea | September 22, 2006 7:43 PM
i was out taking photos when they did our roadwork last year. Yes, they are scrapbooked. And yes, the boys love 'em.
Go J! Go!
Posted by: capello | September 22, 2006 7:58 PM
How exciting! Every step of their lives feels like a gift, no?
Posted by: Veronica TM | September 22, 2006 8:02 PM
I've taught 4 children how to read using that book and it is waiting on my shelf for the remaining 2. It's great. We don't do the handwriting part. I made my own incentive charts - 4 charts of 25 days each so they could put little stickers for every day they completed. After they finished the book, the whole family celebrated by going to the bowling alley.
Posted by: homejewel | September 22, 2006 9:51 PM
Love that book! Caroline and I have spent some good quality time together learning to read. I really didn't mind the scripts-I just adapted it to us! Go J!
Posted by: Christy | September 23, 2006 10:03 AM
We are "reading" up a storm around here too - it is just magical to see those little brains put all those symbols together and make sense of them. Way to go J!
Posted by: erin | September 23, 2006 10:38 AM
THat's great J and Alicia! He'll put it all together in no time. That was the coolest part about teaching, when the kids started to REALLY read. Fun stuff. And you encouraging him and putting in some quality time will only help. Yahoo!
Posted by: Angela | September 23, 2006 1:52 PM
We taught both of our girls to read the summer before they started first grade. I would highly recommend it. Both know their phonics cold which seems to have been a key in their long term language arts success, ie reading new words which leads to reading more complex literature, spelling, and writing. Going into school reading is a great gift for your child. Way to go!
Posted by: kathy | September 24, 2006 1:43 PM
Way to go J! I bought that book last year, but never really got into it. I do know of many who used it with great success. Right now we're in the beginning stages of readong too (no thanks to me). It's so fun to see them sound out a word or figure out how to spell something.
Posted by: beki | September 25, 2006 12:23 PM
I'm so excited for J! Emma wants to read so badly, its painful. She just longs to sit down on the couch, snuggled up with a book she can read by herself. I think I'm going to have to get this book. I can't wait to hear how you like it...
Posted by: molly | September 26, 2006 2:59 PM