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my dear little 8yog fell apart last night over her not yet being able to
read. i really felt for her, she knows that most little people her age have
learned to read by now, and she is still struggling. she doesnt spend much
time trying, mind you, she is very creative and i have been focusing on her
other strengths (for myself as much as for her) allowing her to create (do
crafts and artwork) play games and soccer, etc. i only have one child older
than she, who was reading at around her 7th bday and for the ensuing 3 yrs
has spent many of her waking hours reading. but up til now, i have seen no
real frustration with herself (8yog)-- i think she thought it would just
happen, and by now, too. i told her that i believed that it would get easier
for her as she gets older, but if she wanted to speed things up, we could do
some sort of daily session of practice: up to her. she was in a sad mood, so
i didnt get a firm answer... just discouragement, so maybe i'll ask her
again, or maybe i will leave it alone. btw, she can read easy words... any
advice is welcome.
erin

Valerie

i think she thought it would just
happen, and by now, too. i told her that i believed that it would get
easier
for her as she gets older, but if she wanted to speed things up, we could do
some sort of daily session of practice: up to her. she was in a sad mood,
so
i didnt get a firm answer... just discouragement, so maybe i'll ask her
again, or maybe i will leave it alone. btw, she can read easy words... any
advice is welcome.
erin

Erin, we have "twins" in our children! My eldest is an 11 yog. She started
reading on her own at 6.5 with no help from me (except daily reading aloud),
and has had her nose in a book ever since. My 8 yog is more "normal". She
reads haltingly and shyly. I went over phonics with her, which I didn't have
to do with the eldest. Last night she read a chapter of "Little Bear" to me
and was so proud of herself. She has to live in her older sister's shadow
and that's not easy. My eldest is very dramatic and the center of everything
and smart. My 8 yo is just as smart, etc, but she is doomed to be forever 3
years younger.

A few months ago, Tabitha (8) was complaining that she can't read. I pointed
out that I've heard her read plenty of times...reading to her little
sisters, the cereal box, something on TV, labels....She didn't count that as
reading because it's not what _Cristina_(11) was reading, some big book with
big words. I had to convince her that what she's doing is in fact reading
and she should be proud of herself and enjoy it. Then I started reading with
her without her big sister around. I think that's really helped. We sit
together and take turns reading aloud with books I know she can
handle...children's poetry, short stories. She was really proud of herself
when she read "Goodnight Moon" to her little sister (she determinedly read
the words, not just going by memory...this is really important to her). You
wouldn't have a little one for her to read to, would you? If not in your
own family, then a neighbor, a friend you see often? It really boosts
Tabitha's confidence when she's the older, wiser one.

Maybe my 8 yo could be e-pals with your 8 yo? She loves writing letters with
lots of help from Mom.

---Valerie

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In a message dated 9/11/2000 8:06:01 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
valeries@... writes:

> You
> wouldn't have a little one for her to read to, would you? If not in your
> own family, then a neighbor, a friend you see often? It really boosts
> Tabitha's confidence when she's the older, wiser one.

Or go to a nursing home and ask who needs to be read to that day. The visits
are very welcome, whether the patient knows you or not and the nurses will
know who needs it the most that day. If you explain you need someone who
will listen patiently to dd, you're likely to get a good match all around.

Eiraul