marianne

All my children went to ps - I removed my youngest from ps 6 months
ago, she is now 12yrs old
My eldest could read before he went to school. He loves reading even
now
My 2nd could not read until he was about 7-8yrs old always hated
reading and still does. He never reads anything unless it is some
thing he needs to know
My 3rd was another late starter, 8-9yr - reads occasionally
My 4th could read at about 6-7yrs and still enjoys reading
My youngest was about 6-7yrs too - she very rarely reads.
I always read to all my children every bed time untill they didnt
want me to read.
Every child is different.
Marianne

dawn

> My 2nd could not read until he was about 7-8yrs old always hated
> reading and still does. He never reads anything unless it is some
> thing he needs to know
> My 3rd was another late starter, 8-9yr - reads occasionally
> My 4th could read at about 6-7yrs and still enjoys reading
> My youngest was about 6-7yrs too - she very rarely reads.
>
>
>
It's easy to forget that, regardless of the propaganda put out by schools,
many, many "normal" children are not reading independently at the end of
grade 1. Many aren't by the end of grade 2. Many don't read for
enjoyment much before grade 4 or so, if they haven't been damaged by the
system and turned off from reading altogether. My 7.5 yr old participates
in an America Reads program at our public library and tonight I took a
peek at his file. *I* think he's still struggling to read and he rarely
reads for enjoyment or pleasure as opposed to achieve a specific goal
(like the directions to a Pokemon game). He still makes lots of mistakes
and is clueless a lot of the time if the context isn't really clear.
Yet, the tutors he has worked with have continually said that he is
significanlty "abve grade level" and has "superior skills" for his
age/grade. So, OK, those comments give me some assurance, but they also
tell me that most 2nd graders don't read well, regardless of what people
say. And, if allowed to grow on their own, these same kids *will* (most
likely) be independent readers one day.....
dawn h-s