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>My younger one, now age 9 and reading just fine, saw the teaching of
>phonics as an insult! She wanted to know what the words said (meant) so
>she could make use of them to understand her world.

My youngest, now 12, began to read at 4 by peering over my shoulder while I
read to them and asking "what is that word". I think she was reading long
before she let on to us. She absorbed whole words and plugged them into her
memory bank. When it came time to show mom that she could read of course
there were words that she did not know and she was really resistant to
sounding them out. So I did it for her and then put the word back together
and then she went on.

Eventually she was able to do this for herself, or she would just skip the
word and go on just using the context.

At 4 1/2 when she wanted to take chapter books from the library I
discouraged her thinking that it was just extra weight to carry back and
forth. She did prove herself by reading practically every Hardy Boy book in
the place!!

Kathy T from Alberta Canada (mom to Janelle 14 and Katrina 12)

Michele Moss

> From: vthiesse@...

> My youngest, now 12, began to read at 4 by peering over my shoulder
> while I read to them and asking "what is that word". I think she was
> reading long before she let on to us.

interesting observation that she was reading long before she let
on. Sterling (3yo in May) has just entered a phase where he
interrupts me constantly during his bedtime reading with "what's that
say" or "where does it say earth - which one is earth". so we'll
pick on that word for the night. i also show him how it is sounded
out since he knows his letter sounds. then everytime i come to that
word later in the book, i'll point at it. the first few times, he
reads it. then he'll start in with "i don't know, you do it". about
the time i'm going to say it and move on, he blurts it out. and this
part i really like.... when i forget to stop and point and read
over it, he catches me and says "HEY! I'm suppose to do that
one!"

so yes... i do believe they can read a lot more than they often
let on - why they seem to want to conceal it, i don't know.


Michele Moss
Mom of Sterling Tyler age 3 yrs old
Parents of Spirited Kids Resource Web site:
http://www.icstech.net/~michele
Parents of Spirited Kids Discussion Group:
http://www.egroups.com/list/psk

[email protected]

In a message dated 8/14/99 12:05:34 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
michele@... writes:

<< so yes... i do believe they can read a lot more than they often
let on - why they seem to want to conceal it, i don't know. >>

Yep, my seven year old does this, conceals it. The little guy is
embarrassed. I think he figures it's not good enough (odd perfectionist that
he is) and avoids openly reading until he's *sure* he's got it. We've never
done any formal reading lessons, although I've had hints that he was reading,
"Mom, you're turning and that sign says no left turn" "I'm turning right son
:) " Most of what he's learned has come from reading Nintendo game manuals
I'm sure.... Which is great except for the Kong manuals which switches game
words by using K's everywhere. Luckily, he picked up on it pretty quick
pointing out that the words Krash in the game names, and crash in the body
are two different spellings.

Charlotte

Michele Moss

> From: Rhiahl@...
>
>
> Yep, my seven year old does this, conceals it. The little guy is
> embarrassed. I think he figures it's not good enough (odd
> perfectionist that he is) and avoids openly reading until he's
> *sure* he's got it.

you might have something there! i hadn't thought about it cuz
Sterling is a very "outward" person and doesn't ever seem to hold
anything back. so it surprised me to watch him do this. but he is
also a little perfectionist and i bet when it comes to reading, that
side of him is taking over! thanks!

We've never done any formal reading lessons,
> although I've had hints that he was reading, "Mom, you're turning
> and that sign says no left turn" "I'm turning right son :) "

isn't it great? i'll never forget the day he was looking over my
shoulder at the computer and started shouting "HELP, HELP, it says
HELP right there! how come?". i had to make him show me what the
heck he was talking about... the little teeny, tiny word that i take
for granted that is in just about every window on the computer at the
top drop down menues? he had learned it in bigger, colorful, fancier
text the way they usually make it in kid's software and i couldn't
believe he spotted it when it was out of the environment that he was
used to and KNEW it!

Most
> of what he's learned has come from reading Nintendo game manuals I'm
> sure.... Which is great except for the Kong manuals which switches
> game words by using K's everywhere. Luckily, he picked up on it
> pretty quick pointing out that the words Krash in the game names,
> and crash in the body are two different spellings.
>
it's so much fun when they start noticing things like that!
yesterday Sterling asked me why "be" was missing an "e" and informed
me that we needed to write to the people who made the book and tell
them there was a mistake in that book. i had all i could do to keep
from laughing while i explained the difference.


Michele Moss
Mom of Sterling Tyler age 3 yrs old
Parents of Spirited Kids Resource Web site:
http://www.icstech.net/~michele
Parents of Spirited Kids Discussion Group:
http://www.egroups.com/list/psk