Oct. 31, 2005
Learning to Read
My primary goal this year for my 5 year old "kindergartener" is for him to learn to read. He knows almost all of his letter sounds, though he still confuses 2 or 3. He is not really eager to learn to read, or to do schoolwork at all for that matter. He usually tries to get out of doing it and likes to take breaks after every "subject". He does seem to enjoy much of what we do while he is doing it, but he would really rather be playing and doing his own thing.
My 3, almost 4, year old preschooler LOVES to do schoolwork. He would sit there all day and do schoolwork with me if he could. He has learned all his letter sounds perfectly in an extremely short period of time.
The place where they both would get stuck is in blending. They sound out all the individual letters but have difficulty making that leap to putting all the individual sounds together fluidly to make a word. For example, the word cat. They'll say the c sound, then the a sound and then the t sound, but saying those sounds together smoothly and realizing the word that those letters spell is what they are currently working on. Recently my 3 year old has made great progress in this area and sounded out his first 2 words all by himself. It was very exciting and I think he will continue to make steady progress and be reading in no time.
My problem is this: If my 3 year old learns to read before my 5 year old, will my 5 year old feel bad because his younger brother is reading and he is not? I don't want him to feel that way, but is there really any way I can avoid it? I can't hold my younger son back to spare his brother's feelings. That wouldn't be fair. I praise them both for all the progress they are making and I always tell them how proud I am of them. So maybe this is a problem I am imagining in my own head. I do tend to worry about things long before there is anything to worry about. And quite often I worry for nothing. If anyone reading this has ever been in this situation, your advice would be greatly appreciated!
Comments
Oct. 31, 2005 - Untitled Comment
Posted by drewsfamilytx
I wouldn't worry about it too much! Definitely do NOT hold the younger one back for the sake of the older one. The blending sounds together took a little while with my now 6yo...then one day, it just "clicked" in his head...what a joyous day that was!!! Hang in there and it will get better. Have you seen any of those Leapfrog DVD's? They have really encouraged my son because it reinforced a lot of the info in a fun way and he didn't even know he was learning! :-)
The younger one reading first might encourage your older one to try harder. And just think how great it would be for the younger to get a little head start in this area so you can COMBINE school for the both of them very soon. Now THAT would be a blessing!
Marsha
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Oct. 31, 2005 - Thanks Marsha!
Posted by mommyx3
Marsha, your words are a great source of comfort for me. Thank you so much! I definitely agree with you about the Leap Frog videos. That is how my younger son learned all his letter sounds so quickly and so well, just from watching that Letter Factory video a few times. I put in on for them one day, thinking they wouldn't really like it, that they would see through it and realize it was really "school". But they really liked it and my younger son asks me to watch it often. I just recently bought the word factory dvd but we haven't watched it yet. I'm hoping that perhaps that will help with the blending. Thanks again for your encouragement!
Donna
P.S. That is such a beautiful picture of you and your boys!
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Nov. 2, 2005 - Untitled Comment
Posted by HomeSchooling4Jesus
I think it really depends on your 6 year old...it may or may not bother him? I would definitely give the WORD factory a try, since the letter factory has worked well in your home. Just remember that until a child is developmentally ready, the blending is not going to click, every child is so different. And your younger one...don't be surprised if he suddenly (after doing well by the way!) reaches a 'road block' and then the 6 year old zooms past him.
Your doing great! And your a wonderful mama to take into consideration your 6 year olds feelings. Many a mom would be gloating so over the 3 year old's amazing progress, that the 6 year old would feel horrible. Keep up the great work. :)
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Nov. 6, 2005 - Untitled Comment
Posted by HomeSchooling4Jesus
Hello again! :) Just wanted to let you know that I am working on setting up my blog over here at HSBlogger. :)
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Nov. 8, 2005 - Absolutely do NOT worry!!
Posted by TeamBettendorf
That is the BEAUTY of homeschool!! Your son will not assume it is not normal for his younger brother to catch up to him unless you tell him. At our house it is not about chronological age but ability. Just play it like that and things will be fine!! If the 3yo catches up I'd say "WOW! Look at that little brother can read too!! Fabulous! Now you guys can read together!! I guess I'll just have to go take a nap and you guys can school yourselves. ;)"
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