when did your child learn to read

[KatiesMum]

and how long did it take?


DD is not quite 4, and has been for the last few months desperate to learn to read.

It took her approximately 2 - 3 weeks to learn to read basic words/phonics. Is now moving on to longer vowel sounds and more complex reading.

When do they learn this at school?

(She goes to kindy but it is very much play based ... not a lot of reading and writing)

I am worried that she will get way way ahead and be really bored at school when they start actually learning reading and writing type things.

[AM]

Ty was reading in prep. They did some writing and reading stuff with the play based curriculum.

[MummaBear03]

They are all at different levels on school entry and the teachers will know which level your child is at.

DD is turning 7, in Year 1 and is still only learning basic phonics.

Yes, I read to her. Every night. We've just read her new book she got today.

[Areca]

DD1 is nearly 4 1/2 and can't read. They are starting to teach her words at pre-school as part of the school readiness program and I think they start teaching them in their first year of school *called kindergarten for us). DD1 knows all her letters, can write anything as long as someone tells her how to spell it (her name and her sisters name she does without help) and her pre-school teachers tell me she's above average for her age.

[Shh]

No kiddos yet but I was 4 and my younger sister was just 3. Mostly I found class work boring but I always had a book or three on my desk and was allowed to read at my own level when I'd finished my work.

I think it is right to encourage your child to learn at her own pace. If she is ready to learn to read now, I'd take her lead and go with it. You and her teachers can work together to ensure she has enough stimulation in the classroom, regardless of what the other kids are doing.

ETA: Crap I think I need to learn how to read again :P Sorry, a different perspective for you. Oops.

[Mrs Nietzsche]

I could read when I started school, however I went to Montessori (not sure how much difference that made?) and in any case I am a person who loves reading, etc.

My daughter really only started reading fluently at age 7, she has dyslexia and it's been a big battle.

I know this probably sounds horrible... but I think it is so wonderful and exciting that your child is reading like that, I would love love love to havea child who loves reading ( :fingerscrossed:) . (not meaning to judge my existing children lol)

I think you are right to worry about getting bored in class. I remmeber in 2nd grade being given a reader which wasn't changed for weeks, I'd read it the first day and just had to sit there for weeks and inevitably, act up out of boredom. Don't try to hold her back though! Very exciting!

[KatiesMum]

Not holding her back :D She so loves learning .... so am just going with it at the moment.

But I am a bit concerned about what will happen at school.

The kindy program (school based) is basically for socialization and learning through play. She is already almost the youngest in the class, and not really physically or emotionally developed enough to go up a grade, so that isnt even a consideration.

When it comes to it, I will probably either just teach her extra things at home to keep her interest, or enrol her in extra activities ....

but I just worry :o

[biscotti]

My oldest DD learnt to read and write as a preschooler. Don't worry about later years, her teachers will/should be able to cater for where she is when she lands in their class. DD was reading books from the Yr 5 classroom when she was in Yr 1/2 :yes: It was hard though for me to locate books that were suitable for her reading age and still suitable for her age group iykwim.
Now at 10 she reads whatever she can get her hands on although there is still that issue of age suitability but we seem to be finding stuff.
Good luck :) :)

[missie_mack]

DS at 3 knows all the phonetic sounds for letters and what words start with those letters and sounds... but not at the stage of running the sounds together

[Nomsie]

Encourage her Julie, foster her love of reading! If she gets into school already a reader then that is fine! A few years ago when I had a grade 2/3/4 composite, I was sending kids down to the p/1 room to get books, kids up to the 5/6 room to get books and vice versa. Any good teacher will cater to your child, don't assume your child has to fit in with where the majority is at! :D

(BTW as for how long did it take, it is completely dependant on the individual. Reading is firstly learning about phonemes and graphemes, and then learning how to turn graphemes into phonemes, recognising patterns and 'rules' etc etc. Some pick it up in a few days, others take months! :yes:)

[xkwzit]

DD1 taught herself to read and write, she was reading some words before she was 3. I didn't teach her, we just did the normal reading books to her. She surprised us all. At first I thought that she was remembering books, and then she started reading street signs :rolleyes:

DD2 is more typical, she is in grade 1 and is reading many of the short, frequently used words (at, in, is, said, for etc..). She can sound out a lot of short words. Some kids in her class read well, and learnt early like DD1. They get more advanced readers to take home and have raced through the simple words that DD2 is still learning. She was taught letters and their sounds in prep (but still has trouble with remembering some infrequently used letters).

[3lilcutipies]

DS1 knew only the letters in his own name when he started school at 5. He had no interest in letters/reading at kindy. But somehow, within weeks, he knew all the letters/phonics and was picking up reading quite easily. Now, in grade 1 he has flied through the levels and is 2 levels from finishing the 'readers levels'.

I had been worried before he started at school that he didn't know his letters etc so I would have been stoked if he had of been like your DD :D. But as I soon learnt when DS started school, all the kids are at different levels and it's a teachers job to cater for each and every child.

[TurnedBatty]

BS was reading before school too, and by reading I mean fluent reading, I caught him reading some of my books which arent good for a kid. (I like true crime novels :) )

His school have been awesome. His kindy teacher was fantastic from day one, she sent home the harder home readers with him, plus he borrowed from the library more. And she set him up with mathletics through the school. First grade was much the same, and its looking the same with year two.

Do not hold her back, if she is ready to read she will read, and yes, unfortunately she may get bored later on. BS is starting to get that way, but we try to find new things to entertain him, such as the ms readathon, premiers reading challenge. His teacher is trying to work with spelling because he is top of the class but they dont want to give him year three stuff already because that will mean he is doing all year three work while in year two, and even though we dont want to hold him back we do want him to slow down just a little.

Sorry, that was long.... but do try to just go with the flow with her, when it comes time for it, the school should work with her, not try to fit her in a catergory! :)

[Shananaaah]

DS at 3 knows all the phonetic sounds for letters and what words start with those letters and sounds... but not at the stage of running the sounds together

DS is at this stage too - at around 2.5yo (just before Christmas last year) he started telling me all the letters of words in books, signs, on the computer etc but doesn't know how to make "words". He seems to recognise alot of words (like the days of the week, the months, etc) but I do think it's more about the pattern than the actual words. He also recognises his name, his sister's name, mum, dad, nanny, the dogs' names etc but that's because when we draw it's what I tend to write!

He has also been recognising and identifying numbers and knew how to count up to 48 at 18 months. He is now doing simple addition and subtraction, and can count by 2s.

However, I do not think he is in any way G&/orT - I think it has far more to do with us following his lead in learning and playing, and his love of books and songs/rhymes etc. I can't see any other signs that would lead me to believe he isn't just interested in words and numbers at this point in his learning.

We just adore the fact that he loves his stories and looks to be a big reader, because DH and I are too. Unfortunately DD doesn't seem to have too much interest in books as yet, so hopefully as she gets older she might develop it.

For the record, I was reading and writing at 3, had read my primary school library out of books by year 2, and was doing Year 7 maths when I was 8. But that was just because I was trying to keep up with my sisters who are 6 and 9 years older than me!! :p I was always one of the top students in school, but from reading the charts I would say I identify with the High Achiever rather than gifted/creative etc.

[jaq]

Annika was reading - much to our shock - within a week of her third birthday. I picked her up from her Montessori daycare (not school where she is now) and the teacher told me she had been working on pushing sounds together with two older girls, and Annika had shown interest. By the end of the day she was reading better than the older girls.

By the end of the week, she was reading first level readers, and by the time she actually started at "school" proper (3.5) she was on level 6. Not many preps are past that before the end of the year. Annika exhausted all the official reading levels (up to 26, I think?) before the end of last year, and had started reading chapter books.

This year she has been having Aussie Nibbles and more recently, Aussie Bites, as her readers. They are targeted at 8-10 year olds. She can effectively read any text now though she won't understand the concepts. (I've learned not to leave trashy romance novels on the couch, though.)

Is it a problem? No, but it does present problems. There is a dearth of reading matter at the upper levels, though Montessori DOES have chapter books for the little ones, if they want them. (Many schools don't). I spend a lot of time at garage sales and the library hunting out suitable reading material and there isn't a lot out there for the very young advanced reader.

But you know, its a great problem to have. She chooses to read for pleasure, and it is a key to learning for her. (She is very capable at typing a query into Google and researching things she wants to know about.) She is a lot less exhausting since she learnt to read, for example!

In short, go for it. Introduce reading with her very familiar books, the ones she knows by heart, ideally with very plain text (ie not fancy letters, very obvious ones that are unmistably what they represent.)

And then take her through the sounds, and the letters attached. Let her have a go.

If she does lap it up and start reading relatively easily, whatever you do don't stop reading to her. We still have a bedtime story at night, even if Annika has read several books in her own right during the day. She loves being read to, and I try to find picture books with glorious language. (Enchanted Lions tonight. Just gorgeous!)

Enjoy the experience, Julie. Reading is truly a gift and it makes me so sad to see so many little ones struggling with it.

[*Cj*]

DD is going on 8, is in year 3. She can only read about six words. :(

[jaq]

Jaq ALSO needs to learn to read. :o

On the school front, reading people's stories makes me very, very thankful we chose Montessori. Children are introduced to reading when they show an interest in reading and letters (many M. children learn to write first and read later, as strange as it sounds.)

As to boredom in class or with the materials, that doesn't have to be a problem. Its not just about readers - its about library books, non-fiction books, shopping lists, the computer, magazines, signs etc. This morning Annika insisted on reading the warning label on the mirror in the car ... something we wouldn't notice was even there, but for a new reader, its exciting!!!

I am agitating to have Annika put up a year (effectively skipping prep and going into Grade 1 next year) but it actually has nothing to do with her actual skills, or the threat of boredom, but more social issues of being so far ahead. If she was too young to go up (socially, developmentally etc) I would be happy for her to stay where she is for another year - as it is, she needs to be with older children.

Do you know where Katie will be going to school? Can you have a chat to them about reading, writing and the like, and ask how they would recommend proceeding? Their enthusiasm about having a child like Katie in their class/school might be a good indicator of how much they will do to help "feed" her in the years to come. If you get "but they don't learn to read until Grade 1" then I would be running, tbh.

A child's enthusiasm, and basic ability,should not be squandered because of what usually happens. Let Katie call the shots, and then you'll do the work later to make sure it works to her advantage. :sunshine:

[Teley]

DS is reading now, so just before turning five.

I learned to read quite early though, by 3:yes:. I actually thought that was the 'norm' and got a bit worried about DS when he wasn't adbvancing at the same pace.

[Ana Gram]

DD was reading by 3. She is currently reading the top level books in her Montessori class room, which is level 30, with no trouble and when we have time we get through a reader on the way home from school in the car. Montessori is excellent for encouraging reading.

Best thing to do once your DD is at school is talk to the teacher about your concerns. If she wants to read, she should absolutely read. Go to your local library and get readers and let her go nuts.

[KatiesMum]

thanks everyone.

Here in WA they have Kindy, then pre-school then grade 1 etc. She is at Kindy - with a teacher, teachers aids, syllabus etc at the school.

I did talk to her teacher, who did encourage me to teach her, help her, read to her etc which was great.

We are doing the abc reading eggs program (as I have no idea how to teach her or where to start, so was really more for me than her :o) but she loves it, powers through it etc. Its truly astounding to see how quickly they learn ... and yeh reading street signs and other things that we wouldnt normally notice.

Jaq - its interesting what you say about writing as she is the same - learnt to write first ... and every time we see or talk about something, she wants to go home and write the words.


It is a good school, that does have some extra programs so I am hoping that it will all be fine ... but I do worry. My sister was like Katie is, and was so so bored at school she played up and caused havoc for a long long time .... and I so dont want that.

[trishalishous]

Its great when they are interested, but it depends on the child.
I could read at 2.5, basic words/phrases/stories, in two languages, but I LOVE reading, and it was the only way to get me to sit still, while my mum was heavily pregnant, and then caring for a newborn with disabilities.
Im hoping our kids love words too, but I wont be pushing them, like some of my in-laws (reading BY three at the latest, in at least three languages, competing in sports and playing an instrument before reaching primary school etc)

[delirium]

At about 3 DD was picking up basic words, but at 5 now she can read sentences.

As for what they should be doing - at 4 (where in NSW they are in pre school) very few children are reading. DD is in kinder this year and the home readers still haven't been sent home. So we are doing what we always have and teaching her ourselves.

I've found that at first year of school most kids really arent reading. They know letters but can't really read words (or at least the kids in DD's class don't.)

It sounds like you have a very bright little button there. Foster her knowledge at home. She sounds like a sponge like my girl, build on that. From experience I've found that it's politically incorrect to say your child is gifted/highly intelligent. We don't say a lot to others but we know DD is extremely bright.

There is a good site (http://www.gifted-children.com.au/) on the subject. There is lots of conversations on how to deal with schools, IQ tests, fostering their skills etc.

[missie_mack]

We are doing the abc reading eggs program (as I have no idea how to teach her or where to start, so was really more for me than her :o) but she loves it, powers through it etc. Its truly astounding to see how quickly they learn ... and yeh reading street signs and other things that we wouldnt normally notice.


This is what DS is doing too. A friend was telling me about another program that is similar but has a little of maths. I think it was free from what she was saying.

If your interested let me know and I will give you the web details once I get my hands on it :)

[KatiesMum]

That would be great Missie Mack. :)

[naiwen]

DS is turning 3 this month and can recognise and say A :smiliedance:.

Julie I would encourage her and let her run with it, I am sure a teacher could accomodate her advanced reading skills in a prep class :yes:.

[cja]

Katie'sMum.....just wanted to suggest that you look for a class next year for your daughter that has PrePrimary and Yr 1 together in a composite class or go to a school that is implementing the National Curriculum next year. Lots of PrePrimaries in Perth are still very play based in addition to learning letters/sounds, while students the same age in the eastern states are doing formal reading and writing in this year at school.

I have taught play based PP in perth for a number of years, and am now at a school that does more formal PP, the results from the students are amazing. The ones that are ready to read and write are doing so well. I think they would have been bored in a play based environment for another year.

[DJWebb]

I agree with the others, the teachers should cater to your DD's reading needs..I dont think its anything to be worried about :)

My DD who is 7 now was reading in kindy, able to reconize small words. By the end of PP (age 5)she was a fluent reader, she now reads at 30+ in school..she is one of the top kids in her grade in reading.

My youngest DD who turned 2 in december has been able to identify each letter of the alphabet since before her second birthday and knows all the sounds each letter makes and is now able to read her name and a couple other small words. She has always loved books, and I am pretty sure it wont be long until she is actually reading.