Mouse first began writing her letters and numbers when she began preschool at age three. She made games up, practicing the sound each letter makes as she learned them. I remember how proud she was when she could write her name. She even got creative for awhile there, adding an extra "i", saying she liked it better that way. Since then, she has made a habit of making lists, combining random letters and numbers together and telling us what they spell out. She weaves entire stories into her made up words. She loves to rhyme. Such simple exercises and yet very important to language development and for reading.
Over the past year or so, my daughter received several primers from relatives who are educators to help her learn to read. One night before Mouse's bed time, my husband began reading the first in the Word Family of Readers with her at her request. Soon Mouse was begging for more. These are great little books that go over a number of word family groups, like -ay and -ug. There are sixteen books all together. Each book tells a story and ends with practice activities children can do with their parents or a teacher. I love hearing Mouse sound out the words as she learns to read.
Over the past year or so, my daughter received several primers from relatives who are educators to help her learn to read. One night before Mouse's bed time, my husband began reading the first in the Word Family of Readers with her at her request. Soon Mouse was begging for more. These are great little books that go over a number of word family groups, like -ay and -ug. There are sixteen books all together. Each book tells a story and ends with practice activities children can do with their parents or a teacher. I love hearing Mouse sound out the words as she learns to read.
It is fun to see Mouse recognize words here and there. Some she knows on sight, but others she sounds out and needs help with. Now when I read with her, I will sometimes stop and ask her to read certain words for me I know she will recognize, which she is eager to do. We also pause to comment on a scene in a picture we come across, and we talk about our favorite part of each book when we finish it. The human mind is amazing, how it pieces together little bits of knowledge and puts it all together--all in the process of learning.
Admittedly, my daughter would rather do a lot of things other than read. There are too many other things vying for her attention: stories to make up, plays to put on, songs to "write", tea parties to host, and balls to kick around, for instance.
Do you remember learning to read? Did you always like to read?
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Good for Mouse! Loving books is the first step to loving the process of reading, and Mouse has certainly been the recipient of book love.
ReplyDeleteI really don't remember not reading, but I do remember my mother reading to me. And I remember her with a book in her hands, reading for her own enjoyment.
Jenclair - She goes through phases when she loves to read and then when she wants nothing to do with books. She's certainly surrounded by a family of booklovers. :-)
DeleteWhat wonderful memories of your mother! I wish I had memories like that. I'm sure she did read to me--and I do remember my parents both reading by themselves.
I don't remember learning to read but I remember sitting at the kitchen table reading to my mother - we did that for years. Vance taught himself to read and hid it from us because he was afraid we'd stop reading to him if we knew he could read.
ReplyDeleteKathy - That's such a sweet memory about your son. Poor kid! You wouldn't have, but how was he to know that?
DeleteShe's doing great already-- good for her :)
ReplyDeleteMy eldest learned to read with a stack of Dr. Seuss books from a yard sale. My youngest 2 kids attended a Montessori preschool/kindergarten and learned to read with "Bob Books" bobbooks(dot)com.
For myself... ooh too long ago :) I just know my mother took me to the local library that we could walk to, got me my own card as soon as they allowed it and I started checking out armloads of easy chapter books. There was no preschool when I went and kindergarten was only 1/2 day & you got to choose which session. There wasn't the emphasis that is put on young children today to succeed.
Rita - I've heard of the Bob Books. And Dr. Seuss is very popular in our house. :-)
DeleteI remember going to the library with my mother too. We used to go every week and I really liked their summer programs. I would love to do that with my daughter, but the summer reading programs are during the week when I'm at work. :-(
How wonderful to see Mouse take such an interest in words and reading. A smartie like her mom:)
ReplyDeleteDiane - She's probably much smarter than I ever was. :-)
DeleteI don't remember learning to read, although I remember not being able to and WANTING to. I taught both of my kids to read with Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons. I felt like a failure at first because they had the mechanics, but it was still hard, so they didn't like it. One day, everything just clicked, and now they are both voracious readers.
ReplyDeleteSelah - What a great memories, teaching your children to read! I bet that is something they will treasure.
DeleteThat's great for Mouse and I always believe reading is best to instill when young.
ReplyDeleteMy love for reading begins when the I was in lower Primary. I remember the school library is most often the place I visited after school, way up to my senior years. :)
Melody - It's neat that she's showing interest in learning. I don't think we'd be working so much with her if she wasn't curious and wanting to learn. I loved the school libraries of my childhood too. :-)
DeleteSuch a wonderful post! I am hoping Shreya will grow up to love books too. I don't remember how I came to love books - none of my parents read as a hobby. But they encouraged me to read anything which is probably how I came to read a lot.
ReplyDeleteAthira - Thank you! I am glad you found your way to books. I hope your daughter will too. She has a good example to follow. :-)
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