Advice for advanced early reader?

[staceyshoe]

I'm wondering whether to skip phonics/reading or not. Ds is 4. He taught himself to read at age 2 (after I repeatedly blew off his requests to learn). Before his 4th b-day, he was reading picture encyclopedias (DK Eyewitness) and the National Geographic website (not the kid section). He just seemed to figure out how to read and be able to de-code words. His reading comprehension is excellent. Yesterday I gave him the Sonlight assessment (for lack of a better option--I'm all ears if you of a good reading assessment to do at home!!) and he didn't have trouble until a few 6th grade words.

But he's never had any formal reading training--not really even informal training. His spelling skills are probably around 1st grade--way below his reading level. He doesn't have an grammar instruction at all.

I'm trying to figure out his LA curriculum for when we start homeschooling full time next year. What on earth do I do with this kid? Skip all reading and phonics? Teach phonics as a basis for spelling? What curriculums might be a good fit, and does it make sense or do reading or just skip it? (I'm a box-checker type of mom so I do prefer to have a structured curriculum unless it just totally doesn't fit my kid.)

[theretohere]

I'd skip reading instruction and phonics at this point. You don't want to bore him.
I would do systematic spelling though- something like Webster's Speller. It'll hit phonics rules in there, so anything missed he'll catch.

[AAK]

The only thing I would do, before deciding to completely skip it, is to have him read a list of nonsense words--making sure that he somehow absorbed phonics/decoding ability rather than just memorized words.

But, theretohere has a point, some spelling systems go over the rules too.

Also, check out ABeCeDarian--level C http://www.abcdrp.com/details.asp

Amy

[Catherine12]

Wow, your ds sounds like an amazing kid!

One of the great things about hsing is that you can tailor your teaching to an unusual student like your ds - I haven't been in your situation, so I don't speak from experience, but I think what I would do is to just concentrate on the areas he's not as advanced in. So, I would provide instruction in grammar and spelling, but not use a phonics/learning-to-read type curriculum - it would be redundant. A good spelling program should incorporate phonics, and if necessary you can add in a few sidebars of your own.

The best thing for him is to just keep reading. His skills will improve on their own with practice, both in reading and in spelling/grammar. That's not to say that more formal instruction wouldn't accelerate his progress - but I personally would stick to targeted areas where you feel he is weaker, and mostly just let it happen on its own. Make sure he has access to lots of appealing reading material.