Qs about my 7 year old avid reader

[tammyw]

My daughter turned 7 in March. She loves to read - reads many different types of books and reads often. The other day I asked if she'd read something aloud to me (as part of a reading workbook we have) and she argued that she prefers to read to herself. I explained how it's important to do some reading aloud so I can listen and help with words she might not know.

Then yesterday she was explaining about a chapter book she is reading (A Calendar Mysteries book) and talking about the characters Brain and Braid-ley (that's how she pronounced them). Later I looked and it was Brian and Bradley. I told her how they were pronounced. when I hear her read, I don't see her doing that much - she's really good with pronunciation, even more complicated words. I then explained that's why I like to hear her read aloud sometimes.

Anyway, not sure my questions, other than This is normal, right? What's the best way of teaching really good reading skills further than what we already have been doing? Long ago she did Headsprout, reading eggs, etc. We read to her TONS (and still do) and I firmly believe that's why she became such a good reader. But I realize I might not be doing enough official work with her to ensure she can properly read?

Anyway, guess I'm just wondering aloud here. Any ideas/thoughts/suggestions?

[AAK]

I would skip having her read from a reading workbook. That is too much like a reading lesson. My oldest (who sounds a bit like yours--preferring to read to herself) enjoyed starting family read alouds. We choose a book together. One night she reads a chapter to us, the next night I read, the following night dh reads. So rather than it being "school", it became family time. Oh, I tried not to correct her alot during the reading. But would make note of things to go over with her at a later time.

Amy

[tammyw]

Amy - that's a good idea. Thank you! I guess sometimes I just wonder if I'm "doing things right" or if I'm missing the boat. I'm pretty lax about many things, and yet somehow she learns so much. Then when I noticed her mispronouncing those two names, I wondered if I should be doing more to make sure she is learning properly. I know she's only 7, I was just more curious "is that normal?" and "will she eventually figure it out without hard-core teaching?"

[kwg]

My ds7 does the same. Names are hard too I think.

I will say that I wondered if it was "normal" the other day when I asked him what was wrong and he said "you are trying to PURSUE me"....lol.....it is persuade hon. I just get this mental image of me stalking him....lol.

He hates to read out loud so lately whenever it comes up--either he asks what something spells me if he is telling me about a book--I just tell him.

I don't know if that is right or not. But he does seem to understand and recall story details.

[elizawill]

We do something similar to Amy & take turns reading. Sometimes I read a book or story aloud, and afterward, my dd will read a chapter from her book aloud. Yesterday, we took turns. She is currently reading The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. She read a couple of pages & then I read a couple. We just rotated back and forth. It is defintely snuggle time for the 2 of us, and although I definitely do listen for fluency and comprehension, I never mention any of that to her. I just take mental notes.

[elizawill]

Originally Posted by kwg

I will say that I wondered if it was "normal" the other day when I asked him what was wrong and he said "you are trying to PURSUE me"....lol.....it is persuade hon.

[Momma Aimee]

Originally Posted by kwg

My ds7 does the same. Names are hard too I think.

I will say that I wondered if it was "normal" the other day when I asked him what was wrong and he said "you are trying to PURSUE me"....lol.....it is persuade hon. I just get this mental image of me stalking him....lol.

LMAO!!!!!!!!!



ps I HATE names - i am sure i mispronounce 1/2 them

[moominmamma]

If your dd does not want to read aloud to you because she loves reading silently, then a normal tendency to mispronouncing unfamiliar words is not reason enough to force it, IMO. Mental mispronunciations extinct themselves over time in avid readers in my experience. No worries.

Miranda

[tammyw]

Thanks for the support! I will definitely lay off in correcting any words - unfortunately I've done that in the past and maybe that's why she doesn't want to read out loud. I'll work on it. I figured I was supposed to be telling her the correct way, but I guess it just somehow works itself out, right?

[tammyw]

This made me think of another question. Is there a good phonics program (is that what I am looking for?) for her age/level? She loved doing headsprout, reading eggs, etc. when she was little. I'm just wondering if there is something for the more advanced crowd?

[sbgrace]

What I would do if she was mine is pick a really good spelling program that will also go through the phonics rules. Two that I see (favorably) mentioned on the Well Trained Mind board a lot are All About Spelling (AAS) and Phonics Road (PR). I put abbreviations because if you want to search the forums you'll see them called that a lot. Level one if Phonics Road equals levels 1-3 content wise in All About Spelling for cost comparison if I understand it correctly. Phonics road covers all language arts areas while All About Spelling covers just (phonics based) spelling. Phonics Road would have more writing than AAS (which uses tiles) I think. I think either are good choices. Kids can learn to read with them too actually because of the phonics approach to spelling. Either will give her the solid phonics instruction/fill in holes she's got there, and it's spelling so different to her mind. You might not see as much resistance to doing things aloud for that reason.

[elizawill]

we used hooked on phonics master reader after headsprout. it doesn't teach phonics, but rather it focuses on syllables, suffixes, prefixes, sounding out larger words, etc. it was really great at bridging my daughter into chapter books and helping her fluency. it is super expensive at the HOP website, but you could get a glance at the samples at least by visiting there. i would suggest buying it used though. i found mine at vegsource for $45ppd. we also use "all about spelling" currently, and i agree that it could probably help as well. again, it's expensive, but for us it was worth every penny. my daughter was struggling with spelling though (regardless of what we tried) - so AAS has been a great fit. hth.

[Geerbabe]

Even as an adult I run across the occasional word that I have only ever read and never heard pronounced. Most of the time I read them correctly, but there is the odd word where I have reversed letters, etc in my head. I once was talking with my husband about a treatsee, only to to have him laugh and tell me the word I was looking for was treatise.

I'm sure your daughters pronunciation will automatically fix itself as she grows older and is exposed to hearing the words more.

[babycarrier]

We like the Explode the Code books to fill in the gaps. They have helped his reading and his spelling.

[tammyw]

This is perfect timing. I was planning on buying a new spelling curriculum (we've just been using a spelling workbook from the bookstore and we are currently at grade 3, but I haven't felt it's everything we need it to be).

I wonder how I will decide amongst the best ones to buy? I guess I will look at all the ones recommended here and go from there. Thanks for all the feedback so far!

[MamaMonica]

I think it's pretty normal at that age. My dd at seven pronounced Encylopedia Brown (she was reading the series) "Encyclodopia Brown." It was kind of cute and I thought she'd get it right later and she did.

[EmmysMama]

Well, as a reader myself, I can tell you what helped me.

Making me read out loud didn't do me any good. Being corrected was about the most embarrassing thing I could think of. I willingly read at school, because I knew the textbooks were far below my reading level and I could pronounce anything in them. But at home, I might be reading something challenging, and I did not want my mom correcting me the first time I came across a word! So I refused to read aloud at home.

What did more good was my mom reading aloud to me instead and making an effort to point out helpful words and strategies. Not in a correcting way, but in an "oh that's interesting" way. We used to read the birth announcements aloud to one another and comment on the names we liked/didn't like, and other spellings we had seen, which was great name pronunciation practice. If I didn't know a name, I'd skip it, and she'd bring it up herself later without pointing out that I had skipped it. We read the rest of the paper too, of course. She used to read everything when we were little ... plaques at the zoo and the aquarium (and say things like "Hmm, I didn't know how to spell tapir!"), signs at the museum, even road and exit signs (kind of out-loud-to-herself). I don't know if this was an effort too, but she also used uncommon words in conversation a lot, which helped me recognize the correct pronunciation when I found it in print.

After she realized that being corrected embarrassed me, she really tried hard to let me absorb it instead. There was a definite difference between being tested and put on the spot, then corrected, and being allowed to read along and absorb the info, then use it when I was ready and sure of myself.

[tammyw]

Thanks Emmysmama - I appreciate hearing all viewpoints! I'm new to this, and sometimes I don't think of those things (like her feeling embarrassed). I'm glad to have this board though!

A friend just gave me another recommendations (what they do in her dd's GT classes at their school) - the books by Michael Clay Thompson. She said she knows a lot of homeschoolers that use his stuff.

Here are all the books: http://www.rfwp.com/mct.php

Here is the specific one that they are using (Building Language): http://www.rfwp.com/series33.htm#14

Another friend recommended Susan Bauer's "Complete Writer" series for language development and reading comprehension?