anyone elses 6 yr old not reading - Page 2

[vancouverlori]

Originally Posted by 4evermom

My ds would like to overhaul the english language and make it more sensible...

English is CRAAAAAZy! For that reason we read and enjoyed "The Word Snoop" which talks about all the oddities in the English language. We both found it reassuring. Starfall.com also breaks down the phonics rules into the most basic ones, without getting all into the lingo (I don't see the point in talking to a child about "long" and "short" vowels and having weird symbols - that's just confusing!)

DS is just over 7 and not reading yet, but somewhat interested in learning to read. He also *hates* being taught unless it's his idea, so we unschool partly because he knows what's good for him and won't put up with any of my schoolish nonsense! In his Kindergarten year, I pushed a bit (we were in a program that had "requirements"), and he became more resistant. Last year, other than getting him to review all the lowercase letters once, I just let it go. And really, only after a few more months did he start showing the least little signs of being ready to read and write: scribbling, drawing, asking about words. But he didn't start any of that until I let it go. Soooooo important.

I would say that it would be unusual for your child to be the only one in CCD classes who can't read yet. Are you sure she needs to start this year? When DD was in Catholic school, they only started Sacrament preparation in Grade 2, by which time most of them could read somewhat. Even then it was lots of read-alouds and drawing pictures. And if she's learning at home with you, she'll be less likely to be noticed as being "behind" than if she was in school with her agemates, yes? If it's a big issue, I'm sure if you discuss it with whoever is teaching the class you'll be able to make it work.

[Niamh]

My daughter is 6 1/2 and doesn't read yet. I kind of expected her to be an early reader because she was so precocious verbally and *loves* reading. When you add up all of the reading that I do for them through out the day, it comes to hours. She is beginning to show more interest in reading for the independence it would grant her, but I have a feeling that she will be wanting me to read to her for years and years to come - she loves the feeling of being read to.

[bobandjess99]

Just as an update, my dd just started reading....it was a "click" moment. I mean..you could SEE the wheels turning and the clicking happening. It's still a very beginning level, but she can now read some sight word lists and a couple easy books. I wantd to add this not as a brag or anythign, but just to say that WAITING did WORK!!! And then one day...it just clicked.

[lonegirl]

Just curious...when you read to her do you do it in such a way that she sees the words?
My son is reading, and has shown interest for over a year. I think what helped his interest is that at bedtime rather than sitting on a chair and reading in such a way that he just sees the pictues, we lay in bed together. He lies on my arm with the book above us about the distance away that he would hold it. He started by following the words with his finger (even if not at exact speed). I knew he showed interest then. Bits of his books he had memorized so I let him "read" those parts and I traced the words...properly so he could see what he was "reading". Then one day I noticed he was tracing the words at the proper pace and in the right area. So now we take turns reading the story together. I read one page and he reads the next bit and tries sounding out bigger words and I let him know what the word is. He is now reading the Level 1 "I can Read" books, and he challenges himself to try to get to level 2 books.

Oh, I also spend a lot of time reading whatever words we came across. While driving he asks "what does that sign say?" same thing shopping. Now I encourage him to read what he can and I read the rest.

[cloudswinger]

I didn't work with my daughter on reading, but I read to her a lot and let her watch shows like Word World and Super Why. She never really cared for Sesame Street. And she did Starfall for a little while. Now she likes Electric Company and Word Girl. I won't say how old she was when she started reading, because it's kind of when they are ready or are motivated. Mine wanted to read because I wasn't keeping up with her demands to be read to.

[dillonandmarasmom]

Former unschooling mama, here. I come in peace.

First, yes, it is very normal to have a non-reading 6 year old. Do not worry. They will accomodate, I am sure.

Second, as a former unschooling mama, I can relate to your feelings and I certainly empathize with your concerns. They are valid. It is hard to have a kid whom you believe is behind others, and is about to be thrust into a situation that may involve extensive reading.

Third, questioning your decisions, as well as the abilities and attitudes of your kids seems to go hand in hand with unschooling.

Do you read? I mean, of course you are capable, but do you read for enjoyment? Do you spend time sitting in quiet reading or reading aloud? These, we found, have been the key to getting the kids into reading. We had become so busy with life that reading wasn't even a daily thing for us (as so many people will atest is a very critical thing at this age). Once I realized how much they loved sitting with me to either hear me read, or to look at books ("read") beside me while I read to myself, I made it a point to do it as often as I had time to.

Finally, this is how it happened for DS (now 7.5 and reading Magic Treehouse chapter books):

While still unschooling, DS mentioned that some friends were good readers. I offered to help him learn. We tried the book, Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons, but we were not as consistent as we could have been. We borrowed Bob books from the library. He began reading the first level just as he was turning seven. He did not read often (not even every day), but slowly he began sounding out words everywhere we went. Little by little, DS used the sight words and what he had learned about CVC word families from the Bob books to sound out larger words. He is not particularly fluent, but he is now working on poems weekly to help with that part.

So, after some crazy months for our family, we made the decision to put the kids into a charter school. Thus, as we are no longer unschooling, I can't say what would have transpired this year in terms of his reading skills as an unschooler. However, when he entered the charter, he was considerably behind the schooled kids whom had two years of phonics crammed into them, as well as having memorized 120+ sight words. This has, however, not deterred him. One of the beauties of unschooling/homeschooling is that YOU are the primary influence on your child at a critical time in their development of self and self worth. We worked hard to instill in our kids that it is not about what they canNOT do, but about what they are able to do well, what they feel good about, and WHO they are that really matters in the grand scheme of things. And, for the most part, DS feels quite proud of his reading, regardless of the fact that his best friend at school is an amazing reader (reading at 7th grade level as a second grader). He now spends most of his spare time (by spare, I mean idle time not spent PLAYING, not just time he isn't working at schoolwork or at school), reading alone, reading to myself or DH, writing, or just playing school.

I am not sure if and how this post helps at all. Maybe my point is that kids will do what they see us doing. If you read, and read often and enjoy it, she will possibly do the same.

Good luck to you...

[kathymuggle]

Originally Posted by cloudswinger 

. Mine wanted to read because I wasn't keeping up with her demands to be read to.

Yup.  My youngest is my latest reader for a number of reasons - but one of them is she enjoys being the baby and enjoys being read to.  Finding really cool books she wants to read, reading part of them, and then saying "you read it now, I am going to read my own book has helped".  Otherwise she was quite content with being read to all the time instead of doing it for herself, lol.

[jul511riv]

[Pookietooth]

Well here's an update of sorts from us. I had ds tested, and he's apparently got a visual processing disorder, ADHD, depression, anxiety, and possibly bipolar so that explains a lot. Sigh.

[4evermom]

Originally Posted by Pookietooth 

Well here's an update of sorts from us. I had ds tested, and he's apparently got a visual processing disorder, ADHD, depression, anxiety, and possibly bipolar so that explains a lot. Sigh.

  I found this book interesting, Misdiagnosis and Dual Diagnoses of Gifted Children and Adults http://www.amazon.com/Misdiagnosis-Diagnoses-Gifted-Children-Adults/dp/0910707642

I suspect my ds could have been diagnosed with a bowl of alphabet soup depending on who was doing the diagnosing so that book was reassuring to me since it explains what things rule out specific diagnoses, not just what things indicate them.  I've had strangers assume he has ADHD (he doesn't, he's spirited and gets "reved up" at times).  He does have mild anxiety but we keep things low key and avoid feeding it.  He definitely fell into a depression when he was in pre-k.  He has some sensory issues but nothing approaching SPD.  Reading the book was nice because it provided perspective.