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07.10.08, 17:16 PM General Topics
52 replies
my soon to be first grader can barely read Dick and Jane. I am feeling anxious. Is it time to get him a reading helper? [ Reply | Watch | Flag ]
General Topics 07.10.08, 05:16 PM Flag
 

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General Topics 07.10.08, 05:16 PM Flag
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My soon to be first grader can't read anything but a few words and a few sight words. That switch has turned on for him. If he's not reading on level by end of 1st, then I'd get him a reading tutor. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.10.08, 05:18 PM Flag
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i think the rule of thumb is when they start losing teeth they should start to learn to read but everyone goes at their own pace. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.10.08, 05:18 PM Flag
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hmm. never heard that connection - teeth and reading. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.10.08, 05:20 PM Flag
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i know it's weird i just heard it last week. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.10.08, 05:21 PM Flag
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nope. Kids normally learn btwn K-2nd grade. Many schools dont' teach formal reading until 1st grade because they know all dc aren't ready in K [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.10.08, 05:18 PM Flag
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my dc was reading freckle juice by judy blume in the summer btwn K-1. and finished all HP books by end of 2nd grade. She's not a genius, just happened to be a good reader. There was definite peer pressure b/c other kids she was friends with were super bright and very early readers. She's not in 5th grade and, truly, very little difference in reading skills among the kids, except that mine actually LOVES reading. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.10.08, 05:22 PM Flag
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oops....typo. she's NOW in 5th grade. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.10.08, 05:23 PM Flag
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or: my dd was the only kid starting K reading. She just finished 2nd grade and many that started the yr not reading are reading now..not great readers but improving. There was no peer pressure according to her for the other kids. I heard that by 4th -5th (like you mentioned) they will all be pretty much equal [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.10.08, 05:25 PM Flag
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np here. actually, i have kid going into 5th grade, and while all the kids CAN read the same words in the books, most are very slow readers, don't enjoy reading and have difficulty with language arts, in general, including writing. i think it's the way it's taught here in the U.S [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.10.08, 05:28 PM Flag
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What age did she start K? 4, 5, or 6? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.10.08, 05:29 PM Flag
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she's a late november birthday and was the second youngest in her class. she was 4.9 years old when she started K. Public school, not G&T. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.10.08, 05:30 PM Flag
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wait - are some kids 6 years old when they start K? WHAT???? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.10.08, 05:31 PM Flag
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Most are! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.10.08, 05:33 PM Flag
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when they start K? 6? my dc was 4.9. how is that age disparity possible? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.10.08, 05:35 PM Flag
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How? Most are five, some are 4. Very few are 6 when they start K. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.10.08, 05:36 PM Flag
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Not in public school in NYC! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.10.08, 05:37 PM Flag
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So many boys with summer b-days are held back, so they're 6 when they start K. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.10.08, 05:35 PM Flag
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OMG [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.10.08, 05:36 PM Flag
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Not in NYC, in the burbs maybe. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.10.08, 05:38 PM Flag
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Private schools, yes, b/c the cutoff is different. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.10.08, 07:25 PM Flag
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Both my sons did not read until the end of first grade. Then it clicked, and both are reading above grade level now. Don't worry yet. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.10.08, 05:21 PM Flag
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same here [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.10.08, 05:23 PM Flag
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You could be me. Every night my soon-tp-be 1st grader and I grab a new Level 1 book (from a huge box donated by friends whose children have long since moved on to more complex books) amd he painfully, agonizingly lurches through the book witha 3-% accuracy rate. My heart is breaking, he seems so smart and I am a voracious reader. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.10.08, 05:37 PM Flag
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Your heart is breaking? I hope you're not pressuring him before he's ready. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.10.08, 05:39 PM Flag
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He will be 7 this fall. When should he be ready? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.10.08, 05:42 PM Flag
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op here. have you had him tested for eyes? or special issues? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.10.08, 05:46 PM Flag
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yup, he is right as rain [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.10.08, 05:48 PM Flag
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then. it's just a matter of time. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.10.08, 05:49 PM Flag
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thanks for responding. i sometimes feel like other moms restrict playdates with my son b/c they dont think he's smart enough or mature enough. their kids are better athletes, readers, etc. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.10.08, 05:40 PM Flag
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Maybe it's just you [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.10.08, 05:42 PM Flag
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very possible. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.10.08, 05:43 PM Flag
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I felt this way and posted here for support and a bunch of moms said exactly that: "maybe it's just you." They're just being nasty: how could they have a clue whether it's you or your kid? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.10.08, 05:48 PM Flag
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so sorry that you encountered nastiness. i also deal with it, it's not in my head. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.10.08, 05:51 PM Flag
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I have a son who has a speech problem (articulation delay, not language problem) and I know at least one mom who nixed playdates with my son b/c she thinks he is not her son's caliber of friend. I am still outraged about it and can only remind myself of his many other skills and the fact that childhood is short and he has many opportunities to succeed ahead of him. But still, there are times I want to just smack that mom. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.10.08, 05:45 PM Flag
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so sorry for you. i know how you feel. my dc also have articulation (not language) issues. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.10.08, 05:47 PM Flag
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so hard for them, b/c they get shy, and they finally find someone they want to play with, and then the mom goes and crushes it. how can she not see the value in my son? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.10.08, 05:52 PM Flag
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it's very unkind. i don't have answers for you. there is such beauty in childhood, and some moms can't be bothered with less than their definition of perfection. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.10.08, 05:54 PM Flag
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NP: But just look at yourselves -- you are also setting up a hierarchy by saying "only articulation problem" not language. It is clearly a peking order, and you're just as much a part of as the mother who nixed your child. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.10.08, 07:09 PM Flag
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I didn't say 'only,' you did. And I clarified b/c if a kid has a true language problem it interferes with capacity to communicate. Artic. problem is like an accent. Makes a difference when you're talking about friendships. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.10.08, 07:19 PM Flag
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Ew. Send her address so we can all smack her. Her kids will end up hating her - don't worry. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.10.08, 07:01 PM Flag
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Really, this was me with my first. So painful for me, one of those top reading group kids blah blah. But honestly, it clicked at the end of first and now he is a middle schooler and reads like me and we talk about books and it's what I had hoped for. Don't despair. I also think (but have no data to support this) that it may be different for boys. At least in my house, my boys read relatively late but my daughter seems to be on a different path. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.10.08, 05:42 PM Flag
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thanks, I appreciate the encouragement [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.10.08, 05:43 PM Flag
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I also did not push too hard until first had begun (so it was like homework, not me freaking) but I kept reading to him so he'd love stories. In the end, it's the love of stories that drives you to keep reading, and the more you read, the better you get. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.10.08, 05:47 PM Flag
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Look, my little guy is 6. He'll be in 1st grade this fall. He sounds just like your kid. A lot of the kids in his kinder class came in reading or were reading fairly well by the end. I am a NOT stressing. I read to him from long chapter books every night--right now it's Catwings, lately a lot of Little House. He LOVES it, loves being read to. Likes to talk about the books. He said to me one day w/ a happy sigh "I just love books." That's what I'm after. He will eventually read--and once they read, they don't unread. I don't want the time we spend w/ books to be stressful for unhappy. I really trust this will work out. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.10.08, 05:46 PM Flag
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op here. you sound like a great mom. i envy you terribly. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.10.08, 05:49 PM Flag
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Wow, thanks. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.10.08, 06:05 PM Flag
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You know, you and poster above just knocked some sense into my head. You're right. I need to go back to enjoying books and reading to him regardless of who is reading them. Thanks a million, I'm headed to the library for my Little House books first thing tomorrow! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.10.08, 05:50 PM Flag
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If you have a boy, try Farmer Boy--it's terrific. DS also loves Roald Dahl and Rudyard Kipling and it's so fun to read aloud. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.10.08, 05:53 PM Flag
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The BFG (Dahl) is a hoot. Also all the Fudge books by Judy Blume. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.10.08, 05:56 PM Flag
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my dd clicked with her reading jan of first grade - she is now an amazing and avid reader. she reads by herself on her own accord all the time. She is still struggling with bigger books (liek magic treehouse) on her own, but overall is doing great. DO NOT WORRY. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.10.08, 05:58 PM Flag
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My d. could not read at all in English even after 1st grade (pre K - 1st grade in another language). She figured it out after 2 days of 2nd grade and never looked back. You should not worry. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.11.08, 08:43 AM Flag
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