late readers

**Julsave** · 12-29-2002, 03:06 PM

I know some of you have children that were reading before 5. I was an early reader myself. Sometimes its just so hard for me to understand why my boys don't grasp the idea of reading. They turned 5 and 6 in early July. I know we choose to homeschool for the very reason that the boys can learn at their own pace (I'm just having a hard time slowing my pace down to theirs).

As a funny side note: My parents were here for christmas dad asked Weston when Weston was going to read him a story instead of grandpa reading the story. Westons response was "When I'm 18 grandpa". - jul

**Mom23boys** · 12-29-2002, 03:13 PM

Only 1 of my boys read early....DS#3. Some suggestions would be to make a poster board with sight words and say those every day.
Examples:
I, am, the, was, it, is, my, on, etc.

Also, label everything you can think of.....refrigerator, window, stove, oven, door, book, wall, etc. This teaches the child the word when they see the object. Then when they are reading and see this word they will learn it because it has been exposed to them day after day.

I am sure others can give you more suggestions. That is just a few we use in our classroom. Hope this helps some.

**Kindred-Spirit** · 12-29-2002, 03:23 PM

I just taught my dd age 6 to read, we used the 100 EZ lessons. We did go through the book last year, but she just wasnt' interested or something. lol. She is doing great and we have moved on to the Amish readers.

**homesteadmamma** · 12-29-2002, 03:47 PM

Well my thoughts on this are probably totally different than anyone elses.

Have you ever read any of Raymond and Dorothy Moore's books. They are the pioneers in homeschooling and I've read all their books and fully support their beliefs on homeschooling. If you'd like, I can post the titles here. Even books written by the Colfax's speak of the same thing!!

They say how boys learn to read later than most girls and that its nothing to worry about until they are older. They believe (has do I) that little boys should be allowed to play, explore and use their imagination at those early years and that has parents we shouldn't push them into reading.

Statistics prove that MOST boys don't read great until they are usually over the age of 8 and often not until they are around 10 - 12 and I have to agree with those stats also.

I pushed ds to read and he only became more and more frustrated because he couldn't read like mommy could or wanted him too. So I backed off when I read the Moore's books on homeschooling. We worked a bit each day but I didn't push. I continued to read to him, let him look at any books he wanted to and around 8 1/2 yrs old we were driving down the street and he was reading the signs and the billboards. It was awesome to see.

Our dd has struggled with reading also and just this Sept. it clicked. She is 12!!

One of the best things to continue to do when your child doesn't "get" it, is to read to them, ask them questions, making reading exciting for them. When I read chapter books (I still do) I ask them what they think will happen in the next chapter and I've always read ahead and I'll say "oh but I know", making them want to come back. Take them to the library and let them pick out books they like (even if they can't read them). Ds would bring books home on playing cards. It didn't matter, we allowed him to bring them home. Leave books lying around your home, even ones that are chapter books. Often kids don't like reading books because we give them books that are too "young" for them.

**heaven** · 12-29-2002, 04:13 PM

I totally agree with Cj, it is hard to go at their pace, My youngest is dislexic so she has had problems right along reading, it is finally starting to click with her. make it exciting, and have them read at their level. GOOD LUCK!!!!!!

**Julsave** · 12-29-2002, 06:42 PM

Thank you. I just needed the encouragement that its o.k. and just like we planned. I don't want to push anything - we study what they want in school. I just need a reminder every now and then for me to lower my expectations.

Homestead: I don't think I have read any of the Moore's books and would love for you to throw a few favorite titles my way. We do read tons and always have a few chapter books we read at night (Currently Walter the Mouse).

Kindred: I do have the 100EZ, and we've started it a few times. I keep loaning it to a friend who is now on her 3rd time thru it with her dd who struggles with reading (she is 8).

Michelle: I think I'll start labeling everything like you suggested. Good idea.

Thank you all!
- jul

**homesteadmamma** · 12-29-2002, 07:32 PM

Jul - here are their books.

- Better Late than Early

- School can Wait

- Home Grown Kids

- The Successful Homeschool Family Handbook (if you get any, this is the one to read.)

Here is their website also:

http://www.moorefoundation.com/

I love their philosphy of homeschooling and although I might throw a few things out they talk about, on the whole, that is how I teac.

**cinnamon** · 12-29-2002, 08:40 PM

Alrighty - I was typing a long reply and just lost it all!

ANYWAY - my 7yodd (1st grade) is reading at a 1st grade level. My 4 yodd reads at about a 3rd grade level. This didn't set to well with my oldest! We were using ETC workbooks, but she hit a wall. We switched to Phonics Pathway, and things started moving again. Now she learns the lesson in PP and does the corresponding pages in ETC for practice.

It was hard for me not to get frustrated with my oldest, because I wanted her to read! I read at 4, her sis reads at 4, I must be a failure at homeschooling, blah, blah, blah. I really had to step back and make a conscience decision to move at dd's pace and not worry about what everyone else is doing. We worked through the curriculum slowly, repeating lessons often. And it is paying off.