6 years old (1st Grade) doesn't read yet...

[Anonymous]

This has been a relief to hear. Our son's a summer b-day and is currently in kindergarten. He's still learning the alphabet and letter-sound correspondence. He's made progress but I doubt he'll be reading by the time he gets to first grade. It's good to hear that kids catch up...

[Anonymous]

OP - I agree with people's opinions not to worry too much about this, that it is very normal for kids not to learn to read until later.

But at the same time, I'd want to hear from your child's teacher exactly what her plan is for your son. If he is the weakest reader in the class, then in what areas does he need to improve, and how is she addressing that, and what can you do to help?

If I were you, I would want to visit the school during language arts instruction time, and observe what your child's time in school is like.

The reason I say this is that I have been volunteering in my child's 1st grade class. The class is divided into reading groups. My son was in one of the "lower" groups, and had been saying that he "hated" reading. As I was helping out over the course of a few months this fall, I couldn't help but notice that the quality of the instruction was just, well, much better -- more interesting, more attention by the teacher -- for the higher reading groups. The kids in the higher reading groups didn't have to spend so much time struggling to sound out words; they were reading more interesting selections, and they were filled with kids who were not goofing off and bugging each other. They whizzed through their meeting with the teacher, and went on to do fun enrichment activities as well. They got more interesting writing assignments.

The group that my son was in had many children who seemed to have difficulty paying attention; the boys were picking at each other etc, just goofing off, nothing severe, but it distracted attention from the teacher in her small grouo instruction so that this group never got around to the fun enrichement activity. Their reading selections were less interesting.

The "lowest" group (of non readers) had just 3 kids, and they were taught primarily by a paraprofessional. She mostly sat and did worksheets with them. They almost never recieved instruction from the classroom teacher, and I have to say that the instruction they were getting from that para did not seem all that great.

The difference in quality of instruction between the groups was striking to me. I do not believe this is the way that groups for reading instruction are SUPPOSED to work, but I think sometimes it can happen. If so, you need to know about it, IMO.

I asked the teacher what skills my son was lacking to be in a higher reading group, and she told me, so I just worked with him until he was reading better. If she thinks I am a "pushy" parent who wants her kid to "achieve", so be it. I want him to be in the reading group that gets the most interesting actvivities and instruction.

I think it is true that some kids who are late readers catch up and surpass their classmates in later years -- but plenty do not. Personally, if my child were not able to read at least with the middle of the class, I would start working on it. UNLESS you speak with the teacher, and she seems completely competent and reassuring about her plan for later developing readers. I wouldn't worry about this, because it makes total sense that a younger child would develop reading skills later than an older one in the same grade. But reading is SO stressed now in the early grades, it is such a big part of the day, that IMO you want to make sure that he isn't being left behind by improper instruction.

[Anonymous]

Thanks the pp for sharing your experience. We just have received notice that our dc K reading class will be divided into three levels. It appears some kid in his class is reading at grade 3 level now. We live in Mo co.

My DC's problem is similar but also different: summer birth, weak in reading (though strong in math) and the teacher is saying he is probably just memorizing the words w/o real understanding (he has very good memory).

[Anonymous]

NCLB, though in good intention, is actually putting boys at a dis-advantage at the early age. Boys at 5 or 6 just find it hard to sit still, not at easy to converse with the teacher, not interested in writing up stories like "today I eat pizza"

[Anonymous]

I am a MoCo teacher and it saddens me that a teacher would tell you that your son was the "worst" reader in the class. If he is having difficulties in reading there are many things that can be done at home and at school to help him. It is true that some kids (not always boys) are not reading in first grade. As was noted in previous posts, MoCo is getting more and more stringent on reading. Now students are expected to be reading in kindergarten. But, I digress. I would make sure to read with your son at home and make sure that he finds joy in it. Read TO him. Don't always force him to read for you. Go to the public library and help him find books that interest him. Ask the teacher to send home the books he is reading in guided reading groups in class. He can practice reading these books to a stuffed animal or younger sibling since they are at his individual reading level. Ask the teacher for a list of high frequency words that he needs practice with. You can make a game out of practicing the words in the bath tub with soap, or with white boards, etc. Try to be bigger than the teacher and take a more proactive approach to the difficulties he is having. Ask the teacher if there are any interventions for first graders in the school. In my school there is a reading recovery program for first graders not reading on grade level. But, each school is different depending on funding, etc. Also, many public school teachers tutor in the summer. You could ask your school counselor for a list of tutors that may be available this summer just so he does not fall behind. You sound like a caring parent and I am sure your son will be fine since he has parents that care. It is too bad that his teacher is not more careful with her words. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Are kids really expected to be reading in K? That is extreme! My daughter was slow to become a fluent reader. At ages 5 and 6 I used the homeschooling book Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Lessons. It's a highly recommended book and I know lots of homeschoolers who use it. Well, it was like hitting her head against a brick wall. She just couldn't get it. She started to say things like "I hate reading" so I put it away. I was worried but had read many homeschooling listserves and spoke to her Montessori teachers. All were reassuring that children learn at their own pace. Her teachers said that they would wait until the Spring of 2nd Grade to see how she processed before outside help.

When 2nd Grade started this past September, my daughter, then 7.5, was reading Easy Reader Level 2 books. Well, something clicked in her brain the first week of January, one month shy of her 8th birthday. Literally, she woke up one day and could read fluently. It's been one month now and we can NOT stop her from reading. A few minutes ago my husband had to go take her flash light away so she would stop reading and go to sleep.

Part of me is glad she goes to a Montessori school and escaped being labeled or pressured. But for a while there I wished we had a reading specialist that could have worked with my daughter a few times a week at school. But maybe that would have frustrated her.

So take heart. I'd say don't pressure him to read. He's so young. Give it another year. Just go to the library once a week and keep the house full of fun books.

[Anonymous]

I'm sure there will be super mom purists who will disapprove of my methods, but here is what I did.

My DD was in between K and 1st and couldn't read. We live overseas and are coming back to the US, so I was worried she wouldn't be at US grade level. Because our school is filled with non-native English speakers, they take their time getting the kids to read, so I felt I had ot be proactive.

I knew my DD COULD do it but she wasn't because the school wasn't pushing her (she had spent 2 years of preschool in another country and was almost reading when we moved here before K, so I knew it was lack of motivation).

Over the summer, I set up an incentive program for her. We made a chart with spots for 100 books. She got to go out for ice cream every 10 books (I know, you're not supposed to use food as a reward). At the end of 50, she got a small toy. At the end of all 100 she could pick out whatever toy she wanted.

We started out with small books with only a few words per page and moved on as she got better. She was reading by the end of the summer (in fact, her recent report card noted that she was reading upon entereing 1st grade).

I think it depends on why he's not reading. Hers was clearly lack of motivation and intimidation when looking at the books. I bought lots of those Scholastic phonics boxed sets, which come in really easy levels on up.

I wouldn't worry too much, but I would try to work with him a bit to get an idea of whether he can't or whether he hasn't been properly motivated. It's possible he's not interested in the books and he might respond better to books that he likes better.

Now I'm trying to get my DD to transition to chapeter books. She CAN but she's afraid. I've been reading them to her with hopes she'll get excited by them and read them herself. She's a little bit lazy, though, so we'll see if it works.

Good luck and don't let it get you down. You are on top of the issue now, so it won't slip through the cracks. He WILL learn to read and 5 years from now it won't matter if it was February 2009 or September 2009 when he started.

[Anonymous]

My husband couldn't read in the first grade. He ended up being the only person from his public high school to get into all the Ivy league colleges. Went on to grad school, top of his class. Has a borderline genius IQ.

Turns out, it was his teacher, not him, that was the problem. When he switched schools mid-year (family moved), a new teacher gave him tons of remedial stuff to catch him up. By the end of the year he was a top reader.

I bet it's the teacher--what teacher tells any parent their kid is the worst at something.

Hang in there and see if you can get him some remedial help from a different teacher.

[Anonymous]

I may be totally wrong here -- but "reading readiness" by old Catholic school standards followed dental development. My mother said it was the rule that you weren't ready for 1st grade until you lost your first tooth. Might be an old wives tale - (as my mother is!!) - but sometimes there is wisdom in those things. Please don't worry and don't push -- just like they won't be wearing diapers in college -- there is a time for everything.

And if the teacher actually used those words I would certainly speak to the principal! If she says that to you -- God knows what she says to the children!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I may be totally wrong here -- but "reading readiness" by old Catholic school standards followed dental development. My mother said it was the rule that you weren't ready for 1st grade until you lost your first tooth. Might be an old wives tale - (as my mother is!!) - but sometimes there is wisdom in those things. Please don't worry and don't push -- just like they won't be wearing diapers in college -- there is a time for everything.

And if the teacher actually used those words I would certainly speak to the principal! If she says that to you -- God knows what she says to the children!

I SWEAR this was true for my son! I had heard this about the first loose tooth -- the Waldorf School has that same philosohpy and my SIL told me about it. I thought it was complete nonsense, until I had my son and tried like crazy to interest him in books and reading -- he was completely uninterested in learning to read at all. Until one week after his first tooth fell out -- then he started spontaneously talking about words, and taking the sounds apart, and showing more interest in them!

I know it's not true for all children, because my daughter is very interested in reading and playing with words and sounds at age 3, though!

[Anonymous]

My DD is 4 and super smart, but not interested in reading. My older kids were not interested in reading at age 4 either, and I never pushed them. There is so much to be interested in the world -- DD is never bored, and has the rest of her life to read. My older kids caught up very quickly and are now far ahead of grade level. You know your child. It could be the teacher, or perhaps your child is not ready yet. Or he may have some undiagnosed learning disability (I think they are called "differences" now).

But it must be devastating to hear a teacher describe your child as the "worst" anything. Unconscionable that a teacher would say such a thing. It helps nothing, and just makes you worry instead of figuring out what's right for your child. Best of luck to you in sorting this out.

[Anonymous]

In MCPS, it is expected that by the end of K a child will be reading at the level of D ( a short book with a few, short sentences a page), which puts a lot of pressure on the teachers, kids and parents.

[Anonymous]

MCPS can expect that all they want, and for some kids, it won't happen.

If your child is progressing through the reading readiness skills at a reasonable and steady pace, then the reading will come when it comes.

Of course, my son is not data, but anecdote, but here's our experience:
Couldn't read in kinder (but making progress on the skills)
Spent first grade learning to read. Forced is the appropriate word, and the school did succeed in getting him all the way above grade level. However...
Hated school and especially reading by the end of first grade.
Spent second grade working on attitude, and NEVER ASKED HIM TO READ AT HOME, but read to him every day. We were very worried about the detachment from school.
Now in third, he is in the middle reading group, will read without a fuss, and is getting great grades.