Do most kids know how to read by kindergarten?

[Anonymous]

How do you know what other kids can/can't read, or comprehend? My DS is in pre-k and I have no idea who is reading in his class. Had three playdates in the past month and none of the other moms brought it up. I'm not being snakry -- I'm wondering. Is this something other moms talk about? Are other moms going in for classroom "volunteer" hours to scope out the other kids?

[Anonymous]

Most kids once the learn the letter sounds can decode and blend by the end of kindergarten and certainly by the end of first grade. Studies do indicate that kids who don't learn after first grade may be facing learning issues that will affect their long term learning.

However, I think the larger issue is understanding that reading is not just decoding it requires understanding concepts that are implied in language. This is why the language gap is critical. Yes get your kids bob books but the issue is more often are you reading with your kids, building rich experiences.

[Anonymous]

I don't think anyone in DS's pre-K class is reading and it's about 16 students. But it honestly it never comes up so I don't know for sure.

I have a lot of friends whose kids didn't learn to read until K and they had no issues. In fact, several jumped to the top reading groups in first grade.

The important thing IMHO is that you read to your child a lot. The kids I know who weren't pushed to read early but caught up extremely quickly were the ones with parents who read a lot to them.

[Anonymous]

Sure, some people would say that's basic reading and it's generally more advanced that most kids that age.


quote=Anonymous]What do you consider reading? Bob Books? Dick and Jane? My 4.5 yo can do that, but only very recently has he started to. It's just the past few weeks that I can tell he actually UNDERSTANDS what he is reading, which is cool.