Reading before K?

[Anonymous]

So, I've had this debate with some colleagues with children. Some say children need to know how to read before Kindergarten. Others say it's not necessary. In NoVA what is more common? If my child isn't reading yet by Sepember will she be behind?

[Anonymous]

No. By the end of K your kid is expected to be at DRA level 4, which is extremely basic reading. By the beginning of K, it would be good if your kid knew his or her letters and the sounds they make.

[Anonymous]

No, she won't be behind, but why not introduce her to reading now, why wait for the teacher to do such? We used www.headsprout.com when our kids were younger. It is a really fun way to learn to read; I don't like hooked on phonics and tend to be more of a whole language method supporter. Try it and tell me (or us) what you think.

[Anonymous]

Op here. Thanks for the suggestions. She does know all her letters and most sounds. I have tried working with her on easy words on labels (e.g., "Keep Fresh"). But I haven't done any kind of formal reading with her, and they aren't really doing it in preschool yet. I work full time and have another young child, so finding time for an entire program is tough. Maybe I will look into it this summer now that activities are winding down for the year.

I just got freaked out when two ladies I work with insisted that "it's expected that kids know how to read when they start kindergarten." I was like, huh?

[Anonymous]

don't sweat it. if they're reading some, great. if not they'll learn as Kinder progresses as PP have noted. the best thing you can do is read to your kid, which will teach him/her to love books. some kids will pick up from there and start teaching themselves. others will pick it up later. my kids moved at different paces, but all are voracious readers. this is another one of these things that parents fret over -- like how early your kids speak or walk -- that DOES NOT MATTER. focusing too much on forcing it can have the opposite effect and put stress on the kid.

[Anonymous]

Preschool teacher here. In my opinion, true reading is one of those things that clicks when it clicks. Consistent exposure to reading, books, and letters is very important, but as far as a child beginning to read, there is no benefit to rushing the process. In my mind, it is similar to walking...some kids walk at 8 months, others don't walk until 15 months...but by 2 years, they're all running and it doesn't matter who walked first.

In your child's K class there will be kids who read at 4 or earlier and kids who won't read well until 7, and a lot in between. They will all become solid readers.

[Anonymous]

Preschool teacher here. In my opinion, true reading is one of those things that clicks when it clicks. Consistent exposure to reading, books, and letters is very important, but as far as a child beginning to read, there is no benefit to rushing the process. In my mind, it is similar to walking...some kids walk at 8 months, others don't walk until 15 months...but by 2 years, they're all running and it doesn't matter who walked first.

In your child's K class there will be kids who read at 4 or earlier and kids who won't read well until 7, and a lot in between. They will all become solid readers.

Strong agreement from a veteran first grade and K teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Preschool teacher here. In my opinion, true reading is one of those things that clicks when it clicks. Consistent exposure to reading, books, and letters is very important, but as far as a child beginning to read, there is no benefit to rushing the process. In my mind, it is similar to walking...some kids walk at 8 months, others don't walk until 15 months...but by 2 years, they're all running and it doesn't matter who walked first.

In your child's K class there will be kids who read at 4 or earlier and kids who won't read well until 7, and a lot in between. They will all become solid readers.

Strong agreement from a veteran first grade and K teacher.

+1 from another former K teaching here!

[Anonymous]

As a first grade teacher, I had students who had been "trained" to read early. They did not make the quick progress that others did. I urge parents to work on verbal language--the reading will come.

[Anonymous]

Our school told us at K open house that they would meet our child where he/she was and go from there. My K student did not know how to read going into K. She is in 1st grade now and can read. My 2nd dd is going into K, and again she can't read other than a few sight word books that I think she may just know the story. Again, I think this is ok. Yes, some of the kids going into K know how to read, but certainly not all of them. My first dd was in the middle of the pack in reading in K.

[Anonymous]

My daughter was not reading until first grade. She quickly passed many other students and within months was reading anything and everything. She scored 99%ile on reading for the rest of her school career.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Preschool teacher here. In my opinion, true reading is one of those things that clicks when it clicks. Consistent exposure to reading, books, and letters is very important, but as far as a child beginning to read, there is no benefit to rushing the process. In my mind, it is similar to walking...some kids walk at 8 months, others don't walk until 15 months...but by 2 years, they're all running and it doesn't matter who walked first.

In your child's K class there will be kids who read at 4 or earlier and kids who won't read well until 7, and a lot in between. They will all become solid readers.

Not all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter was not reading until first grade. She quickly passed many other students and within months was reading anything and everything. She scored 99%ile on reading for the rest of her school career.

When I was in school, we weren't taught to read until first grade. I remember "Dick and Jane" all the way into midyear.

I had an early reader, a very early reader, and a late reader among my kids, and I did the same with all--read to them often, modeled reading myself, and had tons of books available at all times. All love to read today; the time at which they began had no impact.

[Anonymous]

My son's reading really clicked at 6.5 yo. Before that, all my efforts seemed to be in vain. At 7, he was reading Harry Potter and more complex books. I was amazed.

[Anonymous]

That's about the age it clicks or doesn't. For one DC it did and the other DC it didn't click, and after some investigation and such she has an IEP.

Like the earlier post said, it is like walking...they'll start when their ready and accelerate from there (unless there is a problem, but you will see it if she is not progressing).