My kindergarten "reader"

[Anonymous]

My DD, who just started K this fall, will sound out the first 1-2 letters of a word, and then just take a guess at what that word is. A "W" word, for example, could be, in her mind, "What? Where? Watermelon? Willow?" you name it. Or whatever she can guess based upon the picture if she sees something that starts with the letter "w". I keep telling her to keep going, and sound out the next letters beyond the first two. Is this a developmental step in reading? How long are we going to be stuck here? I am getting bored every night sitting on her bed listening to her throw out random guesses - lol -- ok, just kidding with this one, ladies. But seriously, am looking for insight on this. Thank you in advance!

[Anonymous]

Just read to her. Don't make bedtime homework time. While you are reading to her run your finger under the words you are reading. It is more important to love reading than to try be at the same reading level as her peers.

yes, what you describe is a stage. depending on your kid it will last different lengths.

[Anonymous]

OK, thanks. We do still read to her. In fact, each night, she can pick bw her reading to us, or us reading to her, and it's usually about 50-50 as to what she chooses. . .or on nights when there is enough time, we do both. Once she does get a word, she is pretty proud of herself and I praise her and praise her and say, "See! I knew you could do it!!" so I just want to show her that she CAN really do it, she just has to go beyond those first two letters. . . yesterday, she read the entire Halloween card she got from my sister and was SO proud of herself, but, at first, she was saying, "I can't do it, I can't do it." I just don't know how to get her to see that she CAN.

[Anonymous]

She's doing great. Just keep reminding her that she can and encouraging her to read. She will get there. It's just a matter of time. Read cool stuff to her. Listen to cool audio books in the car. It is fine.

[Anonymous]

Thanks. Ok, yes, will continue doing all those things. I just actually remember in K all of a sudden having a huge lightbulb moment about what this reading thing was all about, and then LOVING it, and racing ahead in leaps and bounds once I finally got it, so I want her to have this big "aha" moment too, I suppose. I feel like she's so close!

[Anonymous]

Have her read more predictable books when she reads to you....where she has to figure out the words on the first page and rest follows a similar pattern. "I like to jump. I like to run. I like to read......" or even books like Brown Bear, Brown Bear; What do you see?

Also, encourage her to look at the picture once she identifies the first sound or two so she is building on that strategy as well.

[Anonymous]

My DD in K is in the exact same place as yours as far as reading. Happy to hear it because I was starting to feel like she was behind - but actually I think it may be right on track.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have her read more predictable books when she reads to you....where she has to figure out the words on the first page and rest follows a similar pattern. "I like to jump. I like to run. I like to read......" or even books like Brown Bear, Brown Bear; What do you see?

Also, encourage her to look at the picture once she identifies the first sound or two so she is building on that strategy as well.

Ok, thank you so much for those ideas. I appreciate it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DD in K is in the exact same place as yours as far as reading. Happy to hear it because I was starting to feel like she was behind - but actually I think it may be right on track.

OP here. I am glad to hear someone else is at the same stage as well!

[Anonymous]

My son is in first grade and still has some trouble with the ends of words. I never pushed in kindergarten, because I'm terrified I will make reading feel like a chore and not something fun. But he's always made steady improvement. Instead of guessing the ending of most words, he needs help on 2-3 per book. I work with him on it now and make sure he looks for and says things like the "s" on a plural word.

Since he is making steady improvement and understands what he's reading, I'm not too worried.

FWIW, his skills come in leaps and fits. Not a smooth progression. So he may seem on the same level for weeks at a time, only to jump 2-3 levels at once. Not sure if that's normal or not, but just putting it out there in case you notice something similar.

[Anonymous]

If she is just looking at one word in isolation, she will need to be taught how to break the word into smaller chunks like syllables. For the word banana, cover up the end of the word so that she just sees "ba" and then move onto "nan" and then "a." If there is a picture clue, have her study the picture thoroughly first.

[Anonymous]

I also recommend signing up for One More Story (onemorestory.com). It's $15 for three months, and has a good selection of "read to me" books that highlight the words as they're read. Might be good for a child at your daughter's reading level, which, as PPs said, is just fine!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son is in first grade and still has some trouble with the ends of words. I never pushed in kindergarten, because I'm terrified I will make reading feel like a chore and not something fun. But he's always made steady improvement. Instead of guessing the ending of most words, he needs help on 2-3 per book. I work with him on it now and make sure he looks for and says things like the "s" on a plural word.

Since he is making steady improvement and understands what he's reading, I'm not too worried.

FWIW, his skills come in leaps and fits. Not a smooth progression. So he may seem on the same level for weeks at a time, only to jump 2-3 levels at once. Not sure if that's normal or not, but just putting it out there in case you notice something similar.

OP back. My DD seems to go in fits and starts too. We'll be at one stage for a while, then I take a back seat and put it on the back burner for a while, and then pick it up after a few months and then she's moved forward in between then and now.

Thanks for letting me know about your son's progress throughout K and now 1st. . .I appreciate it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If she is just looking at one word in isolation, she will need to be taught how to break the word into smaller chunks like syllables. For the word banana, cover up the end of the word so that she just sees "ba" and then move onto "nan" and then "a." If there is a picture clue, have her study the picture thoroughly first.

Ok, thanks so much. I actually do this but it is helpful to know that this is actually worthwhile, and not something I just randomly pulled out of my head! LOL! Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I also recommend signing up for One More Story (onemorestory.com). It's $15 for three months, and has a good selection of "read to me" books that highlight the words as they're read. Might be good for a child at your daughter's reading level, which, as PPs said, is just fine!

OK, I will look at this! Thank you!