Can kids read when they enter kindergarten?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was reading before I was 3 and didn't understand why some of my classmates couldn't read at 5 or 6. Luckily it was a small enough class (8 students, IIRC), that the teacher had time to work with kids individually at their various levels. I have no idea how it works with bigger classes.

You were not reading at 3 and nobody has memories from age 3. Your mother remembers it this way, but it is doubtful.

I'm not pp, but you don't know what you're talking about regarding memories.

Agreed. I was also reading at 3, and I do have memories. Just because you cannot and didn't does not mean it's not possible. It means you can't remember things as well.

[Anonymous]

My oldest started reading just after her third birthday because DC "didn't want to wait for mommy to answer why." By the time K rolled around she was a fluent reader and reading avidly for fun. She was fine in K. No, the work may not have been "on her level," but she did her own thing, she had fun, and she made friends. DS wasn't reading really in K. He knew his letters and he could sound out words, but the comprehension wasn't great. He also did fine.

[Anonymous]

Former first grade teacher. No, most kids do not read when they enter K, although there will always be some who do. Many kids do not read when they enter first grade, and that is considered developmentally appropriate provided they have letter recognition. In most states, first grade is the year when kids are expected to learn to read, and we did flag kids in the spring of first if they were not making progress on that front to be sure there was nothing else involved. However, I also had kids who left first still not reading, and something just clicked in second grade--by third they were reading as fluently as many of the early readers. Late reading is not necessarily indicative of a problem--and not reading in K is not late reading.

[Anonymous]

I've had three kids go through Montessori and all could read simple books by the end of the year before K.

But it wouldn't have concerned me if they needed more time -- kids learn at their own pace, and not reading by K is fine.

[Anonymous]

I had one kid who was a fluent reader when starting K. This child was the youngest in the class. By fluent I mean basic chapter books with comprehension, inflection and understanding.

One was phonic level.

The other was not reading at all.

[Anonymous]

my son could read some when he started things like the BOB books and cat in the hat with some help.

hes made lots of progress this year..

kids develop at a different rate it all evens out I think by about 3rd grade

[Anonymous]

Some kids can, some can't--even if they're both bright and will be very good readers by grade 3.

DS1 was highly verbal at a very, very young age. She could not read by K. She was kind of haltingly reading by end of K. That summer, something happened, and by the time she turned 6 (end of August), she was doing pretty well. She's now in the "top" reading group in her 1st grade classroom.

But her math is atrocious! (I was slow to take off with math, too. I do lots of quantitative work now, though... I feel comfortable with a long, slow simmer. No pressure.)

[Anonymous]

My kids entered K ready to read - they knew their alphabet, letter sounds and had been "reading" books (looking at pics, turning pages) on their own for a while.

Their K teachers sent home some books for us to read every night - I would read the book first then my child would read the book. Easily within a month they were both reading.

[Anonymous]

As far as learning letter sounds go, The Leapfrog Letter Factory and Word Factory DVDs were a big help. Highly recommend.

[Anonymous]

I have two who could read very well before K. They were placed in top reading groups but there were loads of kids who were more advanced. One continued to progress and loves reading more than anything (3rd grade) and the other one (2nd) is much more drawn to other activities and is pretty much middle of the pack now. When you start to read counts for a lot less than how much you practice it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm curious if your kid, or kids generally, can read when they enter kindergarten.

How do teachers balance their teaching between kids who can't read at all, and those who can?

I think the goal is to have them reading by the END of kindergarten, OP.

Most K classes have maybe 1 or 2 readers when school begins.

[Anonymous]

Both of my kids could read by K - placed in the highest reading groups. Not all kids can read and the teachers do separate by reading ability. Both my children were not bored and expanded their vocabulary- ability to read. Having said that, I am also aware of children that did not read at the beginning of K and are now in advanced academics. Basically, it really doesn't mean anything if your child is ahead or behind - they or others will catch up and eventually these early advances may not be as advanced in the future. I hope this comes out ok- but if anyone is concerned about the future because your child isn't advanced, please don't be. It's also not an indication to start applying for Mensa.

[Anonymous]

Read what, exactly? My non-red shirted DD (turned 5 at end of May) could read some things, yes. Was she reading chapter books? No.

I was worried about boredom but in her FCPS class many kids could read at or above her level. Many could not read as well. They were good about separating out by ability and challenging the ones that needed a bit more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can't read unless they've been red-shirted - very few anyway.

Actually I don't think learning to read is "age based" as this post seems to imply. Each child learns at their own pace and time.

[Anonymous]

No. My kid goes to a language immersion school where preK is only in the target language, no English.

Kid could not read in any language entering K where it's 50% English and 50% target language. By the end of K, DC was reading at the 2nd grade level in English and was reading at grade level in the target language.

Kids will read when they are ready.