Could you please provide some evidence to support this statement? How do you define "most countries", and how do you define "teach kids to read"?

Anonymous wrote:

I'm in my mid-50s and was taught with "Dick and Jane" readers -- in first grade. Today, that's an utter failure -- and yet somehow, I managed to graduate 5th in my class of more than 900 students, get a job right out of college. I've never been voluntarily unemployed. And yet somehow, my late reading instruction is a tragedy today.

Anonymous wrote:

country we are never going to improve our academic standings compared to other developed democracies.

Most countries do not teach kids to read before six or seven.............it is counter productive. Why waste that time when they quickly catch up at 6 or 7 if they have been exposed to great experiences?

Yes--this is exactly what happened to my godson. He grew up in a very poor school district/schools where early decoding was stressed. He's now a great decoder in high school but comprehends very little about what he has just read. He's been tested and his IQ is average.

Anonymous wrote:

It sounds as if you are frustrated because your son is not at the same reading level as his friend. In life there will always be someone better so now is an excellent time to teach him about doing the best he can and not focusing on others. That said, schools should demand better than average or as a country we are never going to improve our academic standings compared to other developed democracies. In contrast to the teacher who posted earlier, I think we used to expect too little of our kids academically so I am thrilled to hear we are now teaching what used to be taught in the 1st and 2nd grade. If that is the result of CC I am thrilled!

Glad you are thrilled. I am not. Can't help but think of the kids who plateau in first grade as a result of emphasis on decoding words instead of vocabulary building.

Anonymous wrote:It sounds as if you are frustrated because your son is not at the same reading level as his friend. In life there will always be someone better so now is an excellent time to teach him about doing the best he can and not focusing on others. That said, schools should demand better than average or as a country we are never going to improve our academic standings compared to other developed democracies. In contrast to the teacher who posted earlier, I think we used to expect too little of our kids academically so I am thrilled to hear we are now teaching what used to be taught in the 1st and 2nd grade. If that is the result of CC I am thrilled!

Anonymous wrote:

Exactly PP. I teach ESOL students and many of them come to kindergarten having no English skills at all. The teachers are frustrated (and so are the admins) that these kids aren't able to decode and read by now. Um, hello? 4 months ago, they didn't know any English. They are developing their oral vocabulary. Expecting them to be at the same level as their native English speaking peers 4 months into school is absurd. The teachers are out under tremendous pressure to get the kids to a benchmark level D by the end of the year. What will happen is that maybe the kids can decode the words but they don't actually understand the words they are decoding. I just keep reminding myself that I didn't know how to read in kindergarten and I have 2 Master's degrees. My students are proficient in 2 languages by age 8-10 yrs old. Not too shabby.

There are many kids who do not have the vocabulary they need--not just ESOL. First things first.


Tell that to my admins. They think children are little robots who can be programmed to reach x reading level by y time. If they don't, you better quit or they will make your life very unpleasant. The poor new teachers look like they want to cry every time I see them bc they are constantly putting them
down.

I don't know where you would get that idea. HE is frustrated that he is at a different level than his friend. I could care less. I DO care that at age 5, he already feels that he is a bad reader.