My child was in the exact same place as the Ops child in K.

If I could go back, l would go out and get a good phonics based workbook and work though each day with my child. And if by the end of the school year there was no improvement or little improvement, I would sign up for Kumon or similar for the summer. And if there were still slow progress, private testing.

I regret that I let myself feel shamed by people who told me I was being silly, kids all learn at different paces, you are being so pushy, and so on

My child was eventually diagnosed with mild dyslexia. The intervention that helped her read was an intensive course of phonics based instruction. Since she could read ok and made it to grade level at testing time in first garage (which by the way is a low bar), the school didn’t consider it a big deal but it was.

No. My K DD can read very basic things like “the cat sat on the mat,” but not much more. And when she tries to guess words she doesn’t recognize she can be surprisingly far off (i.e. guessing words that have no letters in common with the actual word). She knows letter sounds, but combining them hasn’t quite clicked. It’s frustrating to me because by K I was reading at a 4th grade level, but it just ‘clicked’ for me instantly and I don’t know how to help her get past this point.

My best friend is a kindergarten teacher in a European country. Her younger didn't read until she was 7 and my friend was not at all worried. As a PP said, something just clicked and now she's a great reader and student generally.

DS is in 1st now but he was really not reading well in Kindergarten. I felt like he was making progress by the end of Pre-K but didn't really improve at all over Kindergarten. At the start of 1st grade, he still wasn't where he should have been and a lot of his classmates were reading far better. My older son was leaps and bounds ahead in reading by 1st grade. And then in November/December, something just clicked. He's not an advanced reader by any means but there is a big improvement from where he was in September.

My point is, it takes some kids longer than others. If the teacher isn't worried, I wouldn't be either.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, but I had him in a preschool before, and paid for extra tutoring in reading. I also have my K-er in mathnasium. I think most K kids won't naturally be strong in reading or math without extra help beyond what is offered in school, unless it is an excellent private school. If the progress is stressing you out, and your own attempts to help aren't working, think about seeking outside help with a tutor or kumon type program.

Bright kids do not need extra help. You are probably talking about average kids trying to be more than they are.

FYI, kids with dyslexia, who do need extra help, can still be very bright.

But I agree with you that the PP is over the top and preschoolers do not need reading tutors.

It clicked in May for us.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes because I taught him before he started K. I spent around $20 buying the book Teach Your Child To Read in 100 Easy Lessons. He was 4 when we started and did a lesson almost every day for 6 months. He repeated some lessons and the longer lessons we did over 2 days but by 4 1/2 he was fluently reading.

Your child is older. If you do a lesson a day you would finish by May. Don't wait for the school to teach him to read. Too many schools encourage guessing and memorizing little books instead of teaching phonics so kids learn to sound out any word.

Best $20 I ever spent on my kids education!

I did this too! I wouldn’t say that my child enjoyed it, but this was allowed as one of his quiet time activities, and he always chose to do this rather than take a nap. I would snuggle up in bed next to him, and we would sing the songs and do the lessons.

We did this also but with a different series. Both kids enjoyed it and loved the confidence that came with being early readers. I think it helped them enjoy school more those early years.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, but I had him in a preschool before, and paid for extra tutoring in reading. I also have my K-er in mathnasium. I think most K kids won't naturally be strong in reading or math without extra help beyond what is offered in school, unless it is an excellent private school. If the progress is stressing you out, and your own attempts to help aren't working, think about seeking outside help with a tutor or kumon type program.

Bright kids do not need extra help. You are probably talking about average kids trying to be more than they are.

Agree 100%

Eh, whatever. I wouldn't worry about it until 2nd grade. Just keep working on it in a low-stress day.

Anonymous wrote:Yes, but I had him in a preschool before, and paid for extra tutoring in reading. I also have my K-er in mathnasium. I think most K kids won't naturally be strong in reading or math without extra help beyond what is offered in school, unless it is an excellent private school. If the progress is stressing you out, and your own attempts to help aren't working, think about seeking outside help with a tutor or kumon type program.

As a K parent and teacher, I disagree that all those extra accommodations and private school are necessary to achieve for a “typical” child. My daughter goes public because I prefer it to the private I work at.

Anonymous wrote:Yes, but I had him in a preschool before, and paid for extra tutoring in reading. I also have my K-er in mathnasium. I think most K kids won't naturally be strong in reading or math without extra help beyond what is offered in school, unless it is an excellent private school. If the progress is stressing you out, and your own attempts to help aren't working, think about seeking outside help with a tutor or kumon type program.

Bright kids do not need extra help. You are probably talking about average kids trying to be more than they are.

Your child is within the range of normal, OP. Don't let DCUM overachievers make you think your child is behind. BUT you do need to work with your child at home.

Anonymous wrote:No she is not. I should had followed my git and held her back - she seems one year behind maturity level.

I was just thinking about this and considering making her repeat K next year.

June bday btw.

All mine learned to read at different ages. Some before age 4 and some not til 3 rd grade. Zero indicator of how they did in later years at school. Their peers as well.

Keep reading to them. Keep it wonderfully fun to read and enjoy books and the library. You child will be fine.

And if teacher is suggesting in any way your child needs help what’s their plan for that?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS isn’t at all.

My son’s kindergarten teacher never said my son was behind.

DS had a play date this morning with a boy in his class who is reading well.

Stop comparing your child to other children in class. Your child will learn to read at his own pace. If there’s a problem, I would assume the teacher would discuss it with you. If not, you should question the teacher directly. I have one child who did not read until the end of second grade. He is not a kid who loves to read. He’s currently in middle school and he’s doing just fine (although we did get him help and worked with him ourselves). My other child couldn’t read anything entering kindergarten and ended the year reading at an almost 3rd grade level. Talk to the teacher about your concerns.

+1

And I mean it in a nice way- don’t compare. It does even out by 2nd/3rd grade for nearly all kids. The ones with issues are usually on the teacher’s radar screen and concerns have been brought to the parents previously, and interventions started.

Op- ask the teacher if your DS is on track. If she says he is, no reason to worry at all. Kids learn to read at different paces- same as any other skill (riding a bike, learning to walk, potty training, swimming, etc). There is a wide range of normal!