Comments on: Sounding It Out

By: Meghan

Meghan — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 01:26:00 +0000

This post made my heart jump right into my throat, because my 6yo son is in the EXACT place with his reading. And no matter what I do I can’t get him to understand that once he gets past this part, he’ going to love it! It’s nice to know I’m not the only one anxiously waiting…

By: Kasandria Reasoner

Kasandria Reasoner — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 06:14:43 +0000

ME too! In fact I am frustrated as right now I have scoured the house and can’t find a book I haven’t read at least 2 times….Another trip to the book store.
Kas

By: Marinka

Marinka — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 01:56:30 +0000

I’m not sure how old your son is but somewhere around age 6-7, he will become obsessed with Captain Underpants books to the point that you will beg for illiteracy.
I, too, am an avid reader, and it hurt me when my kids viewed it as a chore. But after they’d mastered the mechanics, it was a matter of finding books that grabbed them.

Being in an environment where he sees you enjoying reading can only help. Hang in there.

By: Twenty Four At Heart

Twenty Four At Heart — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 05:07:26 +0000

Like you, I can consume a book in record speed and love to read. I read to my kids all the time when they were young and they fell in love with words. My daughter (now 20) consumes books like I do. My eldest son (18) has just recently re-learned to enjoy reading. (He doesn’t like reading all the school required stuff, but does love reading for enjoyment.) My youngest son hates to read. Hates it. It makes me want to cry. I think all the school required reading of boring texts has turned him off. I hope someday he’ll learn to love it half as much as I do. His teacher’s tell me he’s a gifted writer … how can you be a writer and not love to read? Sigh ….

By: Brooke

Brooke — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:19:24 +0000

I taught before I had my girls and I confess I am not a big “reader.” I love a good book, but I would rather write than read or create or do other things. As a child my mom had to bribe me to read! I only wanted to do the bare minimum where reading was concerned. However, mysteries were my thing. I think all kids have their genre, or that author that gets them excited about reading Now I have one little firecracker of a daughter that loves to read way more than I did as a child. I will continue to encourage her but if she decides she is into something more than reading it’s ok. I think the important thing is that we help our children find things they can be passionate about.

By: Meg

Meg — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:56:38 +0000

I’m keeping my fingers crossed that my daughter will love to read. She would sit for hours on end while we read to her, but I’m afraid she’ll get frustrated when it’s time to learn. Both of my parents and my siblings all love to read, too, so I’m hoping it’s genetic!

By: Summer

Summer — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 23:35:30 +0000

My oldest is learning to read and I make every effort not to make it a chore. As long as it’s fun family time he’s excited to sound out the next book.

By: TSC

TSC — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 22:05:43 +0000

My advice? When they get a bit older, introduce them to one book from a good children’s series. When you hit one they like, feed them the rest. Brian Jacques’ Redwall series is what did it for me when I was a kid. Now I devour books like you wouldn’t believe.

Sure, it’s a few years off, yet. But start scoping these things out.

By: Jane

Jane — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 02:22:33 +0000

My boys both struggled in school with reading and I thought they would never pick up a book for pleasure. But now at 18 and 20 they both devour books. My 18 year old has no less than 25 books on his summer reading list before he heads back to university. The trick in our house was to always have books around for them to read. It doesn’t hurt that I can never say ‘NO’ when they’re with me in a bookstore

By: Halala Mama

Halala Mama — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 01:38:34 +0000

As a teacher, I see a lot of boys who struggle to read it seems. This morning on the Today show, some expert was talking about kids and reading and she insisted that you have to get them interested by age 8, or you lose them. I’m not sure that is exactly true, but it doesn’t hurt to encourage it at an early age.