Warning brag post

Because its not socially acceptable to just go on and on about how smart and amazing your kids are IRL, I will come in here and get it off my chest. Sooo mega-brag post warning, proceed with caution :laughing: Oh and a question at the end for those that will indulge my bragging.

Ana is teaching herself to read. She has known all her letter for a long time. Our sitter is great about incorporating learning into everything they do. And at home, we do the same and read a lot. So both my girls know all their letter by sight (upper and lower case), and Ana knows all the sounds (Meara knows about 75%). Ana is now using the sounds of letters to sound out words!!! She can spell a bunch of words already and recognize them by sight. I know that I was an early reader (my mom says I was reading by 4), but for some reason I just wasn't expecting this to 'click' for them for awhile.

We are not sending them to preschool next year because its crazy expensive, the schedule is annoying (2 1/2 hours in the morning 2x a week- thats tough for working parents), and we have free universal pre-k the following year in our elementary school. Now I'm feeling a little guilty about this because maybe they would benefit from more 'structured' learning, butDH and I think that they have years for that and want to let them be carefree and explore and learn at their own pace now. So I'm not saying they need more activities, as Ana is doing this all on her own, but do you all think we should be doing more for them beyond going to the library for new books (a couple times a week), playing games that encourage Ana's interests in letters and reading, etc? I don't know what more we would do, but any suggestions would be helful.

Meara is so much more physical than Ana, and Ana gets frustrated sometimes that Meara can do more at the playground than she can, so I'm glad that Ana is developing her own special thing right now. :FIFblush: /brag-off

 

From one early reader to another:

You. Go. Girl.

I am all grins for your girl!! Maybe she could write (your help) a story?

 

Rock on Ana!! Sounds like you are doing an incredible job fostering her learning. :woo:

 

You know I bet you would get some great suggestions from a gifted group on line, like Hoagiesgifted.org. She's sounds very gifted. Actually they both sound great!!! Oooh, I was just googling :laughing: and found a gifted homeschoolers site.
I started a pre K curriculum with David (my now 8 yr old) at 3. He loved it. Since I already homeschool that though I would run with his love of numbers and reading. We only worked when he wanted to and did many days worth of learning in an hour or less.
Since she so quick, she's probably going to be reading quickly whether or not you help her with it. Even though David could memorize words, I wanted him to learn to read with phonics.
You should be a proud Mama! I love brags like this!

 

OMG, that's amazing! :yahoo: I'd be shouting from the rooftops too!

And I totally know what you mean about wanting them each to have their own "thing" so that one isn't behind/left out.

 

:yahoo: That is totally awesome Leighann!!!

 

:clapping: WOW! That's great. You go Ana!!

 

awesome Leighann!! my Ian is/was the same way - and at 4 he can read about 50% of stuff he sees - signs, road signs etc...

if you're looking for a good toy to foster get a Tag Reader or Leapster - they REALLY do teach in a fun environment!

 

Wahooo!


Brag away!!!



My DDs started reading about that age... one DD was bout 4-6 months ahead of the other. One read easy readers at 3.5 and the other at 4---and so on. Now going into K they are both fluent reader and LOVE it!

I second the TAG reader. One of our favorite car/trip toys for about 1.5 yrs!


Just keep reading! That is what we did (no formal program), lots of library time, lots of letter/word play, but keep it to what they were interested in. Mine also were into writing as well....reading and writing is popular around here. Magnetic words, magnetic letters, letter stamps, etc....we played a lot but no real structure.

No if I could get them as fired up about math as reading....LOL. NO interest in math at all. None. Their K teachers can teach them all that- I am not going to pursue anything they dont really want to know at this point! Lots of time later for that.