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amyable
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| Posted: Oct 10 2005 at 2:06pm | IP Logged
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My almost 6yo is reading incredibly well - definitely 4th grade level or above.  I'm pretty sure she understands most of the basic phonics rules also. She learned all this on her own so I'm not patting myself on the back or anything!  This is probably a stupid question - but since my state reaquires 'regular and thorough' instruction in the same subjects they'd be learning in school in their grade, I feel like I'm doing something wrong in just letting her read whenever she wants to and calling it language arts! I'm definitely not going to waste her time by making her fill out phonics worksheets or something (although she often LIKES to fill in those Walmart workbooks and can devour one in a day). Hmmmm...I guess that could constitute 'regular and thorough' enough. So I guess my question is not so much "must I" do more, but "What else is there?" for someone so young?
She has good comprehension for her age, understands the basics of grammar thanks to Grammar Rock  .We do work a bit on handwriting and spelling (the two areas that are not up with the others, but still excellent for a kid who supposedly just started kindergarten), in a natural manner as she writes stories, letters to grandma, etc. Is there something else I could/should be doing? She likes to learn so it's not like I'd be dragging her kicking and screaming, unless it's truly over her head.
Sorry this is jumbled - the baby just started fussing and I'm rushing! 
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Amy
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ALmom
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| Posted: Oct 10 2005 at 10:03pm | IP Logged
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I would discuss the stories with her. I had an early reader - taught himself, etc. But we did discover that he was missing little subtleties - nothing terrible for his age, but he has benefitted from discussing the stories. It doesn't have to be schoolish, although I have used CHC comprehension ? because I have a hard time discussing with everyone in my family. If she doesn't have any trouble with subtleties, then you are doing everything I could possibly think of and probably use the time doing what you are doing. At some point I like to use a well done comprehension type thing occassionally as a spot check.
Janet
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ALmom
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| Posted: Oct 10 2005 at 10:05pm | IP Logged
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OOps at 5, I definitely would not do any written or formal comprehension things, but it might be fun to talk about the stories together and follow her lead which you are probably already doing. Surely, what you are doing would be more than sufficient for 5 yo.
Janet
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amyable
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| Posted: Oct 11 2005 at 5:49am | IP Logged
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ALmom wrote:
Surely, what you are doing would be more than sufficient for 5 yo.
Janet |
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Oh I definitely know it's "sufficient" -- she is so far ahead of her 7 year old sister (which has it's good and bad points  ) I guess I feel guilty not *doing* much with her, because she can do it herself. Plus if she is talented in this way I wanted to "take it farther" (further? ) if that was possible - like if she had talents in soccer or music, I would continue to work on harder skills to grow her abilities - but with language arts I didn't know what to do next, if anything. I don't want to push, but if she *wants* to take her talents as far as she can go I'm all for it! (if I know how, that is, hence my post! )
Thanks for your thoughts!
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Amy
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cathhomeschool
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| Posted: Oct 11 2005 at 10:10am | IP Logged
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I would just give her good chapter books to read, and let her choose how fast or even if she wants to go through them. I wouldn't bother teaching more advanced grammar or anything like that. Maybe you could write/read poetry together, though? (Just my opinions, here!)
My now 11yo ds was a very early reader too. During one car trip from the beach to my parents house (hour drive) when he was 5, he was reading the Chronicles of Narnia to my mother. All of a sudden, after reading for 45 minutes or so, he just complained that he didn't WANT to read anymore! He was tired and just wanted to look out the window! We were all shocked, because no one had even asked him to read. I guess he felt that, since Mom was listening, he should enjoy reading to her... until he burned out!
Anyway, I don't have girls, so I don't know what's out there that might be of interest, but my ds enjoyed these at your daughter's age: Chronicles of Narnia, Rascal, Rabbit Hill, the Thornton Burgess books, EB White's books, Just So Stories, Magic School Bus books. Other good ones would be the shorter chapter books on the saints (like the Encounter the Saints series by Pauline Media) and Magic School Bus chapter books. Elizabeth has some great suggestions for primary and elementary age kids on her booklist too.
Hope I didn't misinterpret your post and just go on rambling in the wrong direction here!
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Janette (4 boys - 22, 21, 15, 14)
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Meredith
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| Posted: Oct 11 2005 at 1:24pm | IP Logged
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Is she narrating any of the books she's reading yet?? This is a big bang for your buck in terms of comprehension and grammar et al! Just a thought
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Meredith
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ALmom
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| Posted: Oct 12 2005 at 10:14am | IP Logged
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Don't worry too much about a younger not being able to move forward because you are not "working" with them. I unneccessarily stressed over that with my now 8 yo until I realized that he was pursuing exactly what was needed and often learning things by listening in with big brother. The advantage of this style is that you don't run the risk of pushing and burning dc out and they continue to delight in learning. We are still amazed by what this child will tell us about - we didn't even know he was researching something.
The one thing I might do differently - If I could go back, I'd schedule PE or really make a point of playing ball, jump rope and so on with this dc and then do games/activities (not formal writing)using fine motor skills like Cut and Create, making bead necklaces, stringing things, finger painting, etc. I don't think it is good for any of us to be too out of balance with extra focus on all those seatwork tasks when what might really be needed is a development of fine and gross motor skills through play. This may not at all relate to you and it sounds like things are moving at a pleasant and comfortable pace for your dc - this just stems from our own experience in assuming our children were working on these skills because they were outside a whole lot - but they weren't necessarily playing those things that really would have helped fine and gross motor in a significant way.
I found that my really quick early readers really got frustrated at some point because their thinking processes, vocabulary, etc. far outpaced their physical ability to write. A better balance would have helped them.
Janet
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MacBeth
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| Posted: Oct 12 2005 at 10:59am | IP Logged
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Amy, I've been there, and here are a few things I did for my early readers/language-skilled kids:
Keep reading aloud to them. Comprehension is weird with these kids. I found that they get familiar things quite easily, but sometimes skip over the unfamiliar. Amelia Bedelia books were totally lost on my early readers because they did not have the experience with language and idiom necessary to get the humor. Reading aloud will insure that the child continues to increase recognition of new vocabulary and odd turns of phrase. Take the time yourself to "narrate" a passage back if you think it's too complicated. This will demonstrate narration, and insure that the new words or phrases sink in better.
While reading aloud, especially when reading a familiar book, replace a word that is familiar with an unexpected word (e. g.: "This is George...he has only one fault...he is too magnanimous!"). How might the rest of the story be different?
Play word games, like "Minister's Cat" for grammar fun.
Find delicious poetry and read it aloud, memorize it, and have a poetry party (click here for ideas). Memorize a poem every week. Write poetry for fun. Replace the lyrics of a favorite song with funny lyrics.
Put on a play. There are plenty of great adaptations of stories and fairy tales for youngsters. We have used this with great success: Plays from Famous Stories and Fairy Tales
Introduce a second language, even if just in song and stories.
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MacBeth in NY
Don's wife since '88; "Mom" to the Fab 4
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4Real Forums : Language Arts Come Alive
Topic: What to do with a young, excellent reader
