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Claire F
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| Posted: Sept 22 2011 at 12:23am | IP Logged
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Forgive me if I post a lot of "am I doing this right" type questions - I'm new to all this!
I'm wondering if I'm doing enough for reading for my first grader. In jumping into the CM method, I've ditched the classroom-y workbook curriculum I originally thought I'd use. But it's left me a bit insecure that I might be missing something when it comes to reading.
He's a pretty good reader already. He can read well enough to finish a lot of picture books on his own, as well as the "I Can Read" type books. He learned to read mostly using BOB books, and of course being read to regularly.
My approach at this point is simply practice. I have him read something to me daily. I try to make sure it's something he can handle without getting frustrated, but also not something that is too easy. I usually let him choose the book - often from his library selections.
Is there anything more structured I should be doing? Any thoughts? His reading ability was one of the things that sparked my interest in homeschooling last year - not that he's an uber genius or something, but he was getting bored with a lot of what they were doing at school. I don't want to wind up holding him back in reading because I'm not giving him the challenge he needs.
Thanks!!
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kristacecilia
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| Posted: Sept 22 2011 at 7:18am | IP Logged
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I would continue to have him read aloud to you so you can see how he's doing. You can take turns reading to each other so you can model good language for him (pauses, pronunciations, etc) and he can read to you for correction if necessary. I might start choosing one book a day or something for him that is a real living book, not too hard, but with more complex, proper language and grammar, great ideas, etc.
Then he can choose one, too.
If he is six you can start with some gentle narrations and copywork, but I'll leave the narrations for someone else to explain because we're having all sorts of problems with them. 
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Krista
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I blog at http://kristacecilia.wordpress.com/
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jawgee
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| Posted: Sept 22 2011 at 7:40am | IP Logged
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That's what I'm doing with my almost 6YO. He is actually reading from a "Reading Literature" collection I have. He's finished the Primer and is partway through book 1.
Otherwise, we're doing lots of read-alouds of chapter books with him to expose him to quality books and stories.
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Mackfam
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| Posted: Sept 22 2011 at 9:24am | IP Logged
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Hi Claire! You're doing great!!! And it sounds like your son is as well!  It sounds like your Mom instincts are working great, too - you just need some permission to trust them, right?
Continue to let him practice and enjoy his reading!
You're not going to hold him back AS LONG AS you keep doing exactly what you're doing!!
ClaireF wrote:
| I try to make sure it's something he can handle without getting frustrated, but also not something that is too easy. |
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This is FANTASTIC! You're doing great here! You're really considering his reading material! Keep observing him, his skills, and keep seeking to gently stretch without frustrating or overwhelming!
If you need a tool to help you along this path, you might consider something like Simply Charlotte Mason's, Delightful Reading. I don't have the program, so I can't review it for you, and it MIGHT be beyond where your son is with his reading, so do consider carefully! (Here are some great threads with helpful reviews on the topic for you to read through!) The program does look really nice - wish it had been around a few years ago! It sometimes helps to have a tool in your back pocket to help when questions come up with reading skills, or what to present when, or exactly what direction in which to stretch toward - especially if it's your first time teaching reading. The program isn't necessary, by the way. It is based on CM's methods for teaching reading, and you can easily follow her methods if you read through Volume I, Home Education.
Hope this is a help, Claire! Enjoy this treasured time of wonder with your son!
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Claire F
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| Posted: Sept 22 2011 at 4:23pm | IP Logged
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Mackfam wrote:
| It sounds like your Mom instincts are working great, too - you just need some permission to trust them, right?. |
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Yes, I suppose that is quite true :).
Thanks so much for the replies and reassurance! I need to look into some good living books for him to read aloud to me. He loves nonfiction - at the library this week, he chose several books on tigers, spiders, lizards and frogs. Thankfully he already likes to read - that feels like half the battle right there.
Thanks again!
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Claire F
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| Posted: Sept 22 2011 at 9:23pm | IP Logged
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And also, thank you for the link to Delightful Reading! I will consider it and looking further into the info on SCM gives me some good ideas for some things I can do with him.
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Chris V
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| Posted: Sept 23 2011 at 12:51am | IP Logged
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Claire F wrote:
Thankfully he already likes to read - that feels like half the battle right there.
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Yes!
For what it's worth, dd6 is very private with her reading. She is not comfortable reading aloud to me. I respect that, give her room, and never push her. However, it absolutely makes for a challenge when trying to get a better gauge on where she's at. She reads a lot each day, by herself. We talk about what she read, and I have her narrate to me (very casually ... no pressure, just having a conversation with her is more like it). I hope that as her confidence grows, she will open up to reading side by side with me, but for now, I do most of the reading aloud while she listens, and she reads privately.
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4Real Forums : Language Arts Come Alive
Topic: Questions about reading - 6 year old
