4Real Forums: 7 year old boys

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Topic: 7 year old boys

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Molly Smith
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Joined: Feb 08 2005
Location: Virginia
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Posts: 669

Posted: April 28 2005 at 5:30am \| IP Logged

I'd just like a little advice/opinions from someone who has been where I am. My 7 year old son is a beginner reader. He went through most of the 100 EZ lessons and can read simple books. His language arts instruction right now consists of Explode the Code (he loves it and is in book 2) and he reads 2 beginner readers to me each day. I occasionally have him do copywork, in which he takes great pride so we'll step that up, but we haven't done dictation. I've been very lax with his narrations.

He gets completely overwhelmed reading anything without pictures--he needs the visual clues to know he's on the right track--or with more than 2 sentences on a page. His first grade testing this week was overwhelming for him because it was just a lot of words on white paper. It wasn't anything he couldn't read, he just put his head down and cried at the daunting task.

So here's the thing, is this normal? I don't want to push him, I just want to gently encourage him to get past these level 1 readers. His 5 year old brother is at the same reading level, but the competition thing isn't pushing him forward (although it is pushing the 5yo

). I just don't want dear Matthew to be left in the dust.

Advice?

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Molly Smith in VA
Mom to seven beautiful children, ages 1-14

Wendy
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Joined: Feb 14 2005
Location: Virginia
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Posts: 530

Posted: April 28 2005 at 9:37am \| IP Logged

Hi Molly,

My soon-to-be 8yo boy got halfway through 100 EZ, only to look at anything in print outside of that book and ask, "What does that say?"

Now we're working our way slowly through The Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading -- from start to finish, which he really enjoys. He recognizes lots of words -- Redskins, Patriots, Vikings, etc.

-- and *can* sound out words when nudged, so I'm not too worried. All of that to say no advice, but lots of sympathy.

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God bless,
Wendy
Wife to Chris
Momma to Grace, Sam, Ben, Maggie, Mary Cate, and Jamie

momwise
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Joined: March 28 2005
Location: Colorado
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Posts: 1914

Posted: April 28 2005 at 12:27pm \| IP Logged

Hi Molly,

I've been through this issue several times. I'm much more laid back about it now then I was at first. Much of it I realize is about being a different type of learner. Even as an adult, I sometimes prefer picture books for many different topics because I like to see something done or exhibited rather than read about it.

All of my boys have lagged behind what I thought their reading level should be. My 4th ds didn't read anything until he was almost 8 and then he would only read Calvin and Hobbs and Nate the Great type chapter books for around 2 years. He still doesn't prefer to read fiction but interestingly he has listened to hundreds of books on tape and could narrate anything from David Copperfield to Lemony Snickett. He can discuss the characters, plot, etc...I guess he's an auditory learner.

Something else to consider might be that boys that read fluenty later do not lag behind in grade level or comprehension in later grades. I found that out from reading Dr. Raymond Moore's books.

Another of my ds did not want to read more challenging books until I read aloud the entire Little House series and then refused to read it to him again.

At the beginning of 3rd grade he decided to start reading it to himself!

If you haven't read the Moores' books you might enjoy their style.

Come Holy Spirit!

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Gwen...wife for 30 years, mom of 7, grandma of 3.....
"If you want equal justice for all and true freedom and lasting peace, then America, defend life." JPII

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