Learning how to read.

Austin wants to read, but says it's too hard.  "It's TOOOOOO  HAAAARRRRDDDD!"  I've heard it about a thousand times already.  It's frustrating because he is very bright.  Math and science are his strong areas.  He is adding double digits in math up to a total of around 30, in his head.  YES.  IN.  HIS.  HEAD.  Not on paper.  Not using fingers.  Okay, he uses his fingers a little, but not consistently and not obviously either.  But yeah.  To say math is a strong suit for him at 6.5 years old, would be an understatement.  He also LOVES earth sciences.  Natural sciences which we have naturally taught him.  How do things grow?  What do things need to live?  Plants?  Animals?  People?  What is healthy and what is not.  What does a Praying Mantis do to eat?  (Ask him when you see him next time about the Praying Mantis in the front yard.  Just be prepared to hear, in detail, how the Praying Mantis bit the head off the moth.)

But reading?  Ugh.

UGH.

UGH UGH UGH!

This is his struggle.

Someone in a homeschooling group I'm part of on Facebook mentioned this that she did with her daughter.  I thought, "oh why not?"

It's simple.  Truly.  Ready?

I had Austin take a small learning to read paperback book.  It was Pete the Cat.  Pete goes to the Beach.  Step 2 I believe. 

The directions were to circle every word he could actually read.  Guess what?  He did more than 1/2 the book, and circled more than 75% of the words!  He sounded some out as he went even!  He sounded out wave and he figured out beach with the pictures and put the sounds together with the word! 

OMGosh!  He was almost totally reading the book! 

I was able to tell him this too!  I believe my exact words were, "You are reading!  Not every word, but you ARE reading!"

And I meant every word of that.  He's reading the way we all do.  Sounding out sounds and letters that are familiar.  Putting it together with the pictures around it. 

Okay.  So he's not ready to read Harry Potter by himself.  That's okay! 

We DID start a chapter story today.  Mystery Mountain by Florence Laughlin.  It's OLD.  Like published in 1964 old.  OLD.  But it has mystery, adventure, horse back riding, gold digging, Indians, camping out, and all sorts of fun things in it.  What's not to like about it?  If I taught with you at Kidworks, and your kids were in my Bungalow class, they would know this book.  I read it to maybe 4 classes out there.  And each of them loved it.  I still enjoy it! 

Happy Monday!