Welcome back to the #LMMLinkup where we love to share about why we read. Today we have a special guest post from our co-host Beth Strickland who writes about how her son is learning to read.
Reading, writing, blogging, and learning are central to our mission. We love to encourage others to find inspiration in the written and spoken word. We welcome posts featuring devotions, information on blogging, book reviews, creative writing, and anything about reading or learning.
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Until my Son Learns How to Read
By Beth Strickenburg
As a bookish person who is now also a homeschool mom, I’m eager for my son to learn to read. I know that in my own life, entering the world of books has opened up whole new worlds for me, and I’m excited for him to be able to experience this as well. I’ve seen kids who taught themselves to read at age three or four and who never seem to struggle to de-code the written word. I admit to hoping my son would be one of these kids—hoping that he would dive right into the world of books without a struggle or a backward glance.
This has not been the case. I know I shouldn’t be upset or worried. He’s only 5.5 and his progress is well within the range of normal—he’s sounding out three and four letter words (no, not those four letter words) and haltingly making his way through beginning readers. But it hasn’t been an easy process. It’s taken a lot of effort (and creativity in how to motivate him) to get him to this point.
When I feel discouraged by the process, I try to remind myself of my own story. Learning to read was not an easy process for me either. I have vivid memories of hating learning to read, and when my mom pulled out my old phonics book recently I had a visceral reaction of disgust when I saw it. Yet once I got truly comfortable reading on my own (and I didn’t pick up books on my own for pleasure until age 7 or 8), I took off. Ever since, I’ve read voraciously, and I feel lost if there’s not a book on my bedside table.
So I know it’s just a matter of time for my son. As I wait for reading to “click” for him, I’ve come up with some strategies for trying to keep my own impatience at bay.
Reading aloud. This is one of my favorite ways to share my passion for reading. And my son loves it. When people ask him what his favorite subject in school is, he’ll often say “read-alouds.” This is one of the most encouraging things to me as I wait for him to be able to read on his own – the fact that he already loves the world of stories.
Acting out stories with him. I was so encouraged the first time that my son started incorporating the stories from our read-alouds into his pretend play. Seeing him make up his own mysteries and solve them (like in The Boxcar Children) or converse with a spider on the wall (pretending to be Wilbur from Charlotte’s Web) makes me so happy. I try to encourage these interactions with the stories we read by entering into the pretend world with him—he loves when I join in his pretend games.
Listening to him tell stories. I’ve started incorporating a story telling time into our school week. Sometimes this involves pulling out a wordless picture book and letting him tell me the story. Other times I grab a notebook and write down a story that he tells me out of his head. I feel like this activity helps to give him a sense of ownership and belonging when he interacts with stories.
I know that reading on his own will come for my son. But as I stay consistent with the many literacy activities we do – phonics, sight word games, working through beginning readers, etc. – the things that help me most with my own impatience are the activities that encourage him to love stories. He’ll figure out the de-coding element in his own time. In the meantime, I want to fling wide the door to the world of stories and invite him to join me there.
Now on to our weekly linkup! First let’s
Now let’s celebrate reading and learning by reviewing:
Last Week’s Top Clicked Post!
PICTURE BOOKS FOR PRESCHOOL TO GRADE 2 MARCH 2016 PICKS
I am so glad that Sarah is joining us! We both have served as school librarians and love to encourage reading in young people. She includes some really sweet books on her list.
My Favorite Post of the Week:
Books Make Good Graduation Gifts!
By Jodie Rodriguez at Book by Book
We are zeroing in on the end of the school year. Can you believe it? The year flew by. I love the simple list of books that are perfect for all students being promoted the next level of schooling like middle to high or graduating. This book list is one you should definitely check out!
Remember to check out other hosts’ blogs to see which posts from last week were their favorites.
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Let’s Celebrate Reading and Learning together this week at Literacy Musing Mondays!
Sharing this post with the great linkups listed on my Link-up Parties page.
Tina at Mommynificent says
April 14, 2016 at 4:04 amThanks so much for linking up this post at Booknificent Thursday on Mommynificent.com this week!
Tina
Tina at Mommynificent recently posted…Booknificent Thursday Link Up Party #143
Mother of 3 says
April 4, 2016 at 9:50 pmI’m still waiting for reading to click with my 8 year old. He enjoys listening to stories though and has grown tremendously as a reader this year. I know it’s coming soon and in the meantime we’ve been enjoying so many book together. I love that I’ve been able to wait for him to develop skills at his own pace because he assures me all the time that he’s just going to love being able to read chapter books on his own (he already has a list of ones he wants to read!). At least struggling to master reading skills has not killed his love of books, stories, and reading.
Sarah says
April 4, 2016 at 12:53 pmI loved your article about having trouble with teaching your son to read. My daughter, who is now a teen, struggled with learning to read. It can be so discouraging, as you said. You give great suggestions for working through that tough phase. Way to hang in there! 😀
Gayl Wright says
April 4, 2016 at 11:36 amBeth, your post reminds me of when my children were young. We love reading aloud and still did it even when they were grown. They all enjoyed it! I think you’re doing a great job with your son and one day he will take off on his on reading journey. Blessings!
Gayl Wright recently posted…C is for Cucumber from the Sea
Kelly @RaisingSamuels says
April 4, 2016 at 10:01 amIt sounds like you are doing a great job, Beth! I am a homeschool Mom also and I don’t like how much pressure has been put on children to learn so early. Children are all different and learn in their own time. You are making reading and learning fun for your son, which is awesome! Thanks for sharing, and thank you all for hosting 🙂
Kelly @RaisingSamuels recently posted…Homeschool Week 27
Debbie Williams says
April 4, 2016 at 1:24 amSounds like both of you are doing great. Thanks for the linky as always.
Suzanna says
April 3, 2016 at 9:22 pmIt sounds like you’re doing a great job with your son. My four boys all learned to read at different rates, but they’re all bookworms now. 🙂 I remember wondering, especially with my first, when he would ever read fluently, but the time did come and his nose is always in a book now.
Michele Morin says
April 3, 2016 at 6:53 pmThe journey of learning to read was different for each of my boys, and they are very different readers even now. What a great memory it will be to have traveled this road with your boy!
Michele Morin recently posted…The Art of Being a Wife