Book Magic

by Bren Alvarez, Stern Center Parent

The “not learning to read thing” kind of creeps up on you slowly. For my son and me, it was like this:

We loved to read together. Well, actually, I read to him, and he loved his books.

Our shelves were overflowing with books. “Will you read to me?” I would ask him. “No, I like it when you read to me,” he would answer. “That’s ok,” I would think. Then I would tell him, “I’ll read to you. I like to read to you and soon you will be in Kindergarten and you will be reading on your own.”

Then there was Kindergarten and lots of new things to learn and new books to read. I read to him and he loved the new books.

“Will you read to me?” I would ask him. “No, I like it when you read to me,” he would answer. “That’s ok,” I would think. Then I would tell him. “I’ll read to you. I like to read to you and soon you will be in first grade and you will be reading on your own.”

The school conference was so reassuring: Kids learn to read at their own pace and boys, well, boys, they often learn to read later. He is a bright and inquisitive boy. English is his second language and he works hard in his ELL group.

And then there was first grade and second grade and nothing changed. There were lots of new things to learn and new books to read. I read to him and he loved the new books. The school conference was reassuring.

And then there was third grade. But, in third grade they aren’t really learning to read. They are reading to learn. And I still read to him.

Thursday Thoughts: Interesting Literacy and Learning Links Round-Up

Brain Teaser:
 
This one has caused a lot of debate! What do you think?
 
Take a new test aimed at the world’s English Language Learners. Wondering how your English skills stack up? Try the sample questions at the end of the article on testing ELL students and see how you would fare. Do you agree or disagree with the answers?

Interesting Literacy and Learning Links:
 
This is awesome! Through Your Child’s Eyes. It’s one thing to read about how a learning or attention issue can affect your child. It’s another thing to see it through your child’s eyes. Experience firsthand how frustrating it can be when your hand won’t write what your brain is telling it to write. Find out why it can be so hard to complete a simple task even when you’re trying to pay attention. Experience it yourself. National Center for Learning Disabilities.