Ok---is this 'normal'?

[PeacefulChaos]

I know there is really no 'normal'. :tongue_smilie:

So I guess I should say, is this in the range of normal?

Astro is improving in reading. He's in 1st grade, will be 7 in November. We didn't start homeschooling until K - before that he went to a PS pre-k program. We started OPGTR last year, and we worked our way through it. We're currently around lesson 183 or so?

He's doing pretty well with that, IMO. He's picking up two-syllable words well. I have him read to me every day from one of his 'easy' books - some phonics readers, some other books that I have looked through and determined to be at or slightly above his level (like I might have to help him with a few words, but I don't think that's a bad thing).

Here's what I'm wondering about (I wouldn't say concerned, per se - just curious as he's the first child I've taught to read, ntm Link is a totally different kid ;) ) ... he still doesn't like to try to read other stuff. Like he's really reluctant to try to do his work in Sunday School (it's the 1st-3rd grade class), and he says it's because he doesn't know what to do. I think it's because he doesn't think he can read the instructions (Idk...maybe he can't read them. I haven't looked to see if they are too complicated, word-wise). He also does that with a lot of things. He'll say he doesn't know how to read. :rolleyes: Even when it's stuff that he could read.

So that's one thing.

Aside from that, he also is a really bad speller - I'm assuming that will come with time? :tongue_smilie: When I have him write in his journal it's very jumbled 'Idntlktd' instead of 'I don't like today' (first day of school - he wasn't ready for summer to end! ;) ). He also still gets some letters confused (b and d, for example, though I noticed a few others when he was at his eye exam a couple of weeks ago that had me :001_huh: ) or writes them backwards. He also has exceptionally messy handwriting.

 

I will admit, part of this is me being afraid that some of the people at church, etc, will judge us for it. I know that's a terrible thought, and a horrible reason - I feel awful for even worrying about it. I just don't want people to see his reading/writing skills, and them not be the norm (I have no idea if they are or not!) and then people assume it's because we're some backwards homeschoolers who don't teach our kids anything. :(

 

So... help?

Edited August 14, 2012 by PeacefulChaos

[rwjx2khsmj]

Your son sounds in the range of normal to me. All of my children became independent readers between the ages of 7 and 9. My two middle children (10 & 13) love to read and are never without a book. My oldest(15) is a reader but not to the same degreee. My youngest (8) is a reluctant reader. She can read independently but picking up a book is not her first impulse when looking for a way to spend free time. All four have become better spellers and writers as they've gotten older.

 

As for the writing backwards and letter reversals, do you feel it's carelessness or inability to distinguish the difference? My ds10 often mirror writes. He doesn't even think about it when he's doing it but when I point it out he can easily correct it.

 

If you are concerned you can always have your ds evaluated.

[kb44]

Completely normal! Keep trying high interest books to get him motivated and build confidence, and it will spill over to other areas. Inventive spelling (spelling like it sounds) and reversals are all normal too. Spacing...you can you a popsicle stick w/ a face as "spaceman" to help him put spaces between words, or just use his finger.

[PollyOR]

My girls only read if I made them. Ten has been the magic number in our house. They all started reading chapter books because they wanted to when they were ten.

 

I think 'b' and 'd' reversals are not uncommon even at 8yo.

 

I understand about church. I've worried over the years too and so have my girls. :grouphug:

[Down_the_Rabbit_Hole]

Is he still sounding out the majority of words when he reads? If so he is still in the learning to read phase and not the reading to improve phase. This made a difference in my children's desire to read. The "Learning to read" phase is work, hard work. This is why you only do it for a few minutes at a time. If he is in the "reading to improve" phase then he may not realize books can be fun instead of work. Just keep offering him books. Vary the type...funny, sports, joke, animal, etc. There are some children that just do not like reading and this is normal too. One of my four did not enjoy reading. He did enjoy having the story on disc and following it with the book, sometimes that motivated him to pick up books and read, just an idea.

 

The rest...spelling and letter reversal...is all normal at that age.

[SorrelZG]

This may not be the case for your child but mine was hesitant or even disinclined at first to read outside of his phonics/reading lessons and he would ask me, "When I'm done with [whatever book or program we were working through at the time] will I be able to read?" It was like he needed a personalized formal announcement saying he could read to give him permission to do so. I would read one chapter of a Burgess book (which he loved) and refuse to read more so he was left hanging and eventually, right near the end of the book, he just couldn't stand it anymore and tried to read it himself to find out what was going to happen and surprised himself by actually doing so. Then he found his siblings poring over the pictures in Stella Luna and (loving all things with wings) he just HAD to try to find out what this was about and he sat and read the story to them straight through. It was like he had discovered a super power, he was so amazed. All those horrid phonics lessons and paced readers had really been accomplishing something, just like I had claimed.:tongue_smilie:

 

So, my point is, I hope it's a simple (though weird) thing like it was for my son (who still writes letters backwards now and then).

[PeacefulChaos]

Yes, he does still sound out a lot when he is reading. :)

[RootAnn]

Sounds in the "range of normal" to me.

 

DD#2 told me earlier this year (8 1/2 yrs old) that she just couldn't help reading all the signs all around town & when would that stop? Her eyes were drawn to the words & her brain "forced" her to read them. :tongue_smilie:

 

BTW, your son will probably need a solid spelling program (preferably one that will reinforce all these phonics rules you are teaching him). Don't worry about it yet - add it in when he's comfortably reading. A Spalding or Spalding/O-G type program (WRR, SWR, Phonics Road, AAS, Logic of English) is the type I'd go with, but everyone has their favorite. :-)

 

I worry sometimes about my kids & how they "look" to outsiders. However, when I get thank you notes (from my kids' friends through graduating seniors), I feel better. The range of abilities in the public & private schools is just as great as it is in the homeschool circles.

[Down_the_Rabbit_Hole]

Yes, he does still sound out a lot when he is reading. :)

I would not worry then. He is still trying to decode and reading for pleasure is not there yet.

[SorrelZG]

I'm pretty sure his level of reading (by the sound of it) is still above what any child entering first grade public school around here would be doing. And handwriting sounds normal for a typical 6yo boy ... and are beginning 1st graders even expected to know how to spell?

[PeacefulChaos]

I'm pretty sure his level of reading (by the sound of it) is still above what any child entering first grade public school around here would be doing. And handwriting sounds normal for a typical 6yo boy ... and are beginning 1st graders even expected to know how to spell?

 

I really have no idea! Lol :). My only reference point is Link, and I don't remember how his spelling was going into 1st grade. I do remember him writing that way in preschool, though (he had a kid in class named Joseph, and he would write jsf for his name). So I just wasn't sure...

This is all making me feel much better! :) oh and we do have a spelling program we started partway through last year. :)