Reading!
Today I watched and listened while Lucas learned to read. Today was the first day that he tried sitting down with an easy reader book and started decoding. I not only heard him sounding out words, but I heard the distinct snap of his brain putting together various small skills into a coherent process. It was awesome.
As a Waldorf kid, Lucas is not expected to be reading in first grade. His class is still working on letters and sounds, internalizing them through stories and drawing. It’s a slow and methodical but creative process, and to people who only know the public school methods, it seems remedial, backward, and scary. (By contrast, Waldorf students learn the four math processes much earlier than public school kids. But I digress.)
Here’s the back story: One time several months ago we were at Barnes & Nobel Bookstore. I was going to buy Lucas a new chapter book for us to read aloud. At the time, he had eyes for nothing but the crappy movie- and TV-licensed books. He was picking out Power Rangers and Iron Man and Sponge Bob and stuff we don’t really want him to have. After a brief argument, he kind of went in the other direction. Instead of trying to convince me to let him get a book that was too old for him, he started begging for a babyish paperback about a puppy: Biscuit. It was a one-story picture book that cost over $5 and we would be through it in about 30 seconds. I said no. Eventually, we left the store with nothing.
A couple of weeks later, I found a hardback book with multiple Biscuit stories in it. Five of them for $7.98. I bought it and decided that when Lucas started reading, I’d give it to him as a special early reader book.
This morning Lucas declared he wanted to read one of Ian’s historical novels by Bernard Cornwall. "Come on, Dad. Let me read your book." I went to the shelf and took down Biscuit and handed it to him. He was happy with the gift, and then asked me to read it to him. I said no. "Read it yourself. I bought that for you to read to yourself."
To my surprise, he sat down with Daddy and started reading. It was a whim on my part, but seems to have been just the right amount of challenge to motivate him. Ian’s teaching experience came in handy. He had just the right touch. Lucas read a little, his little ego puffed way up, and then we left for church with Biscuit clutched tightly in his hands.
Later on, we went to B&N so Lucas could spend some of his own money. He bought two items himself. Ian and I bought him the old-fashioned Dick and Jane reader compilation. This afternoon and evening, Lucas has spent time reading from the Dick and Jane book. (It’s easier and the stories build on the skills little by little.)
Now he declares, "I LOVE reading! I’m going to spend my money only on books." He has called both grandmothers to announce that he now can read. I’m not sure exactly what they said to him, except he told me that my mother said "Congratulations! Welcome to the world of reading!" He is very proud.
February 1, 2009 at 11:29 pm
Yay! I can’t wait to find a moment to ask Lucas to read me a story. I learned to read with Dick and Jane, too. What an amazing talent!
February 2, 2009 at 12:33 am
Awesome! Reading is definitely a gift that lasts a lifetime. And for him to read to Ian– well there’s a gift right back! I think family reading time is a necessity. The husband still reads to Em every other night– they just finished Restaurant at the End of the Universe.
February 2, 2009 at 12:02 pm
You guys are killing me with cute today. First reading about J & X and the bike riding and now I & L reading. Adorable. My heart hurts with goodness.
February 2, 2009 at 12:16 pm
The little man is reading! This puts a huge smile on my face!
February 2, 2009 at 1:27 pm
“hee- heeret- heretic- heretic! Daddy, what does this word mean?”