On Reading

[Funz]

smurf:

Hi Chamonix,


you are right. I'm very stress up. especially, when I read from some threads, this kid can do this that kid can do that...wow...

my boy told me he doesn't want to go sch...I dun think it has anything to do with the sch...it is just his nature that he hates going to sch...so even if I change sch, also no point...

honestly, I dunno what he enjoy doing...aparts from playing computer or handheld game...

I tried drawing, bought him art and craft papers and such, he just scribble a while and then threw it aside...bought toys for him, play a while threw it aside...bought this bought that, he doesn't have loooong attention span, so anything that needs to read instruction, he will destroy them, he will be trying to DISMANTLE them instead of playing with them (er, you know what I mean?)

recently I bought a ATM saving machine for him, he saw me using screw dirver to put batteries, and then, after that, he also do the same thing. instead of playing with it, he open it up. :frustrated:


sometimes he will ask me,'mum, what can I do now?'

I told him,'you can read book if you want.'

I tried reading to him, he will look elsewhere...look up and down, anywhere, except the book. :x

can 1 lor.

Smurf, I for one feel that computer and electronic games and even educational games shorten children's attention span.

Dismantling toys is part of playing for kids. It shows that he has an innate curiousity about how things are put together or rather what is inside the item. Yes many a times they dismantle and that's it, as they are unable to put it back together again. Try getting him stuff that requires assembling, eg, light experiment sets where he needs to put together batteries, etc to see it light up. Or basic robotics stuff. Of course with such stuff he will require you or your DH to guide him. Read instructions together with him, hopefully he will pick up more reading skills like this.

[ChiefKiasu]

Funz:

... Dismantling toys is part of playing for kids. It shows that he has an innate curiousity about how things are put together or rather what is inside the item. Yes many a times they dismantle and that's it, as they are unable to put it back together again. Try getting him stuff that requires assembling, eg, light experiment sets where he needs to put together batteries, etc to see it light up. Or basic robotics stuff. Of course with such stuff he will require you or your DH to guide him. Read instructions together with him, hopefully he will pick up more reading skills like this.

Yes... dismantling stuff was what I loved to do as a kid too. Took apart my dad's pocket radio to find out who's inside. Couldn't put it back and I quickly found out what my buttocks were for. I also took the family iron apart to find out how it got hot and how the thermostat worked - I was able to put that one back together so my dad was none the wiser. I would have taken my mum's sewing machine apart too, if not for the fact that she was always around.

I would take dismantling or \"destroying\" stuff a good sign of natural born curiosity to figure out how things work.

[smurf]

hmm, but I'm so angry after he dismantle the thing and I can't fix it back! :x


I guess I would have to find other alternative for him to do...he knows how to open the battery cover and put battery, so he needs something else...

[mummy of 2]

chamonix:

mummy of 2:

Thanks buds and chamonix for your encouraging words. I also picked up reading through sight reading. But I hope to make it easier for them by teaching them phonics at the same time. This is one aspect I lacked when I was learning to read. True that there is more than one way to learn to read. Being kiasu, I guess it helps to try as many different ways as possible


At the end of the day, it is more important to cultivate the love for reading and learning. Techniques and skills can be improved over time. But if there is no interest or motivation, then no technique or skill is going to get your child to pick up a book voluntarily.

Hi mummy of 2,

I'm no educator and my kids are the only two young \"students\" I ever have, so no much experience to share lah.:P But I must say the ability to read is a magical one. Your son may not read today but he may surprise you by rattling off a newspaper article next week. So in the meantime, just do your best to read to them and guide them along.

For phonics, it's good to read up on them. Any additional knowledge is definitely useful. For myself, I use phonics to enhance my kids' reading experience. No structured phonics lessons for us but along the way (in fact, we use different books all the time), I'll point out and share with them what I learnt. For eg. the word \"know\", I use letterland to explain why 'k' is not voiced, because Noisy Nick is too noisy and so Kicking King kept quiet. In that way, they can pick up something even without much real teaching.

Well, DS1 is not reading the newspaper yet. But he could read the word \"lobster\" on the menu. It's a start, and hope he will be able to read independently in time to come. In the meantime, I will persevere in my efforts to teach him.

[mummy of 2]

Hi


Just want to update that DS1 is now able to raed about 80% of the Rigby readers independently (without prompting) and he is able to sound out with some accuracy the words he does not know how to pronounce yet.

I share this with the hope that more parents will be encouraged to teach their kids how to read. I adopt a combination of phonics and sight reading, and also cultivate an interest in reading. This can be done at home, without the need to attend enrichment classes.

[autumnbronze]

mummy of 2:

Hi


Just want to update that DS1 is now able to raed about 80% of the Rigby readers independently (without prompting) and he is able to sound out with some accuracy the words he does not know how to pronounce yet.

I share this with the hope that more parents will be encouraged to teach their kids how to read. I adopt a combination of phonics and sight reading, and also cultivate an interest in reading. This can be done at home, without the need to attend enrichment classes.

Hi mummy of 2,

:rahrah: Hooray :rahrah:

This is fantastic

It is really encouraging cuz I don't intend to send DS for any enrichment class for reading as well. I am halfway thru formally reinforcing the letters of the alphabets with DS. I will also use a combination of sight words and phonics as well. Have started encouraging DS to identify and remember word 'I' as in 'I am' whenever I read to him. I am actually quite excited in this teaching aspect .... can't wait for HIM to read to me. What pleasure to have someone re-read children's classic books to you, that too your own child Okie lah, will not be perfect reading in the beginning, but at least its a start, rite?

Lets press on and continue enriching our kids (if we can) to the best of our ability.

ps: See that the book buying spree is coming in reeeaaaal handy :lol:

[buds]

From reading the word 'lobster' to now reading 80% of the Rigbys...*clap clap clap* :celebrate:

The moral here is time and dedication. Without time management... ie.
setting aside just that few minutes a day & the possibility of stretching
longer each time until the interest catches on... there would be no
routine for reading time.

Dedication is when one is all out researching the methods & putting it
to practice time after time, no matter how much time that can be allocated
for it... then fine tuning it.... and perfecting it and capitalizing on how they
learn best. (Learning Styles)

Mebbe DS1 can read for Auntie Buds when i come see you again sometime
this week, ya... Way to go, mummy of 2! Well done! :salute:

Just to drop by and tell you that i'm sharing your joy for the progress
thus far.. :hugs:

[metz]

mummy of 2:

Hi


Just want to update that DS1 is now able to raed about 80% of the Rigby readers independently (without prompting) and he is able to sound out with some accuracy the words he does not know how to pronounce yet.

I share this with the hope that more parents will be encouraged to teach their kids how to read. I adopt a combination of phonics and sight reading, and also cultivate an interest in reading. This can be done at home, without the need to attend enrichment classes.

Well Done! :rahrah: :rahrah: :rahrah:

[mummy of 2]

Thanks all, for your encouragment and generous sharing on your own methods, and what works or doesn't. It helps alot that I can learn from others' experience wthout having to try out everything on my own.


Yeah, autumnbronze, the books from the buying spree will be put to good use soon, I hope.

Yup, buds, you are right the discipline is very impt. Actually DS1 is the one who insist on reading and doing homework every night now. He will \"request/remind\" if I'm too tired and try to act blur about it Will ask DS1 if he wants to read but don't be shocked if he says he wants to \"read the whole stack\" of more than 30 books.

My aim is that eventually DS1 can help guide DD2 to read, then I can take a break!

Now that he is more or less on-track for English, time to brush up on his character recognition for Chiense.

[hquek]

hi mummy of 2,


It’s good to institute a regular reading time. My kids didn’t use to like books, but after I started bedtime story sessions - now they clamour for it…even when we’re tired after a whole day of activities (knife cut both ways I suppose).

DS1 can read fairly independently now in English. Time for me to headache over the chinese portion…so doing more readings in Chinese. Sometimes I also get DS1 to read to DS2…then I get some time to myself and also if I’m around, can check if DS1 saying the right thing.