Comments on: Teaching Dorian to Read

By: gblued

gblued — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 02:37:04 +0000

I have TONS of Dr. Seuss books, Cristina! My family knows how much I love them, so there has been one or two in nearly every package that comes down. My sister also brought some down when she came three years ago and even my grandmother sends books down. She actually sent me some preschool and first grade workbooks in English, as well, which we are working on now. They actually sell them at Hamlin and White here in Antigua, as well, both in English and in Spanish (some are bilingual!), but you’re right, they are very expensive.

By: gblued

gblued — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 02:34:35 +0000

I’m teaching him to read in English, we’ll transition to Spanish later, once he’s fluent in English reading. The alphabet is mostly the same, so it shouldn’t be a big switch for him. What I understand from most bilingual schools is that they start in one language and then introduce the native language in the second or third grade.

He speaks both languages equally at this point, which I think is pretty impressive considering I’m the only one speaking to him in English! Well, and Dante. The boys do have bilingual friends, they all switch between the two languages when they’re together, it’s very cute to hear.

By: AussiePomm

AussiePomm — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 23:20:10 +0000

I am sure that if he is ready to learn, then learn he will…

BUT, are you teaching him to be bilingual (sp) straight away, or are you going for English as a first language and then… Spanish(?) as a second??

Good luck with it all

I have been reading through an RSS feed into my email, sorry for not being ‘around’ so often, but I have!!

By: Cristina

Cristina — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 23:10:06 +0000

All those short A words reminded me so much of Dr. Seuss books. Maybe your mom can send you some, because, IF and that´s a big IF, you can find them in Guate City, they´re very expensive. I remember pestering my aunt, who lived with us and was a teacher, to teach me to read at 4. She did it gladly, so that we´d stop asking her to read comics for us. It definitely is something that should depend on the child being ready and wanting to learn to read.
Good for you and congratulations to Dorian!

By: gblued

gblued — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 13:11:14 +0000

I would totally read a blog written by Honor! I agree, this is a huge benefit of homeschooling, being able to work the boys’ individual personalities.

By: connie

connie — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 08:19:12 +0000

hey! I didn’t mean to hit submit! Darn cursor in the wrong spot! Anyhow… I meant to say, I like your attitude about going along with the boy’s personalities and reading readiness. You force it, and they’ll hate it. Honor’s starting later than her brother had had no effect whatsoever. Different kids have different needs – and being able to allow for that, that’s definitely a plus for homeschooling!!!

By: connie

connie — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 08:16:12 +0000

Kids have their own agendas for reading. Brian was DRIVEN to read and was memorizing/reading by age 2. No fudging on books with that child. You had to read every word, and properly! Honor was more distracted and not interested. She wanted the knowledge, but without having to work for it! (She’s such a cat). She is difficult to correct as well – she assumes she knows everything and won’t ask! She’s reading now though (and has been for awhile, since ?4?). She had the vocab, she just had to match it to the letters. Oddly enough, she was/is the one driven to write! Notes and stories and lists and labels… Now, she wants her own blog.