Riley spoke at 11 months. She learned the alphabet in two days when she was 18 months old (Upper case. It took a couple more days to master lower case). She mostly taught herself to read, (a really amazing teacher helped solidify it) and at eight years old has been reading to her brother for years. It's just starting to click for Seth. The joy when his face lights up, recognizing a word, is heaven to me. My babies love books! My babies love books!
These are what we are reading right now. I read them a chapter at bed. A chapter at dinner (when Daddy is working). A chapter to change the subject if someone is upset. The books are all over the house in various rooms. We read whichever is closest when the mood strikes.
The Wheel on the School by Meindert DeJong (master bedroom)
Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great by Judy Blume (kitchen)
Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach (Seth's room)
Tink North of Neverland, Disney Fairies (Riley's room)
This does not count the bookcase full of children's books in the living room and the stack of picture books from the library sitting on the piano bench at all times.
Nothing cuter than Seth and Riley all curled up on the couch, her reading to him. Him peering over her shoulder at the book.
Heaven, I tell ya. Right here on earth.
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13 comments:
Oh, Michelle, I can only imagine what this must be like! I am so happy for you and for them especially. A love of reading will help them fare well in the world. You're a great mom.
First time I heard Margaret laugh out loud as she was reading to herself, I thought, "Ah. My job is done now."
Lib will get there Kathryn. I BELIEVE he will.
XO
What a beautiful thing to behold! I love watching my girls read, too (and having mock-arguments with them over which one of us gets to read the bedtime story).
Gorgeous and smart? Lethal combo!!
There is no frigate like a book
To take us lands away,
Nor any coursers like a page
Of prancing poetry.
This traverse may the poorest take
Without oppress of toll;
How frugal is the chariot
That bears a human soul!
I love that there's a book in each room! Usually, M walks around the house with her finger permanently squished in the pages, a human bookmark.
oh, and kathryn...for what it's worth? i KNOW lib will get there one day, too.
Goosebumps.. goosebumps..
I'll be honest, I'm a little bit envious. As I've been posting about on my blog more now, reading is not something that comes naturally to Salamander. In fact, it's been a long hard struggle, and only just now (he'll be 11 in March), with the start of a more intense and different approach to teaching symbol imagery and phonemic awareness, do I see a shift in Salamander. From 'reading is torture, it's a chore to be avoided at all cost' to 'hey, this reading stuff can actually be FUN.' All I can say to others that see or think that their kids may be struggling with mastering the skills needed to become a confident and proficient reader, seek aggressive intervention as soon as possible...
On the flip side, learning to read seems to come completely natural to Potatey. And oh, it's a joy to watch...
So congrats, Michelle. And may your two keep reading to and with each other for many years to come..
YEA! And what a great list! Once you've got readers, there's simply no excuse for ever hearing, "I'm bored," again!
I can see why this thrills you so. Books saved me as a kid.
I know! I love that my kids love books. I love to listen to Wyatt read to G. :)
God love Judy Blume!
:)
Michelle - get Riley Kimberly Willis Holt's two Piper Reed books for Christmas. She'll love them. Piper is a spunky middle child whose dad in in the Navy - they move a lot. Piper has a learning disability (though the books don't focus on that) but struggles in school. Her older sister is chubby and struggles with that. Her little brother is probably a lot like Seth! I've read both books and they are wonderfully fun, quick moving - each chapter can stand alone although they flow in a story too.
KIM
Awesome. Like I said...sometimes the best present is the present.
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