Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Reading and Telling

Spencer is supposed to read 15 minutes every night, and for this he started reading this book:



Which is a little over his head (from my research it appears to be a fifth grade reading level) but he was insistent and I was all, whatever, but you will need to tell me what you read about so I’m sure that you’re reading. And he did! All week he told me what was going on, and I was so impressed by how far he’s come in reading comprehension, and I was all smug-mom about my son’s reading prowess.

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Apparently I should have instead been smug-mom about my son’s IMAGINATION, because Sunday I asked about his reading and he went on and on and frankly, the storyline was getting a little weird even for a book about a super evil villain who infiltrates a school to get a freeze ray. So I asked to see the book, and he started panicking, and it turns out almost NONE of what he told me about was really in the book. Some things were, but it looks like when he doesn’t recognize a word, he skips it. Sometimes he skips a lot of words and so he doesn’t know what he’s reading about.

I read him the prologue, and we’re going to start at the beginning, trying to read and understand. I’m thinking of just reading it to him myself, and having him read some younger books but I know he’s going to get upset. He gets OFFENDED by those You Can Read! Books, even though I’m pretty sure he’d enjoy the story. I really want him to understand his books and not get so het up about being a better reader than everyone else, because let’s face it – it’s not being a better reader when you just don’t get it.


Ahh, children.

4 comments:

Jennifer said...

I shouldn't laugh but that's kind of awesome that he just made stuff up for you. Maybe he doesn't know some words in the story but he's a smarty pants ;)

Erica said...

Ha ha so funny. Tricksy guy.

k said...

Well, I think you can still totally be smug-mom. I think Spencer's reading is phenomenal.

Erin G said...

Hey! He LIKES to read! That is enough to be glad about. And the comprehension part will come. For now, I'm not sure the harm in trying things that are too hard, and using his imagination. At least he's exposing himself to challenging things. Let him work on the comprehension part with school and his homework, and I say let him read what he wants (or "read" what he wants) outside of his assigned 15 mins. I'm sure you can find some compromise.

Good job little book buddy!!