My Pre-Reader!

It was so hard to believe that Lauren turned 4 years old on September 26. I was very emotional about it all, but tried not to let it show. My precious, little girl is such a "big girl" now. She looks, talks, and acts like a big girl more and more each day! Ladybug amazes me with how much she has matured since Easter, and I have noticed that it seems to happen in 6 month chunks. She says the most funny or profound things everyday, and I wonder to myself where she learns to be so quick- witted and smart? Well, from Philip and I of course! Plus, she comes from such a strong lineage of intelligent individuals on both sides of her family...educators, librarians, engineers, ministers...etc. Hopefully she will understand her genealogy someday and be proud!

Lauren is learning to read now, and has actually picked up a lot of the pre-reading skills on her own, amazingly enough. Just last week, a hooked on Phonics commercial came on TV that depicted a 4 year old boy reading a book out loud. Lauren came to me and said, "Well...you've never taught me how to do that, yet!" How do you explain to a 4 year old about the process to learning how to read and that she is actually learning right now? Well, I simply told her that we need to learn our letters and their sounds first, sight words second, and then come the books! This shows how her excitement and interests have increased! We went to shop at Big Lots the next day, and could you believe that we found the kits priced at $5? Surely that was mispriced? Anyway, I bought the only 2 kits available and am excited to get them out later today.

One Sunday (over 10 months ago), we were driving across town to attend church. Lauren was talking and rambling on making up a story...letting her imagination run as usual...when she piped up with a word and told us what letter of the alphabet that it started with! She had picked up discriminating initial sounds on her own! Now that is impressive, and believe me when I saw that! Since I am a kindergarten teacher after all and teach reading myself everyday! I have never met such a bright child with such an amazing memory as my little ladybug...especially at such a young age! I see 5 and 6 year olds that are just learning how to do the things that she was doing at age 2! We had worked with her to foster a good, academic foundation without tiring her out or making it a chore! The key is exposure and life experiences. I feel that pushing a child too far backfires. Their little attention spans only last so long (1 minute for every year they are old), so it is important to make learning fun!

Ladybug is now sounding out simple, 3 letter words, and she has learned to write her letters of the alphabet this summer. She had already known how to write the letters in her first name for a year or more, but we focused on the rest of the alphabet over the summer. I really should have taught her sooner, but it was easier over the summer when I am on break and have all of the time to focus on just her with out the stress or headaches from work. Now, I can spell a word out loud and she will write it on paper with very little help. Also, she absolutely LOVES to pretend read out loud to anyone (or thing) that will listen!

Lauren is on the right track to being a great student some day! Maybe in about 13 or so years, I'll be writing this little blog as is going off to college....imagine that! I can see it now...The Ladybug Chronicles, The College Years! Well, maybe I'm not ready to imagine that just yet! LOL! For now, I am happy with my baby playing with her baby dolls and snuggling with her special blanket, "silky B" in my arms as a rock her at night!

Philip and I are so proud of her that we could burst!