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Advice needed pls... not sure if i'm in the right category but..

34 replies

TheMuppetsChristmasMuggle · 15/12/2008 18:14

DD is 3yrs 8mths, knows her alphabet and can spell a few words, she loves to read and shes knows a few words in a book... i want to know how to take this further with her learning. Is this normal for a child of DD age??

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tortoiseshellWasMusicaYearsAgo · 15/12/2008 18:16

There is no 'normal' for children of this age - lots of children of that age can spell/read, lots haven't begun to learn letters. The main thing is that she enjoys books - so lots of reading together.

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TheMuppetsChristmasMuggle · 15/12/2008 18:20

thanks, how is best to take her further with her spelling etc. I have ordered letterland workbooks and storys for christmas. is that the best thing??

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needmorecoffee · 15/12/2008 18:21

my lot could read fluently a looooooooong time before they could spell or write as fine motor control takes longer. Just keep it fun or you will turn her off the whole idea.

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TheMuppetsChristmasMuggle · 15/12/2008 18:24

thats the thing i want to keep it fun too.

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Hulababy · 15/12/2008 18:26

Just enjoy her. Follow her lead, don't push her and let her interests guide you in her activities.

There is no need to teach her anything specific just yet. Just engage in play activities. If she likes writing, write letters and post them. If she likes reading, share books together. If she likes counting, count things. You don't need specific workbooks and materials to do it.

Whilst it is a bit early for some of the things your DD can do it is not that unusual TBH, A number of children can do what your DD can do at this age. This doesn't tsake anything away from your DD, but it just highlights that there is no such thing as "normal" at this age.

Phonic sounds are better than letter names. So go for Jolly Ohonics rather than Letterland if you are going to buy stuff.

Reading is normally learnt before spelling.

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pagwatch · 15/12/2008 18:27

the way to keep it fun is notto make it a specific part of what she does but just let her play.

My Ds1 started writing menus for us and would obviously try and spell things - so it was easy.

I would not do the phonics book thing tbh but then I like the under 5's to play

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LIZS · 15/12/2008 18:31

I'd say it is within the normal range. Just keep reading to her. Usborne do some bookswhich you can read with her reading a few words to reinforce the story. Also books iwth rhyme, rhythm and repetition are good. Young children benefit a lot from familiarity of looking at the same books over and over, being able to recall or insert the odd word by looking at pictures and "shape" of the words to prompt while you read and anticipate what happens next. It doesn't mean they are actually reading but is a good prereading skill in itself. Presumably she'll start school next Autumn and have a more structured introduction to reading there, no need to preempt this tbh.

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TheMuppetsChristmasMuggle · 15/12/2008 18:36

Pag i like the menu idea - i can imagine what that would be most nights lol.

Hula for Phonics - is there a website for that?? so i can get books for DD to read.

Lizs yes she starts school next autumn, which shes looking forward to.

Thanks i know i sound like a silly person with a pfb thing - sorry

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Hulababy · 15/12/2008 18:37

Jolly Phonics - can get them at ELC or online.

YBH though I wouldn't bother. They are expensive and not good stories. Far better to just read nice fun story books with DD, looking out for specific letters and words as you go. Use your finger to follow the words as you read. Stop at words that the picture can help with and get her to fill in the gaps, etc

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LIZS · 15/12/2008 18:59

JP isn't a reading scheme as such until more advanced. teh site is Jollylearning. It starts with each individual then combination phonic letter sounds(40+ iirc) and really does need ot be applied correctly otherwise it can be hard it unlearn errors. tbh I think it can be rather laborious for a young child(and parent!) to follow outside a formal setting and the workbooks require a fair degree of pencil control. There are dvd's to reinforce the sounds and songs. Is she at any sort of preschool as many use that scheme anyway. Personally I think you may as well just go to the local library and pick out a variety of books and play stories/role play with toys and puppets to develop her vocabulary.

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TheMuppetsChristmasMuggle · 15/12/2008 19:03

Lizs she is at preschool, and i've been told shes quite forward for her age, compared to the other children of her age at the school. Shes just got her 3rd book out now - last one before bedtime.

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pagwatch · 15/12/2008 19:14

TBH

she does not sound out of normal range.
And there is no great advantage to her reading early.

there are other skills she needs to be developing through play so I would just let her play and let her lead it where she will.

Jolly phonics are boring as shit and you will just put her off with formal learning schemes

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TheMuppetsChristmasMuggle · 15/12/2008 19:35

Pag i want it to be fun, she loves to play, tonight shes been reading stories to her baby, as a night-time story been quite sweet really.

DD loves to learn, i want to keep it fun, but i also want to keep her learning going iykwim.

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Hulababy · 15/12/2008 19:37

She will learn through natural play activities. You honestly don't need to have reading schemes and workbooks for her to keep learning.

Normal play activities will include so many learning oppotunities in lots of different areas, both academic and social.

Please just have fun with her. Don't do structured learning stuff with her - it'll be boring for you and her.

Don't foget the first year of school, reception, is primarily learn through play - so it must work!

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TheMuppetsChristmasMuggle · 15/12/2008 20:03

Yeah icwym.

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ketal · 16/12/2008 01:30

If your DD wants to do it, then I don't see why not. I think there is a whole world of difference between those children who want to do it, and those whose parents want them to do it!

My DD started looking at letters at 2/3 years old. So we got her the jolly phonics books. We only got the ones that you look at the letters and we put them on the bookshelves and let her bring them to us. When she wanted to do them, we would spot the sounds in the pictures, and then spot the sounds around and do the actions. Nothing more than that really.

From there, she easily took the next step to working out CVC words, and then reading was an easy jump. She is now in Reception, and has fab reading skills - she's reading year 1 books at school, and they're working hard to ensure that she doesn't get bored (so that is not necessarily a problem). For example, other children are learning to read, she's learning to spell and at home, she's just starting to read Enid Blyton books (but needs some help with the old fashioned words).

However, she finds learning to read easy and fun. She has driven this, not us and as I started off saying there is a big difference between a child who wants to do this, and the parents who want their child to do this.
Apparently children usually learn to read anytime between 3 and 7.
HTH

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ketal · 16/12/2008 01:32

P.S. We didn't follow any books, flashcards or schemes - we just spotted the words around and about and played with words! They learn that way just as easily.

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cornsilk · 16/12/2008 07:25

She sounds 'normal' (hate that term!)IMO good social skills are more important than early reading/writing. They certainly make it easier for the child in reception.

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TheMuppetsChristmasMuggle · 16/12/2008 13:39

Hi,

I don't force her into reading or writing she does it of her own accord. quite often you will find her sitting at her desk, with a pen/pencil and a piece of paper. or will sit next to me and ask to read a book. or will read books to her toys etc.

I want to keep it fun, but want to keep her learning going. so will look at jolly phonics thanks x

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pagwatch · 16/12/2008 14:18

TMCM

I understand where you are coming from and I am not trying to put you off doing things with her.

I had a very very fast/advanced three year old and i know it is tempting to do the structured stuff because you feel confident it is 'right' IYSWIM.
I am just saying that she is already doing activities with you as part of her play. You don't need to add learning on top.

There is no way to disguise the fact that jolly phonics etc are boring. They are a means to an end. They are they to make structured learning as fun as is possible but it remains structured learning.

It is way more fun if you just grab any time in play when she wants to write or spell and help her then.
My DS would write posters for 'shows' he was putting on (God help me) and would help me do shopping lists - ticking things off in the shop. This time of year was easy because he would do cards and things. It isn't difficult. And she has at least 15 years of sitting at a desk doing formal learning ahead.
Thats all I am saying.

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TheMuppetsChristmasMuggle · 16/12/2008 15:08

Okay Pag. DD has done all her xmas cards for school. we are taking them in tomorrow for the xmas party they are having.

So basically its just carry on as we have done, and carry on sounding out the words etc when reading books.
I might get her to see if she'll make a christmas posters we can put around the house

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Sycamoretree · 16/12/2008 16:04

Hi Muppets - your DD sounds adorable, and does sound at the top end of what kids can do at that age, but not massively way ahead IYSWIM - I would just echo some other wise words on this thread. Try not to do anything structured but just keep reading and reinforce what she picks up. I've got DD (3.4) the leapfrog alphabet magnetic thing for xmas as she can say her alphabet and a friend has this and she loves it. She recognises a lot of letters and can write SOME and trace her own. She can also recognise some words. However, none of this is down to me, other than we have always read a lot to her at bedtime. I trust that the pre-school she's at is teaching her what's appropriate for her age and in line with the NC.

My parents were both primary teachers and have reinforced to me it's important not to try and schedule or structure any learning before reception as it can put kids off, but also, may not be in line with current teaching methods so they end up having to unlearn or unpick.

Not trying to pee on your fireworks as it's great to be so encouraging and alert to your DD's needs, it's just a gentle "take it easy" word of warning.

Kids have a lifetime of structured learning ahead of them - I personaly feel quite strongly that exploratory, child-led play (and by osmosis, learning) is what being under 5 is all about.

Good luck!

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Sycamoretree · 16/12/2008 16:14

Personally! Typo, honest

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TheMuppetsChristmasMuggle · 16/12/2008 18:28

Thanks ST. I've just brought her Leapfrog Tag for xmas with some of the books and see if she enjoys that.

I want to keep her happy with childs play iykwim, but see what i can give her or do with her to enable her to carry on with her learning. if that makes sense. but all in a fun and sort of non structured way.

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pagwatch · 16/12/2008 18:31

"Not trying to pee on your fireworks"

Love that Sycamore..

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