READING (5 1/2 YRS)

S has been increasing her reading skills by leap and bounds. She has read most of Mo Willem's Elephant and Piggie book. She amazed momma and daddy this week by reading the book "I Have to Go" by Robert Munsch. The print was three or four (more) complex sentences a page and she was actually reading it, than perhaps reciting it from memory. Daddy noticed that she would correct herself, if she got a word wrong. Recently S started reading Fly Guy books by Ted Arnold, simple chapter books.

Her great memory skills have really helped her, so she has many sight words down pact. Often, she will guess at a word versus sounding it out, but as she gets better at reading she is more willing to sound it out. Like Ms. Eliza says, "break it down into simpler words or sounds."

Momma credits her reading to having a great school environment. Many children were already reading in her Alpha class which encourages her to try too. Before school, even though she knew the sounds to the various letters, she use to ask why she needed to learn to read because she would cite that her friends didn't know. Unfortunately, S is really susceptible to peer pressure and fitting in with her friends. Momma hopes that S will always find a good group of friends and peer who help her to excel.