Emerging Readers- Questions

[Mom4Him]

We have been enjoying the Emerging Readers set very much so far with our 6 year-old girls (in Kindergarten)... we started with The Early Readers Bible & are now nearing the end of the Beginner's Bible, & are looking forward to the other books! I do have a few questions though... (Both of our girls are doing very well, yet have both similarities & differences in their reading & comprehension, so some questions are for one daughter- while others are for the other, or for both. )

1*One of my concerns is the amount of time they take to look at every-single-picture. Some times I am not as patient as I should be , yet when they stop to look at the pictures for a while (maybe it just seems like a long time to me)- they loose the flow of the story. Is this just silly that this bothers me, or should I come up with a solution- like... maybe before my daughter reads the story to me- she can look at the pictures, but when she's reading... she needs to keep reading!?

2*One of my daughters in particular will often flip words around as she's reading (instead of "God said"- she'll say "said God"), or- as she's reading she may skip a word here or there or add a word where there isn't one... or say a completely different word than what is written (& somehow makes it work in the sentence- so it makes complete sense, just not the right word) it's almost as if her little brain is going too fast for her mouth (or maybe the other way around). I have her read the sentence over correctly, & she always does so when I slow her down a bit. I guess I'm mostly wondering if other young readers are doing the same things!? Or if you have any tips?

3*Sometimes they will have quite a difficult time answering the questions... especially when I want them to "tell me about the story"- it is almost as if they look at me & say "what story!?" Or- if they don't know the answer to the question, after thinking for a bit they will give me an answer about the story, but an answer from when we've read the Bible story a different time (they will use descriptions which ARE a part of the story in the Bible, but that were not a part of the story they read in The Beginner's Bible). Are there some ways that I can encourage their reading comprehension as THEY are reading (It is completely different when I am reading.)?

4*Last one- I think! Looking ahead to the books at the end of the Emerging Readers & then the DITHOR Level 2 books, I am honestly feeling a bit overwhelmed that they could be reading such difficult books within the next few months (Maybe because they are my oldest, & sometimes I just want to keep them little a bit longer). But, I just don't see them being ready for DITHOR come Fall (Again, maybe it's more that I don't see myself being ready for DITHOR come Fall... with teaching Beyond, Little Hearts, having 2 toddlers & a newborn... for they really are doing so well with reading! ). Should I try to slow them down a bit more? Continuing with the Emerging Readers, but also using the Supplemental titles provided- maybe every other week or so? And/or going through some/all of the transition books at the end of the Emerging Readers? (I would definitely come up with questions & encourage narrations for any "extras" we added in.) Or, should I just continue on, & not worry about it?

Thank-you for your help in advance! I always love coming here for advise & encouragement!
Jessica

[Samuel'sMommy]

Hi Jessica!
I don't have any answers for you, but wanted to let you know my son (almost 6) does the exact same things, so maybe it's just the age. We have just started the emerging readers set, but he's been reading on his own for several months now and I've noticed these same things in the library books and things he's read. So hopefully, someone with more experience will chime in and help us both

About being ready to move on to DITHOR...I looked through the emerging readers and thought the same thing, so my plan is to do just what you said about using the supplemental books each week and the transitional books at the end. I think that will help stretch it out for awhile. I did a search on our library's online catalog and they have all but 2 or 3 of those books. They also allow you to place holds on the books you want online, and then just stop in to pick them up when they are ready. I don't know if your library has that option but maybe something to check into.

Also, I know at one time someone - maybe Julie ??? - said that their kids read the emerging readers and then read the books from the DITHOR level 2 packs, but didn't actually start DITHOR till the following year. They just read the books aloud to encourage fluency and comprehension. Then the following year, they started DITHOR using other level 2 books from the book list or maybe some of the level 3 books. I can't remember all the details, but that might be an option too.

[Mommamo]

Well, my 7 yo was doing the exact same thing-switching the order of the words or making up ones that fit in context. I was told on here that it's completely normal for kiddos to do this. It was suggested to have her run her finger under the words. If she still did that, then she could run her finger under the words again with you reading it the way she read it. Then you could ask if that was correct, getting her to notice how she said it backwards or whatever.

As for the picture thing, I've been letting my dd read through the assigned pages, looking at all the pictures, before she reads it to me. This helps a lot with fluency and with not stopping and staring at every picture.

And then for the big jump in skills-I was SUPER concerned about that too. I was planning to get all the recommended supplemental books from the library, and alternate the supplemental and ERs. However, life has happened, we got busy, I'm pg with our 4th, and it just hasn't worked out for us to get to the library and get the extra books. (She has been reading extra books that we already have at home though) Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that we've just been going through the ERs. My little girl who at the beginning thought the Bibles were super long and hard to read just read First Flight this week and it was no problem at all for her! In fact, one day she read through 2 chapters because she was loving it so much. We started the Nature Reader today, no problem. I honestly now have no concerns about the rest of the ERs or starting DITHOR. I think that the ERs prepare the kids really well. I do think that if you're concerned, it certainly wouldn't hurt to have them read the supplementary books also.

I was also concerned about teaching everything and starting DITHOR next year with a baby. We won't have finished all of Bigger, so here's my plan in case you're interested. We will have finished up through Unit 20 by early-mid April (I'm giving us a little leeway for sick days, daddy being off work, etc). We should also be done with the ERs around that time (we are way ahead in those) as well as Singapore 2B. After we finish up through Unit 20, I'm going to start cursive with her (we haven't started it yet), keep going with where we were in math, and start DITHOR. We'll keep going with that until the baby comes (due the end of April). So this way I'm starting DITHOR and teaching it to her while we're on our break. We'll take some time off when the baby is brand new, but I think this little bit of work will be doable. (We'll also continue LHTH in case you're wondering) Then when we start back with Bigger and everything else in the fall, she'll already have had some time to learn how to do DITHOR. And I can ease into all of that too!

[John'smom]

My dd is doing the ER's right now. She's on the Nature Reader as well. As for your list, she does #2. She doesn't always recognize her mistakes because they make sense. I'm not sure about DITHOR either for her next year. I've thought of both things mentioned: Just read aloud the Level 2/3 books and have her narrate back to me, and I've thought about her reading the supplemental books. Just not sure, so I can't wait to hear the reply. IF it matters, my dd is also 6, considered 1st grade and born at the beginning of July.

[tjswaine]

Hi, Jessica!

I have a suggestion for your first question. With my oldest son, I have him take his reader to the couch and read it to himself before I join him. He then reads it aloud to me. He enjoys this and he can "dawdle" over the illustrations on his time rather than on my time. Maybe your girls would enjoy reading aloud to each other or looking at the illustrations together while they wait for you to join them. Maybe their reading through the story twice would also help with their comprehension.

As to your DITHOR concerns, I am under the impression that a child shouldn't begin DITHOR until 2nd grade. I can't remember where exactly I read that (or if I did ). If anyone can link to a past thread about that I would appreciate it! Here is a link to some FAQ regarding DITHOR:
http://www.heartofdakota.com/faqs.php#F ... %20Reading:
The supplemental titles for the emerging readers are wonderful, so if you're library has any available I would definitely add them to your schedule.

[my3sons]

Well, first off, congrats on your sweeties making good progress on their reading! Now to the questions...

1*One of my concerns is the amount of time they take to look at every-single-picture... maybe before my daughter reads the story to me- she can look at the pictures, but when she's reading... she needs to keep reading!?

My visual learner did this. I let him have the book first to look at the pictures and practice reading it on his own. Then, when he read to me he was much more fluid with his reading and knew not to take long periods of time to look at the pictures.

2*One of my daughters in particular will often flip words around as she's reading (instead of "God said"- she'll say "said God"), or- as she's reading she may skip a word here or there or add a word where there isn't one... or say a completely different word than what is written (& somehow makes it work in the sentence- so it makes complete sense, just not the right word) it's almost as if her little brain is going too fast for her mouth (or maybe the other way around). I have her read the sentence over correctly, & she always does so when I slow her down a bit. I guess I'm mostly wondering if other young readers are doing the same things!? Or if you have any tips?

This is very normal, and actually a stage of reading for most dc. As long as the mix-ups make sense, it's very normal. I just kept reminding my ds that reading it correctly was more important to reading it quickly, and I had him reread the line while running his finger under it. Eventually, he just read carefully enough not to have to do this, as he grew tired of running his finger under the words and made a point to read more carefully.

3*Sometimes they will have quite a difficult time answering the questions... especially when I want them to "tell me about the story"- it is almost as if they look at me & say "what story!?" Or- if they don't know the answer to the question, after thinking for a bit they will give me an answer about the story, but an answer from when we've read the Bible story a different time (they will use descriptions which ARE a part of the story in the Bible, but that were not a part of the story they read in The Beginner's Bible). Are there some ways that I can encourage their reading comprehension as THEY are reading (It is completely different when I am reading.)?

Learning the habit of thinking about reading attentively takes a lot of time. Very normal responses - but just keep reminding them BEFORE they begin reading that they will be asked to share what they remembered about the story, or to answer questions about it. This little reminder makes a big difference. As far as the Bible stories, as long as their answers make sense, if they borrowed information they've heard in other accounts and it is accurate, that's fine to include in their answers. Familiarity of the stories is part of the reason Carrie chose to have dc begin with the Bible stories. This will take care of itself when your dc get to the stories that are not familiar.

4*Last one- I think! Looking ahead to the books at the end of the Emerging Readers & then the DITHOR Level 2 books, I am honestly feeling a bit overwhelmed that they could be reading such difficult books within the next few months (Maybe because they are my oldest, & sometimes I just want to keep them little a bit longer). But, I just don't see them being ready for DITHOR come Fall (Again, maybe it's more that I don't see myself being ready for DITHOR come Fall... with teaching Beyond, Little Hearts, having 2 toddlers & a newborn... for they really are doing so well with reading! ). Should I try to slow them down a bit more? Continuing with the Emerging Readers, but also using the Supplemental titles provided- maybe every other week or so? And/or going through some/all of the transition books at the end of the Emerging Readers? (I would definitely come up with questions & encourage narrations for any "extras" we added in.) Or, should I just continue on, & not worry about it?

If things are going well, just keep going. I have learned dc can surprise us with what they can do. If you complete the ERS and feel your dc need longer before moving into DITHOR 2/3, you can then have them read supplemental books from the ERS. Or, we enjoyed easing into DITHOR this way with our young ds:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=7613&p=55539

HTH! Just give yourself a pat on the back and breathe in deeply, we moms need to do that! Everything is going just as it should, and you are doing a great job of teaching your dc to read

In Christ,
Julie

[Mom4Him]

Thank-you SO very much for all of your replies!! Each one was very helpful- & now I have started letting them look at the pictures & practice if they would like BEFORE we do our reading time together- & that has worked beautifully! Hurray! (no more impatient mommy- well, at least during reading ) I am also so glad to hear that their "mix-ups" as well as their responses to the questions are very "normal"!! I like the idea of reminding them BEFORE each reading that they will be asked some questions... this has helped also! The other day one of my girls told me in great detail about a dream she had, so I told her that how she explained the dream to me, was what she also should try to do with reading... pretend that I have never heard the story, & tell me as much as she can... she seemed to understand that. I can tell it's difficult for them, but if I don't rush through the questions, & make sure "I don't know" or a one-word answer is usually not acceptable- they do actually take the time- think about it & come up with a good answer!

I am still pondering about pulling in more of the Supplemental titles or just keep going- our Library has ALL of them, so that is a blessing. As I was thinking about it- I thought it might be nice if I had the girls reading different books to me each week- say one would read the ER book & the other would read the supplemental title & then they would flip-flop the next week. This would keep them from hearing each others' answers & maybe be fun for them to have something of their own (even if it is for just a week). Also, it might help the one that is slightly slower as a reader than her sister... But, I also like the idea to just keep going- so we will see!

Thank-you again!! You are all so kind!
Jessica

[Carrie]

Mom4Him,

Aren't the ladies on the board wonderful! We are so blessed at HOD to have such encouraging ladies who are so willing to help one another.

I'll just pop-in to mention that I also have my son read his Emerging Reader chapter on his own prior to reading it to me. He actually has grown to prefer this as he can take his time and look over the pictures that way without me rushing him! One thing that I do when my son transposes words or skips them is to just run my finger under the words without saying anything or hold my finger under them like I'm pointing. Usually he will automatically reread whatever I pointed out, but I'm not really speaking and interrupting the flow of his reading.

Another thing that may help as you're having your kiddos answer the questions is to pause to ask the questions one at a time right after the part where the answer is found. Eventually, you can move away from this and instead read the questions aloud before the child begins reading, so she knows what questions she is looking to answer after the reading. These are baby steps that help a child prepare for answering the questions. Later, you'll just forego these steps and have the child read, and then ask all the questions at the end without any prepping ahead of time.

Also, as far as the reading with two kiddos goes, perhaps you could have both children there to read at the same time and alternate readers by paragraph or by sentence? Just a thought. Then for the questions, place a red bean and a blue bean in your pocket, assign each child a color, and pull a bean out. The child whose color is drawn would answer the question. In this way both children must always be ready to answer. If you don't have beans, you could use legos or colored marcaroni noodles, or something like that. Just a few thoughts.

Blessings,
Carrie