When and how did you learn to read?

tara747

I do remember learning to read. My mum got me a little blackboard and easel with the alphabet across the top, the numbers 1-10 along the left hand side and a little clock with moveable hands in the corner. It was great for teaching me to read, count and tell the time. She also read to me every night at bedtime.

I'm eternally grateful to her that she took the time to teach me these things. I knew the alphabet and numbers before I went to school, I was also reading a bit by then too. Some in my class couldn't do any of this when they arrived at school, it was obvious that their parents hadn't spent the time to teach them. My mum helped me with spelling, grammar, punctuation. She gave me the most priceless gift - the gift of reading. And if I ever have children, I intend to do the very same.

I also remember her great patience in teaching me to tie my shoelaces.

What a star she was, and still is.

My dad was a great tutor too, taught me things like how to do crosswords, how to fix things, he also taught me all about nature and (very MSE) about money! He passed away a few years ago and I miss his wise advice on all things money- and work-related.

You've got me all teary-eyed now OP!

Hectors_House

Our mother made sure we could read and write before we went to primary school.

This satisfied her NPD beliefs that she'd spawned perfect children (and twins at that!).

So we could both read and write when we got to primary school but were constantly being pulled up and accused of cheating.

Sadly for my mother, a near-fatal accident in a hotel swimming pool at the age of 6 and a collision (on my bike) with a car when I was 16 put paid to me going to uni, and my sister wandering off into theatre meant we didn't turn into the prodigies our mother expected.

BTW, being able to read and write BEFORE you go to primary school does not put you ahead of the rest of the class! LOL!

tara747

Hectors_House wrote: »

BTW, being able to read and write BEFORE you go to primary school does not put you ahead of the rest of the class! LOL!

I hope that that comment wasn't directed at me! I did not insinuate that I felt 'ahead of' or superior to others. I was expressing my gratitude for my mother giving her time to us when we were little, teaching us the basics of reading and writing and passing on her love of reading (still my #1 favourite pastime). That's all.

wornoutmumoftwo

faithcecilia wrote: »

I had never heard of hyperlexia but after a quick look at a couple of definitions I will definately be doing some research. Not just the early reading, but the never learning to read, and early use of complex language ring a lot of bells. Also some of the other connected 'issues' (for want of a better word). Thank you for letting me know of its existance.

It was mentioned to me at my son's autism diagnosis and it is him to a 'T'. Normal develoment until about 2 and then social/communication problems.
My son ended up with an Aspergers diagnosis and although he originally had an obsession with both his letters and numbers he absolutely hates maths now with a vengence. He's of the opinion that once he's learned something he shouldn't have to do it again (and I can see the logic in his thinking but it doesn't work too well within a classroom enviroment:)).

My son was reading before he learned his phonic sounds and is still an avid reader today, usually about the solar system (adult books), the question really is what he understands of the reading as the psychologist thinks he remembers the words but can't always understand the meaning of a sentence, especially when the little darling won't tell the teachers what he's just read when they ask him questions.

Feel free to PM me about hyperlexia if you like.

Savvy_Sue

margaretclare wrote: »

I think what happened was that we had few books for children (a very poor home) but I was read to by my aunt. We would read the same books over and over - a story about bears I recall, and one about a fox.

We had the one about bears, and my dyslexic brother had it off by heart, could even read it upside down!

Mind you, my mother was always being told "you mustn't compare you children, just because the others learned to read at an early age doesn't mean he will." We will always be grateful to the primary school teacher who FINALLY, in what was Year 5 or 6, started asking him to come to her desk to read aloud to her what he had written, because no-one but him could make any sense of it. And THEN he got some help.

There may not be a problem if one child doesn't read as early as the others have, but equally, there may be, and sometimes mothers know this!

*Maya* wrote: »

My friend is a Primary one teacher and says it's unusual for kids to read before starting school. It can be a real hinderance to them if they can as it can leave them frustrated in their first year at school which can really put them off learning and joining in with the rest of the class.

Sorry, but that's a sign of poor teaching, if you ask me. I wish I had noticed how desperate DS2 was to learn to read BEFORE he started school, as it was he was a fluent reader before he was out of Reception.

Primrose wrote: »

Thankfully when I was a child we had no television - my parents absolutely refused to buy one on the grounds it would interfere with our homework,

We didn't have one either when the boys were younger: they watched at other people's houses sometimes, and DS3 in particular loved that. We got a TV just a bit too young for him: he was 7 when we moved and were sharing a house with a friend who had a TV. The first time I saw him really read a book was when we were on holiday in France a year or so later, he hadn't believed me when I said yes, there would be TV, but it would be FRENCH TV, so he should bring a book. He didn't, of course, and had to borrow an early Harry Potter from one of his brothers.

He has started reading more now (he's 18), but he's missed out on quite a few 'children's classics' which the older two lapped up. DS2 in particular took the view that anything his big brother could read, he could read better ...

faithcecilia

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

Mind you, my mother was always being told "you mustn't compare you children, just because the others learned to read at an early age doesn't mean he will." We will always be grateful to the primary school teacher who FINALLY, in what was Year 5 or 6, started asking him to come to her desk to read aloud to her what he had written, because no-one but him could make any sense of it. And THEN he got some help.

There may not be a problem if one child doesn't read as early as the others have, but equally, there may be, and sometimes mothers know this!

I remember my mother going ballistic when our primary school teachers repeatedly compared my brother to me:mad: We are chalk and cheese - I had read more books before I started school than he has read to this day - indeed, he insists he has never read a real book (ie anything with more than one sentence a page) including the set books for GCSE English Lit - he read bits then bluffed his way to a C grade.

Although I was only 11, of course, I remember feeling pleased for him when I went to a girls school as I knew he would never have to go through the same again once he was at high school.

Please God teachers don't put kids through that now, its so unfair to the children - both the child who 'isn't as good' and the one put on a pedastal.

Ms_Magnetite

I learned to read in three weeks, according to my family. I went to school aged 4, having never been to nursery or a playgroup or had a story read to me.

I had learned the alphabet through watching Sesame Street (so to me, the last letter was always 'zee') and I could just about write my name in capitals. I also spoke at a million miles an hour, as I had to rush my words out before someone else needed attention (big family and lots of animals). Couldn't tie shoelaces, do a school tie up or use a knife and fork the right way round.

But I had flashcards for a fortnight (it was the rules, you had to finish the entire set) until I got my first Janet and John book. I'd read the entire series 1 - 5 by Spring Term.


Mind you, I could also pick out a tune on a recorder without being taught a) how to play recorder or b) how to play the tune I'd just heard and recognise/describe different plants, birds and animals and their care. Oh, and c) flatten boys more than double my size when they picked on me.


I don't like reading. Books catch words like an insect in amber, but listening to a story being told from the heart is where the tales, myths and legends fly.

madras79

i learnt to read at school.MY son is 8 and cant read he has propblems with speach ,percificly sound so phonics dose not work on him.
We are making progress thou ,he hates reading an it is a battle to get him to read every day .I blame my self i was to busy working 50 hours a week for years , i dont work now so have time to do work with him .Wish i could go back in time .My other child who is 11 is a head in reading.
When my son started junior school he had a reading age of some one in reception .now it is year 2

property.advert

Seems as though everyone here is "gifted" and read before they could walk or talk Strange how the next thread will be about all the problems with kids reading and being behind what the parents falsely remember as their reading at some magical early age.

I can't remember, I was an avid reader of novels by a young age but I would never claim to be reading the FT at two !

Errata

Stands up and says "My name is Errata and I couldn't read until I was seven years old". Sits down and admires her framed degrees, a bookcase full of books and a tottering heap of books beside the bed.