Reading Program for Entering Kindergartener?

Kids are not even expected to know their lower case letters when starting kindergarten. So the fact that he can read at all puts him way more advanced than his peers. Just keep reading fun and don't do any "reading programs".

Please stop pushing your son! He has the basic skills. Go to the library every week, read to him, and just let reading be a pleasure. If you push it, you destroy the pleasure and he will resist.

All I did was read to my daughter, and she reads about 4 or 5 grades higher. Why? Because she reads for pleasure. A friend tried to do a reading program with her daughter, and this friend is always asking me, "how did you do it? My daughter isn't interested."

actually, i feel it's completely unreasonable.

i'm sorry, wasn't that helpful?

my son is in kindergarten (no, he's not "entering first grade". he's in kindergarten. first grade is over 5 months away.) reading at a third grade level. i am proud of him. but he isn't such a great reader because i drilled him or spent three hundred dollars to send him to special classes. it's because he loves to read.

a love of reading is not something you can teach a child. you can, however, go into overkill mode and drive the love of reading right out of them.

what a shame.

Personally, I don't think it's worth your time or your money. If he can read Bob books and he hasn't even entered kindergarten yet, he's already ahead of many of his peers. There's no need to force him to the next level if he's not emotionally ready for it. If you push him, you're going to make him feel like reading is work. Since he IS such a book worm and LOVES reading books (even if he's not fully reading the words), you should just let it come naturally.

Kids who get pushed are the ones who push back.

He's entering Kindergarten and he reads Bob books. You can save your money and just go to the library. Reading, talking, rhyming, poetry, and keeping it super fun and open are what will develop his skills.

I agree with @Odd1 - take him to the library and ask the librarian to recommend the section of books on his level. Let him explore on his own with guided help to pick out some books.

If he has the interest in reading already, you might be unintentionally pressuring him and making him not want to read with you because you're on him about it all the time. It's ok to be proactive. Just don't push him. I don't think it's necessary to pay for a reading program. Let him explore the library and ask him to read to a friend or his dad or someone neutral. If he's excited about it, he'll take off and read on his own.

Good luck!

I think that you are doing a fabulous job! I also think that he is at a level that is comfortable for him. If you push him, he might become turned off and not want to read. I would sign him up for storytimes at the local library this summer. I would pay for a tutor or a program when he completes Kindergarten. You will know what level he is on and what skills he will need to improve upon. He might not need reading assistance at all.

My friend pushed her 4 yr old daughter a few yrs back. She had her in programs, she sat w/ her for an hr a day and she ordered a reading program. This little girl was on a 1st grade reading level when she entered Kindergarten. Well, it backfired...This little girl was so far ahead that she was bored. The Kindergarten kids were learning sight words and letter sounds the first couple of months---Her daughter was sitting there and staring out the window.

Take him to the library and let him see other kids taking out books and/or reading in the comfy chairs there.

Most likely, the Kindergarteners will be learning sight words in Sept-October.** I did this w/ one of my kids: I wrote the sight words on index cards. I would let her pick a word of the day. We would carry the word with us that day. If we got into the car, she would tape the card to the back of my seat. When we got home, she would carry the word with her and put it near her plate during lunch. When we were done with the cards. i would have her read them to her grandparents. This excercise was extremely helpful since she did not want to sit down and have a lesson. She did like carrying the card around. It was like a game for her. If the word was "the" -- We would write the word the on the bathrm wall w/ shaving cream. If we were outside, we would get a paintbrush and dip it in water and write "the" on the driveway. I wrote out cards for 20 words. I thought that was plenty. We still read a book or two at night.

I think exposure is what is important. The more you make books available and read together the sooner it will come. Checkout starfall.com or reading eggs.com. both are great reading programs on line and for a small fee you can get more content. I love starfall as does my daughter. If your son is reading Bob books, just continue to add those plus ones that challenge him. One day it will click and he will naturally progress to the next level. It happens overnight. Like magic. Don't force it, just dowhat you are doing.

I taught my then 4 yo daughter how to read for $15 using the book "How to Teach your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons". It was so much fun and by day 60 she could read all easy readers in the book store. It was amazing and only took about 15 minutes per day.
Personally, I think a kindergartener is too young to sit in a 1 hour reading class, especially on a Saturday.
Also, my daughter gets private tutoring lessons (geometry) as needed by a HS Math tutor and she charges $40/hour so this reading class seems like a high price to pay for a group lesson.
Really, try the book. I doubt you will be disappointed.

I have 2 kids. they are both good readers but very different. My daughter is a good reader with excellent comprehension.. my son is a great reader with fair comprehension..MOst districts are using guided reading "leveled" books.. kids start out at level A in kindergarten and advance to level Z in 6th grade...

I would not push reading.. when he is ready it is so easy.. my son taught himself to read.. we spent time on starfall.com great website. we read the easiest books at the library..

read to him... my libary has "you read they read books".. so the parent reads a page and the kid reads a page..

go to the library and look for the easy readers or beginning readers seciotn and then pick up some books and find the ones you think he can read.

I also recommend phonics workbooks.. schools do not teach phonics at all these days.

Your son sounds like he is fine. Is he in VPK? Has his teacher said anything about being ready for kindergarten? All he is supposed to know is his letters (capital and lower case) and their sounds. If he can write his own name (preferably first and last) than he is fine.

I would suggest that you not push him so much at this point. Kindergarten is very academic these days and you will get plenty of reading and homework to do with him once he starts. Yes, kindergarten has homework these days and there is no time to nap.

Read things that he is interested in and pursue his interests. If he likes sports, art, music, nature, do things with him to bolser his interests. If he likes construction, go to the Cooper City "Touch a Truck" program in June (google it to learn more).

If you son is not in VPK I would suggest using your $275 to do some camp this summer to get him used to being away from you during the day.

Good luck! C.