Primers

Sophie and Will are both learning to read right now. Sophie is working very hard and gets frustrated easily. It seems to be coming easily to Will, which I am concerned, may add to Sophie's frustration.

I remember my best friend, when I was 5, Titus. He was 4. I have no idea how far apart in age we really were, now that I am a parent of 2 kids 14 months apart I know there are substantial differences. But Titus was my height and he was not starting kindergarten and I was. I was SO upset that he could read. His mom taught him at home because he was interested in learning. When I pushed, my mom told me I would learn to read at school. And I did. On Dick and Jane primers, in the first grade.

I was so excited about reading. I couldn't be stopped. I devoured everything I could get my hands on. I won the "Coke & Popsicle" contest every month, for most books read. I earned many a personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut's "Book It!" promotion.

I remember my first chapter book, The Babysitter's Club #1, hand picked by me, bought for a car trip from Pa to NC. I was finished with it before we arrived.

In the fourth grade I read Stephen King's Firestarter. All through Jr high and high school it was not uncommon to find a pile of novels in my room that I was reading simultaneously. The pile was always a mix of genres, Nancy Drew, SuperFudge, A Wrinkle in Time, The Chronicles of Narnia. I was never really interested in non-fiction, though.

I worry about Sophie and her reading. She's been getting some extra help at school with the reading specialist and since she's started with Kathleen she's been more willing to try. Although not without my prompting. She definitely prefers math over reading and creative pursuits over math.

I know she will learn to read, I just want her to enjoy it like I do.